FTA Mexico launches training program in Spanish

FTA Mexico has announced the availability of First (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications and Tolerances) 7.0 in Spanish, which the association’s president, Martin Maldonado, believes could be a transformative step in the development of the flexo industry in Mexico and the wider Latin American region.

First 7.0, developed by the FTA in the US, is the world’s leading technical standard for flexographic printing, establishing precise guidelines for achieving quality, consistency and control in image reproduction.

This edition is the first official version in Spanish, with FTA Mexico responsible for its promotion, distribution and marketing throughout Latin America (except Brazil) and in Spain.

The unveiling of First 7.0 in Spanish took place in April 2026 at the Juan José Arreola State Public Library of Jalisco in Guadalajara, bringing together specialized media and industry leaders interested in strengthening the quality and competitiveness of flexographic printing.

Speakers at the press conference included José Trinidad Padilla López, director of the library, Rubén Masayi González Uyeda, representative of the industrial sector and FTA Mexico president Martin Maldonado.

‘The arrival of First 7.0 in Spanish represents a fundamental step in raising the technical level of our industry and aligning
ourselves with international standards that are now essential for global competition,’ said Maldonado during the event. ‘This
effort not only impacts companies but also strengthens talent development and collaboration with academic institutions,
creating a more robust ecosystem for the sector’s growth.’

Key step

The initiative, finalized following extensive talks between FTA Mexico and its counterparts in the US, marks the first time this expert technical guidance is officially available in Spanish.

“With First 7.0 in Spanish, we are ready to begin the standardization and professionalization of the flexo industry in Mexico”

For Maldonado, it represents a key step in the development of the Mexican flexo industry.

‘With First 7.0 in Spanish, we are ready to begin the standardization and professionalization of this industry,’ he says. ‘Despite rapid growth in the Mexican packaging industry in recent years, thanks to nearshoring and a booming e-commerce sector, Mexico is not at the same level as the US and Brazil when it comes to the level of professionalization and standardization of processes.’

This rapid growth has brought pressure on the local industry, believes Maldonado. The nearshoring trend has seen international brands set up factories in Mexico to serve the US market with shorter supply chains. ‘This puts pressure on local
converters who want to serve these brands to meet certain quality and operational standards in order to guarantee the quality of their products,’ he says.

‘Since FTA Mexico was established in 2023, we’ve had several global companies based in Mexico contacting us saying they are interested in gaining certifications,’ Maldonado continues. ‘Unlike in the US, certifications for businesses and individuals are not mandatory in Mexico. With nearshoring, new accounts come to converters and say, “I love how you print, but can you guarantee that you have your certifications? Can you guarantee that you can print to the same standards as the company that prints for me in the US or Canada or Europe?” Many local converters don’t have the capacity to demonstrate this. The best way is through certification of the company’s processes or personnel.

‘Just as we have pending issues on the agenda, which Mexico needs to address, such as environmental sustainability, the
standardization and professionalization of the industry is one of those areas that can no longer be delayed.’

In recognition of this need for professionalization, FTA Mexico,
headquartered in Guadalajara, was founded in 2023. The initiative was driven by a group of industry suppliers, led by DuPont, that pitched the FTA in the US to establish a branch of the Flexographic Technical Association in Mexico. Among its supplier members are Comexi, Esko, Flint Group, Gallus, Hybrid Software and Mark Andy.

‘Due to Mexico’s proximity to the US, the FTA was always a reference point for the local industry,’ says Maldonado. ‘Converters here have always been keen to be a part of it, but there is often a language barrier, which makes it hard to take advantage of the conferences, studies and research. And
there is the problem of distance.’

‘Progress since FTA Mexico’s foundation has been positive,’ says Maldonado. ‘We have been promoting ourselves and
establishing a presence in the country. We held forums at two prestigious universities, the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and the University of Celaya.

‘The goal is to promote the association, invite business owners and converters to see the importance of professionalizing the industry, and also, crucially, to try to attract young talent into the sector. This is of the utmost importance because our industry, like others, is experiencing a severe labor crisis. There is a generational shift.

‘The only way to address this is to go to universities and show students what the flexo industry is, its history and what we do, so they can see the opportunities that exist for professional development.

‘So, we kill two birds with one stone: we promote the industry and connect with students, and we build bridges between the universities and the private sector. We demonstrate FTA Mexico’s ability to create these connections.’

Interest

In the press conference marking the launch of First 7.0 in Spanish, FTA Mexico announced that commercial availability
would begin in May.

‘We’ve had lots of interest in the project in the short time since the announcement,’ says Maldonado. ‘As well as converters
in Mexico, we’ve been contacted by companies in Guatemala, Ecuador and El Salvador, as well as by associations in Chile, Colombia and Peru.

‘This is a great step forward for us because it projects us internationally as an association and pushes us to work and collaborate with other institutions throughout Latin America, and even Europe. We become the central hub. The agreement is to market, promote and distribute First 7.0 certification in Spanish from Mexico to Patagonia.’

The exception to FTA Mexico’s remit in Latin America is Brazil, where the local flexo association, ABFlexo, partners with the FTA to bring the latter’s technical standards and research to the Brazilian market.

There are three levels of First certifications for individuals. Level 1, Fundamentals, is for beginners and non-production personnel, learning the core concepts of flexography and First. Level 2, Implementation, is aimed at individuals applying the First methodology in their day-to-day workflow. Level 3,
Expert, is for experienced professionals who lead process control, optimization and communication across departments.

‘We are ready to begin the certifications in the third quarter of this year,’ says Maldonado. ‘The schedule will be released to begin offering online certifications in Spanish, which FTA Mexico will offer through the FTA platform in the US. They have all the technical infrastructure and the digital platform for the Spanish certifications to take place.’

“We’ve had lots of interest in the project in the short time since the announcement”

The next stage is in-person training and certification, which will take place at the Stampa Academy in Queretaro, launched two years ago. ‘It’s a certified flexo training center that operates within the facilities of CETis 16 [a technical vocational public high school] and is equipped with technology from DuPont, Tesa and Esko, among others, as well as a full 8-color flexo press,’ says Maldonado. ‘It includes every part of
the flexo printing process, but only for narrow web at the moment. So it’s still lacking, but it’s part of something that’s
just starting.

‘Our objective, as the FTA, is to encourage companies, entrepreneurs and the government to invest so an academy
like this can grow and not only have narrow-web equipment, but also mid- and wide-web too. And not only in Queretaro;
we want to have staff there, but also, let’s say, start-up academies in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City. It will be a phased process.’

With 25 years of experience in the Mexican flexo industry, Maldonado is a passionate advocate not only for the industry’s professionalization but also for a greater focus on environmental sustainability.

‘Sustainability is another area where we need to improve,’ he says. ‘Other parts of the world have regulations and legislation
around how to operate more sustainably. In Mexico, we are behind. Even countries such as Chile and Colombia, smaller
markets than ours, are implementing standards and adopting sustainability initiatives. But in Mexico, there is no government legislation that obliges companies to operate according to certain sustainability standards. FTA Mexico has to work with companies, with organizations and with the government to encourage progress in this area.

‘It’s time for Mexican suppliers and converters to organize and start setting our own operating standards. We’re still a step behind; we must acknowledge this. But more and more companies in Mexico are beginning to address this issue.’

About First

First, which as an acronym stands for Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications and Tolerances, is the flexographic industry’s leading set of best practices, specifications and process control guidelines. Developed and continually refined by industry experts, First provides a standardized approach that ensures consistent, predictable and high-quality print. By aligning people, processes and technology across the entire workflow, First helps organizations achieve efficiency, accuracy and repeatable results from job to job and press to press.

Companies can also achieve First Company Certification once a specific percentage of their staff is individually certified, signaling to customers that the entire facility adheres to these
high standards.