Day Three of Founder’s Circle

What a day!  We went to the Kanab manufacturing plant.  Did you know Stampin’ Up! stamps are all handmade?  It was quite the site to watch the process.

Getting to see the process of making the stamps started with the Kanab employees lined up and clapping as they greeted us as we arrived.  Wow! 

Rolls and rolls of rubber to be turned into rubber stamps for us.

Cutting the rubber into sheets.

Placing the sheets of rubber on the die plates to be then put into the furnace to form the stamp images.

The rubber of the four plates melt together and then need to be cut apart.

Peeling the rubber off the stamp die plates.

The stamps are cooled before die-cutting.

The heat embossed rubber stamps now need to be die-cut.  Do you remember when we had to trim all of our stamps?  So happy this step to process has been added!

Now we know if we have stamps that are not perfectly centered after being die-cut it was because they are all made by hand.

Our guide told us all the heavy duty machines require to hands to engage them.  This avoids anyone losing a finger or hand.  Genius.

After the stamps are die-cut, it was time to package them.  The mounting instructions and stamps are first added to the cases.

Next comes the inserting of the stamp set label into the case.

You just saw the process for the clear mount sets.  It is the same for the wood mount with the exception of the foam.  The foam for each are different.  And the need to include wood mounts.  Look at the bins of wood mounts!

The employees were generous with their time and patience showing and explaining the process.  We each also had the opportunity to do each step.  You productivity quotas were dramatically down that day. 🙂

I was also humbled and impressed with the gratitude of the manufacturing employees.  The knew it was our promoting and selling stamps, card stock and ink that provided jobs for them.  We need them, they need us.  I need you.   I love seeing how our purchases put Americans to work. 

Stamp pads, ink refills and card stock will  e shown in an upcoming post. 

Are you enjoying seeing what happened each day at Founder’s Circle?  Your comments are welcome.

Stamping Smiles,

Day three of Founder’s Circle was full from early to late.  You’ll need to come back to see the rest of Day 3.