Fritzsche refers to the Langley shop, 40 minutes away, as the “test kitchen.”
“Langley is where we experiment,” he says. “That’s where we try out new pieces of equipment and different processes—anything that’s obscure—to see what we can make.”
Colourful prints on a wide variety of substrates make ultraviolet (UV) printing a great option for shops like Fritzworks.
Devoted staff
On a typical day, the shop completes between 70 and 100 work orders. A standard daily list can include printing and cutting decals, CNC dimensional letters, 3D printing, making banners and backdrops for the film industry, creating Sintra signs, backlit signs, posters, and more.
Fritzsche says most of the projects they work on are due in a day; however, the team enjoys the fast pace.
“We work until the job gets done,” he says. “In my opinion, anyone who has worked here can work anywhere. They receive a wide range of experience in the shop.”
The company is staffed by a devoted crew of 12 employees that arrives at 7 a.m. and works staggered shifts “until whenever it takes,” including weekends.
“From the time we answer the first phone call in the morning, it’s just go,” he says.
Making the magic happen
Recently, the shop provided prints for TV shows Supergirl and Riverdale. As part of his agreement with his clients, Fritzsche cannot talk about his current projects until they are released, but it is safe to say the shop has probably worked on something one would have watched a few weeks ago.
Just like Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s song, Fritzsche almost never knows what he has got until it is gone.
These instrumentation panels for the Netflix television (TV) series Lost in Space were ultraviolet- (UV-) printed on 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) sheets of plexiglass.
“The jobs come in as production names, and we find out later what show or film we’ve been working on,” explains Fritzsche. “We’ve done pretty much anything that rolls through Vancouver.”
Meeting deadlines is critical for Fritzsche’s business. Given his background in printer servicing and repair, he appreciates well-built production technology that performs under pressure.
“I like my large-format digital printers because they’re true workhorses and incredibly reliable,” he says. “They’re easy to use, and the print quality is outstanding.”
Based on the positive responses he received from clients for his wide-format output, Fritzsche was motivated to expand his print offerings.
“We bought a hybrid UV LED flatbed printer to assess if we were able to get the business for it,” he says. “As it turns out, we use the machine quite often as it allows us to print on virtually anything the client wants.”
