Call for entries for 2007 Excellence in Flexography Awards Competition

The Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) is now accepting entries for the 2007 Excellence in Flexography Awards Competition. First established in 1960, FTA's awards program aims to recognize outstanding technical achievement in flexographic printing.

Tony Bart, chairman of the FTA Awards Committee, noted: ‘We’ve made some significant changes to this year’s competition that I’m positive the industry will embrace. The first challenge was to level the playing field for the corrugated industry. Many corrugated printers achieve their runs using four colors or less. Therefore, the committee elected to add a separate category to include all in-line rotary die-cutting, four colors or less.’

FTA/FFTA president Mark Cisternino added: ‘There were other changes the industry wanted to see. We added a Best of Show award for the Folding Carton and Napkin classifications. We’ve separated the Towel/Tissue substrate from all other paper jobs, and now, because of the addition of a Feedback Section to the Judging Form, all entrants will receive some insightful commentary on what was done right – or what specifically hurt an entry’s chances of winning. Even if an entry doesn’t place, this feedback section will provide added value that will help a printer modify its processes for the future.’

For added convenience, all entry forms are now available for download as fillable PDF files. ‘These interactive forms are very simple and timesaving. All it takes is a computer and a few minutes to complete. People will be pleased,’ Bart noted.

More and more companies are entering several printed pieces into the competition. To encourage companies to submit those entries that they may be on the fence about, FTA has revised the pricing structure as follows: 1–5 entries are $80.00 each for FTA members and $160.00 each for non-members. Additional entries after five are $70.00 each and $140.00 each respectively.

Flexographers from around the world are invited to test their level of quality, achievement and technical prowess in the printing field. The competition is open to FTA members and nonmembers, including all printers/converters, prepress providers, suppliers, students and graphic artists. Entries are divided into the following categories: wide web, mid web, narrow web, folding cartons, napkins, combined corrugated, preprinted linerboard, envelopes, newspapers/publications, self-promotion, and students.

The deadline to submit entries is Jan.19, 2007. Entries must have been created between January 1 and December 31, 2006. Winners will be announced at FFTA’s 2007 Annual Forum & INFO*FLEX Exhibition, in Montreal, Canada, and will also be featured in FLEXO Magazine’s Annual Awards issue.