FLEXO: Optimization of production sits atop the list of most attractive capital expenditure options. What help is available on that front by listening to the speakers assembled and what they intend to say?
BOURQUIN & MARSOUN: A new press can obviously bring optimization opportunities with the amazing developments and various bells and whistles. But the option still exists to make better use of your existing assets by using them more efficiently… more machine uptime, higher-value materials being produced and getting better decisions from your operators.
TEUFLER & MULHERAN: Anilox inventory management methods will be discussed.
McLEOD & OETJEN: For many printers, optimizing ink transfer is critical to achieve faster makeready, but also more repeatable print results and increased color accuracy. This session will take an in-depth look at ink transfer and the vital importance of what optimizing the plate, material, and prepress play in delivering these results. Understanding how the variables can be controlled and improved will help in identifying projects that will improve productivity.
HAYNES & ROGERS: Every topic addressed in the “How Do I Fix This?” session will offer solutions that lean on a need for optimization of various print production focuses—from screen angle challenges tackled by the prepress department to digital plate standards managed on the pressroom floor.
URESS & SMILEY: While there are many tools printers can invest in to optimize production, it’s often less expensive to broaden the use of an existing technology, compared to adopting something else or standing still. Our speakers will bring real-world experience and examples of how broadening their use of CxF technology helped improve production at no or low additional cost.
ENGELKE & RICCARDELLA: This session explores two research projects that look to optimize plate screening and anilox efficiency that may optimize production practices by reducing anilox inventory needs and streamlining makeready in the pressroom.
DEDMAN & RAHMEH: As we discuss best practices in the session, it will become very apparent that they are crucial to optimizing production; anything that reduces variation and provides for standardized workflow can’t help but improve your productivity.
CONGDON & GASQUE: As the industry is seeing longer and faster pressruns, the technical representatives with suppliers are facing the challenges this introduces. “Improving Print Quality Through Optimization” will include a panel of presenters with first-hand experience in the optimization process, as well as the outcomes of a non-optimized printing environment. These speakers will share their tips and tricks that will assist converters with successful optimization trials and outcomes.
FLEXO: Printers prefer to emphasize job management and inventory management in tracking and tracing initiatives. How can your session polish their skills in these arenas?
BOURQUIN & MARSOUN: We live in a world of data. We are capturing and now storing more data than we know what to do with. Creating a repository of data with a controlled set of conditions will help printers better improve their processes and diagnose problems with data trending in the wrong direction before it’s out of tolerance. Figure 1 really hits it home. We have data, we can sort it and arrange it, then present it visually but it does not really hit home until we can explain it with a story.
TEUFLER & MULHERAN: We’ll debate the best methods for anilox inventory management.
HAYNES & ROGERS: As an example, one of the topics our session will cover is the importance of managing anilox inventory. Learn first-hand how other printers manage this process from strict maintenance schedules to proper anilox identification and selection. Taking control of this management can reduce many common printing problems.
DEDMAN & RAHMEH: Once again, initiating best practices consistently across your operation will simplify the information you need to track—removing variability within each department reduces the volume of information you need to capture.
FLEXO: How and why will this event make printers “smarter,” “leaner,” more productive,” less wasteful, “more automated” and better at everything they do?
BOURQUIN & MARSOUN: We look at problems from so many different angles. Stacking results from a variety of sources is almost always going to squeeze more gains from a process. Communication of what the customer wants and how we should measure/score our performance that should be part of the process. It helps diagnose issues before getting to press, stop issues from worsening on press and eliminates problems from even getting to the customer
TEUFLER & MULHERAN: Most often, we have found there are a thousand ways to do something wrong and perhaps one or two ways to do something right. In terms of aniloxes, selecting the right engraving, utilizing it properly and maintaining it correctly are essential functions of a smart printer. In the debate, we’ll discuss what the participants think about these issues and printers can decide for themselves what is right for their specific operations.
McLEOD & OETJEN: Optimize it! Many of the new materials and plate technologies are great and can improve your process, however it’s not just as easy as bringing in these new items. There is a learning curve and this session will help you plan to make this transition more profitable.
HAYNES & ROGERS: The print issues and questions in our session are not only coming directly from FTA member plants but will be introduced by the actual operators and supervisors who asked them during our session. Since the session is created by printers, for printers, with an active panel of certified printers, you can be sure that practical solutions will be addressed that can be brought back to your company for the betterment of your operation.
BLACKBURN & ANDERSON: Join us on this journey as we discuss RGB—yes, RGB; not CMYK printing—shrink sleeves, packages that move with you as you pass by, and sustainable advances in film and ink technologies that are sure to have a big impact now and in the years to come. We hope you leave the session with more questions than answers; questions that help in your desire to drive exponential growth and ensure the future of flexography is brighter than ever.
URESS & SMILEY: Even though CxF technology has been available for many years, we continue to see cases where it is not being used to its highest potential. Most frequently, this is simply due to a lack of knowledge where the technology can be applied. By expanding printers’ understanding of all the opportunities to utilize this technology, becoming smarter, leaner, and more efficient can be as easy as seeing it to believe it. “CxF in Action” will provide the live conversation and demonstration to open eyes to all the possibilities.
ENGELKE & RICCARDELLA: The FQC session continually strives to provide the industry with real research results that drive technology forward. The projects look at several different aspects of flexography from production efficiency to new applications of current process components. Growth in new market segments or industries is a real possibility for the membership. Come learn about where your strengths can be applied in this real-world evaluation of possibilities.
DEDMAN & RAHMEH: In addition to the industry experts mentioned, our session will close with insights from a printer who has acted upon this knowledge and implemented these best practices—you’ll hear first-hand how it has positively impacted productivity, so you can leave encouraged to take these same steps in your operation.