FTA Needs Flexo Judges

Published: July 12, 2002, By PRESS RELEASE

RONKONKOMA, NY, USA—Think you can undoubtedly decipher the difference between flexo and offset? You may be surprised to see what flexo can do these days. For an "eye-opening" judging experience, write to Shelley Rubin of the Flexographic Technical Assn. (FTA). She says the trade organization has issued its call for judges for its 2003 Excellence in Flexography Awards Competition. Rubin stresses the need for "representation from all areas of the flexographic industry," so professionals from corrugated to narrow web to wide web can apply.

Judging is planned for early February in Islandia, NY. FTA says 30 judges, split into 5 teams, will be asked to evaluate both level of execution and degree of difficulty in the following business segments: wide web; narrow web; mid web; preprinted linerboard; combined corrugated; envelopes; newspapers and publications; and student.

FTA says the competition is expected to attract more than 600 entries, and work submitted will be segregated into line, screen, and four-color process classifications, with all gold medal winners placed in contention for the "Best in Show" title.

Past FTA Excellence in Flexography judge Pam Ballantine (first-year judge 2002, mid-web entries) says the competition is an "eye-opener. Some things I automatically assumed [were] done offset [were] done flexo."

Adds Walter Marsile, a judge of narrow web entries in the 2002 awards, "[In the competition], I get to see things that I didn't even think possible to print."

Interested parties should write to Shelley Rubin before September 15, 2002, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call her at 631/737-6020. "We're always looking for new blood in all areas within our organization," adds Mark Cisternino, FFTA/FTA president. "The awards program is no different." More information about the FTA can be found at flexography.org.