For the second year in a row, first-year students from BCIT’s Graphic Communications program visited Lordco Auto Parts’ head office in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, to get a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s in-house print shop.

While the students tour several print shops in the Lower Mainland as part of their program, Lordco is the only corporate setting they get to visit. That connection comes from two BCIT graduates now working full-time at Lordco: Kevin Polanco, Print Shop Technician, and Julius Elias Jr. Conanan, Multimedia Designer. Both were excited to welcome the students and share how their education helped shape their careers.

"It's rewarding to show them what’s possible after graduation,” said Kevin. “A lot of people don’t realize how much design and production work happens inside a company like Lordco."

Kevin Polanco, Print Technician, Lordco Auto Parts

The visit kicked off with an introduction from Lordco's Marketing Manager Daniel Le Page, who spoke about why Lordco decided to bring design and print production in-house and how co-op students can get hands-on experience with the team.

"Owning the process lets us be faster and more creative,” said Daniel. “We get to experiment and problem-solve as a team—and that’s something students can really relate to."

Last summer, co-op student Kat Manuel, took part in a similar visit with her cohort and came away with a full-time, summer placement at Lordco Auto Parts as part of the program. At summer's end, she accepted an opportunity to continue her employment on a part-time while completing her second year at BCIT.

“Being part of this program and seeing the different opportunities in real-world settings has been amazing,” said Kat. “This summer, I got the chance to co-op with Lordco, and now I work part-time here. Getting hands-on experience like this really shows how what we learn in class connects to a career.

Kat Manuel, BCIT Graphics Communications Student and Lordco Auto Parts Marketing Intern 

The students also toured Lordco’s 377,000-square-foot distribution centre before heading to the highlight of the day: the print shop. There, they saw the company’s roll-to-roll printer, flatbed printer, Colex cutter, and digital printer in action.

After the demonstrations, it was time for hands-on experiences. Students rotated through stations designed for learning, including:

• Mini bollards assembly with the Coro Claw: Students used a tool that precisely cuts and
  shapes ribbed plastic.
• Banner creation: They learned to assemble banners using tape and a knife,
  practicing layout and precision.
• Weeding vinyl graphics: This involves removing excess material from vinyl designs
  so only the intended graphic remains.
• Pre-masking vinyl graphics: Students applied a protective layer over the vinyl to
  keep it aligned and intact during installation.

The visit wrapped up with a group photo and plenty of smiles — proof that learning can be fun and informative.