FTA Forum Session Checks Flexo Vital Signs, Ensures All Systems Optimized

The Flexographic Technical Association’s upcoming 2015 Forum will feature a session titled “Gauging Your Flexo Vital Signs: A Basics Reality Check.” This session will cover issues critical to the quality control process. The session, chaired by Andy Knapp, Flint Group and Kevin Schilling, Anderson & Vreeland, Inc., will take place Wednesday, May 6 at 8:30 a.m.

“In order for any print operation to see exceptional results in its finished products, the quality of each component going into the mix must be at its highest,” said Knapp. “The aim of this session is to provide audience members with the information they need to make sure that the right checks are in place. Once this is done, printers can be assured that high quality results are achieved on a regular basis.”

In addition to addressing issues critical to the quality control process, the session will illustrate for attendees what to check and how to check it. Examples of some good and bad quality control practices will be included. The session will conclude with a panel discussion featuring some leading industry quality control experts, as well as a few FTA Hall of Fame members, who will share their experiences with the audience.

Topics and their presenters include:

• “Taking Your Flexo Pulse,” Ken Bell, Berry Plastics Corp.
• “OMG! Inspection Mistakes I See All Too Frequently!” John D. Thome, BST eltromat North America
• Consulting Flexo’s Cooperstown – A roundtable discussion with several FTA Hall of Fame members, including Mark R. Mazur, Denny McGee, Howard Vreeland, Jr. and others to be announced

“We want to make sure every flexographer in the audience is building his or her flexo ‘house’ on the strongest foundation possible,” commented Schilling. “In order to achieve quality, consistency, predictability and repeatability, the whole process needs to be as closely controlled as possible, with checks along the way to ensure that no quality is lost at each step and with each component that goes into the final product.”

FTA’s Annual Forum, themed “Hitting the Perfect Harmony” will take place on May 3-6 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, TN. Coinciding with Forum is the annual INFO*FLEX Exhibition (May 4-5; Music City Center) which features 280 exhibit spaces showcasing the latest products and services for the package printing and converting industry.

To register for FTA’s 2015 Annual Forum, visit www.flexography.org or contact FTA’s Customer Service Department at 631-737-6020. Early-bird rates offer a $200 savings and are valid through Feb. 27, 2015. Special discounts for printer/converter registrants are available, as well as a “Buy two, get the third free” promotion. Consumer Product Companies are entitled to complimentary registrations.

Platinum Plus and Platinum sponsors of the 2015 Forum & INFO*FLEX Exhibition include: Esko; Kodak; 3M; Anderson & Vreeland, Inc.; DuPont Packaging Graphics; KBA-Flexotecnica; MacDermid Printing Solutions; and Sun Chemical Corp.