FTA Announces Theme for its 2009 Annual Forum

ORLANDO, Fla.—The Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association’s 2009 Annual Forum & INFO*FLEX Exhibition is set to take place May 3-6, 2009 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, where the central theme will be “Navigating the Future of Flexo: Innovate. Educate. Communicate.”

Industry veterans Colleen Larkin Twomey, product manager, MacDermid Printing Solutions, and Jean Engelke, printing services leader, Alcan Packaging, will chair the proceedings. The two, along with a dedicated Forum Committee, are working to build on the success of FTA’s Golden Anniversary Year (2008) and move FTA and the industry to the next level.

“The FTA has celebrated the first 50 years and it is time to look to the future of the industry,” said Twomey. “This year’s theme is a call to current and future membership. Product and process innovations, the education of our current and future workforce and the communication of success and advancement within the industry will prepare us for the next 50 years.”

“Navigating the future requires charting and staying on course. A focus on managing technology, resources and best practices will assure flexo’s continued success,” continued Twomey. “Attendees can expect the Forum content to reflect FTA’s commitment to disseminating technical information, while emphasizing the importance of delivering a well-educated and trained workforce to its membership. The Forum gives us the opportunity to increase member participation through committee input and leadership, as well as use these valuable teams to communicate and disseminate information critical to the industry as a whole.”

Engelke elaborated on the momentum of the evolution. “Forum 2009 will address the entire gamut of the industry. Our committee is determined to ensure that the information delivered will reach all segments of the membership. With that as the goal, we’ve added three new sessions to the event: Inks, Substrates, and Flexo ‘Round the World.”

The Forum 2009 agenda includes sessions on Prepress, FIRST 4.0, Flexo Quality Consortium, Emerging Technologies, Sustainability specific to printing and packaging, and FLEXO 101, as well as:
• A global assessment of the industry; growth opportunities and drivers;
• Consumer Product Company Performance Assessments.
• An INFO*FLEX exhibit hall filled with industry suppliers in one exhibit space to answer questions on products and opportunities.
• Receptions, banquets, and other social events that enable both personal and structured networking.