Saturday, May 1, 2010 | 9:00am - 4:00pm
FREE FIRST PRESS OPERATOR CERTIFICATION - LEVEL I SESSION: Session Chairs: Joe Tuccitto, FTA/FFTA/TEST
FREE FOR EARLY BIRD ARRIVALS ($495 VALUE) Begin your journey to becoming FIRST Press Operator Certified - for free! FFTA will be hosting a complimentary Level I course for all Forum attendees interested in attaining a FIRST Press Operator Certification, otherwise known as the flexo industry’s standard of excellence. With certification comes myriad benefits:  You will strengthen and grow your business You will become a recognized leader in color accuracy and consistency You will win new business from consumer products companies who are looking to award print jobs to those who can demonstrate high-quality, repeatable results, time and time again. The Level I course is designed for entry-level and non-production flexographic industry personnel and is the only level that applies to all job functions within the flexographic production environment. At the completion of the course attendees will be administered the Level I Certification exam. This free course is only available to those who have booked their sleeping rooms at Paris Las Vegas.

Saturday, May 1, 2010 | 1:00pm - 5:30pm
FREE SOFTWARE TUTORIAL SESSION SESSION: Session Chairs: David Haradon, IPA
Experience Vegas early at our unique computer lab tutorial sessions. We'll review key topics to assure you achieve the bext in flexo prepress and printing operations including: G7 Calibration Methodology and software systems Creative Suite 4 software update for packaging Preflight systems for workflow efficiency and file accuracy
G7 Calibration Methodology and Software Systems Proficiency in G7 press calibration is rapidly becoming a requirement by brand managers and print buyers who want consistent, high-quality color from their flexo packaging print suppliers. Converts are beginning to discover that the G7 methodology will help produce more consistent color on press. In this presentation you will first learn the manual method of achieving G7 calibration, so you can then understand what is behind the automated software tools that will be reviewed in the next presentation. -- Steve Smiley, Vertis Inc. Creative Suite 4 Software Update for Packaging Creative Suite has lots of capabilities for packaging and specifically for use in flexo printing. Make both your creativity shine and your productivity increase with the new capabilities of Adobe's Creative Suite. -- April Clark, Adobe Systems, Inc. Workflow Efficiency and File Accuracy This session will outline the techniques needed to develop an efficient workflow plan with your customers to help both of you achieve maximum productivity. Find out which workflow systems work best in different situations, and gain an understanding about the latest in preflight systems to assure file accuracy and less re-work for you and your clients. -- Catherine Haynes, All Printing Resources, Inc.

Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 10:00am - 10:15am
WELCOME SESSION: -- Jean Engelke, Forum Chair; Mark Coffman, Dixie Graphics, Vice-chair; Mark Cisternino, FTA/FFTA, President

Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 10:15am - 12:15pm
FLEXO 101: MEETING THE CHALLENGE SESSION: Session Chairs: Jay Sperry, Clemson University; and Malcolm Keif, California Polytechnic State University
The flexographic printing industry is known to have a strong drive for technological development, teamwork across and within segments, and an excellent foundation of continuous learning and co-development. The Flexo 101 session will provide attendees with a clear understanding of key flexographic printing components and how they interact within the workflow of design, prepress, production, and quality process control to result in best-in-class package printing.
Getting Started with One Color This presentation will cover the relationships and importance of the basic variables in flexographic printing. Starting with a scenario – a customer says they need you to print a specific color on a specific substrate. While the task may seem simple, there are actually many variables that must be optimized before this can be done successfully. -- Rory Marsoun, Clemson University Let’s Do it the Same Way Tomorrow! How do I make sure jobs are consistent across shifts, between presses and plants? How do I approve the pressrun? This presentation will introduce basics of process control –applied to key ingredients in the flexographic supply chain. -- Allen Marquardt, Kimberly-Clark Corporation Flexo's Competitive Advantage for Packaging Graphics: Selling Flexo Flexography is the premiere printing process. With the shortest lead times, greatest color gamut and least cost it is surprising anything is printed by any other process. As an industry we are responsible for informing the consumer product companies of all flexography’s benefits. This presentation will discuss flexography’s characteristics, give examples of best-in-class flexography and detail basic proofing consideration. All the information you will need to SELL FLEXOGRAPHY is here! -- Mark Mazur, DuPont Packaging Graphics; Mark Samworth, EskoArtwork

Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
PREPRESS: STREAMLING THE DIGITAL PACKAGING PROCESS SESSION: Session Chairs: Mike Butler, Southern Graphic Systems; and David Haradon, IPA
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, speed to market is the name of the game. The 2010 Prepress Session will focus on increasing the efficiency of digital packaging workflows through process improvement and innovative technology. Speakers representing prepress trade shops, printer/converters and consumer products companies will address their own workflows and how the need for speed has driven their decision-making. We’ll also hear how software technology can play a role in helping our organizations meet the challenges of productivity through Lean practices.
Applying e-LEAN Efficiency to Your Digital Graphics Workflow Lean manufacturing efficiency improvement techniques have long been applied to machinery based production workflows in a variety of industries. However, in the graphics and printing arena we are engaged with the digital workflows of our prepress environment. Find out how leading prepress companies are applying the new e-LEAN principles to increase efficiency, improve quality, reduce turnaround time and improve the profitability of their prepress operations. -- Jeffrey Hemme, OEC Graphics, Inc. Efficiency through Design & Prepress Automation Tools The current marketplace and economic condition continue to increase the demands on the packaging supply chain with regard to quality, lead-time and production costs. These demands are driving packaging design and prepress companies to explore, implement and utilize automated prepress tools and workflow solutions designed to improve efficiency. By implementing currently available technologies, companies are able to increase productivity, improve communication and greatly reduce the risk of errors in their production workflows – all of which lead to a more efficient process. Join us to learn about the tools that are available and how to evaluate them for your operations. -- Larry Moore, EskoArtwork Streamlining Prepress: Plate, Press, Packaging The premium package is one that is consistently reproduced at the right time in the right place and at the right cost. Utilizing the flexibility of an entire print network to meet customer expectations and business needs requires standardization. This starts in prepress and continues through to platemaking and into the press operation. The ongoing journey to establish standard operating conditions and minimize variables in flexographic printing will be described as it relates to streamlining the entire supply chain. Advancements in technology, the integration of systems, and the merging of job functions will be highlighted as these changes increase skill sets, flexibility, and capacity. Streamlining in this manner enables effective scheduling and consistency for delivering quality products at the right time and for the right cost. -- J. Phillip Crowder, Cryovac /Sealed Air Silos of Information: Harnessing the Power of Your Digital Infrastructure to Better Serve Customers Hybrid Integration, a software supplier for the packaging and printing industry, will discuss using the digital exchange of information to: reduce cycle time, decrease errors, increase customer satisfaction and better service all members in the prepress supply chain. Briefing will focus on using industry standard formats and protocols that integrate stand-alone processes and systems electronically and drive automation from web to print. The session will include information regarding the underlying technology, how the packaging segment compares to other printing related markets and what companies can do to best prepare for the future.  “Real-world” customer scenarios--some that have succeeded and others that stumbled, as well as the underlying reasons for that outcome, will be key components in this learning experience. -- Dan Lacey, Hybrid Integration Inc. Adapt & Evolve:How Sara Lee is Meeting the Challenges of Today’s Marketplace The marketplace continues to place a premium on companies that are willing to change in order to meet increasing customer demands. As a leading Consumer Products Company, Sara Lee is all too familiar with what must be done in order to thrive in this industry. You’ll hear from Sara Lee’s Category Manager for Packaging Graphics detail how their workflow has evolved through continuous improvement, best practices and the use of electronic tools. But is that enough? While Sara Lee has managed to cut lead-times by nearly 40%, they’re not going to stop there. We’ll hear about what else Sara Lee has planned and how they are working to drive efficiency and quality into the workflow while eliminating waste and reducing costs. -- Margie Dehm, Sara Lee Corporation

Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm
EMERGING TRENDS & NEW TECHNOLOGIES SESSION: Session Chairs: John Anderson, Eastman Kodak Company; and David Galton, Asahi Photoproducts (UK) Ltd.
In our fast and furiously changing world, everyone is looking for the quickest and easiest method to reach the premium package. This session will highlight the bling bling that flexo is now bringing to packaging in your store aisle. On the agenda: how to most efficiently get the print to substrate; the technologies and trends that are shaping our future; how to measure color in this fast changing world; and technologies that will truly change your world and how you light it. This session combines experience and knowledge from around the globe, with the latest in trends and technologies, for flexo today, tomorrow, and the next decade.
Taking Flexo to the Next Level on the Market Shelf with Lenticular Labels Pacur, the worlds largest extruder of lenticular lens will present a solution approach to printing lenticular flexographically. Using the Kodak Flexcell NX platemaking process, the Chromalen interlacing technology from Pixalen Studio, and Lenstar lenticular rollstock it is now a reality. This presentation will also include applications, opportunities and brand manager scenarios using flexographic lenticular labels. -- Bruce Hammerbeck, Pacur Cast & Cure UV coatings, both spot and flood, have been a popular choice for adding a protective shine to all types of printed materials. Recently, there have been enhancements to standard UV, providing even more choices to differentiate the printed sheet. Cast and Cure creates a diffractive surface to produce high-gloss, matte, and holographic finishes with the use of UV coatings and a specialized Casting film. The effect can be achieved in both sheet-fed and web-fed applications. The Cast and Cure process utilizes a specialty film that has a micro-embossed pattern in its surface.  Once the UV coating is applied, the film is nipped into contact with the substrate before the coating is cured. Then, the sheet with the film still applied runs through the UV dryer and is cured. The film is stripped away, leaving the holographic effect in the surface of the coating or varnish. Because there is no actual transfer of foil or other material onto the substrate, the film can be reused several times before new film is needed. With no actual film or laminate left on the sheet and since the UV coating process does not omit any VOCs, Cast and Cure is also an environmentally-friendly decorating process. -- Tim Cain, Breit Technologies LLC SmartGPS: An Industry Changing Advance in Flexo Printing Technology The development of systems capable of measuring the combined plate sleeve enables optimum impression and register from the very first impression. This technology provides huge benefits with savings in press time and materials, and reductions in emissions and waste, while offering extraordinary print grade and quality. Production data from installations around the world will be cited and discussed. The sum of all savings is substantial; the impact on flexo in general and individual printers is dramatic. This technology virtually eliminates a major portion of start-up, making flexo a more competitive print process. -- Kurt Flathmann, Bobst Group North America Modern Press Technology Jose Soler, representing the Comexi Group, will talk about the main challenges facing the packaging industry in today’s globalized world and how those challenges can be viewed as an opportunity to create more value for the print buyer or brand owner. Innovation will be the key topic, emphasizing “value added” concepts. Ideas will be put forth concerning new printing and finishing solutions, ways to overcome the standardization of the printing process and the best solutions for a fully sustainable converting process. -- Jose Soler, Comexi, SA On-Press, On-line Color Measurement The world of flexographic color printing has changed dramatically in the last few years. We are now printing images, screen rulings, and number of colors that was previously unheard for the flexo process. To facilitate this quality improvement, ICC color management and tighter process control specifications are required. Handheld spectrophotometers are becoming commonplace in the pressroom. But why have we not seen on press or inline spectrophotometers? In-line spectrophotometric measurement capabilities currently exist for lithographic web presses and systems are available to automatically read individual sheets for sheetfed presses. So why don’t we have systems for flexo presses? The challenges for flexographic presses are many, including substrates, print speeds, location of measurement patches, measurement geometry…just to name a few. This session will review the challenges associated with in-line spectrophotometric measurement for flexo presses and possible solutions that will be coming to market. -- Richard Black, All Printing Resources Flexographic Printing for Polymer Electronics Printing of polymer electronics is a major disruptive technology which will affect the ways in which many things are manufactured, including lighting, sensors and photovoltaic’s. It also has the opportunity for combining electronics with graphics, to produce intelligent packaging. It is likely that printing will be based on hybrid equipment which includes flexography for the printing of conductive tracks, small features and solid areas. A key challenge in producing functional devices in high volumes by printing is that the process must be sufficiently stable to minimize copy to copy variation, as any change in film thickness could affect device performance. Also, all fine lines have to be constant cross sections and continuous. A further challenge is the need to lay down thin consistent solid areas of active materials. After briefly reviewing potential applications for printed polymer electronics, this presentation will describe recent work on improving the resolution of fine line flexo to enable it to be used in printed electronics. A series of trials have been undertaken on a narrow web packaging press on the printing of conductive silver and carbon, as well as larger areas of PEDOT/PSS. Several forms of novel plate technology have been employed to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the ink transfer. This will include examples of printed bus bars for wide area lighting and the printing of a conductive carbon ink on a cellulose based substrate to create fully compostable smart packaging. -- Tim Claypole, WCPC Swansea University

Monday, May 3, 2010 | 8:00am - 10:00am
FIRST FROM THE FRONT LINES SESSION: Session Chairs: Eric Ferguson, EskoArtwork; and Scott Gilbert, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
The front lines can be messy, dangerous and chaotic places. Much like the flexographic printing industry, FIRST has changed significantly over the years to help businesses meet these challenges. FIRST 4.0 features new and detailed information, including improved process control tools, the addition of current terms and definitions, and incorporating current technologies. Even with an improved reader interface, implementing FIRST in any workflow or production environment can still prove challenging. In FIRST From the Front Lines, we will hear from people who have successfully used FIRST to improve their processes----from brand owners and designers, to printers and prepress providers. This will be an "open book" session, referencing specific FIRST sections that were helpful in each case study. Please make sure and bring your copy of FIRST 4.0 to arm yourself for the best chance to win the war on these flexo front lines.
The FIRST Steps to Becoming World Class: A Converter’s On-going Journey As flexographic converters and manufacturers, we are all looking to improve our processes to help achieve more uptime, consistent quality, customer satisfaction and profitability. We have many tools but only one that has been researched, reviewed, documented and proven to address the challenges we face every day. With the release of FIRST 4.0 we all have a new resource to help us achieve our goals and the goals of our customers. This document has been derived from years of experience in and outside of the pressroom. It focuses on the need for standardization and control while allowing the user to work with the document and not be driven by it alone. It is also a great educational tool that can help any organization understand the many intricacies and challenges that have been confronted over the years by the flexo pioneers who have walked before us. The information available is extensive and applicable to what we deal with on a daily basis. Join us as we share our journey as we took our FIRST steps. -- Dan Doherty, Prairie State Group FIRST in Prepress Prepress and premedia companies, at the request of our CPC clients, are continually being asked to manage, coordinate and/or consult on aspects from all phases of the reproduction process. As brand stewards, with a focus on brand equity, we must integrate the proper set of tools with exacting “know how” and facilitate communication among all participants involved in the value chain. FIRST 4.0 is one of tools used as a foundation to this communication process. This session will highlight specific areas of FIRST 4.0 and illustrate real world implementation. In addition, this session will look beyond FIRST 4.0 and highlight other tools that can be used to effectively “close the loop” and narrow the knowledge gap within the value chain partner participants. -- Robb Frimming, Schawk, Inc. Applying FIRST 4.0 to the Design Process FIRST 4.0 includes a Packaging Development Timeline that calls for the printer to proactively communicate ink & coatings requirements, substrate limitations, color management information, die drawings and other graphics capabilities. The Pre-Production meeting step where artwork is previewed by the printer prior to final approval can then be used for design specific considerations. Even where your customer has not formally adopted the FIRST Timeline, it provides a good discipline and task list for the printer to assure that final artwork, print capability and expectations are aligned. -- Al Bowers, RR Donnelley The Brand Owner’s Experience Diageo maintains a portfolio of some of the best selling premium adult beverage brands in the world. For successful branding, strong color consistency is a requirement therefore Diageo maintains a robust color standards program. For the successful execution of this program a solid foundation of print and manufacturing specifications & tolerances is a must. FIRST is a part of this foundation, guiding, building and maintaining the repeatable conditions that are necessary for commercialization excellence. -- Kevin Chop, Diageo

Monday, May 3, 2010 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
SUBSTRATES SESSION: Session Chairs: Rick Rosenberger, Solo Cup Company; and David Nunez, International Paper Company
A product’s value, brand identity, shelf appeal and convenience are all reflected in the quality of the graphic image. One of the critical components of graphic reproduction is the choice of substrate. In this session, speakers will provide insight and prospective that includes surface enhancements, and print process components and control. Discussion will also focus on cost savings, productivity and overall process improvement.
Slip-N-Slide During the summer, kids may enjoy a day of fun with their favorite water slides, but printers will still be worrying about a different slip and slide. To relieve the worry, this discussion will focus on the measurement and reporting of COF and Rub Resistance measurements, along with the impacts that substrates and coatings would have upon such measurements. -- James Ford, Color Resolutions International Game-Changing Surface Pre-Treatment Technology The flexographic printing industry, despite the recently concluded recessionary downturn, continues to experience a technological revolution aimed at value-added graphics, increasing consumer motivation, and delivering sustainable solutions for a host of challenges throughout the manufacturing and distribution chain. High performance package configurations and new flexographic technologies continue to drive packaging into existing as well as completely new markets. The Freedonia Group forecasts revenues for the US commercial printing industry will reach $82 billion in 2011 and that US demand for printing inks to reach $4.8 billion by 2013. And although the global packaging industry is valued at approximately $450 billion, the emerging markets of China and India convert only about 7% of all their packaging by the flexographic process. As new state-of-the-art flexographic technology is installed and with processing costs under pressure to enable flexography to ramp-up in 2011, surface pre-treatment technologies must become a key enabler relative to higher processing speed, wider widths, and requirements on inks and coatings to transfer and adhere to substrates at these speeds and widths. This presentation gives evidence of new flexible packaging print performance benefits using new atmospheric plasma treatment (APT) technology. -- Rory Wolf, Enercon Industries Corporation Trends in Coated Liners Print quality continues to become more demanding which requires double coated to achieve desired results. Improved refining to get minimal print mottle. Light-weighting is still slow to happen but many are talking about it. Brand owners will drive this issue. Integrated companies have no desire to push because this would be a major investment in their own mills. Technology does exist to help with minimal washboarding on lither weight liners. Cooler corrugating produces better results but has been driven by need to cut energy and starch costs. Litho lam is gaining as an alternative to lower quantities as plate costs are much lower. Higher quality and has allowed SBS and FBB grades to enter the corrugated market. -- Steve Rote, M-real USA Corp. Photopolymer Plate Technology – What’s New and Exciting Increased graphic demands and reduced lead times are becoming the norm in the flexographic market and all suppliers in the value chain must continue to improve their products to help converters meet these demands. Printing plates are no exception and are a key component of the flexo process. This presentation will feature the latest in photopolymer plate technology along with some of the key features and benefits that will help the industry continue to grow and convert not-in-kind printing technologies. -- Bob Hannum, DuPont Packaging Graphics

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 | 8:00am - 10:00am
INKS: DELIVERING THE MESSAGE THROUGH COLLABORATION SESSION: Session Chairs: John Edwards, Sun Chemical Corporation; and Todd Mannira, Brandimage-Degrippes & Laga
What are the innovative ink technologies that are being utilized today (and tomorrow)? How do they meet the requirements of the brand owners and help communicate the brand to consumers? How do they increase shelf appeal? This collaborative value chain team will provide an exciting perspective of color movement from the emotional conception phase, right through to the printing/finishing applications and the finished package. Driving established color standards from the beginning of design, throughout the process, promotes: creative thinking; utilization of a common language between design, prepress and print; enhanced speed and efficiency; and common color spaces. We will begin with a global design firm setting the tone for taking the CPC's message/color directives from qualitative to quantitative, providing a case study that will focus on technology advancements for Print Tools, Screening Techniques, Ink Technologies, Print Quality/Color Management, Process Control Management and Color Harmonization (Color Simplification/Expanded Color Gamut). The message delivered by printing inks with the best-in-class tools utilized by the value chain has been a favorable message for the brand and shows the capability of flexographic printing today.
Starting with Design John will share the evolution and process on the selection of branding color pallets to make a psychological and emotional connection for CPC’s and their brands. -- John McDonald, Brandimage-Degrippes & Laga Starting the Translation Ben will share how measurable data early in the process can now help translate the visual intent of the design. Creating the expected tonal ranges of the design and delivering the best color data needs to be incorporated into the print tools and the proofs. -- Ben Abray, Autumn Graphics Ltd Controlling the Integrity The final printed results -Stacy will share the flexographic process and process controls required to deliver the design intent and make-ready results along with color integrity delivery of the printed article. -- Stacy Daly, All Stick Label Ltd Delivering Integrity This presentation will talk about how to deliver the correct color (visually and measurably) assisting Brandimage/Autumn Graphics/All Stick in creating the original color pallets. The discussion will also include the collaboration with All Stick to make sure the correct color will be applied and be fit for use. New trends in specialty ink printing for packaging will also be shared. -- Catherine Vitale, Sun Chemical Corporation

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
SUSTAINABILITY SESSION: Session Chairs: Colleen Twomey, MacDermid Printing Solutions; Co-chair: Paul Kearns, Exopack
Five years ago, faced with the term "sustainability" printers/converters were very confused about what it meant to their organization; particularly as it related to the Walmart scorecard. Today, it is difficult to find manufacturing companies who do not have a lean or sustainable approach to producing their goods. When it comes to reporting sustainability, there still are no standards: is it LCA? Is it carbon footprint? Is it having a recycling program? Is it all of the above? Whether you are a printer/converter, a supplier, or a Consumer Products Company you’ll benefit from insightful presentations on in-house tools, FTC requirements, and the benefits of the SGP Partnership. This "take home" session will provide you with some interesting learning that you can apply to your organization immediately. Will we have a standard for sustainability in packaging? Who knows? But, we can learn from the best and adopt programs that enable us to become more efficient, and sustainable in the process.
FTC Green Guide The number of products marketed using environmentally themed or "green" advertising has exploded, as have requests from print buyers relating to the environmental attributes of printed materials, including packaging and the environmental performance of printers in general, especially flexographers. The opportunities and risks for printers making green marketing claims over the next 2 years is magnified, as pending new regulations intersect with a new president that has promised to put "force" back into regulating enforcement. For example, many of the recycling claims today are overstated, inappropriate, and misused and do not meet U.S. state and federal requirements. Learn what the "Green Guide" is and how "green” claims are regulated by the FTC. Learn how to avoid legal liability for marketing claims on products and learn how to avoid third party certification pitfalls. -- Mark Hammond, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Waste Reduction, Landfill Diversion, Profit Maximization Derek will be discussing recycling options. Lean how to identify cost avoidance opportunities, leverage revenue-generating potential and find alternative uses for previously landfilled materials (such as paper and plastic). Most manufacturing plants, distribution centers and retailers have active recycling programs, but they still have wastes going to landfills. Learn about alternative recycling initiatives for wastes that were previously thought to be unrecyclable, such as plastic banding, bulk plastic liners and sacks, flexible packaging and other materials. -- Derek McFarland, Sonoco Sustainability Solutions Packaging and Sustainability Climate change and the associated policy and market developments -- including the recent cap-and-trade discussions by the U.S. legislature -- are affecting every industry sector. While the packaging industry is not in the focus of the associated global debate, it is evident that these developments will increasingly affect the industry. This presentation will explore the nuances of the climate change issue from the perspective of a packaging converter. You will hear both sides of these climate initiatives: the risks from adopting new carbon-reduction strategies and the opportunities for long-term leadership and sustainable economic growth. Additionally, you’ll find ways to consider the complete supply chain as an approach to reduce the impact on climate change and improve the overall sustainability performance. You’ll understand steps that packaging converters can take when looking at alternate solutions to proactively contribute to reduce climate change impacts, you’ll hear examples of how Alcan Packaging is managing the challenge of reducing emissions, and you’ll discover new package innovations, processes, and technologies that could help converters tackle the coming outcry to lower emissions and meet higher environmental standards. -- Nina Goodrich, Alcan Packaging Benefits of Becoming SGP certified Global Packaging, a long time FTA member, has officially joined the ranks of green trail blazers when it became the first flexographic printer and FTA member to achieve certified SGP Printer status. Come to learn how Global made the decision to become SGP certified, the process that ensued, and most importantly what the benefits have been since becoming SGP certified. The mission of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership is to encourage and promote participation in the worldwide movement to reduce environmental impact and increase social responsibility of the print and graphic communications industry through sustainable green printing practices. -- Michelle Donohue, Global Packaging An Environmental Impact Assessment of Solvent, Thermal and Liquid Platemaking This presentation compares the mass and energy efficiency of multiple platemaking technologies to help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each. The University of Tennessee’s Center for Clean products has developed an Environmental Footprint Calculator that uses LCA data to determine the environmental footprint of solvent, thermal and liquid plate processing. Of particular interest is that this calculator allows the user to input variables that are specific to his/her particular application such as gauge, geographic location, and size and quantity of plates used. Because there is no single answer to all platemaking needs, we will highlight the key characteristics of each technology so that those making operational decisions can pick the best technique to suit their needs. -- Heather Barrett, MacDermid Printing Solutions

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 8:30am - 10:30am
FQC (FLEXO QUALITY CONSORTIUM) SESSION: Session Chairs: Paul Lodewyck, Flint Group; and Al Bowers, RR Donnelley
"The Flexo Quality Consortium (FQC), acting as a select standing committee of the Foundation of FTA (FFTA), will provide the industry with a better understanding of the factors controlling the quality of the flexographic printing process. FQC projects investigate selected process variables in order to further develop reproducible process concepts that will allow for measurable advancements in flexographic printing technology. FQC actively participates in the global graphic standards committees and associations in researching and representing the flexographic printing process and FIRST." In this session the individual project teams will present their findings, and answer questions. This is your chance to interact directly with those who are working to provide the data basis for new industry guidelines and standards. There will be further opportunity to follow up in a working FQC session afterwards.
Wide Web G7 Characterizations The G7 characterization process provides many advantages to printers in terms of process efficiency, quality and competitiveness with other printing platforms. Wide web flexo results are not necessarily consistent with offset or other platforms, so an effective competitive position for flexography may require and independent dataset. This project is gathering data from a sufficient number of characterizations to develop information that will be provided to ISO to establish a dataset. -- Mark Mazur, DuPont Packaging Graphics, Project Leader Defining the NW G7 Dataset Create a data set from 10 flexographic press printed following G7 specifications. Compare the resulting narrow web data set to existing data sets and determine if the narrow web data set is acceptable within the existing dataset, or if two different data sets are needed. If the new dataset is needed, determine if it is precise within itself. The report will include a summary of 10 characterization runs. -- Shawn Oetjen, Dunwoody College of Technology, Project Leader; Mike Buystedt, Flint Group, Co-Leader Why We Are Participating in the G7 Characterization Project This presentation will focus on why, as a printer, we are participating in the project to develop a narrow web characterization data set, and what we hope to gain and how we see it impacting our business. -- Nicole Ross, The Meyers Printing Companies Extended Gamut Ink Selection According to a survey of our membership, extended gamut printing continues to generate interest, despite no real consensus approach or color set. A number of systems and colors are used; this project team intends to identify, compare and quantify the effectiveness of adding various colors to the standard CMYK ink set. -- Al Bowers, RR Donnelly; Danny Rich, Sun Chemical Corporation, Project Leader Anilox Roller Volume Measurement Gauge Study Determine Repeatability and Reliability (R&R) of current anilox measurement devices. As there is no ANSI standard, deviation between instruments will be determined and potential calibration established. -- Dan Reilly, Flint Group; Jean Jackson, Praxair Surface Technologies, Project Leader Narrow Web UV Ink Spitting Ink spitting has been a chronic problem in UV flexo printing for narrow web applications. The issue causes reduced running speeds, added clean ups, and compromises press efficiency. This project is designed to investigate the parameters that can influence the problem, and identify the root cause or causes. -- Mike Huey, Harper Corporation of America, Project Leader ISO Flexographic Ink Standard ISO 12647 currently calls for process inks to be certified under ISO2846-5. This project evaluates consolidation of ISO ink targets from the flexographic standard 2846-5 to 2846-1, to verify that flexographic ink suppliers worldwide can economically provide process color flexographic inks to a common standard color under methods defined in 2846-5, as well as to study an “alternate” option for process magenta within the 2846-5 ink standard, and to verify the correlation of the substrate independent ISO 2846 ink standard to commonality of color reproduction on packaging substrates. -- Jay Sperry, Clemson University, Project Leader

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 10:30am - 11:30am
FIRST ROUNDTABLE MEETING SESSION:
Come to this open forum to discuss and better understand FIRST 4.0. See why FIRST is being embraced as a means to achieve predictable consistent print results with increased productivity. Come learn and share experiences with others who have implemented FIRST and those who plan to. Everyone is welcome to attend as FIRST is a living document built by those who live flexography daily.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 10:30am - 11:30am
FQC TEAM MEETING SESSION:
The FQC Team will meet to discuss the current trends and concerns of the membership to identify and organize potential new projects. Participants are invited to provide input, volunteer resources and become involved with the technical arm of FTA. Last year’s meeting was standing-room only with 3 new projects initiated. Get involved with the FQC in this open meeting format.