This year’s Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA) Annual Forum — titled “Crossing Borders … Flexo’s Global Gateway” — takes place May 6-9 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, in Montreal, QC, Canada. The event also features the FTA’s annual Info*Flex Exhibition by industry suppliers: More than 150 companies, occupying almost 20,000 square feet, will be on hand to showcase recent innovations to the expected international audience of 1,600-plus attendees.

“We’ve made many great changes to this year’s Forum,” says Forum Chair David Nunez of Great Lakes Packaging. “Working with FFTA’s Technical Advancement Council, we were able to add a host of new technical sessions, while retaining past sessions that always proved to be successful. Furthermore, in accepting the responsibility of Forum Chair, my top priority is to make certain that all information presented at Forum is extremely relevant to the industry.”

FTA/FFTA President Mark Cisternino adds, “That’s not the only modification our attendees can expect. FTA management has always made an effort to keep the registration rates affordable, so that companies can bring multiple employees, from various departments within their organization. This has not changed. In fact, for the first time ever, printers, converters and consumer product companies will receive a 25 percent discount on their full forum attendee registrations.”

Forum 2007 kicks off with an intensive prepress session on Sunday, May 6. The focus is on offering the attendee real world insight and techniques essential to every flexographer. Attendees will learn how to implement widely referenced, but not often executed technologies such as: monitor calibration, brand color management and JDF implementation. Additionally, presentations will cover the expanded gamut process, and how the corrugated industry can move to a fully digital workflow.

Immediately following is a CPC Keynote address that will provide the flexo community with a global perspective from top industry leaders whose combined products and services are sold in over 260 countries around the world. Attendees will learn how interweaving markets, technology and information systems will allow our industry to penetrate markets deeper and faster than ever before.

Monday’s sessions include: Flexo Global, Flexo 101: Foundational Elements and Processes of Flexography, and FIRST/FQC. After an industry sponsored luncheon (free for both Forum and Info*Flex attendees), the 2007 Info*Flex Exhibition will run from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s sessions feature Emerging Technologies, Sustainability in Packaging and Business Management. Once again the afternoon will welcome the Info*Flex Exhibition from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.