BOHEMIA, NY – Oct. 17, 2017 – An enthusiastic 350 flexographers assembled at Flexographic Technical Association’s (FTA) Fall Conference 2017 in St. Louis, MO from Oct. 9-11. The event, themed “The Gateway to Technology,” succeeded in delivering industry-trending education and vast networking opportunities.
Program Chair Rory Marsoun, Esko, successfully oversaw a technical agenda comprising eight informative sessions which consisted of 13 presentations total, with 22 speakers taking the stage on various topics. Evening receptions and breaks between sessions allowed attendees time to visit the 66 tabletop exhibitors and strategize the next moves necessary to continue moving forward in the ever-evolving field of printing and converting.
Spanning three days, attendees witnessed technical innovation, the journey of a hybrid pressrun and the celebration of the 20-year anniversary of FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications and Tolerances). That celebration coincided with the release of FTA’s latest publication, FIRST 6.0—the next generation in a line of world-renowned publications. Those who decided to purchase the book onsite received a commemorative, hardcover special edition. The softcover version was released online the same day for those who could not attend the show.
Collocated for the first time with Fall Conference, the Gary Hilliard Memorial Golf Tournament took place Sunday, Oct. 8. The day was filled with colleagues, comradery, sunny skies and an impressive view of the Gateway Arch in the background. All for a good cause, the event raised money for the Gary Hilliard FQC Scholarship.
Directly following the conclusion of the conference on Wednesday, Mark Andy, Inc. hosted a trip to its global headquarters in Chesterfield, MO. Visitors experienced a rare glimpse into the Mark Andy University, its demo room and received a tour of the facility where presses are manufactured.
Sponsors of the event included exclusive sponsor Domino, reception sponsor 3M, lunch sponsor Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. and item sponsors Anderson & Vreeland, Inc., Beta Industries, Daetwyler Corp., Flexo Wash, Koenig & Bauer, MicroDynamics, Inc. and Nilpeter. Individual golf sponsors were All Printing Resources, Inc., Anderson & Vreeland, Inc., DuPont Advanced Printing and Southern Graphics Systems.
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About FTA: Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), chartered in 1958, is a professional society dedicated to bringing all members of the flexographic printing community—printers, suppliers, consumer product companies, institutions, prepress houses and others–together by providing opportunities for the free exchange of technical ideas and discussion of mutual concerns. It is a proponent of maintaining and advancing quality standards and includes 1,350 member sites that represent more than 35,000 individuals. Foundation of FTA, founded in 1974, is the educational arm of FTA and is dedicated to supporting and advancing the flexographic printing industry.