What a legacy!
Sixty-five years, 780 months, 23,741 days, 65 FORUMs, 42 INFOFLEX exhibitions, well over 500 individual issues of FLEXO, 64 Excellence in Flexography Awards competitions, seven editions of Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances, along with a few intermediary updates, six editions of Flexography: Principles & Practices, 600+ Virtual Campus users at any given moment; 8,000 individual flexographers holding some kind of FIRST Certification, a membership base that stretches past 14,000 people and so much more!
No wonder people started talking about and adding their names to Flexographic Technical Association rosters in 1958; no wonder they haven’t stopped talking about FTA, all it offers and what it has helped the package printing and converting community accomplish.
Standing (L-R): Frank G. Scott, International Paper Co; Karl M. Fox, Scott Paper Co; Frank Longenecker, Simplex Paper Box Co; Douglas Tuttle, Interchemical Corp; J.C. Dunne, Chase Bag Co; D.P. Dorne, Bakelit Co; Frank W. Brey, Paramount Paper Products Co; David Killary, Paper Machinery & Research Inc
From its birth, straight through to the present day, members have described their Association and its work in praiseworthy ways. Here are mere examples: “Incredible.” “Confident.” “Persistent.” “Invaluable.” “Powerful.” “Dynamic.” “Innovative.” “Successful.” “Collaborative.” “Awesome.” “Professional.” “Influential.” “Familial.” “Practical. “Methodical.” “Important.” “Essential.” “Engaging.” “Instrumental.” “Effective.”
To its members, FTA is both “catalyst” and “visionary.” The Association is seen as, “Committed.” “Insightful.” “Proven.” “Connected.” “Amazing.” “Vital.” “Inspirational.” “Vibrant.” “Passionate.”
Based on its record, its work is described as “precedent setting.” The organization is viewed as a “quality advocate,” “guidepost,” “brain trust,” and the “stand-out, global leader and driving force in process improvement.”
Embracing FTA’s charter, the organization, its staff and its member base—printers/converters, Consumer Product Companies, suppliers, premedia providers, distributors, educators, students, consultants, designers, package buyers and all stakeholders in the packaging development supply chain—strive to position flexography as the global packaging industry’s print process of choice. It’s been that way from inception.
At 65, FTA continues to exert formidable influence on print and packaging practitioners. The story has unfolded over the course of six-and-one half decades. Its reputation, “exceptional,” as well as, “exemplary.”
Members realize this and comment on it frequently. And in examining what they’ve said over the years, what stands out as significant is the consistency of the comments. FTA’s history is sometimes cited; but more often, the Association is credited with shaping careers and assisting in building an initial understanding and foundation of flexographic print essentials.
Founder’s Thoughts
It’s even evident in studying reflections from some of the organization’s founding fathers. For example, in 1959, Julian Ross, FTA’s executive secretary, exclaimed, “Getting a technical association started is one thing. Making it operate successfully is another. The password is communication.”
Around the same time, Douglas Tuttle decreed, “Since flexography is less capital-intensive, less energy-intensive and less labor-intensive then either litho or letterpress; provides readily variable printing repeat lengths and utilizes non-polluting water reducible inks, with less waste than other graphic arts processes; we are confident that flexo’s future growth is certainly assured.”
Norm Abrams offered this observation, “FTA wasted no time in making its presence felt. By its first meeting in February 1959, it already had enlisted 190 members from 29 states as well as 10 from foreign countries. The critical importance of training was recognized almost immediately with a workshop series… FTA’s approach has always been unique from that of other organizations; aiming at the rank and file on the firing line, rather than the top brass.”
In 2023, communications, sustainable materials and training are still focal points in any flexographer’s strategic business plan. FTA resources are frequently utilized in their construction.