BOHEMIA, NY – September 10, 2015 – Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), producers of the flexographic package printing and converting industry’s main event—FTA’s Annual Forum— today announced that the “Power of the Past, Force of the Future” is the official theme of the 2016 conference. More than 2,000 thought-leaders representing every segment of the flexographic supply chain will attend the March 6-9 event, to be held at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, TX.
Forum 2016 will build on the 2015 event, which drew historic crowds and was heralded as the best Forum ever. Next year’s agenda features 10 brand new, and in some cases, precedent setting technical sessions that will impart new theories, exciting research and contemporary practices to an audience hungry to learn how to improve their process, productivity and the all-important bottom line. Additionally, many of the sessions will depart from the traditional speaker/podium format to add a layer of interest and excitement for the conference delegates. The sessions are:
- 2016 Flexo Game Changers
- Direct Engraving: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
- Enhancing Digital Print with Flexography
- Flexo International: 60 Minutes Around the World
- Flexography 101: Define It!
- Flexography 102: Control It!
- FQC: Preparing for the Future
- Hall of Fame Panel
- New Tools for Your Prepress Workflows
- Understanding the Customer FIRST
Forum will also offer a complimentary pre-conference session, hosted by the Flexo Quality Consortium (FQC) and dubbed: Corralling Processes – Ride the Workflow.
Program development is being led by Forum Chairs, Jennye Scott, Berry Plastics Corp. and Paul Teachout, Nilpeter. Abstract review, speaker selection and session format determination is underway. The ultimate objective: build a stellar educational agenda for launch in March 2016.
“The 2016 Annual Forum will prove to be one of the most informative meetings ever,” said Teachout. “It will cover a broad range of topics that will capture the interests of primary stakeholders for both converters and suppliers alike. Our goal was to create new and interactive sessions that engage the younger workforce and the challenges they face, as well as learning from the experts who helped form our industry. We will provide opportunities to tap into the minds of our Hall of Fame members, as well as to learn from the experts on FIRST and basic flexographic practices and principles. We will seek out an international perspective to learn more about global trends and how we can benefit from its market influence. We have a lot in store and are very excited about the line up of speakers and the topics they will cover. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, so come on out and join the fun!”
Coinciding with Forum 2016 is its sister event, the INFO*FLEX Exhibition. Taking place March 6 & 7 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, attendees can anticipate a bustling convention hall occupied by more than 235 of the industry’s top suppliers and their solutions, providing for two days of intensive networking activity and side-by-side comparisons of the latest technologies.
Those experts, innovators and thought leaders interested in presenting at Forum 2016 can submit their abstracts online at flexographic.wpengine.com/abstracts. Questions concerning the submission process should be directed to Duane Woolbright, FTA Training Specialist, at 864-643-0795.
For more information about FTA’s 2016 Annual Forum or its INFO*FLEX Exhibition visit flexographic.wpengine.com or contact Sharon Cox, FTA director of marketing at 631-737-6020 ext. 46.
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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 60,000 individuals. Foundation of FTA, founded in 1974, is the educational arm of FTA and is dedicated to supporting and advancing the flexographic printing industry.