I've Seen More Bad Relocations Than Good Ones. Size Isn't the Problem.
I've been handling Goss press relocation and parts orders for about seven years now. In my first year (2017), I made what I thought was a small mistake on a 'small' client job. It wasn't. The result? A $3,200 order for Goss Community parts sat unused because the relocation specs were just slightly off. The customer didn't reorder for two years.
That's the thing. In the printing world, a 'small' shop with a Goss Urbanite or Community isn't less important than a national publisher. Their investment is real. Their need for a working press is just as urgent. I believe the industry's tendency to treat small relocation projects differently is a huge, expensive mistake.
Weirdly, I Was the One Who Made This Mistake the Loudest at First
In 2019, we had a client looking to move a smaller Goss Community. They asked for a full on-site consultation. My first thought—and I'm not proud of this—was 'Is it worth our time for a press that small?' Instead of blowing them off, I gave them a quick ballpark quote. I didn't check the foundation specs. I didn't ask about their power setup. I treated it like a 'quick and easy' job. It wasn't.
The foundation for their building turned out to be a nightmare—completely non-level and full of old rebar. The standard set of Goss press parts we ordered had to be swapped out for specialty anchors. The job went from a 4-day project to a 10-day delay. The mistake wasn't theirs. It was mine. I saved maybe $300 on the initial survey by being lazy. Net loss in rework and reputation: easily $3,500.
Here Are Three Lessons I Keep Having to Re-Learn
1. 'Small' Press, Big Headaches
Honestly, I used to think a Goss Community relocation was basically plug-and-play. It's not. The control wiring on these older models can be a nightmare. I once spent an afternoon trying to figure out why a press wouldn't even start after a move—the previous owner had wired the safety stop wrong. Knowing the specific serial number and, if possible, getting a photo of the original electrics is not just helpful. It's critical. Seriously, don't skip this.
It's not just a press. It's a system with history. Ignoring that is a deal-breaker.
2. The Parts Cost Isn't the Main Event
Everyone focuses on the cost of Goss press parts. Is the roller cheaper from a remanufacturer? Can we use a 'good enough' blanket? These are fine questions, but the real cost is downtime. That small shop that moves their press on a long weekend? They're losing money for every extra day they can't print. I've seen a company save $200 on a part, but lose $2,000 in production. The 'budget vendor' choice looked smart until the part didn't fit. Reprinting cost more than the original 'expensive' quote.
A lesson learned the hard way.
3. A Checklist Isn't Just for Beginners
After the third rejection in Q1 2024—yes, a full gear train was installed backward (not my fault, but I caught it)—I created our pre-check list. It's not some fancy document. It's a single page that asks: verified serial number? Motor voltage confirmed? Are the rubber rollers stored in a cool, dry place? (You'd be surprised how many aren't). We've caught 47 potential errors using this in the past 18 months. Most were on the jobs everyone assumed were 'easy.'
The small jobs. The ones that don't get the attention.
What About the 'Big' Competitors?
Some will say it's cheaper to just buy a new press or to only work with massive OEMs. That's a valid point. Sometimes the math works out. But for most small shops I work with, a fully reconditioned Goss or Urbanite press is their only path to a quality print. The alternative isn't a fancy new machine. It's going out of business. We're not talking about a $500,000 Heidelberg versus a $50,000 second-hand press. We're talking about a $50,000 press making a shop viable. Pinching pennies on the relocation is like buying a car and not paying for the gas to drive it home.
Small Means Potential. Period.
Look, the printing industry changes fast. As of early 2025, the market for smaller-used presses is actually growing. The shops that will survive aren't the ones with the biggest factories. They're the ones that can adapt. And a well-relocated Goss Community or Urbanite is a fantastic tool for that.
Are new presses better? In many ways, yes. Should you pay the same for a move on a small press as a big one? No. But the attention to detail? The respect for the machine and the customer's investment? That has to be exactly the same. I learned this in 2017. Things may have evolved since then, but the core lesson hasn't. Small clients aren't a nuisance. They're the future. And treating them otherwise is a mistake I won't make again.