Training and Education

Heidelberg recently hosted its annual SkillsUSA Georgia Competition in Advertising and Design and Graphic Communications.

For the 18th year, graphic arts students and teachers from throughout the United States and Canada will participate in the Phoenix Challenge Foundation’s 2015 High School Competition. The event comprises a two and half-day skills-based competition with hands-on and comprehensive testing in printing mathematics, flexo press operation, prepress, plate-making, and overall flexo knowledge.

Because of the diverse nature of packaging applications in various markets, from food and beverage packaging to health and beauty packaging, no one set of label properties will deliver the best performance and aesthetics in every case. Careful consideration should be made regarding every aspect of a labeling application to determine how to best balance functionality and visual appeal. It is important to consider more than just a label's facestock when choosing labeling materials.

BURNSVILLE, Minn.—Allied Development has released a study titled "U.S. Microwaveable Packaging 2009 to 2013," designed for packaging converters, raw material suppliers, equipment and machinery suppliers, brand owners, and industry analysts. The study examines the future of the U.S. microwaveable packaging market with segment forecasts to 2013; analysis of emerging trends, market conditions, and market drivers; current dollar values and consumption volumes with projections to 2013; and the latest technology developments and the opportunities they afford.

Everything you ever wanted to know about packaging. . .in one neat package! "Package Printing, Second Edition" is the definitive guide to this ubiquitous graphic communication medium. This book, written for the packaging buyer, printer, designer or industry supplier, can be used as a reference, textbook or training tool.

LEEDS, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom—MetalFX® Technology, a Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation subsidiary, has inaugurated a Web training program for graphic designers. The training, conducted by MetalFX technicians in both North America and Europe, is available at no charge to graphic designers who wish to learn how to use its metallic design software. Discussing the new training program, MetalFX Vice President Americas Mark Geeves said: “Graphic designers benefit greatly from this specialized Web training program, which includes development of actual files suitable for printing using the MetalFX process. These hands-on sessions enable designers and printer prepress personnel to take full advantage of this powerful new

PARAMUS, N.J.-H. A. Bruno, LLC, organizers of CPP EXPO Chicago, have finalized the educational program which will complement the activity on the CPP EXPO show floor, and all activities throughout McCormick Place. Taking place Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 2006, CPP EXPO has partnered with leading technical providers in crafting a program that focuses on the fundamentals in converting operations and also provides innovation on the flexible packaging front. The program takes place over the course of 4 days; a sampling of the sessions follows: AIMCAL presents: Coating & Laminating – 3- part presentation: “Top 11 Steps to Prevent Defects”; Moderated by Edward D. Cohen - Edward D.

When Robin Williams’ character, Mork, in the 1978 TV hit “Mork & Mindy” signed off each episode with “Na no, na no” (Orkan for good-bye), maybe he was trying to be a predictor of something more significant. Maybe, even, it was déjà vu all over again, a take off from when Benjamin Braddock, Dustin Hoffman’s character in the 1967 movie classic “The Graduate,” told us more directly to invest in plastics. Although it might be too late to get into plastics, with “Na no, na no,” more specifically, nanotechnology, the time could be right to get in the game. In the June 2006 issue

Do you know understand the acronym jungle of RFID standards groups—IATA, CEN, ETSI, ANSI, AIAG, ISO? Does HF and UHF mean anything to you? How about ISO18000, EPC Class 1, Generation 2, ISO10374.2, ISO17365, or ISO17364? If not, you have to read packagePRINTING’s July TechnologyUpdate, called “A Dog’s Tale on RFID Standards.” Written by TAGSYS’ Director of Global Marketing & Public Relations Ken Reich and the company’s Chief Technology Officer Alastair McArthur, the article explains the ins and outs of RFID standards—where they are today, where it appears they are headed, and what new developments are in the pipeline. RFID standards are confusing and