December 6th 2022

As part of our strategy to lead the digital transformation, and in support of our goal to provide best in class customer experience we are pleased and excited to let you know that we are launching a new ERP system at the beginning of 2023.

Having thoroughly planned this project we want to inform you in advance that our warehouses will be closed between January 1st and 8th as we transition to the new platform. This will impact our ability to process and ship ink and parts orders during this time.

Therefore, to avoid any disruption to your business, we recommend that you plan ahead for supplies and any known parts needs by placing all needed orders before December 27th to ensure adequate time to pick and ship your order before we begin our cutover to the new ERP system.

We will have limited ability to ship urgent parts, but likely with some delays. Remote and onsite support will be unaffected. As always for any urgent needs, please contact us directly at 888-456-7648 for immediate assistance.

We appreciate your support during our transition and look forward to delivering improved customer experience in the coming year. 
www.kornit.com
Sincerely,

Arnon Dror
COO Kornit Digital Americas

December 6 2022
Kornit Owners: 
As all businesses and industries are aware pricing for, and availability of, raw materials, sub components and transportation have increased significantly. These challenges on supply and pricing are highly evident in the textile markets globally.

As a result of such general price increases, and after careful consideration, Kornit Digital has decided to raise our pricing on select spare parts that are most impacted by these challenges. We assure you that we are working to absorb as much of these cost increases as we can, but at this point, we must implement the following increases effective January 1st, 2023.

The price increase will only affect a select group of Spare Parts, expecting minimal impact.

The price increase DOES NOT APPLY to the following groups: Printheads, Uptime Kits, PM Kits, Pallets, Computer, & Upgrades. If you have a Service Contract, all parts failures are covered for free; however, if you are purchasing parts for stock, the price increase will apply.
  

Questions or Concerns on the Kornit Price increase please contact
​Udi or Don Whaley

The Kornit Storm Hexa is no longer being supported in 2023. Northwest Custom Apparel has spare parts for the Kornit Storm Hexa.  If you need print heads for your Hexa, we have them in stock. Please call Erik Mickelson at Northwest Custom Apparel 1-800-851-3671

​We recently purchased an Alienware computer for our graphic designer to run Corel Draw, Photoshop, and Kornit's Quick P Designer. It is running Windows 10 and 32 gigs of Ram with a speedy processor. Installation of Corel Draw and the Adobe Suite worked perfectly, but we are having ongoing issues attempting to install Kornit's Quick P Designer. We use the Kornit Quick P Designer to Rip the art files to the Kornit KSF format that our Kornit Storm Hexa Printer can use to print t-shirts. 

​The Quick P Designer uses a Sentinel Hasp Key (dongle) plugged into the computer's USB port to protect Kornit by having customers use it on multiple computers. Once again, this is another annoying security precaution by Kornit since they don't trust their customers that purchased the software. 

​While attempting to install the Quick P Software on the new computer, numerous error screens pop up. The crazy thing is we can install the software on different computers in our factory. Our current art computer is running the Quick P Designer with no issues, but this new computer is causing software installation problems. 

​The first error I received while trying to install the Kornit Quick P designer. 
Error when starting the network service with parameters 1157.577.1
This is an internal error. For assistance, contact your administrator or the software manufacturer. Status Code: 48 5 733 577

​The Sentinel HASP Run-time Environment uses port 1947 to communicate with local and remote components. If you use a firewall, ensure it does not block this port.

​Error 1009: Cannot open HASP HL drivers

​When you go into the Windows device manager, you can see that the HASP keys are recognized and working correctly. The HASP key is plugged into the USB port, and the red light is on the stick, so the HASP key is working.

​Does anybody out in internet land have a solution to fix the HASP key problem. I have called the Kornit techs and they are still stumped after a month of trying to get the install to work. Our graphic artist at Northwest Custom Apparel is chopping at the bit to start using his new Alienware computer, but the Kornit HASP key error using the Quick P Designer is the only thing holding us back.

If you know of any solutions, don't hesitate to contact Erik Mickelson at erik@nwcustomapparel.com or call 253-922-5793. Thanks for helping me

After many requests from Kornit owners worldwide (Australia), I am organizing the first ever Owner's Summit. The summit is to get together Kornit owners and discuss the DTG industry, marketing, and partnering to grow the industry. 

I am looking into possible venues, such as Las Vegas or Chicago to hold the first conference. This is my first time putting together a conference, so I need help and any suggestions. 

Stay tuned as I update you and get out formal invitations to Kornit owners.  You can reach me at erik@nwcustomapparel.com

​The day has finally come, and your all-star Kornit operator walks into your office and gives you his two-week notice. You are speechless as your stomach turns and your forehead sweats; what will you do now? I know this feeling since it has happened to me just in the past and just recently. Here are some suggestions on what to do when your operator quits.

​Kornit printers are glitchy, and trying to write a complete manual on all the little problems would turn into a 500-page novel. There is no way to cover every Kornit operating hiccup. The scary thing is all this knowledge is stuck in the operator's head and not documented anywhere. Once the all-star person leaves, you start over from scratch like a company that has never used a Kornit before. 

​The way to make a basic operating manual is to have the operator train you as if you had never used a Kornit before. You start by documenting the machine turn-on process and cleaning the printheads at the start of the day. If you are busy running your business, try to go back and do 30 minutes of daily training. I suggest making simple videos showing the steps and then going back and watching the videos and typing out the steps. 

​Here is the job description I use when hiring a Kornit Operator. The one thing I can't stress enough is, "Do not hire a screen printer." They are never computer and tech-savvy. 

​Direct to Garment Operator Job Duties
A local family-owned apparel printing company of 45 years is seeking to hire a direct-to-garment printer operator for this fast-growing industry. Are you computer savvy, have an eye for detail, and are willing to learn new skills and grow with the company?
 
We will teach you to become a printer operator using Kornit, the finest direct-to-garment printer in the world. Direct-to-garment prints full-color designs on t-shirts and sweatshirts using environmentally friendly water-based ink. The printer is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, and the print heads look like a giant version of your desktop printer.
 
This job is an 8-hour per-day full-time job, and we would train you on-site. You must have computer proficiency, stand on your feet, and work at a steady pace for 8 hours daily. 
 
Understanding the basics of drawing programs like Photoshop or Corel Draw will benefit you tremendously. You should be able to use Windows 10 to drag around files and folders. The printers require maintenance and troubleshooting, so being mechanically inclined is a plus.
 
What we look for in a candidate

• You have a love for graphics, artwork, and t-shirts.
• Be a critical thinker and active listener who can learn the printer functions with a positive attitude.
• Organized, self-motivated, and able to perform duties with minimal supervision.
• You must be a team player with excellent attendance. 

Requirements

• Computer skills are essential for running a direct-to-garment printer. You must be proficient at using Windows and comprehend moving files and folders. 
• You understand basic graphic artwork and are familiar with Adobe Photoshop and different types of graphic files.
• You are comfortable working in a fast-moving production-type environment. 
• You can regularly lift and move up to a 40 lb box.
• You can stand for 8 hours day-to-day while using your hands to load and offload t-shirts from the printer.
• You should have strong math and counting skills. All orders require counting, folding t-shirts, and filling out paperwork.
• You can learn how to troubleshoot printer errors and malfunctions and perform daily maintenance.

​A queue is a FIFO Data structure (First, in-First out). It is also known as FCFS (First, come-First served). A real-life example of a queue is a line in a bank where the teller serves the first person in line. New people entering the bank will stand at the end of the queue (line). We add new elements at the end of the queue and remove them from the front of the line. 

FIFO Error
Today we received a FIFO error on both our Kornit Storm Hexas. The error caused the design to print out of registration. This glitch is a FIFO error, which means First In and First Out. The printer isn't receiving all the design data, and possible data corruption. 
​
Check data transfer from the server to the printer.
The first thing you need to check is the connection from your server to the Kornit printer. The data from the server to the Kornit can become corrupted on large designs. The way to test this is by copying the design to a USB thumb drive and transferring the design directly to the printer to rule out any ethernet cable connection issues. 

Check the size of the design.
The size of the design file may cause issues. If the design file is big, like a Photoshop file, it will cause a FIFO error. We tried different file types; .png, .tiff, and .jpg and found out the .png worked the best and solved our FIFO issue. ​

I may have spoken too soon about the FIFO error fix. Today we are experiencing additional FIFO errors, so I had to create a new case with Kornit Tech Support at $150.00 per hour. Here is our situation and what I have tried before the Kornit techs have a look. 
​

1. I replaced the Kornit controller card on the computer. We had another card that we swamped out
2. Added four gigs of RAM. The computer has a total of 8 gigs

​
Some things recently that happened with the computer.

1. IDS upgrade in March 2022
2. We upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Software Issues:

1. In a few months, we had to reinstall the Kornit program. We booted up one day, and it didn’t recognize our Storm Hexa software. We had to reload the entire program, and I think there are possibly ongoing issues.
2. When we open the Kornit software for the first time, it shows 5000 prints. We just hit the reset button.
3. The software doesn’t drop the tray during turn-on. We manually must get underneath and press the tray drop button.

​

Kornit owners, please help me with my blog.
The hardest thing about writing a blog is finding interesting and essential content. I need other Kornit owners to help me with topics, interviews, videos, and tech tips to better the Kornit Universe. 
Topics I would like to interview Kornit owners.

• Tips and Tricks to keep your Kornit running.
• How to market your Kornit shirts? 
• How do you price your shirts?
• Keep your comments POSITIVE. 
• Anything else you can think of

Please reach out and lets chat ideas
​ Erik Mickelson at erik@nwcustomapparel.com or call 253-922-5793. ​