One of the more difficult things to determine when touring a packaging or display facility is the level of competence that they posses. Can they do what they say they can do? Can they do it in house or do they farm out any of the processes? Can they control all of the variables that insure proper print? Please note the following questions that need to be answered before selecting a vendor.

• Is the facility a display, graphics or packaging facility? In some cases, including Vanguard’s, it’s all three. But what is the underlying core competency? Where have they invested the most time, money, training and supervision? If your need is for graphics or displays, a packaging shop might not be your best selection.
  
  
• Does the facility have separate and distinct Sales Service departments for packaging and displays? The simple fact is that a packaging based Sales Service department does not understand the level of attention to detail that graphics and displays requires. Top-level display and graphics operations across the country know how important it is to keep these departments separate.
  
  
• Do they have the proper equipment in the proper working condition and in the proper environment to get the job done? For example, is the primary graphics press in a controlled environment? Is it supported with an anilox library capable of performing different line screens? At Vanguard, a scheduled routine maintenance program along with controlled environments is important.
  
  
• Does the facility create its own color formulas? Does it use these formulas to make the ink on sight? Do they QC the print using a computer based spectrophotometer and then graph out the results for review? Do they compare the colors to International standards? This is standard operating procedure at Vanguard.
  
  
• Are their traps more than 1/32" or less? Do they work with your art department to minimize or eliminate traps? Can they direct print a vignette from 100% down to 0% and keep the entire spectrum clean and open? It is done everyday at Vanguard.
  
  
• Can your vendor 4-color process print in a flexo format? Can they do it at line screens of 100 or above? Can they add a varnish coating on the same pass? Can they 4-color print, varnish and die cut in line with one pass? Are UV inks and coatings available in-house? Few facilities can.
  
  
• Do they have a design lab that does 3D Auto CAD designs, as well as full graphics capabilities? Do they have a sales to designer ratio of 2:1 or less?
  
  
• Can your vendor offer high graphics direct flexo printing, traditional single wall lamination, and singleface lamination all in-house? If not, his dealings with you are based on what he can do not what is best for your project. We do all three in-house and can therefore choose which option is best for each project with no bias toward one process.
  
  
• Does your vendor do a simulated ship test on each display? We do following accepted guidelines and national standards. Again, we do this in-house.
  
  
• Does your existing supplier have a project manager? Our project manager takes each display and graphics project and follows it from conception to shipping. This creates continuity on the project that insures that a project goes out correct and on time.
  
  
• Is your current vendor ISO certified? We are ISO 9001:2000 certified and our Director of Quality has spent the bulk of his career in the corrugated display industry. Don’t be fooled by those companies that claim to follow ISO standards. Ask for their ISO certification. You either are or are not ISO certified.
  
  

When you strip away the veneer of most packaging operations you will discover that most have not invested the time, money and training to be true graphics or display operations. Don’t be fooled! Ask the tough questions early and avoid dealing with someone who doesn’t understand graphics or will farm out your business to some other facility that does.