The Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Assn.'s 2003 Forum drew more than 900 flexographers to Salt Lake City last month for the group's annual conclave. Among the event's highlights: Attendees participated in educational dialogue sessions; reviewed 158 pieces of award-winning print work; and perused the latest productivity-enhancing equipment from 155 flexo and converting suppliers staffing 198 booths on the INFO*FLEX exhibit floor.

Chaired by Paul Lancelle, Green Bay Engraving, the event opened with a Consumer Product Company Summit addressing the present-day demands of package buyers and the most practical approaches that printers/converters can use in meeting them. The summit was orchestrated by Ken Lowden, DuPont Imaging Technologies, FFTA's Forum 2004 chairman. In the weeks leading up to the Forum, he conducted a series of "Wisdom Team" focus groups to gather input and response of printers/converters, prepress providers and suppliers. Topping the buyers' wish list was "predictable results."

In response, flexographers embraced the continued rollout of tools like the Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications and Tolerances (FIRST) guidelines that would promote measurement and benchmarking. They also suggested development of a "Designer's Guide for Flexo."

Wisdom Team members urged package buyers to "optimize the production process by including printers and prepress technicians in design, planning and review meetings." That, they said, would assist consumer product companies in attaining another major goal cited in 2003—"Getting it right the first time."

Noted consultant Barry Wishner delivered the keynote address titled "Savvy Leadership...No Limits, No Boundaries," in which he maintained, "Business as usual is not an option." Wishner also advised flexographers to adopt a basic philosophy of highly successful business leaders— "No blame; no excuses."

Arleen Neustein, president of Yonkers, NY-based The Excelsior Packaging Group, was inducted into the FTA Hall of Fame. She made history as the first female welcomed into the prestigious, 41-member society. This pioneer in flexography helped to chart the present path of the FTA, serving for six years (1995-2001) on the Board of Directors and the FFTA's Board of Trustees, accepting an inaugural seat on the FIRST Committee and later taking its helm for a one-year period.

Neustein's long association with the FTA brought with it an opportunity to either chair or speak at many FFTA Forum sessions, conferences and workshops; become an active participant in FFTA's FlexSys Simulator Users' Group; and serve on the Scholarship Committee, where she established a memorial scholarship honoring her brother and business partner Michael Cohen, and a second scholarship honoring her mother Sally.

Three staunch proponents of flexography, all of whom made significant contributions to FTA initiatives, were presented with the group's 2003 President's Award. The recipients were Jim Brown, Sealed Air Corp., Cryovac Division, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Ing. Guillermo Antonio Colín Lizalde, CR Consulting de Mexico, Mexico City; and Jean Jackson, Allison Systems Corp., Western Springs, IL.

"It's truly a pleasure to a select a group of people who have distinguished themselves over the recent past in ways that have positively affected our organization and its membership...FTA's President's Award simply strives to recognize and thank a few individuals a year for their strong sense of volunteerism related to specific projects," said FTA president Mark Cisternino.

Two flexo-converting developments were named winners of the 2003 FTA Technical Innovation Award. Eureka, MO-based Rotometrics won for its UniFlex Hot Stamp Rotary Dies, developed by UEI® Group, Overland Park, KS. Rotometrics designed and manufactured a magnetic cylinder to serve as the die's base. The intention was to develop a die that would be less costly to manufacture or tool and that would allow flexographic printers to compete by adding more value-enhanced processes, such as foil stamping, to their offerings.

Wilmington, DE-based DuPont Imaging Technologies earned a Technical Innovation Award for its Cyrel® FAST Digital, a flexo platemaking system that combines the environmental and productivity benefits of thermal processing technology with the print quality and efficiency of digital workflow.

The Cyrel® FAST Digital enables flexo platemakers to deliver finished printing plates more consistently and with less skilled labor, according to DuPont.

FFTA's 2004 Forum will take place April 25-28 at the Wyndham Anatole in Dallas. INFO*FLEX 2004 will be housed in the Anatole's Trinity Hall. Exhibit dates are April 25-26.