The Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Assn.'s annual Forum, and concurrent Info*Flex 2002 tabletop exhibition, are set again to cover "everything flexo" May 5-8 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year's theme: Capitol Ideas for People, Process & Profits.

The comprehensive conference program begins May 5 when FFTA's Folding Carton Session Co-chairs Paul Lancelle, Green Bay Engraving, Inc.; and Rick Rosenberger, Sweethert Cup, Co.; will steer a group of six speakers through a presentation entitled, "A Coalition of Scientific and Technological Advances." Topics include color control for packaging; ICC color profiling; Offset to Flexo...Boom or Bust?; Going Gearless with Retrofits; and E-Business...Where's the Value?

Process controls are moving flexo ahead of offset at folding-carton plants nationwide, according to an eight-member panel of experts, many of whom practice the craft. They will present their case to the trade to justify the following:

Conversion from offset to flexo cuts manpower costs; recurring capital-equipment expenditures are lower for flexo than offset; cash-flow enhancements are afforded by flexo's increased reliance on JIT inventories; E-business continues to enhance productivity for flexo print; and quality is on the rise as the average person discerns no difference between a flexo-printed package and its offset counterpart.

Eleven speakers on nine topics will address flexo developments for flexible packaging during the FFTA Forum May 7. Session co-chairs Colleen Larkin, MacDermid Graphics Arts; Roxanne Baker, Cryovac North America; and Colin Price, Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc., have compiled presentations on four strategic goals in flex-pack flexo printing: increase speed, improve print quality, enhance competitive positioning, and lower costs.

The Flexo Session's morning kicks off with Joseph Tremper, Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., discussing "Gravure: Can it Fight Flexo?" Denny McGee of Mark Andy, Inc., follows with "Narrow Web Freedom in Flexible Packaging."

May 7 is also a day devoted to corrugated flexo print at the Forum. Major changes are in store for the flexo-corrugated industry this year, say session co-chairs Holger Neumann, BASF Corp., and Mike Flinn, Scope Packaging, Inc. They believe their group's five presentations will give corrugated printers ideas on how to reduce costs, time and boost quality.

Tag and label printers are not left out of the mix. Session chairs Jeff Albaugh, Mastergraphics; and Lars Ho-Tseung, Impaxx, Inc., present speakers May 7 on security, cold-foil, quick changeovers and cutting-edge digital technologies.

More info: 631/737-6020, www.flexography.org