Industry Comes Together to Fund High School FFTA Flexo
- Published: April 23, 2003, By PRESS RELEASE
CHARLOTTE, NC, USA—Some high school students in North Carolina and Wisconsin soon will be able to get hands-on flexo training thanks to a few members of the flexographic printing industry. Harper Corp. of America recently announced a joint agreement with Mark Andy, CL&D Graphics, and the Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA) to install three new Mark Andy (MA) 830 three-color flexo presses in South Meckenburg High School, Charlotte, NC, and in Watertown High School, Watertown, WI. According to Harper, the new presses will be installed and operational in time for the 2003/2004 school year.
Harper will provide free anilox rolls and be the primary provider of funding for this FFTA Flexo in High School endeavor, says Margie Harper Klutz, executive VP at Harper. In addition, explains Harper Klutz, Mark Andy is providing a substantial educational discount on the two MA 830 presses, and Watertown High School, through CL&D Graphics, contributed $15,000 toward funding their program.
FFTA president Mark Cisternino states: "Experience has shown that each high school needs volunteer industry champions to coordinate and promote successful flexographic training." Champions for these two programs are Chuck Sims, CL&D Graphics; Greg Palm, Mark Andy, and Ron Harper, Harper Corporation, he adds.
In addition to providing funding for these two high school programs, Harper, along with Mark Andy and the FFTA, also is working with Bettylyn Krafft, chairperson of the Phoenix Challenge High School Competition, to install a new Mark Andy press at the Harper National Flexographic Center at Central Piedmont Community College.
"It's comforting and a very positive sign to see industry and education working together to strengthen America through building an educated workforce," says Cisternino. "We are proud the FFTA members Harper, Mark Andy, and CL&D Graphics continue to set a wonderful example for the rest of our industry."Visit Harper Corp. at harperimage.com; Mark Andy at markandy.com; FFTA at flexography.org; and CL&D Graphics at cldgraphics.com.
