AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR OPEN HOUSE
Dear Delzer Open House,
We miss you already. Although it’s been over twenty years since your last appearance, it was as if you’d had much more recent experience before last week’s event.
Maybe we’re being a bit biased here, but You. Were. Phenomenal! We’re sad to see the dust settle on our step-and-repeat orange carpet set up in our front office. (Kidding. You know how we stay on top of housekeeping around our plant; dust doesn’t stand a chance here!)
We had three goals when it came to planning for your 2017 debut:
- To remind everyone we’re still here, after 68 years, in a sleepy part of Waukesha.
- To share our design, print & finishing, and distribution capabilities.
- To visit with our customers and prospects. Enjoying mini quiches, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, signature Delzer cocktails and the like together while we were at it was an added bonus.
FRONT OFFICE
The event kicked off last Tuesday evening with gusto. Despite the rainy forecast, over 160 customers, prospects, and friends of the company came to show support and learn more about Delzer.
It got a little crowded as everyone lined up at the entrance at one point, but we like to think that just gave people a jumpstart on networking. After all, we’re a toner-cartridge-half-full kind of team.
Guests checked in up front, selecting their favorite photo from a landscape lineup for customized notebooks.
Right around the corner from the front check in was a refreshment station, the “Color Bar,” located next to our brand-spankin’ new #printspiration wall. We love showing off our customers’ finished print pieces!
Guests enjoy a refreshment at the Delzer “Color Bar.”
The #printspiration wall, featuring some of our customer’ latest print projects.
Visitors made their way through five different departments at their leisure, guided by only a Delzer plant map, Delzer footprint stickers, and their inquisitive minds. Each department had on-site attendants ready to explain the equipment and processes in each department.
Our hallway was drenched in dramatic lighting to pump up guests as they headed towards the plant.
DIGITAL
As guests ventured down the tangerine-illuminated plant hallway, they came across our Digital Department. Here we ran our B/W Konica Minolta 1200’s and 2250’s and our color Konica Minolta 1100’s and 7000. Konica Minolta Reps also took part in discussing technical aspects of the gear to curious guests.
Konica Minolta Reps discuss the equipment capabilities in our digital department with guests.
A few people from the Delzer digital team could also be seen hand cutting and binding freshly printed notebooks that were given as a parting gift to guests as they left. (Surprise: that’s what the backup was from up front at check in! We tried to be as sneaky as possible in getting visitors’ names and photo selection to make the notebooks as they toured.)
The reason for the slight, initial bottlenecking at check in: custom parting gifts were printed and assembled while guests toured the plant.
In this department, we also did a live demo of our wide format equipment, our Fuji Acuity Advanced Flatbed. Our Digital Department Manager explained to guests how the flatbed worked as he ran large, beautiful landscape photography shots that came to life one sweeping stroke at a time. Shout out to My Wisconsin Photography for providing the imagery!
Our Digital Department Manager shows off our wide format printer to guests.
Admiring a few of the freshly printed wide-format pieces.
PRE-PRESS
Next stop: the Pre-press Department. This department is what gives our offset press something to actually print from. Our pre-press team receives and analyzes electronic files, making any necessary adjustments before outputting proofs and printing plates for the press.
As visitors stopped in here, they could see how we analyze proofs and burn plates for upcoming customer projects.
Our Pre-press Technician proofs materials on the light table as guests check out the department.
OFFSET
Our Komori Lithrone GL840P offset printing press is a beast. Although we value each of our departments’ capabilities, this guy stole the spotlight by size, sound, and workload alone in the Press Room.
Our Lead Pressman explains the press performance review to guests.
Two men are required to run this printing beast. Our Lead Pressman is the captain, making sure everything related to press performance and quality goes as planned. Our Feeder makes sure the paper is conditioned and the beast stays fed.
Guests mingle in the Press Room. **Not photographed: 2/3 of the Komori press.
Komori Reps help roll and package the stunning poster giveaways between talking with guests about the equipment.
Countless 20″ x 30″ My Wisconsin Photography landscape shots and Ryan Braun Brewers posters came literally hot off the press. This department was also home to our refreshing signature cocktail, the Delzer Collins, available at Twisted Path’s sponsored bar.
The Twisted Path duo explains what goes into our signature event beverage, the Delzer Collins.
Soaking up the printing press capabilities with a Delzer Collins in hand by the Twisted Path bar.
BINDERY
Just beyond the Press Room, a few folks from our Bindery Department cut the posters for visitors to take home as souvenirs. While we normally run numerous machines back here, we kept the action to a minimum so guests could still hear themselves think over the press running in the other room.
I spy a Brewers Game Day program…
The most unique surroundings this bartender self-admittedly has served in.
Our Bindery Technician cuts posters from the press.
FULFILLMENT
Those adventurous enough to follow the footprints back another 30 yards past the Bindery Department found themselves back in our Fulfillment Center. This is where all those Print-On-Demand and online storefront orders get processed, kitted, and shipped worldwide.
Gathering ’round to hear about our Fulfillment Center’s capabilities
Even sweeter than the sweet, sweet victory of making it to all five departments to become eligible for one of our 19 giveaways being raffled off that evening? The flavorful Amy’s Gourmet Apples dessert station located back in the Fulfillment Center with various different caramel apple creations available for guests to taste.
Look at that spread (and Fulfillment Center size!)
With cocktails and caramel apples, who wouldn’t be smiling?!
IN CLOSING
Thank you, Open House, for giving us the opportunity to warmly welcome into our building those who make an impact on our day-to-day operations and success.
Thank you for helping us show off all the different design, print & finishing, and distribution capabilities we host here under this roof – both via the live tours and the vast array of print samples found in practically every nook and cranny here.
Refueling after the tour by our #printspiration wall.
We heard the life-size cutouts of our sales team got a lot of reaction, and guests enjoyed checking out the inspirational signage throughout the plant.
Our 3-D Account Representatives are much more animated than our 2-D ones.
It felt good to show off our character as a company–but it felt even better to share an experience with some of the people who’ve helped make our company what it is today.
Gathering tickets for the giveaway raffle.
Score! An Amy’s Gourmet Apple gift basket for the WIN.
Open House, we look forward to seeing you–or your distant event relatives–soon!
Cheers,
The Delzer Team
P.S. Tell those who couldn’t make it that we missed them!
