More than 60 converting professionals got a first-hand look at the latest technology for flexographically printed folding cartons during an open house last month sponsored by Italian pressmaker Omet.

The two-day workshop April 10–11 included a demonstration of Omet's Varyflex gearless, sleeved press (above) at customer Innovative Folding Carton in South Plainfield, NJ. That Varyflex press—a 26-in., eight-color model—features a quick-change sleeve system (www.matik.com).

Keynote speakers during the program were Jonathan Agger of Karstedt Associates (and Converting's "Prepress Solutions" columnist) speaking on "Folding Carton Industry Trends" and Page Crouch, professor emeritus of Clemson University, covering "New Technology - New Efficiencies."

Says Steve Leibin, sales manager for Matik North America (Omet representative), "the day also included six presentations that helped educate those attending about the benefits of inline, flexo, folding-carton production. We are already talking about another seminar to be held later in the fall."

Among presenters were Kodak Graphic Communcations, Rotec North America, Xynatech, Southern Graphic Systems, Rotometrics and Matik North America speaking on prepress, servo technologies, print sleeves, rotary diecutting and the Opaltone print process. Other vendors on hand displaying products and services were KURZ Transfer Products, AVT, Flexo Concepts, FTA, Harper Corp. of America, Northwest Coatings, Sun Chemical and Water Ink Technologies.