FLEXO: What thoughts do you have in speaking to the evolution and continuous improvement of highly visible properties, like FORUM, INFOFLEX, TEST, FLEXO, the Excellence in Flexography Awards, FIRST, FQC, etc.
FRIMMING: We are not resting on the past success of these programs. We do plan to continuously improve on each. One visible change is the rebranding of our Fall Conference to now be the Fall Technical Conference and INFOFLEX. We want to lean into the historical fact that this event has always been a very technical event and bring INFOFLEX to the forefront.
With FIRST certifications, our refresh will incorporate the latest knowledge from FIRST 7.0, along with some language options other than English available later this year. TEST will also offer professional development courses and our involvement with the Clemson STRIPE training modules will surface this year.
We do plan to continuously improve as well. We have plans to engage members, refresh existing committees and create new committees to keep moving forward.
FLEXO: Printers have told us that priority No. 1 is optimization of production—from pricing and productivity to cost controls and execution of best practices. How will that be reflected in FTA’s actions?
FRIMMING: FTA actions approach these concerns on many fronts. Articles in FLEXO, exhibitors at both INFOFLEX events, our education sessions in the fall and spring events, along with our web series events, our training programs and publication materials all put these concerns front and center. There is no single magic solution, as it takes consistent attention and the accumulation of events, both internally and with business partners to move the needle. We are here for our members to offer excellent and relevant solutions to play a part in the overall approach to best practices.
FLEXO: As FTA moves forward, how will it address specific challenges voiced by its printer membership in helping them to become better at what they do?
FRIMMING: Automation is key to address the current workforce market availability challenges. New workflow management solutions can be integrated to allow the smaller brands to take advantage of workflow tools that have been traditionally geared toward larger brands. These new tools will allow printers and converters to be more efficient when working with smaller brands and companies. This will raise the common denominator in terms of having efficiency across all their clients, and not have to resort to practices that waste time and energy.
Sustainability has been redefined over the past several years and FTA needs to catch up a little here. Sustainability used to be—reduce, reuse and recycle. The new definitions of sustainability address the entire lifecycle of a product. Applying this thinking when brands are in the ideation stage, and then considering color harmonization, printing optimization, technical print process control and waste circularity, we are on a new path for sustainability.
Process control and printing to the numbers initiatives, coupled with print management measurement tools, have grown into a really nice place. Without going through the history, I will suggest that we need to land in a place where measurements are part of the manufacturing process, with more inline measurement options.
The newest presses are taking advantage of quick changeovers, but brands will still want their color and print reproduction to be accurate. The closer you can move the measurement to the actual production, and then have the ability to report and react to it, the better the quality and the more sustainable we will be.
Additionally, using XML languages, like PQX/PRX, will allow us to communicate print quality data in ways that we could have only dreamed about just a few years ago. I saw first-hand in 2010 how a common print technical data schema could allow for an open exchange of ideas and print quality data measurements. This schema was then adopted by the industry, and then by the ISO standards community for ISO 20616 parts 1 & 2.
Beyond workflow tools, companies need to be able to attract and retain the talent that makes them successful. FTA training programs and publications can play a huge part in our members’ successful training programs, taking some of the heavy lifting off their shoulders and focusing on how FTA training options allow for a fundamental knowledge base.
When it comes to maximizing efficiencies, minimizing waste, conserving energy and similar matters, there are many approaches to take. FTA addresses these topics in FLEXO, Tech Talks, FORUM, Fall Technical Conference and INFOFLEX exhibitions. Our members step up and help to deliver best practices to the association at large.
All parts of our industry are focusing on future proofing production metrics and changing their products to deliver on them. OEE will continue to be a driver in cost saving and sustainability. FTA supports the use of industry specifications and standards. FIRST 7.0 is a prime example.
FLEXO: Where can FTA make the greatest impact on the further advancement of the package printing and converting industry?
FRIMMING: Something that we cannot be allowed to be a blind spot, is the education segment. Today’s and tomorrow’s students are the future of our industry. We plan to dig deeper this year and, in the future, to support educational institutions with more scholarship opportunities and investments into their print programs. Raising awareness at educational facilities delivers a resounding message: The printing industry has not died. It affords substantial employment opportunities for degrees of all types and is a sound choice of career.
Package printing and converting holds opportunities for creatives, engineers, chemists, physicists, customer centric types, project managers and mechanically minded people. That is a point that seems to get lost in the larger discussion. FTA does plan to address the labor challenge head on in support of our current and future members.