What type of research should business owners do before buying a screen-printing press?

Before deciding on which manufacturer to go with, connect with local printers and prepare to ask them questions. The answers to these questions can help lead you to the right choice for you and your business. Then, evaluate the responses before you take the plunge.

Quality questions include:
1. What do you like about your manual press?
2. What do you dislike about your press?
3. Have you had any positive or negative experiences with the manufacturer or its representatives?
4. Do you have any other equipment made by the same company?
5. Would you buy this press (or one like it) again?
6. Are there any other manual presses you think highly of?
7. How many colors do you suggest starting with?
8. Which features do you consider essential?
9. Which features do you find helpful to have-or unnecessary?

You can spend a lot of time researching a press, but that time is nothing compared with the thousands of hours you’ll spend with that press. So, take your time, do your research, and buy the best manual press you can afford.

—The M&R Companies