Sun Chemical has released its Autumn 2025 Regulatory Newsletter, which provides customers with updates on the latest regulatory issues impacting the packaging, inks and pigments industries.
- Published: October 9, 2025
SOMA, producer of flexographic printing presses, plate mounters, slitter rewinders and laminators, successfully demonstrated a first of its kind remote, offsite flexo press run via a live video feed from the Flexo Xperience Center during the FTA Technical Conference. As part of its session, ‘Proof in Print Teaching FIRST 7.0 Measurement & Verification Through a Live Press Run’, SOMA explained how FTA FIRST measurement and verification can play an important role in effective flexographic printing. The session was delivered by Garrett Taylor, SOMA North America Sales Director, and Bob Coomes, Graphics, Pre-Press and Print Specialist at PPC Flex, member of the FTA & FFTA Board of Directors, and FIRST Implementation Specialist & Pre-Press Operator – Level III.
FIRST: a methodical process approach for flexo printing
Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications-and Tolerances (FIRST) supports a methodical approach to process control, optimization, fingerprinting, characterization and process improvement. While each organization may use its own workflow based upon its specific needs, there are certain fundamentals universal to the flexographic printing process. With a firm understanding and application of the FIRST methodology, flexographers can identify potentially troublesome issues, benchmark press performance, utilize statistical analysis to maintain optimal conditions, perform accurate device calibrations, identify improvement opportunities and preserve stable conditions for repeatable results—all with the end result of satisfactorily reproducing the graphic design.
In FIRST 7.0, measurement and verification is all about quantifying what is done on press—and ensuring that it meets defined expectations. It’s about knowing you have good print. That means taking real measurements, comparing them to targets, and making data-driven decisions. It ensures consistency and reliability, improves quality, and reduces waste and downtime.
In this session, a live SOMA Optima2 flexo press run became a powerful tool for teaching the importance of measuring, verifying, and maintaining print standards in real time. Using real-world examples, attendees saw a real-time walk-through of the steps of setting targets, capturing data, and making adjustments—demonstrating how measurement drives process control. Whether training new operators or reinforcing best practices, the session proved that when it comes to print quality, seeing is believing. “It’s something we have actively seen for ourselves in our Flexo Xperience Center (FXC) challenges. Visitors to our live sessions receive valuable hands-on experience,” notes Taylor.
Designed to provide foundational knowledge in flexographic printing, FIRST Level 1: Introduction to Flexography is also available as an in-person training experience—delivered at the customer’s facility by an FTA-certified instructor. The new offering is available to any company in the industry and is ideal for groups as small as five employees. “When people see the concepts applied in real time on a live press run, they connect the dots. It’s one thing to talk about Delta E—another to see it change as you tweak ink density,” explains Coomes. “This method resonates with visual learners, press operators—even sales teams. It makes the FIRST specifications feel more relevant and actionable. The best part of this process is that we can show data that presents an issue, and we can fix it live. We’re not saying something is wrong—we’re showing why it’s wrong and how to bring it back to spec. We’re able to teach how to take corrective action. Then, people begin to see measurement and verification as a tool; not a burden.”
“Measurement and verification are essential for print quality and process control, and FIRST 7.0 provides the roadmap—it just needs to be followed. SOMA helped demonstrate how a live press run is one of the best ways to teach and reinforce these concepts. We also find that the way to make this ‘stick’ in the real world is by building training into everyday production. Use jobs as learning opportunities,” adds Coomes. “Assign team members to measure, document, and report on measurement and verification results. That helps to encourage questions and get even more from the printing experience.”
“We were very thankful to be able to work with the FTA on this session. While we were the first to ever successfully manage a demo run from a remote location, there are other experience centers around the country. We encourage people to take advantage of these types of sessions, and talk with operators,” concludes Taylor. “We know that the FTA is planning a similar hands-on session at Clemson University this fall, and conducting FIRST training at the FXC in Atlanta next year. We’d advise people that it would be advantageous to register a spot at one—or both—of these sessions.”
