Coming to Altona

It is always a pleasure to have customers visit our book manufacturing facilities in Altona. We will do everything possible to make your stay a pleasant and enjoyable one.

Altona is a town of approximately 3,500 people, located 100 kilometers south of Winnipeg and 8 kilometers north of the United States / Canada border. You can learn more about Altona by checking the town website www.townofaltona.com

We trust that the following will provide you with the information you need, on coming to see us. We have also tried to answer some of the most frequently asked questions from customers.

Please click on the topics of interest:

• Accommodations
• Airlines
• Weather
• Currency
• Directions to Altona from the Winnipeg Airport
• Documentation required to enter Canada
• Cafeteria
• Safety Information
• Press check expectations
• Press Department
• Communication
• The Sheet
• Security
• What to do in Altona

Accommodations

Friesens maintains two apartments for our customers who come to Altona. These are available at no charge to you. They are both located near the plant. The apartments have two bedrooms, and are totally furnished. The refrigerator is stocked with basic grocery items. All you need to bring along for yourself, are your clothing to match the season and any personal articles.

In the event that these two suites are booked, rooms are available at the Altona Motor Hotel, 204-324-5241. The Altona Motor Hotel is located approximately one block from our plant and has full facilities including a restaurant. Altona also has several Bed & Breakfast operations. Contact your CSR for more information.

Airlines

Most people coming to see us, fly into Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Winnipeg International Airport is serviced by Nortwest Airlines and Air Canada. We would be happy to make arrangements to have you picked up at the airport, and driven out to our plant. It is a ride of approximately one and a half hours. Please arrange this through your customer service representative.

Reservations, departures and arrivals can be found as follows:

• Air Canada website: www.aircanada.ca   PH: 1-888-247-2262
• Northwest Airlines website: www.nwa.com

Travellers coming from the United States may want to arrive in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Grand Forks International Airport is serviced by Northwest Airlines.

Weather

Manitoba has four distinct seasons. You will want to dress accordingly.

Probably the most frequently asked questions from people coming to visit us are “What is the weather like?” and “What should I wear when coming to Altona?”

While the weather can vary greatly, Manitoba does have more days of sunshine than any other province in Canada. However, keep in mind that the temperatures in Manitoba can vary from plus 30 to minus 30 Celius or 92 to minus 23 degrees Fahrenheit according to the time of year. This chart shows the average temperatures throughout the year in our province.

Currency

The currency in Canada of course is Canadian dollars. However, all businesses in Altona will accept U.S. currency at any time. Since the exchange rate at local businesses does vary, U.S. dollars can also be exchanged for Canadian dollars at either financial institutions in Altona. Both are located within one block of our plant.

• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (located in the Altona Mall)
  Monday to Friday (10:00 am to 4:00 pm)



• Altona Credit Union
  Open Tuesday – Saturday (9:00 am to 5:00 pm)

Directions to Altona from the Winnipeg Airport

• East on Wellington, two blocks
• Right on Route 90 (also known as King Edward)
• Continue beneath Portage Avenue overpass, over the Assiniboine River Bridge, bearing right
• Route 90 (now named Kenaston Avenue)
• Continue south through major intersections of Grant, McGillivrary Blvd., and Scurfield Blvd., continuing onto Waverley Street
• Bear right on Waverley, (Route 80)
• Continue south, bearing right at the University Drive intersection
• Continue south until you hit the Perimeter Highway (Highway 100)
• Take a left on the Perimeter Highway, exiting right at Pembina Highway
• Take Pembina Highway south (becoming Highway 75)
• Take Highway 75 south through St. Agathe, Morris, and St. Jean Baptiste
• Beyond St. Jean Baptiste turn right on Highway 14 until Rosenfeld
• At Rosenfeld take Highway 30 to Altona.

Documentation required to enter Canada

Since September 30, 2007, American citizens flying to Canada need a passport.

American citizens crossing the border into Canada by land or water need ID that proves two things: 1) Citizenship, and 2) Identity by way of a photo. A driver's license on its own or a Social Security Card on its own are not valid ID to cross the Canadian border.

All U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country must have a valid passport.

We recommend that in any case you have a valid passport and bring two (2) pieces of identification when arriving at Canada Customs.

Cafeteria

Friesens operates a cafeteria in the plant. It is open 24 hours a day and serves a daily soup, with a variety of sandwiches, pastry and beverages. This service is complimentary to all customers within the plant so please eat enough to keep your strength up.

Safety Information

Safety for both our staff and our customers is a high priority at Friesens. Therefore we wish to take this opportunity to tell you about our procedures to help ensure your safety while at our plant.

1. When you enter production areas we ask that you wear footwear that has a closed toe and heel.
2. We ask that you remain in your designated areas (the pressroom, lunch room, and customer room). We have planned a quick tour of the plant during your stay here. If you would like a more thorough tour, speak to your CSR and we would be happy to arrange that.
3. When you leave or enter the plant, please inform your CSR/press supervisor where you will be. This way if there is an emergency we will know where you are.
4. Due to the noise level in the pressroom, staff are required to wear hearing protection. If you wish, hearing protection can be made available to you. Please help yourself or ask for it.
5. To deal with emergency situations, we have an evacuation plan in place at Friesens. An alarm will sound in situations that require immediate evacuation. Periodic drills are scheduled to help staff be prepared. In the event of an evacuation alarm during your stay, we ask that you exit quickly and in an orderly fashion through the nearest safe exit. You will then need to make your way to the front of the main entrance during office hours (8am to 5 pm) and to the parking lot immediately to the North of the main entrance with press staff after office hours. Here someone will record your attendance to determine if everyone is safely out of the building.

Press Check Expectations

Our plant is a busy place. We want to put your job on press, and have it produced quickly and efficiently for you. All of the presses at Friesens run 24 hours a day. Press checks can take place at all hours of the day or night.

Please dress comfortably and casually. An office will be made available for you for the duration of your stay, so please feel free to bring extra work along with you.

Computer access, phone, fax machines, etc. are all available.

When you first arrive, your customer service representative will set up a meeting, to discuss your expectations while at our plant. Once that has been done, you are ready to be “on press”.

Press Department

In the Press Department you will be introduced to the manager, supervisors and press operator or operators who will be working on your job. Depending on the print run and complexity of your job, you might be working with as many as three or four operators.

At Friesens we have two viewing rooms. These viewing rooms are painted an “N grey”. 5000K lighting is used to make a neutral viewing area, most closely approximating natural light. There is a table-top light booth for slides and other transparencies in each of the viewing rooms.

Communication

The key to a smooth press check is communication. We will try to meet together with you before starting to print, so that we know what it is you are looking for. One of the questions we will ask of you is: “Do you want help from the operators and do you know what is and what is not possible on the press?” Feel free to ask any questions about anything that you are not sure of or don’t understand. Page sequence, colour, registration, holes and marks are common concerns. If there are some critical elements of a book that needs special attention, be sure to let the operator know. All information that you can give the operator is valuable . . . so don’t hold back. If there is more than one person coming to do the okay, it is very helpful for us if there is a clear understanding of who will make the final call. This can alleviate a potentially stressful situation for both you and the press operator.

The Sheet

When the operator has a press sheet that is a good match, the sheet will be brought to you in the viewing room. In the room we will have the colour proofs, previously printed book, or whatever sample we were requested to match. The first sheet is always the most critical, as it establishes the approximate densities that we will run. It is also important in our discovering any particular likes of dislikes you may have. If there is anything else you need to assist you in the press check, such as the blueline or loupe, just ask us for assistance.

Most press checks do not take much longer than ten or fifteen minutes. When the press check has been completed, you will be asked to sign a sheet for our records.

This will also be the sheet that the operator will use as a match for the entire press run. If you would like F & G’s (folded and gathered signatures) to take home with you, be sure to request this when you arrive. That way we will be able to have them ready for you to take home with you.

Good luck . . . we look forward to working together with you.

Security

Our plant is secured at all times. When you arrive at our plant, you will be given your own card so that you can access the plant. This will be your key in and out of the plant for the duration of your visit. Please remember to return it to us.

What to do in Altona

While we hope to keep you busy approving press sheets during your stay, there will be times when you have an hour or so to do what you please.

Although Altona is a small town, it certainly does have things to offer that large cities do not. You can walk down the streets in Altona in complete safety any time of the day or night. Many customers have commented how total strangers say “good morning” to them as they walk from the apartment to the plant.

Many of the customers who have come out have enjoyed the simple pleasure of walking. Besides being great exercise, walking is a good way to clear your mind after a difficult day of press checking. You can certainly walk for miles in Altona and enjoy the clean country air and some great exercise.

Shopping – Altona has a mall (located one block from the plant) that contains 17 stores for your shopping convenience as well as some other local craft shops that are of great interest. You will find plenty of friendly people . . . and bargains too !

Friesens also has a park with sidewalks, park benches and even a Leo Mol sculpture. Many customers have enjoyed reading or relaxing in the clean air and sunshine of the Friesens Park.

Speaking of parks, Altona has a large park with tennis courts and a great pool.

If you wish to relax in your apartment, there are several video rental locations in Altona. These movies are available for you to rent from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.

Friesens is filled with friendly, energetic staff whose sole purpose is to make your trip to Altona a great experience and to produce a great book project for you. Coming here is a great break from the office for those who do live in large cities and an opportunity to experience in some great rural hospitality.

We want to make your stay with us as enjoyable as possible. Should you need anything during your stay, or need any type of further information, please contact one of the following people:

Doug Symington	(204) 319-8127
Tom Klassen	(204) 319-8124
Ryan Hildebrand	(204) 319-8131
Ralph Hamm	(204) 319-8136

We again thank you for your business and hope you enjoy your stay with us in Altona.

For more information about Altona visit our town’s website at www.townofaltona.com