Flexo à La France
- Published: April 01, 2010, By By Claudia Hine, Managing Editor
The Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Assn. (FFTA), Ronkonkoma, NY, will hold its annual forum and INFO*FLEX exhibition May 2-5 in Paris. Well, Paris as seen through the lens of Las Vegas, NV, that is.
The elegant Paris Las Vegas hotel will provide the ambiance of France for more than 1,600 flexographic printers, converters, suppliers, and buyers expected to attend. They will represent the envelope, corrugated/preprint, flexible packaging, tag and label, towel and napkin, and prepress industries.
Educational opportunities cover an array of subjects. Forum chair Jean Engelke says, “The Forum Committee and Foundation of FTA have worked tirelessly to build an agenda that reflects the needs of this industry.” Sessions will cover the following topics:
- Software Tutorial
- Flexo 101 | Meeting the Challenge
- Prepress | Streamlining the Digital Packaging Process
- Emerging Trends & New Technologies
- Substrates
- Inks | Delivering the Message Through Collaboration
- Sustainability
- FQC (Flexo Quality Consortium)
The forum also offers attendees the opportunity to receive FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) Press Operator Certification by participating in a Level I course and passing the certification exam. The course is designed for entry-level and nonproduction flexo industry personnel.
According to Joe Tuccitto, FTA director of education, “If you don't have a well-trained, knowledgeable workforce, how can you possibly expect to see increased business and repeat orders? That's why we're offering this free course. We want to help organizations get a jump-start to achieving their certifications, so that they can meet, with ease, CPC [consumer product company] demands of speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness.”
Networking Opportunities
FFTA provides several occasions to mix and mingle. In addition to the golf tournament, there is a Newcomer's Meet & Greet Breakfast, President's Reception, and an awards banquet. In addition, a lunch and a social event will be held right on the INFO*FLEX show floor.
Speaking of the show floor, attendees will find more than 200 booths displaying the latest technology. Exhibitors include Accuweb, Nordmeccanica, Comexi, Martin Automatic, Uteco, Anderson & Vreeland, Windmoeller & Hoelscher, Rogers Corp., Harper Corp. of America, Schober, tesa tape, Flexo Wash, Xymid, and Enercon. Be sure to visit PFFC at Booth 203.
The show will be open following the educational sessions on Monday and Tuesday. The Excellence in Flexography Award Winners will be on display as well.
Also on the show floor is the new CPC Insight Theater. Here CPC representatives will address the entire supply chain about such hot issues as workflow enhancements and color management.
Finally, FTA has created a promotion sure to catch your attention. Converters who visit each of the show's Platinum and Platinum Plus sponsors' booths will get special tokens stamped. Completed tokens submitted to FTA's Booth 717 by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4, will be entered to win a “Suitcase Stuffed with Cash.” The drawing will be held during Tuesday's social networking event, and you must be present to win.
For more information, visit www.flexography.org.
Monday, May 3, 12:30-5:00 P.M.
Tuesday, May 4, 1:30-5:30 P.M
