Hans Pangerl has owned and operated Lakes District Printing and Signs in 亚洲天堂 Lake for 25 years. Arriving in 亚洲天堂 Lake from his native Germany, he saw an immediate need for a commercial printer.

鈥淲hen I came to 亚洲天堂 Lake, I saw the need,鈥� Pangerl said. 鈥淎bout 10 years ago a friend of mine who operated a sign shop decided to move back to Germany, so we started offering signage as well.鈥�

The best things about living in 亚洲天堂 Lake can also be the most challenging aspects of life here. The small town, close community, and rural separation from big city life draws many here and keeps them here, but for some professions the those things pose special challenges.

鈥淲e started with an offset press and a film typesetter, in a tiny building next to Marmon Financial,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been difficult to keep up with changes, because the technology is going so fast and being in a small town you have a hard time keeping up.鈥�

The transition from traditional printing methods to digital production hasn鈥檛 been as complete as you might expect.

Because of his large commercial and business customer base, traditional, mechanical printing methods are still in demand and two of his pre-digital machines continue to provide great value and products that digital equipment cannot.

His offset press can produce large volume orders at a cost-saving over digital production, and his 1943 Heidelberg letter press produces die-cut specialty products like perforated forms or cards with interlocking cuts and tabs.

鈥淲hen we first started out, nobody was able to print a page larger than a typewriter page, but now, with the invention of home computers and printers, people are able to do a lot more at home,鈥� he said.

This erosion of his customer base thanks to the home computer has been challenging, but his mainstay has been business forms and commercial clients.

鈥淐onsistency is the answer. That鈥檚 why I鈥檝e been here for twenty-five years.鈥�

Even though Lakes District Printing and Signs has gone through numerous expansions as the business grew, employment has always been steady with Pangerl and one part-time employee.

鈥淲e鈥檙e producing more with less labour,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 mostly computer work now. Before it was a lot of greasy stuff, like oiling gears, making set plates, darkroom work, things like that. Now it鈥檚 all computer work.鈥�

Hans loves his work and has no plans to retire any time soon.

鈥淲e branched out into making signs, and have a digital vinyl sign maker which lets us make 30-inch wide signs by whatever length a person needs.鈥�

The local shop can accommodate larger requirements because of arrangements Pangerl has with another commercial printer. In the Lakes District, the volume of work means that new technology has barely paid for itself before it鈥檚 time to replace it, so Hans relies on partners for some larger format, specialty requests.

Almost anything a person needs printed, Pangerl can accommodate, and he鈥檚 more than happy to work with clients early on in the production cycle to make sure they get the finished product they need.

鈥淭he best thing is if a person talks to me first regarding things like resolution, photo size and colour space,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t can save a lot of headaches later on.鈥�