Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), producers of the flexographic printing industry’s main event – FTA’s Annual Forum – has announced “Hitting the Perfect Harmony” as the official theme of the conference. More than 2,000 of the industry’s thought-leaders representing every segment of the flexographic supply chain are expected to attend the May 3-6 event, held at the brand new Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville, TN.

“Just like your favorite country band playing at the Grand Ole Opry, a successful print run requires that each element be perfectly in tune,” says FTA President Mark Cisternino. “Every component, from substrate to ink to anilox—and every member of the supply chain—needs to be synchronized to create a masterpiece. This was the rationale behind selecting ‘Hitting the Perfect Harmony’ as the official theme of Forum 2015. It really ties in well with the overall tone of the setting, Nashville, otherwise known as Music City USA.”

Forum 2015 will feature seven technical sessions that will impart new theories, new research and new practices to an audience eager to learn how to improve their process, productivity and the all-important bottom line. The sessions are:

Upside Down or Inside Out: What’s Next in Packaging?
From Tribal Knowledge to Technology – How to Understand the Needs of Your Workforce
De-Geek the Geeks: From Cloudy to Clear
Research with a Zing!
Toolbox Tuesday (Parts I, II, III and IV)
Optimizing Flexo: The Decoders Guide to Process Control
Kiss My Anilox! Making the RIGHT Impression
From Color Mayhem to Color Control
It’s Manufacturing NOT Magic!
Gauging Your Flexo Vital Signs: A Basics Reality Check
Multi-Market Commonalities – Alike but Different

Program development is being led by Forum Chairs Jessica Harkins Harrell, Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. and Jennye Scott, Berry Plastics Corp. Abstract review, speaker selection and session format determination is underway. The ultimate objective: build a top-notch educational agenda for launch in May 2015.

Coinciding with Forum 2015 is its sister event, the INFO*FLEX Exhibition, themed “Imagine Tomorrow, Today.” Taking place May 4 -5 at the brand new Music City Center, where attendees can anticipate a bustling convention hall occupied by more than 250 of the industry’s top suppliers, providing for two days of intensive networking activity and side-by-side comparisons of the latest technologies.

Those experts, innovators and thought leaders interested in presenting at Forum 2015 can submit their abstracts online at www.flexography.org/abstracts. Questions concerning the submission process should be directed to FTA Training Specialist Duane Woolbright at [email protected] or 864-643-0795.