Cure log
Shift Cards
A quick floor note on handover cards so the next shift knows settings, dwell and faults already seen.
When settings live only in one operator's head, repeat jobs drift. Shift Cards turns critical flash distance, dwell time, substrate notes and heater output into a handover record the next crew can actually use.
Shift Cards work best when the note is written at the dryer, not from memory after the run. Record flash height, dwell setting, platen pace, garment or carton stock, and the fault that first showed up on shift.
Details worth writing on every handover card
- Press, line and shift identified
- Photo shows flash head, print and platen
- Dryer type noted, ceramic IR or quartz
- Operator, supervisor and plant named
Use Shift Cards with the matching cure record, especially where the same job returns on another day or moves to a different operator. The card carries the working dryer settings, while the cure log confirms the result on the print. That split keeps handover notes short enough to read during changeover.
Where Shift Cards help on an ordinary week
Shift Cards are there so the next operator does not start from guesswork. Record the working settings, dwell, garment type, and any faults already seen on the dryer during the shift. That handover keeps the flash station consistent across changeovers.
A card should reflect the conditions on that line, not a textbook setting. Highveld dust can push you to clean reflectors sooner, while coastal moisture can alter how inks behave under a flash unit. In Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and smaller regional shops, power interruptions and mixed garment batches are worth noting if they changed dwell or heater output.
Pin the completed card near the press or keep it with the job packet for the next crew. Include one first-pass photo if scorch risk, under-gel, or registration movement showed up during the run. That gives the incoming operator a visual check before restarting the station.
What the next shift must see first
A useful Shift Card tells the incoming team where the flash sat, what setting held, and which fault repeated. It should also show what was changed during the shift, such as a raised head, slower index, or reduced output. Short notes beat long explanations when the press is waiting.
Connect Shift Cards with the relevant line note and cure log entry before you extend the scope. Recheck the line details before any unit or spare is dispatched from our side.
- Working flash gap recorded clearly
- Test print checked before full run
- Fault seen on shift listed plainly
Conditions that change a handover note
A Shift Card for a garment line in Gauteng may not read like one for a packaging run at the coast. Heat build-up across a long shift, stock variation, and repeated stop-start cycles can all change the note left for handover. If a line is running beyond a basic setup, the card should say which setting was proven and which one was only tested.
Dust on shields and reflectors can change heat delivery during the day. Humid air near the coast may alter ink response enough to justify a longer dwell note on the card. After a power cut, write down the first successful restart setting rather than assuming the earlier mark still applies.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
How to file Shift Cards usefully
A quick floor note on handover cards so the next shift knows settings, dwell and faults already seen.
Keep each Shift Card with the line note and the cure log entry for that job. When a buyer or supervisor asks why one run differed from the last, the handover record gives the shop answer first. It also helps before any unit or spare is dispatched, because the line details can be checked against what the operators actually used.