How long to become a good pressman?

I am a relatively new to the trade of printing. I want to know how long it takes to be a really good compatent pressman. I went to a trade school years ago for printing and graphic design. Only finished the printing portion of the program. We printed on small Ryoby and Itek 2 color presses.

Flash foward 4-5 years I take a job as a feeder/helper in a press shop helping on a 2000 Sm 74. After 3 mo i am promoted to "pressman" learning to run 1992 5 color Heidlberg MO. After 3 mo of that they turn me loose on my own shift.

Its been almost 3 years I know im getting better, jobs are getting a lot easier to run setups are quicker, I have learned a lot. We run a variety of jobs from total garbage to high quality. I have to perform on the same level (quality wise) as pressman with 5- 10 times the experience as me. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? Similar experiences?

 

It is the experienced pressmans attitude towards his work that launches him to the highest level.

 

It really is purely speculation to answer this question as there are so many factors which determine to growth of a press operator.

1. The environment they are learning in, i.e. Large shop with alot of equipment, access to other experienced press operators, varied jobs. etc
2. The basic apptitude the press operator brings to the table.
3. Willingness to learn.

There is quite a bit an operator can learn on their own in a small shop, but there is no substitute for exposure in this industry. There are literally hundreds of variables involved in the printing of one job. Ink characteristics, dampening solutions, paper and subtrates, humidity, temperature in the shop, ink train and delivery, the list goes on. And I have not even mentioned anything pertaining to press set-up. Getting experience in all of these situations only strengthens your skillset as well as increases the speed of learning.

As a result, I think it it is difficult to put a definitive timeframe in which someone could be considered a good press operator. It would vary from person to person.

 

when you stop wondering how long it will take you will be there. im thinking that i thought i was pretty good when i was workin as a lead pressman on multicolor presses for about 5 years but these days i realize that i was workin way too hard with my back . these days i feel like i can produce good work with the young bucks and not have to work nearly as hard. when i look over at this guy next to me and see him huffin and puffin and sweating it makes me glad ive learned to work smarter as opposed to harder to get the same work done.

 

At least 25 years ....... and then you could say you have experienced most things a print career can through at you !

 

I think there is no specific time frame for one to be called a good pressman. As mentioned above, the more you are exposed to different types of situations & machines the better you become. Also when working with experienced guys it should put you in a better position that is if you are willing to learn & if the eperienced guys have a good attitude towards you.

 

Tell you what.
if you agree that you will never stop learning
if you agree that the next job is notjust another job but a real case to study and a real personal challenge
if you look for what you can do better and how you can improve the result in quality , speed & efficiency

only then you will be on the right track.
once you are on track , you can gain alot of knowledge in a few years , some never get to that point , some will take a lifetime .

It is not about what you know but what you don't know and yet need to learn that will make you a good printer.

 

Now these are words that should be followed for nearly everything...

Nice post.

 

If you have managed to keep your job for 3 years ,your already good kid! If your doing the same job and producing just as much work asTHE OTHER GUYS THAT ARE PROBABLY GETTING PAID MORE , THEN point that out (gently) to your boss. Once he realizes that what you are saying is true, he will get your pay up the same as the other pressmen Ive been there.

Rod (old school)

 

Never forget every day is a new learning experence. The best pressman is the one who seems like
he knows it all, and in fact he might have just learned it himself.

 

Sounds like your on track. Everyone here is right " no set time frame". Always remember you don't know it all even when you think you do. we all learn something new and when you forget there will come a job that will humble you.
I have seen 30 year pressman and wonder how the heck did you make it this far and seen 5 year pressman doing excellent. I been in printing 20 years and I still hagve alot of questions and things I want to master. So keep doing what your doing sounds like your got a good head on your shoulders.

 

You are a good pressman the day management decides you are making them look good by making the company an optimal amount of money.

Nothing else really matters.

 

Hey HM081

My new helper was looking at My printing portfolio the other day and he said
"WOW I would give a lifetime to print like that" I said I did. (LOL)
I have been printing for over 35 yrs. and I still try to learn something new everyday,I still take avice from others.
You will know when you are good, I think its when you Run the press and it does'nt Run You. and You produce quality jobs in a timely manner.
And if You are lucky enough that this printing thing becomes a passion Wow watch out, there won't be any job you can't print IMHO.

Love what you do or do what you love.

LUCKY-N-KY.

 

You know you made it when they give you the mother trucker jobs...consistently.

 

When you give each job you make ready your full attention and take pride in each sheet/impression, and beat yourself with brambles when you get caught out you!(cos it'll happen) you'll know you've become self critical enough to be a good un ! P.s. only the finishing department can label the printers, we only print the potential to make money if they can't use your work or it slows them down trying to run it you'll get labelled!! And even if you win them over with your quality and they call you a good printer you're only ever as good as your last job! lol, keep treading water )

 

Nice thread. I came across a good post about this recently. It's an article "What Makes a Good Press Operator" and has lots of tips of what makes a good pressman.

 

Give 150% on every job you do and remember you never stop learning........

 

I'm printing this out and hanging it up. Excellent.

 

i once knew a 64 year old just about to retire, and he said to me he was still learning upto the day he retired. always something new to learn whether technology or whatever, and he was a bloody good pressman. He did say that you need good artwork, plates ect to print a half decent job on any press, if you dont have that then even the best or newest press will still churn out rubbish.

 

Hope till now you have become a good pressman. Time is a major factor. The more time you survive in the market the more is your popularity. Latter comes the type of printing you are handling.
For mine in case, the JaiKaushal Industries, though it was started in 1971, more than 40 years, for 10 years it was growing gradually at a slow pace. In the year 1986, Jai Kaushal Industries Pvt. Ltd. forayed into the security documents printing segment. Today we are one of the largest Indian Banks Association (IBA) registered security printers in the country. This gives us the permission for printing confidential security documents like dividend warrants, interest warrants, redemption warrants, bond certificates, share certificates and university mark-sheets. The company's expanded portfolio of products includes niche categories like hologram affixing and high quality printing services like carbonless paper printing also.