At presstime, the past four weeks may go down as some of the busiest ever for the staff of Converting. If there was a major industry conference, association meeting or trade show, we were there. When converters opened their doors to us for a personal visit, we were there to report first-hand.

Our expanded News Features began last month with managing editor Melissa Larson's story of DuPont Imaging Technologies' flexo training class held at pressmaker Paper Converting Machine Co. in Green Bay, WI (May 2003, page 16). As the only industry editor at-tending, Melissa learned how the successful three-day collaboration will benefit package printers and the industry as a whole.

This month, we've got three News Features leading off the issue. Again, Melissa reports from the FFTA Forum and concurrent Info*Flex 2004 event in Dallas (page 10). The annual "flexography conclave" was a hectic four days of awards ceremonies, educational programs and general sessions. Among the themes we found: there's an urgent need to follow and emphasize flexo standards and QC techniques; that mastering prepress and platemaking will offer advantages in efficiency and quality for package printers; and that perhaps the best source of new flexographers will come from the high school ranks.

Senior editor Laura Butalla was on hand for the Flexible Packaging Assn.'s consecutive Safety and Human Resources conferences in Chicago (page 8). Such a broad range of issues and legal developments were covered in the dual program's three days that we've devoted extra space to report those trends to you. And while sponsored by the FPA, the conferences' topics apply to converters of every stripe, so read on.

If I learned anything by attending the e/5 UV/EB Expo sponsored by RadTech Intl. in Charlotte, it's the breadth and depth of this technology (page 12). And its applications for packaging and converting may hold the greatest promise. Who doesn't like a shiny, clean, new-looking package? Certainly the members of a consumer focus group did—their sometimes wildly enthusiastic preferences for UV-coated cartons were brought to attendees by Perception Research Services. What technology's about to burst onto the scene? Two-thirds of converters and their suppliers foresee wide-web flexo printing having widespread UV/EB applications within three years.

A final example of our fast footwork is this issue's cover story on CoFlex Packaging in Chambly, Quebec, Canada (page 30). We first learned of the startup converter back in late 2002 at an open house for what would become their first customer. The onsite interviews, plant tour and photography came together in print in less than four weeks. What's not surprising, though, is that CoFlex is another staff-written feature by the editors of Converting. While three-quarters of some of our competitors' features are contributed, we continue to provide the most original, staff-researched and produced editorial for the industry.

Keep on an eye on these pages (or punch up our Web site) in the coming months. We'll continue to bring you more comprehensive, first-hand reporting—whether it's from the Drupa show in Germany, the CEMA annual meeting or wherever the news that impacts your business happens.