It's probably the most valuable asset in our program from the standpoint of training our students," says Steve Utschig, flexo printing instructor.

Utschig is talking about the PCMC Avantie press installed one year ago at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI. The school recently celebrated the first anniversary of the press' startup. The 8-color gearless CI-flexo press from Paper Converting Machine Co., Green Bay, WI, is the centerpiece of FVTC's wide-web training programs.

"In the past we had a 1989 vintage 6-color press. Now we're state-of-the-art, and I believe there is no other school in flexography that has access to the technology we have today," Utschig says.

With the Avanti's installation has come much R&D work as well. Numerous industry companies come to FVTC to test different materials to see how they run and print on the press. "Now, we're known as the premier flexo R&D facility in the Midwest or even the country," Utschig says. "We've been very busy with the R&D program and customized training for the flexo industry."