BRYAN, OH—Anderson & Vreeland, leading manufacturer and distributor of flexographic plate processing equipment and materials, has made a big leap forward in advancing flexo printing education by requiring FIRST certification of its employees. FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) is the Flexographic Technical Association’s training and certification program designed to provide members of the flexographic supply chain with the technical information needed to produce high quality and consistent print results.
Company wide FIRST certification translates into faster processing of customer inquiries as A&V employees have a better overall understanding of the printing process. This is true with customer service representatives handling initial inquiries and technologies specialists addressing more sophisticated problems. Everyone has the same understanding of proper procedures and tools that can help printers be more successful.
All of Anderson & Vreeland’s 170 plus employees are now FIRST certified and new employees are working through the certification process. In addition, more than 40 employees serving in a sales or managerial capacity have attained Level III certification, the highest certification level offered that recognizes proficiency throughout the entire flexographic workflow.
“We support FIRST because advanced training for our employees helps us provide the best possible service and solutions to our customers,” said Darin Lyon, executive vice president of Anderson & Vreeland. “Our team uses practices learned through the certification process to interact with a higher degree of efficiency internally, along with improved understanding and engagement with our customers.”
Anderson & Vreeland has supported FTA’s FIRST certification and training program since its inception in 2006. The company has a long standing commitment to advancing flexo education. This includes training employees, customers and supporting educational institutions, including the Phoenix Challenge Foundation and colleges offering flexographic studies.
“For many of our customers who are FIRST certified, there is a higher expectation of what our sales people can offer due to their advanced training,” explained Lee Zerfass, digital business manager for Anderson & Vreeland. “They expect more from us as a result of our extensive knowledge and experience.”