Actionable information, presented in the most efficient manner possible – that’s the promise behind Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association’s (FFTA) rapidly approaching 2008 Fall Conference. Slated for Oct. 5-7, 2008, the event will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis, IN. 

The program will kick off with a hard-hitting, high-profile panel discussion titled “The Future of Packaging Pre-media.” For 90 minutes, a star-studded cast of panelists--David Schawk, CEO, Schawk, Inc.; Larry Keeley, President, Matthews Packaging Graphics; Hank Baughman, CEO, Southern Graphic Systems (SGS); and Ken Reece, founding partner of Mozaic--will discuss what pre-media for packaging will look like over the next five years. Topics such as digital print tools and sophisticated color management techniques will be covered. How the pre-media business is moving into the strategy, branding, design and production areas will be highlighted. Moderating this panel discussion is Steve Olberding, CEO, Phototype.

“This panel discussion, and the conference as a whole, highlight the future changes of pre-media and how these changes represent great opportunities for the flexo industry,” said Kevin Lanigan, Phototype, this year’s conference chair. “Such changes and opportunities will need to be understood by every flexographer who is determined to be successful in the future.”

Day two of the event features another equally insightful panel discussion, “Off-shoring Trends in Packaging Pre-media,” which, according to Lanigan, is starting to become a big factor as the demand for lower costs, faster turnaround, and a totally electronic environment has led many companies to consider moving some, or all of their production needs to an off-shore entity. Apropos of the title, panelists include a cast of international players--Terry Austin, Schawk UK, Inc; Marriott Winchester, SGS International; DJ Balodi, Comark One Pre Media (based in India); Larry Keeley, Matthews Packaging Graphics, and Mike Kirk, KCS/Express Packaging.

Concurrent technical sessions will strengthen and supplement these high profile panel discussions. One session will focus on Packaging Prepress & Pre-media; the other,  Pre-media Printing Technology. Attendees will learn about the latest OEM advancements aimed at automating press set-up, color matching and control - all factors that help reduce make-ready and waste, while increasing productivity and enabling calibration and color-matching work done in prepress. Presenting will be representatives from major manufacturers including Fischer & Krecke and Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. Additional topics include: G7/Near-Neutral Calibration, Quality Control in an Electronic Environment, Fingerprinting Procedures for Matching Proof to Press, Digital Proofing, Flexo-in-the-Round, and a drupa update, to name just a few.

Bill Poulson, Harper Corporation of America, and conference co-chair commented “This year’s conference will encompass all aspects of prepress, without losing sight of the press or production side of things, which we all know can make or break even the most advanced of prepress efforts.” He went on to add “Emerging technologies, as well as the day-to-day techniques such as ink calibration and standardization will be discussed. All in all, attendees will have an abundance of take-home ideas that are both ripe for implementation and helpful in improving the operation’s bottom-line.”

Those interested in attending FFTA’s 2008 Fall Conference “Packaging Pre-media: Navigating the Shifting Sands From Strategy to Store Shelf” can take advantage of the early bird registration rates of $395 for FTA members and $795 for non-members, until Sept. 5, 2008. Thereafter, rates increase to $595 for members and $995 for non-members. 

In addition to its technical and educational content, FFTA's Fall Conference will feature a tabletop exhibition, which will coincide with conference breaks, breakfasts, lunches and two networking receptions. Conference exhibitors include: All Printing Resources, Inc.; Anderson & Vreeland, Inc.; Beta Industries; DuPont Imaging Technologies; Eastman Kodak Company; EskoArtwork; Harper Corporation of America; Interflex Laser Engravers; Lubrizol Advanced Materials; MacDermid Printing Solutions; Max Daetwyler Corporation; Phototype; PRPflexo, Inc.; and The Provident Group.