Career Mirror -- by Mark Sproxton

In his ever-changing box of tools, the telephone still serves as one of the most important. Presses and other printing industry equipment need to run: now. Ill-operating or non-functioning equipment puts a serious dent in the operations of the printing industry. Deadlines must be met. In this highly competitive, fast-paced industry, down time translates into lost money.

This machine cuts paper.

"You work whenever the customer needs you," explained John Sallans, a print industry service technician who called while on a break from his repair duties. "I try to get one day off a week. I have a family, and if I'm lucky, I can give them two days." Sallans works on call to repair various types and sizes of presses and bindery equipment. He also has a client list to call and remind of upcoming equipment servicing. They call him back and say when the best time is for him to visit.

Repairing equipment and an irregular schedule have long been a part of Sallans' work. The shift to the print industry came, in part, due to changing technology. Working for a company repairing sewing machines, Sallans was informed the business was going in another direction. "My boss knew a (printing) company was looking for technicians and I phoned them up. That's how I started. With my background from sewing machines, I was a shoe-in because I had a strong mechanical background. I've always been fascinated by fixing equipment."

Despite that knowledge, the owner of Press-Tech Services needed to continue his learning to keep up with the changes of the printing industry. Over the years, Sallans took courses in electronics and electricity allowing him to understand and repair equipment as it went from mechanically controlled operations to electronically-controlled operations. "Printing presses used to be 99 per cent mechanical," he said. "Now they're 50 per cent mechanical. A lot of rollers are turned by solenoids that used to be turned by levers, for example."

The continued "electrification" of the print industry equipment means Sallans will be heading to school again for courses in computer operations and maintenance. He recommends a well-rounded education, either experiential or classroom, in mechanics, electronics and electricity for those looking to enter this highly specific, limited field. "Now you have to pass a mechanical aptitude test and an electronics and electricity test," he said. If a candidate passes those tests, they are hired on a three to six month probation period to ensure they can complete the work satisfactorily, he added.

"You have to have an even temperament. You can't force a machine to do something. You have to set it to do it. And you have to have a vast interest in the printing industry. There is a lot of stuff to learn. There are hundreds of inks and mixes."

Along with the many types of inks, printing technicians come across machines made around the world, and deal with a huge variety of people operating the equipment. "The thing I like the best is dealing with a lot of different people. I'm fascinated by people. You learn a lot about different cultures."

The international scope of this physically demanding position, also causes its headaches, however. "I dislike waiting for parts," Sallans said. "It can drive you crazy, especially when someone buys the first press in town and even the manufacturer has limited parts for it." Working in conditions often including loud noise, fumes, and a huge potential for getting dirty are all in a day's work, as are bending, lifting, twisting and standing.

Predicting drastic changes in the industry as equipment in all areas of the industry becomes more electronically controlled, Sallans remains content knowing the unpredictability of the work likely won't change. "There isn't a typical day," he said. "You never know when the next call is coming."