FREE FIRST PRESS OPERATOR CERTIFICATION - LEVEL I:
Saturday, May 1, 2010 | 9:00am - 4:00pm
Session Chairs: Joe Tuccitto, FTA/FFTA/TEST
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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. |
FREE SOFTWARE TUTORIAL SESSION:
Saturday, May 1, 2010 | 1:00pm - 5:30pm
Session Chairs: David Haradon, IPA
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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
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WELCOME:
Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 10:00am - 10:15am
-- Jean Engelke, Forum Chair; Mark Coffman, Dixie Graphics, Vice-chair; Mark Cisternino, FTA/FFTA, President
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FLEXO 101: MEETING THE CHALLENGE:
Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 10:15am - 12:15pm
Session Chairs: Jay Sperry, Clemson University; and Malcolm Keif, California Polytechnic State University
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| 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. |
PREPRESS: STREAMLING THE DIGITAL PACKAGING PROCESS:
Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Session Chairs: Mike Butler, Southern Graphic Systems; and David Haradon, IPA
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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. |
EMERGING TRENDS & NEW TECHNOLOGIES:
Sunday, May 2, 2010 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Session Chairs: John Anderson, Eastman Kodak Company; and David Galton, Asahi Photoproducts (UK) Ltd.
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| 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. |
FIRST FROM THE FRONT LINES:
Monday, May 3, 2010 | 8:00am - 10:00am
Session Chairs: Eric Ferguson, EskoArtwork; and Scott Gilbert, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
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| 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. |
SUBSTRATES:
Monday, May 3, 2010 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
Session Chairs: Rick Rosenberger, Solo Cup Company; and David Nunez, International Paper Company
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| 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. |
INKS: DELIVERING THE MESSAGE THROUGH COLLABORATION:
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 | 8:00am - 10:00am
Session Chairs: John Edwards, Sun Chemical Corporation; and Todd Mannira, Brandimage-Degrippes & Laga
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| 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. |
SUSTAINABILITY:
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 | 10:30am - 12:30pm
Session Chairs: Colleen Twomey, MacDermid Printing Solutions; Co-chair: Paul Kearns, Exopack
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| 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. |
FQC (FLEXO QUALITY CONSORTIUM):
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 8:30am - 10:30am
Session Chairs: Paul Lodewyck, Flint Group; and Al Bowers, RR Donnelley
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"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. |
FIRST ROUNDTABLE MEETING:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 10:30am - 11:30am
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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. |
FQC TEAM MEETING:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 10:30am - 11:30am
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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. |
Be sure to check back here for up to the minute information
on Forum 2010 and INFO*FLEX 10 Exhibition. |
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