A record breaking 470 flexographers, representing a 50%  increase in attendance over the 2014 event, gathered in Columbus, OH, USA, from November 2-4 for FTA’s 2015 Fall Conference. Suitably themed “Flexo, The Methods to Our Madness,” attendees were guided by experts who helped reel in the chaos of the modern day pressroom and transform it into a place of logic, reason and control.

Presiding over the three-day event were co-chairs Ellen Farrell of DuPont Packaging Graphics and Lon Robinson of Tension Corp. Consisting of 10 sessions, 15 speakers and 69 exhibitors, the conference brought the hallmarks of any successful print run—optimization, fingerprinting, process control, characterization and continuous improvement—to the forefront of every delegate’s mind.

During the conference, attendees were given samples and data relating to the cover project, run on the 2015 FTA Technical Innovation award-winning technology, Bobst Firenze’s Digital Flexo Excellence Technology. The samples, through evaluation and analysis, offered conference goers an insider’s perspective into the challenges, trials and tribulations that took place during each phase of the project.

Attendees overwhelmingly praised speakers for technical content, delivery and the way in which they used real examples to emphasize theoretical concepts.

“We had a lead operator attend who was amazed at the items being discussed and really sees why we come back from these shows and look to make improvements in many areas of our processes,” said Jason Roberts, Label Technology. “He was looking forward to going back to work to share all the things he learned and why.”

“This conference, although technical in nature, was presented in a way that would allow even the most novice of industry professionals to understand,” explained Josh Hyttinen, Inland Label. “I would recommend attendance to future FTA events to all in the print industry.”

The10 sessions were:
• Evaluating the Madness: Conference Overview
• Technical Innovation Drives Flexo Forward
• Digital Flexo Excellence Technology
• Methods of Optimization
• Methods of Fingerprinting
• Methods of Process Control
• Methods of Characterization
• Methods of Continuous Improvement
• Evaluating the Madness: Visual Evaluation of Samples
• Evaluating the Madness: Measuring Samples

Tabletop exhibitors included: 3M; 360 Imaging Inc.; ACTEGA WIT; All Printing Resources; AMUT DOLCI BIELLONI; Anderson & Vreeland, Inc.; Anilox Roll Cleaning Systems; Apex International; Beta Industries; Bobst North America Inc.; BST North America; Carey Color Inc.; Catalytic Products International; ConverSource; CT Graphic Arts, Inc.; Daetwyler; DCM; Deacro Industries Ltd.; Domino; DuPont Packaging Graphics; Durst Image Technology US; Enercon; Epson America, Inc.; Esko; Flexo Wash, LLC; Flexografix Inc.; Flint Group Flexographic Products; FLXON, Inc.; FUJIFILM North America Corp; Glunz & Jensen, Inc.; GMG Americas; Grafikontrol North America; Harper Corporation of America; HP Inc.; Interflex Laser Engravers; KBA-Flexotecnica; Kodak; KTI; Kurz; KYMC America LLC; Luminite Products Corp.; MacDermid Printing Solutions; Magnum Inks & Coatings; Mark Andy Inc.; Meech International; MicroDynamics; MPS Systems North America Inc.; Nicoat; Nilpeter; OEC Graphics, Inc.; Omet; Pamarco; Paper Converting Machine Company; PC Industries; Pitman, An Agfa Co.; Polymag Tek; Precision AirConvey; Retroflex, Inc.; Rossini North America, LLC; RR Donnelley; Screen USA; Ship & Shore Environmental, Inc.; Siegwerk; Sonic Solutions; Tri-X Inc.; Vemax USA; Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp.; X-Rite Inc.; and Xeikon.

The full roster of presenters featured: Richard Black, All Printing Resources; Mark Cisternino, FTA; Federico d’Annunzio, Bobst Firenze S.r.L.; Ellen Farrell, DuPont Packaging Graphics; Robb Frimming, Schawk; PJ Fronczkiewicz, Flint Group Flexographic Products; Larry Goldberg, Beta Industries; Jim Kulhanek, DuPont Packaging Graphics; Mark Mazur; Ann Michaud, 3M; Joe Riccardella, Berry Plastics; Lon Robinson, Tension Corp.; Mark Samworth, Esko; John Seymour, QuadTech; Joe Tuccitto, FTA; and Steve Upton, CHROMiX.

FTA’s 2016 Fall Conference has already been set for October 10-12 in Louisville, KY. Chairing the event will be Eric Frank, KBA-Flexotecnica.