Making Flexo Stronger: FTA’s Focus at 50
May 2008
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DALLAS, Texas—Milestones were marked, and new ground was broken, as nearly 1,600 flexographic printing/converting professionals rolled into Dallas, Texas for the 2008 Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA) Annual Forum and INFO*FLEX Exhibition. There, they lined up to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the society that is dedicated to growing the flexo industry—FTA.
The event took place April 27-30 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. More than 60 speakers offered insights in 10 educational sessions. Attendees networked with suppliers at the INFO*FLEX exhibition that has been called the “best ever.” Forum 2008 was also marked by the presentation of lifetime and educational achievement, and a Golden Jubilee Special Event at the ever-popular SpeedZone® Race Track. Attendees, exhibitors, and speakers alike professed their appreciation for FTA’s “50 Years of Making Flexo Stronger.”
Scott Gilbert, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., who chaired this year’s event alongside vice-chair Mark Mazur, DuPont Packaging Graphics, said he couldn’t have been happier with the turnout. “I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the content, the keynote, and of course INFO*FLEX,” he said. “Overall, I’m extremely happy.”
Opening session keynote speaker Jackie Pflug told the heart-wrenching tale of her experience with an airplane hijacking and hostage situation that ended with her taking a bullet in the brain—and somehow surviving. “Choices in your life require faith in the idea that no matter what you do, you will be OK,” said Pflug. She explained, “We think a lot with our heads, but we sometimes have to think with our feelings.” Pflug advised attendees to “behave your way to success.”
She recommended:
• Have a great attitude. Expect more success than failure.
• Don’t worry over the little things in life.
• Be grateful every day.
Plug concluded her talk by reminding the audience that “nothing great is accomplished alone.” The keynote ended with a standing ovation from all in attendance. Gilbert said that the speech was well received by all. “Sometimes we make assumptions that everyone wants business or technical information,” he relayed. “In this case, Jackie gave us something we needed but didn’t necessarily know we wanted.”
Prepress Session
Tom Cassano of MacDermid Printing Solutions asked where the value of a digital prepress workflow is. When it comes to converting to digital platemaking, Cassano said the critical question is “Will I lose business if I don’t?” Ray Bodwell of DuPont Packaging Graphics compared the three types of processing (solvent, thermal and laser) and three types of imagesetters—direct laser engravers (DLE), laser ablation mask (LAM) and laser laminate. Mark Samworth, EskoArtwork, took a new look at an old topic: dot gain curves. He declared, “Fundamentals are more important than the advanced,” and “Curves are the most important part of flexo.”
The event took place April 27-30 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. More than 60 speakers offered insights in 10 educational sessions. Attendees networked with suppliers at the INFO*FLEX exhibition that has been called the “best ever.” Forum 2008 was also marked by the presentation of lifetime and educational achievement, and a Golden Jubilee Special Event at the ever-popular SpeedZone® Race Track. Attendees, exhibitors, and speakers alike professed their appreciation for FTA’s “50 Years of Making Flexo Stronger.”
Scott Gilbert, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., who chaired this year’s event alongside vice-chair Mark Mazur, DuPont Packaging Graphics, said he couldn’t have been happier with the turnout. “I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the content, the keynote, and of course INFO*FLEX,” he said. “Overall, I’m extremely happy.”
Opening session keynote speaker Jackie Pflug told the heart-wrenching tale of her experience with an airplane hijacking and hostage situation that ended with her taking a bullet in the brain—and somehow surviving. “Choices in your life require faith in the idea that no matter what you do, you will be OK,” said Pflug. She explained, “We think a lot with our heads, but we sometimes have to think with our feelings.” Pflug advised attendees to “behave your way to success.”
She recommended:
• Have a great attitude. Expect more success than failure.
• Don’t worry over the little things in life.
• Be grateful every day.
Plug concluded her talk by reminding the audience that “nothing great is accomplished alone.” The keynote ended with a standing ovation from all in attendance. Gilbert said that the speech was well received by all. “Sometimes we make assumptions that everyone wants business or technical information,” he relayed. “In this case, Jackie gave us something we needed but didn’t necessarily know we wanted.”
Prepress Session
Tom Cassano of MacDermid Printing Solutions asked where the value of a digital prepress workflow is. When it comes to converting to digital platemaking, Cassano said the critical question is “Will I lose business if I don’t?” Ray Bodwell of DuPont Packaging Graphics compared the three types of processing (solvent, thermal and laser) and three types of imagesetters—direct laser engravers (DLE), laser ablation mask (LAM) and laser laminate. Mark Samworth, EskoArtwork, took a new look at an old topic: dot gain curves. He declared, “Fundamentals are more important than the advanced,” and “Curves are the most important part of flexo.”
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