Text: Filip Foltýn
Let’s not look for a miracle in big things, sometimes the little things like a book can do big miracles. We teach children to read, write, count; we print cookbooks for chefs so families have new ideas for what to put on their plates.
It was 2017 when I started at Albrecht High School in Český Těšín in September to study “Printer on printing machines”. Since the first year I was interested in printing. I mean, originally I wanted to be an auto mechanic/autotronics technician, but over time I developed in the field and gained a decent knowledge from the vocational teachers. Each year at school brought new teachers and also new learning experiences. In the first year we more or less helped out in the binding department as trainees, we didn’t get much exposure to printing technology at that time and more just passed by it. By our second year, we had gotten to the presses and were helping the printers.
I’m happy to have successfully completed high school in 2020, after a covid period where I had to sit at home and study through a monitor before final exams. It was OK when it came to studying subjects like physics or maths, but once it came to professional exams on machines, it was worse. Fourteen days before the exams I had to commute to school and learn how to use the machine. To do it all in two weeks was challenging. But I’m finally here and I can make the wonders in the book industry.
Starting out at FINIDR wasn’t easy. I started as a printer’s assistant with Martin Uchyla and there was a language barrier between us at the beginning. But as time went on, all I had to do was quick look at the machine and everything became clear. In addition to that, I had an important milestone in my probationary period – participation in Drupa. It was only one day, but it was a day to remember.
Some time has passed, a few beautiful memories and here it is 2024, when I have moved on beyond the inks, specifically to embossing on the new machine we use for blind embossing, thermo-embossing and to produce relief embossing. This is where I have found my niche and where I feel most comfortable.
But I can’t just think about work. In my spare time, I do cynology with my most loyal partner, a four-legged female Swiss Shepherd. Her name is LUNA. I also like hiking a lot in mountainous and quiet areas. Cooking is another hobby of mine in which I try to excel. Ever since I was a kid I have watched shows like “Guys in Action”, “Masterchef” and “Yes, Chef”. I enjoy grilling the most. Give me the ingredients and I’ll make it delicious!
