FTA Annual Forum Highlights Evolving Flexo Industry

Ken Pavett, CEO of Flexografix, discusses matching flexo and digital to the same color standard.

As consumer behaviors and technological advancements keep the packaging industry in a state of constant evolution, companies that have built their success on flexographic printing have been issued a challenge to adapt to this changing environment. After the first two days of the Flexographic Technical Association’s Annual Forum, it’s evident that the flexo industry is rising to the occasion.

On Sunday, April 30, the first day of the Forum, representatives from three companies with a stake in the flexo industry took part in a round table to present their input on some of the most pressing issues in flexo. The first question the panel tackled, asked, “What is driving the future of flexography?”

Across the board, the panel reiterated that customer demand is dictating the direction for the industry. Troy Johnson, VP of client engagement for SGK, explained that brands are seeking out higher quality packaging at lower fixed costs. In order to achieve this demand, he discussed how converters should be paying attention to their color management software, print inspection systems and job management software.

Dan Muenzer, VP of marketing for Constantia Flexibles, and a member of the panel, explained that customers are driven by results, and one of the keys to maintaining a successful relationship with a customer is to show them something creative and innovative. He explained that when Constantia Flexibles approaches a project, the goal is to achieve an end result that has a “wow” effect on the customer.

While new technologies and the evolving capabilities of flexography provided an exciting foundation for the Forum, the first day of the event also covered one of the more alarming trends in the printing industry. In a session titled, “The ‘Press Crew’ Crisis: Now Who’s Going to Run My Press?” multiple speakers discussed how, on average, flexographic press operators are beginning to age out of the workforce, and how the industry is struggling to replace them with skilled, young operators.

Brendan Kinzie, the CEO of VinEquities and co-founder of GoGetter, explained how print has a severe image problem among high school students. Kinzie discussed how, in general, the younger generation views print as a dying industry.

“They thought of printing as an old man in a basement covered in ink,” he said.

In order to turn around the perception of print, Kinzie discussed how the industry should focus on five key areas. In terms of marketing, he said that print companies need to “Make print cool again.” As far as hiring, he explained how companies should try to find new ways to reach young people.

Kinzie said the industry should also focus on training, explaining that there are flexo-specific training organizations like Flexographic Tech and The Phoenix Challenge Foundation, and if the industry offered more support to these programs, it would be highly beneficial. He also suggested that the industry stop pursuing labor at the lowest cost, which in turn, will increase the quality of applicants. Finally, Kinzie explained how the printing industry should be presented as a secure one, with long term opportunities and no college debt.

Elsie Genova, co-owner, CFO and administrative manager of Poly Print, presented a tangible method to train and retain skilled press operators. She explained how Poly Print has developed its own training program, which incorporates a library of video tutorials and encourages hands-on experience.

“We felt we needed to address this problem,” Genova said. “What we felt we needed to do was develop a career path. We wanted flexographic printing to become part of our community.”

While Forum is dedicated to flexographic printing, it would be extremely difficult to host a printing industry conference without discussing the impact digital printing is having. On Monday, May 1, two presentations focused on some of the issues that can arise in printing plants that incorporate both flexo and digital technologies.

Kyle Desautels, operations manager for Heritage Paper, details his company's usage of both flexo and digital printing.

Ken Pavett, CEO of Flexografix, discussed how his company has managed to match color across its flexographic and digital equipment. Specifically, he explained how Flexografix worked to establish a color standard and produce print results flexographically and digitally that match that standard. Providing some insight into the corrugated industry, Kyle Desautels, operations manager of Heritage Paper, discussed how his company began in the flexo world, made a commitment to go completely digital, but then brought flexo back on board again.

Desautels explained that when Heritage Paper went back into the flexo world, it did so with a desire to reduce the potential for human error. By creating an in-house “color innovation center,” and establishing a mathematical approach to flexo, he explained how Heritage Paper increased its control over its processes.

In addition to the educational sessions, Forum also provides an opportunity for the flexo industry to recognize some of its outstanding members. At the annual FTA awards banquet, Steve Smiley of SmileyColor & Associates became the 55^th member inducted to the Flexo Hall of Fame. The association also recognized three winners of the 2017 Technical Innovation Award, including the Esko XPS Crystal 5080 in the prepress graphics category, Flint Group’s EkoCure ANCORA Ink in the prepress – pressroom category, and the Mark Andy Digital Series in the heavy equipment category.

Best of Show in the Excellence in Flexography Awards were presented to:

• Advance Packaging Corp.
• Industrias de Plasticos S.A.
• MackayMitchell
• Packaging Technologies, Inc.
• Smith Companies
• Transcontinental Robbie.