BOHEMIA, NY – Mar. 22, 2018 – By the time Forum & INFOFLEX 2018 has run its four-day course, Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) plans to leave attendees well informed and prepared with some serious decision-making tools. In a testament to the event’s theme, “Bringing It All Together,” kicking off the educational program at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown will be a free morning session on Sunday, May 6 titled “Purchasing Printing/Converting Equipment: Flexo’s New Market Scenario,” designed to ease one’s mind when acquiring new machinery. Ending the proceedings will be a session on Wednesday, May 9 called “Troubleshooting Survival Guide,” a two-part presentation aimed at giving conference goers the information and know-how for handling production floor worst-case scenarios.
Sunday morning’s session, taking place from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., will be led by co-chairs Claudio Semenza, Omet Americas and Doug Bartlett, Multi-Color Corp. The full two hours will entail discussions about key topics including price, purpose and potential technologies that must be analyzed in order to successfully make an investment that will deliver on product and give the best possible ROI.
“Our industry is changing and we are seeing more complex printing, interactive packaging expectations, shorter runs and variable information/graphics,” said Bartlett. “To meet these changes, we need to invest in equipment, systems and the knowledge to develop profitable solutions.”
Although the session will follow a panel format, multiple presentations will be delivered, including:
- “Purchasing Prepress Software: Key Factors to Consider” presented by Mike Rottenborn, Hybrid Printing Software
- “How Can You Squeeze More Out of Printing?” presented by Simon Gross, Converting Equipment International
- “A Roadmap to Return Driven Expansion” presented by Jeff Dietz, KBA-Flexotecnica
- “Where We Began & How We Arrived at Where We Are” presented by Mark Turk, International Label & Printing Co Inc
- “How Digital Can Support Flexo’s New Market Scenario” presented by Matt Condon, Domino Digital Printing
Following this and eight additional sessions scheduled between Sunday and Tuesday will be “Troubleshooting Survival Guide,” scheduled for Wednesday, May 9. The final session of Forum 2018, and the only one taking place Wednesday, will be co-chaired by Catherine Haynes, All Printing Resources Inc and Jason Cagle, MacDermid Graphics Solutions.
“Mischievous print challenges often seem random and hard to resolve, but the key to tackling any challenge is arming yourself with the right tools and strategy that put you on a path to eliminate them for good,” shared Haynes. “Often, once you understand the underlying cause, you can take preventative measures to help ensure an issue doesn’t happen again. Our goal is for you to leave this session with a plan of attack and a survival kit packed with solutions!”
The following panelists will be contributing to the three-and-one-half-hour session:
- Bobby Congdon, Clemson University
- Kevin Dittman, Graphic Packaging International
- Joel Engelberth, Esko
- PJ Fronczkiewicz, Flint Group
Forum 2018, themed “Bringing It All Together: Synchronizing Processes, People and Potential,” will take place May 6-9 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown in Indiana. Co-located with the event is INFOFLEX 2018, set for May 7 and 8 at the Indiana Convention Center. Every full Forum registration includes entrance to the INFOFLEX show floor, where 240+ of the industry’s top suppliers will be exhibiting their most innovative technologies.
Early-bird rates expire March 30 and offer savings of up to $350. Special discounts are available for printer/converter registrants, including “Buy two, get the third free” or “Buy three, get two more free” promotions. Consumer Product Companies are entitled to complimentary registrations. To learn more, or register for Forum & INFOFLEX 2018, visit flexographic.wpengine.com.
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About FTA: 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 1,650 member sites that represent more than 1,400 companies and 35,000 individuals. Foundation of FTA, founded in 1974, is the educational arm of FTA and is dedicated to supporting and advancing the flexographic printing industry.