That presser kept these jackets aside and pressed them at the end of the day.  It took her an average of 13 minutes to hand press each jacket.  That is a rate that is less than 5 per hour!  This, from a presser that could otherwise press 25-30 pieces per hour. 

This calls for investigation, at least, if not remedial action.  The problem was fairly easy to solve.  Lab jackets can be pressed on the shirt unit!

Here’s how to do it:

Photo 1 - The first step is to fold the sleeve flat, on the seam, and lay it on the collar and cuff machine.

The first step is to fold the sleeve flat, on the seam, and lay it on the collar and cuff machine, making certain that the sleeve is smooth and flat and there are no creases on the back side of the sleeve.  You will be able to feel them with your fingers if creases are present. Get as much of the sleeve on the cuff buck as possible.  Also make certain that the collar is on the buck properly and the points of the lapels are on the buck, smooth and flat.  Lower the steam chest.

Photo 2 - Carefully dress the buck in the usual manner.

Carefully dress the buck in the usual manner, making certain that the shoulders rest properly on the buck.  There will be overlap on the lapels.  Don’t try to avoid that, the jacket will not sit properly on the buck if you do.

Photo 3 - use the bottom portion of the cuff clamp.

Clamp the pressed parts of the sleeves in the cuff clamp.  Use only the bottom part of the cuff clamp as shown in Photo 3.  This will avoid the ripple creases in the sleeves.  Send the jacket into the pressing position.

Photo 4 - even a full length lab coat fits well on a Unipress NT.

Photo 5 - the sleeves are pressed perfectly!

As shown in photo 5, the sleeves are at the proper angle and the result is an exceptional press job!  When the press cycle is through, the lab jacket is very well pressed.  This time in just a minute, rather than 13!

Photo 6- Only minor touch-up will be required.

Once the press cycle is complete, only minor touch-up is required.  As shown in Photo 6, the hip pockets will need touch-up, preferably with pressure, on a hot head.  If that hot-head press is performed within a few minutes, even re-wetting may not be necessary.  This pocket area will not press properly on any NT unit because that area is dried by air-flow through porous air bags while the fabric is pulled taunt by the inflated bag.  The pocket material will not be taunt and the air will not be able to flow through the multiple layers of fabric in the pocket.  Certain lengths of lab jackets/coats my also require touch-up at the bottom hem.  In any case, there should not be more than 4 minutes of touch-up per jacket.  Add that to the minute that the jacket spent on the shirt unit and you reduced the total press time for a lab jacket by 8 minutes – a 60% savings in time.  Now that is true labor savings!

Unfortunately, not all shirt units will press these jackets as easily as a Unipress NT, but give it a shot.  I suspect that even when relatively extensive touch-up is needed, there will still be net savings in time versus pressing the entire garment by hand.

"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got."