BOHEMIA, NY – Oct. 28, 2014 –More than 300 flexographers turned out last week for Flexographic Technical Association’s (FTA) 2014 Fall Conference in Minneapolis, MN. There, they went “Beyond the Concept,” to see “Innovation in Action.” Co-chairs PJ Fronczkiewicz of Flint Group Flexographic Products and Bill Malm of Flexo Wash presided over the Oct. 20-22 event that boasted a packed agenda covering multiple instances of forward leaning processes being used today. The two and one-half day program wrapped up with a tour of 3M’s Innovation Center.
Consisting of seven sessions, 20 speakers and nearly 60 tabletop exhibitors/sponsors, the conference brought transformative innovations to the forefront of every delegate’s mind.
Attendees overwhelmingly praised speakers for technical content, delivery and the way in which they used practical examples to emphasize theoretical concepts.
“Very, very informative. A much bigger picture to consider,” commented attendee Curtis Smith of Luminite Products. Prairie State Group’s Dan Doherty echoed that sentiment, noting “good perspective on what the future will look like that raises the question ‘How do we prepare?’” On the session evaluations, Kodak’s John Anderson noted, “This is the type of content that justifies attendance on its own.”
The seven sessions were:
- Process of Innovation
- Innovation Through FIRST
- Innovation & The Image Carrier – Part I, II & III
- 2014 Technical Innovation Winners
- Printed Electronics
- Innovative Flexo Workflow Solutions
- FQC Expanded Gamut 2 Conclusions
Sponsors and tabletop exhibitors included: 3M; All Printing Resources, Inc.; Anderson & Vreeland, Inc.; Asahi Kasei; Beta Industries; Bobst North America, Inc.; Braden Sutphin Ink Co.; Bradley Systems, Inc.; Carey Color Inc.; CGS; Daetwyler Corporation; Datalase Ltd.; DCM Usimeca; DuPont Packaging Graphics; Eaglewood Technologies; EFI (Electronics for Imaging); eltromat America, Inc.; Enercon Industries Corporation; Epson America; Erhardt + Leimer; Esko; Flexo Concepts; Flexo Wash, LLC; Flint Group Flexographic Products; FLXON; Global Vision; Glunz & Jensen, Inc.; grafikAmerica; Graymills; GTI Graphics Technology, Inc.; Harper Corporation of America; Interflex Laser Engravers; JUST Normlicht Inc.; KBA-Flexotecnica; Kodak; Kurz Transfer Products, LP; Luminite Products Corporation; MacDermid Printing Solutions; Mark Andy, Inc.; Matik; MCS, Inc.; Nilpeter USA; NSC USA, Inc.; OEC Graphics, Inc.; Pamarco Global Graphics; PCMC; Pitman, An Agfa Co.; Precision AirConvey; Provident Group; QuadTech, Inc.; Retroflex Inc.; Rossini NA LLC; Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc.; Tri-X Incorporated; TCFA (Twin Cities Flexo Association); Windmoeller & Hoelscher; X-Rite; Xeikon; and XericWeb Drying Systems.
The full roster of presenters featured: James Sax of 3M, Mike Ferrari, Ferrari Innovation Solutions, LLC, Mark R. Mazur and Ed Schieffer of DuPont Packaging Graphics, Jennye Scott of Berry Plastics Corp., Rory Marsoun and Mark Samworth of Esko, Al Bowers of RR Donnelley, Nick Brunk of Kodak, Jim Davies of Overwraps Packaging, Inc., Rich Emmerling of Flint Group Flexographic Products, David Recchia, MacDermid Printing Solutions, Jon Parkes, American Packaging Corporation, Edwin Woods of Cyber Graphics, Matt Elliott of Bemis Graphics, Dieter Neiderstadt of Asahi Kasei/Asahi Photoproducts, Gene Martin of The Robinette Co., Richard Black and Paul Lancelle of All Printing Resources, Inc., Chip Tonkin, Brad Gasque and Liam O’Hara of the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design & Graphics at Clemson University, Mike Orcutt of Matthews Packaging Graphics, and Jeff Aker, SGS International.
A full recap of the event will be featured in FLEXO Magazine’s November issue.
The venue and dates for FTA’s 2015 Fall Conference have already been solidified—November 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, OH. Ellen Farrell, DuPont Packaging Graphics, will be the conference chair and is looking forward to building a successful 2015 program.
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About FTA/FFTA: Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), chartered in 1958, is a professional society dedicated to bringing all members of the flexographic printing community—printers, suppliers, consumer product companies, institutions, prepress houses and others–together by providing opportunities for the free exchange of technical ideas and discussion of mutual concerns. It is a proponent of maintaining and advancing quality standards and includes 1,300 member sites that represent more than 50,000 individuals. Foundation of FTA, founded in 1974, is the educational arm of FTA and is dedicated to supporting and advancing the flexographic printing industry.