Impressions - March 2018 - 33

Art-Fx SignS & grAphicS At A glAnce
C ompan y n ame: Art-Fx Signs & Graphics
address: 9486 Red Arrow Hwy., Bridgman, MI 49106
LoCaTIons: Fresno, Calif.; Fremont, Calif.; Dallas; Indianapolis; Scranton, Pa.
Foun ded: 1996
no. oF emp Loyees: 4-5
deCoraTIn G meTH ods oFFered: Custom signs; vehicle graphics and
wraps; screen printing and custom apparel; and graphic design and layout
C ompan y WeBs ITe: artfxsign.com

two-digit number by reducing the extra
space between the adjacent digit, while
centering the entire number.
"The numbering system is versatile,"
Rogers says. "You can print the number
'11' on one shirt and '45' on the next shirt
without removing the screen from the
press."
Prior to using the numbering system,
Rogers numbered garments by applying
vinyl heat transfers to jerseys with a heat
press. "It was time consuming, and there
were inconsistencies," he recalls. "Also,
when we started doing more performance
fabrics, like moisture-wicking shirts, the
heat transfers didn't adhere well."
Equipment Upgrades
Each spring,Art-Fx Signs & Graphics faces
an influx of business as tourists flock to

the area and businesses increase advertising.
The shop also gets inundated with orders
for baseball uniforms and other sports apparel, Rogers says.
"During certain times of the year, the
work piles up and we would have a twoweek backlog on our screen-printing
orders," he says."One person and one press
could no longer support the workload, so
we purchased a second [screen-printing
press], identical to the first press, except
with four colors instead of six."
Rogers also added a conveyor dryer
with a 54-inch belt, doubling his prior
dryer's capacity and allowing garments
from both presses to be cured."We previously couldn't have a second person screen
printing because the conveyor dryer was
unable to keep up," he says."We also gain
control over the drying process because
we can adjust the temperature, speed and

height of the heater."
In addition to the conveyor dryer, Rogers purchased a new flash-cure unit with
a device that rotates the unit's head into
place above the pallet with the touch of
a foot pedal, and automatically rotates it
away from the pallet after a user-adjustable
dwell time has elapsed.
"The flash cure allows us to cure a larger
area compared to our previous unit," he
says."We also have better control over the
amount of time each print is flashed. Before,
if we paused the printing process for a few
seconds, we had to move the flash dryer
out of the way before it scorched the shirts
or over-flashed the prints."
Rogers also invested in an LED
screen-exposing unit. "The LED bulbs
are more efficient and faster at exposing
a screen, so what used to take five minutes
now takes 10-20 seconds," he says."There's
no bottleneck to burning screens anymore."
The screen-exposing unit's vacuum
hold-down produces a tight screen-tofilm contact. Prior to the upgrade, Rogers
had to stack weight on top of his exposure
unit to press the image against the glass
in an attempt to simulate a vacuum hold.
According to Rogers, the new equipment has boosted efficiency."For an entire
year, we had a two-week backlog and we
couldn't take on anymore work," he recalls.
"Now, we're in a position where we can."
Business is going so well that Rogers
thinks Art-Fx will outgrow its space in the
next few years."When we do, we will make
similar equipment upgrades and potentially
hire more people." 
Mark Vasilantone is owner of Vastex Intl. Inc. and
builds on the legacy of his father Michael Vasilantone,
the company's founder in 1960 and an inventor and
pioneer in mass producing screen printed T-shirts.
For more information or to comment on this article,
email Mark at mark@vastex.com.
MARCH 2018

P.33


http://www.artfxsign.com

Impressions - March 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - March 2018

Impressions - March 2018
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
On Design
Mindfully Made
Breakdown: Decorating Womenswear
The Work Flow Series
Living the Print Life
Shop Talk
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Direct-To-Garment
Heat Printing
Ad Index/Online Directory
Classifieds
Impressions - March 2018 - Intro
Impressions - March 2018 - CT1
Impressions - March 2018 - CT2
Impressions - March 2018 - Impressions - March 2018
Impressions - March 2018 - Cover2
Impressions - March 2018 - 1
Impressions - March 2018 - Contents
Impressions - March 2018 - 3
Impressions - March 2018 - 4
Impressions - March 2018 - 5
Impressions - March 2018 - First Impressions
Impressions - March 2018 - 7
Impressions - March 2018 - From the Show Director
Impressions - March 2018 - 9
Impressions - March 2018 - Overheard
Impressions - March 2018 - 11
Impressions - March 2018 - 12
Impressions - March 2018 - 13
Impressions - March 2018 - First Look
Impressions - March 2018 - 15
Impressions - March 2018 - 15A
Impressions - March 2018 - 15B
Impressions - March 2018 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - March 2018 - 17
Impressions - March 2018 - 18
Impressions - March 2018 - On Design
Impressions - March 2018 - Mindfully Made
Impressions - March 2018 - 21
Impressions - March 2018 - 22
Impressions - March 2018 - 23
Impressions - March 2018 - Breakdown: Decorating Womenswear
Impressions - March 2018 - 25
Impressions - March 2018 - The Work Flow Series
Impressions - March 2018 - 27
Impressions - March 2018 - 28
Impressions - March 2018 - 29
Impressions - March 2018 - Living the Print Life
Impressions - March 2018 - 31
Impressions - March 2018 - Shop Talk
Impressions - March 2018 - 33
Impressions - March 2018 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - March 2018 - 35
Impressions - March 2018 - 36
Impressions - March 2018 - 37
Impressions - March 2018 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - March 2018 - 39
Impressions - March 2018 - 40
Impressions - March 2018 - 41
Impressions - March 2018 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - March 2018 - 43
Impressions - March 2018 - 44
Impressions - March 2018 - Heat Printing
Impressions - March 2018 - 46
Impressions - March 2018 - 47
Impressions - March 2018 - Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - March 2018 - Classifieds
Impressions - March 2018 - 50
Impressions - March 2018 - Cover3
Impressions - March 2018 - Cover4
Impressions - March 2018 - IA1
Impressions - March 2018 - IA2
Impressions - March 2018 - IA3
Impressions - March 2018 - IA4
Impressions - March 2018 - IA5
Impressions - March 2018 - IA6
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20231011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com