It was springtime in the nation's capital, and just perhaps, the beginning of a sense of renewal in the converting industry as well.

Washington, DC's Marriott Wardman Park Hotel was this year's gathering place for the Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Assn. Forum and concurrent Info*Flex 2002 exhibition May 5-8. The theme of "Capital Ideas for People, Process and Profit" gave the group plenty of room to implement a patriotic theme throughout the four-day event.

As always, attendees and delegates had no more settled into their hotel rooms on May 5 when it was time for the annual President's Reception and Banquet. Highlighting the evening was the presentations of the Excellence in Flexography awards (see coverage below).

Technical sessions began May 6, providing the depth and breadth of flexography techniques, new systems, new technology and glimpses of the future that have made the FFTA Forum so renowned. Session themes ranged from Tag & Label, Flexible Packaging, and Folding Cartons to Corrugated/Preprint, Prepress, FIRST, Flexographic Quality Consortium, and Platemaking. Wednesday, May 8's final session featured presentations of Food Security Packaging, the recently-suggested Flexographic Certification program, and the presentation of Harper Corp.'s flexographic "School of the Year" award.

Next year's FFTA Forum will swing to the other end of the country, as Salt Lake City will host.