FLEXO Magazine Features
Debuting in the pages of FLEXO Magazine last year, the FLEXO Flash Poll continued to appear in 2017, surveying FTA membership on crucial subjects, coalescing the data, and shaping it into meaningful and quantifiable observations. The surveys asked a series of questions, each posed to a subset of FTA members:
- In January’s Flash Poll, printers were asked about business prospects in 2017. Most expected to see significant sales growth, and pointed to technological advances, lean manufacturing and multiprocess printing to be drivers of the future of flexographic printing
- February’s Flash Poll asked printers to assess print sleeves and their impact on the plant. Results revealed print sleeves are improving registration, stability and durability, while at the same time enjoying a longer life
- In March, it was found that just under 20 percent of FTA’s printer members engage in multiprocess printing, and of those printers with a hybrid press in plant, 64 percent reported it has been running between three and five years
- A doctor blade Flash Poll in June revealed nearly two-thirds of the sample—64 percent—believe their plants succeed in getting maximum value from all blades utilized, while 36 percent identified room for improvement in this area. Respondents also weighed in on cost, material composition, SOPs, thickness, reasons to buy and more
- June’s other Flash Poll focused on anilox rolls and asked printer members to give their takes on cell geometry preferences, how they get the most out of their rolls and how they choose from whom to purchase
No longer content with a single cover project, both the July and October issues saw special attention paid to page one:
- The July cover included the aid of FTA member Trisoft Graphics, Inc., offering its expert assistance to create a cover that was meant to show the birth and growth of prepress. Designed by the company’s Chester Chin, the cover “used classic patterns mixed with bright and striking visuals that ‘flow,’ representing movement and endless possibilities with no real conformity to early prepress and design”
- The second cover project of the year, for the October issue, used 2017’s three FTA Technical Innovation Award winners to print the first two and last two pages. Esko’s XPS Crystal 5080, Flint Group’s EkoCure ANCORA and Mark Andy, Inc.’s Digital Series Hybrid Press each played to its strengths by utilizing innovative technologies. The cover’s design was based on a multimedia piece by artist Michael Tompsett that depicts Fall Conference 2017 host city St. Louis
In the annual Press Buyer’s Guide in August, FLEXO Magazine asked representatives from major original equipment manufacturers to list out 10 features every flexographer should consider when evaluating the purchase of a mid web or wide web central impression (CI) press. All stressed automation and control, and most emphasized components such as quick-change tooling, waste reduction and operator-friendly man/machine interfaces. That issue also looked at narrow web press selection, revealing most printers and converters polled said automation, control, modularity and man/machine interface, just to name a few, are some of their top elements.
FLEXO Magazine continued its Tech Talk Webinar Series this year, which delivers crucial content from the magazine in an interactive format. Hundreds of listeners tuned in to each webinar to hear experts expand on important technologies and processes discussed in the magazine. Two Tech Talks were held:
- Marriott Winchester and Mike Grady from sgsco, and Jesse Zuehlke, Ph.D. from Prime Label Consultants explored the FDA-mandated Nutrition Label Update and its impact on shelf
- Matthew Condon and Bill Myers from Domino discussed how flexo and digital print are complementary technologies
FLEXO iQ made the leap to the printed page, appearing as a dedication section within FLEXO Magazine, and making it easier and more convenient to read the latest on multiprocess printing and converting. Articles explored the essential features of a hybrid press, ways in which flexo, digital and hybrid technologies complement one another, selecting a proper laminator and more.
Strategic advisor Pier Luigi Sassanelli wrote a series of articles on automation. His discussion in the February issue focused on how the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by automation and new forms of machine intelligence, will affect flexographers. In March he discussed how advanced automation is leading plate making in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness. Finally, in July, he talked about how automation afforded by technology can improve all areas of flexography.
Corrugated packaging was a focal point of the April issue:
- Great Northern Corp.’s Mike Schliesmann discussed digital’s effect on corrugated printing, ahead of his presentation at Forum’s “Corrugated Direct Print – The Future Is Now!” session
- Printron’s Jack Fulton, chair of that same session, talked to direct print corrugated converters, who gave their thoughts on new developments, technology, consumer demands and digital printing’s impact
- Pamarco’s James Chesley discussed how anilox and ink are two of the most important components of high-quality direct print
- Chemence Inc.’s Mike Burke wrote about overseas corrugated printing trends and how printers can take steps to prepare for working with different substrate grades
- Shyamal Desai, Bob Hannum and Alejandro Ruiz-Esquide from DuPont Advanced Printing talked about advancements in plate technology and how they are enabling corrugated printers to match offset preprint jobs with flexo postprint
In an effort to continue to better represent FTA member products and services, SourceBook 2018 includes an expanded list of categories from which companies could choose.