Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) is partnering with The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) to present an eye opener session on Thursday, October 7 during the AICC 2010 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Baltimore, Baltimore, MD.     

The early morning session “FIRST 4.0 – Paving the Way for Flexographic Excellence” is a must attend session for any production employees and one of the many great learning opportunities being offered during AICC-TAPPI 2010 Corrugated Week. The session will be presented by Joe Tuccitto, Education Director at Flexographic Technical Association (FTA).   

FIRST 4.0 (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) is a set of specifications, not standards. When followed, these specifications facilitate producing a predictable, consistent result time after time. FIRST seeks to understand customers’ graphic requirements for reproduction and translate those aesthetic requirements into specifications for each phase of the flexographic printing workflow addressing the input and involvement of customers, designers, prepress providers, raw material & equipment suppliers and printers. The intention of FIRST is to provide all participants in the flexographic reproduction process with a common set of guidelines, tutorials and data that will be used as communication and production tools. For over a decade FIRST has been paving the way for flexographers to produce a consistent repeatable product. This presentation will provide an overview of the FIRST process while giving a firsthand look at how workflow communication can enhance overall product quality making it the consumer’s FIRST choice off the shelves.  

“In addition to the “FIRST 4.0” eye opener session we believe the week offers great learning opportunities for all production employees including; the co-location of the AICC/TAPPI 2010 Corrugated Week table top supplier trade fair, two plant tours, the TAPPI 2010 Corrugated Packaging Division Conference and the new AICC Lean Plant Assessment Training. With all these wonderful opportunities, I encourage all members to send their production employees to Baltimore,” said AICC President Steve Young.

“FIRST 4.0 has quickly become widely accepted as the most important go-to document by flexographic printers from all industry segments worldwide as they strive to improve their output quality and consistency. We’re excited to participate in the AICC Annual Meeting program and discuss the many diverse benefits that printers will experience as a result of incorporating FIRST principles into their workflow,” said Mark Cisternino, FTA President.

For more information and to register for the AICC 2010 Annual Meeting please visit www.aiccbox.org/meeting. For information about the FIRST 4.0 program, contact FTA directly at 631-737-6020 or email customerservice@flexography.org