The M&R Blog :: M&R :: NuArc :: Amscomatic :: Preparing Your Shop for a Potentially Catastrophic Event

Preparing Your Shop for a Potentially Catastrophic Event

by Mike Sonera • Sep 7, 2017

When faced with a looming catastrophic event, we know your first priority is—as it should be—the safety and well-being of your family.

However, if you are facing such an event—and have time—please take a few minutes to document, prepare, and secure your M&R equipment. Below are instructions for screen printing equipment in general, as well as specific instructions for M-Link printers and i-Image CTS machines.

And even if you don't appear to be in harm's way, many of the suggestions below (like taking photos of your facility and equipment and storing them—along with serial numbers and documentation—in a safe, remote location) are steps that should be taken by every prudent person. A few minutes invested now could save you years of heartache later. After all, fires, floods, tornados, and earthquakes often come without warning, so please be prepared for the worst.

As always, whatever happens M&R will be there for you. Please keep these numbers handy in the event you need assistance or parts:

Technical Support Hotline: 800-483-8765 (Outside Normal Hours: 630-462-4715)
Parts & Supplies Hotline: 800-480-8765/630-858-6101
Digital Equipment Support Hotline: 847-410-3500

How to Prepare Your M&R Equipment for a Storm

Document your equipment and related assets

Take pictures and catalog your equipment

Document and record your serial numbers, model numbers, log your equipment counter if applicable.
Take photographs of the equipment and all relevant assets

Gather all press related documentation for future reference or for potential claim purposes

Equipment manuals, Schematics, Maintenance Records
Equipment invoices, receipts, all relevant purchase documentation

Protect Your Equipment

Anchor and brace your equipment

Document and record your serial numbers, model numbers, log your equipment counter if applicable.
Take photographs of the equipment and all relevant assets

Relocate your ancillary equipment (Flashes, Exposure Machines, EZ-Preps) to higher ground or a different location if water damage is possible
Secure electronics or physically remove computers such as those on I-Images and M-Links
Safely store or relocate spare parts or critical components from your spare parts inventory. These items may be needed and critical to recommission your equipment
Cover your equipment if possible
Power down Your equipment and turn off all the related breakers at the source of your power distribution panel

Check for Damage After the Storm

After the storm has passed inspect your equipment for damage. Do not turn your equipment on! Call service experts at M&R to assist with the process of bringing your equipment back online. If you are working with your insurance agent have them contact M&R and we will work with them directly to expedite the claims process to the best of our ability.

Do not attempt to clean your equipment prior to contacting your insurance company. It is important to preserve the condition of the equipment in its original state after the event. The evaluating professional needs to determine the level of exposure and, if applicable, the water levels the equipment was exposed to.

Cleaning the equipment will erase some of these critical clues needed for an accurate equipment evaluation.Do not attempt to repair the equipment without consulting with a service professional. Trying to start equipment improperly after it has been exposed to water, fire, debris, or any other devastating event may result in further damage to your equipment.

If You Have an i-Image ST/STE/STE I/STE II

Fill caps with cleaning solution
Cap heads (click here to download the ST_STE_CAP.PDF for capping procedures)
Close top valves (see images below)
Turn off machine and computer, and unplug them from outlets
Move the computer to the top of the i-Image

If You Have an i-Image S

Fill caps with cleaning solution
Cap heads (click here to download the I-image S cap.PDF for capping procedures)
Close top valves
Turn off machine and computer, and unplug them from outlets
Move the computer to the top of the i-Image

If You Have an M-Link or M-Link X

Fill caps with glycerin or water mixture
Cap heads (click here to download the MLINK_Shutdown.PDF for capping procedures)
Close top valves
Turn off machine (click here to download the PDF for shutdown procedure), turn off computer, and unplug from outlets
Move the computer to the top of the machine

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i-Image ST is the biggest improvement to prepress we’ve ever seen.

Our new i-Image ST is the biggest improvement to prepress we’ve ever seen. It’s eliminated our need for film, and unlike film, digital images are easy to store and retrieve, making blown-screen replacement a snap.

i-Image ST has improved our screen quality, increased screen-generation speed, and reduced cost. Screen production is way up because we’ve cut exposure times by 75%. And i-Image has virtually eliminated post-processing screen touch-ups. We could never produce screens of this quality—or at this speed—the conventional way. Our CTS screens are unmatched.

Multi-screen jobs come out perfectly registered, and since i-Image ST pre-registers screens for Tri-Loc, our entire prepress process, from screen prep to registration, has been cut dramatically.

Our i-Image ST will probably end up being one of the fastest returns on investment we’ve ever had.

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We have been using our new I-Image STE for about 2 weeks now and it works great. Installation and training was a breeze, could not have been easier. It is the biggest time saver we have ever added to our process. We are printing and exposing screens in less than 90 seconds. Not only does it eliminate film cost completely, it produces screens faster and reduces setup time at the press. On top of that we are holding greater detail than ever before.

Once again M&R proves why they are the leader when it comes to printing equipment. Great job guys!

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- Michael Dixon, Production Manager

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Overall, we have seen an increase in our production numbers due to the efficiencies gained with the newest technology on the market. We are able to run as fast as we can clear a screen and dry our underbase.

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A frantic call in the middle of the night is always met on the other end of the line by an experienced member of their service staff who expertly diagnoses my issue, and starts the process of solving our problem.

No matter the age, or oddball part, the parts department makes sure I’ll have what I need the next morning. My printing crew hardly misses a beat and we don’t miss the deadline. That makes for happy customers and makes me appreciate M&R more and more every year. We rest easy knowing people like Dan Goldberg and the rest of the service and parts departments are working hard for us behind the scenes every day.

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