Session

FQC: Respecting the Past While Focusing on the Future

Tuesday, April 18

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Grand Ballroom

About This Session

Join Jean Engelke and Joe Riccardella as they preside over an FQC session focused on the evolving technology that is flexographic printing, as seen through industry research.

Kicking off this session will be a detailed update of the current FQC project findings, then a presentation from the 2022 Gary Hilliard FQC Scholarship recipient. The session will conclude with a presentation from the 2023 Phoenix Challenge College Competition winning team.

Presentations & Speakers

Plate Life Indicator Project

Kevin Schilling, Flexo Print Applications Specialist at Miraclon and PJ Fronczkiewicz, NA Manager of Technical Marketing and Service at DuPont

Presentation Details

The focus of the project is to understand at what point the change in photopolymer affects print characteristics so much that the desired result is more difficult to achieve. The project was focused on process print for wide web flexible packaging using solvent-based inks. The project team has completed a couple of print trials. What did we learn, were we wrong in our hypothesis, what caught us off guard? Find out that and more when we present the results.

Speaker Bios

About Kevin: Kevin graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stout with a B.S. in graphic arts management. Has 23 years of experience in flexography and has worked for trade shops, printers and industry suppliers. Currently Kevin works as a flexo print applications specialist for Miraclon. He has been an FTA Excellence in Flexography Awards judge for the past four years.

About PJ: PJ Fronczkiewicz is the NA manager of technical marketing and service for DuPont Cyrel Solutions, and is a 1997 graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in graphic communications. During his 25 years of industry experience, he has also held positions providing technical support for anilox rolls and formulating flexographic packaging inks. PJ is on the FTA FIRST Executive Committee and is a frequent speaker at FTA conferences and events.

Measurable Slur Target Project

Bobby Congdon, Assistant Director at Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University

Presentation Details

Bobby’s presentation will update the findings thus far of the FQC project seeking to develop a measurable slur target to detect overimpression or slur in the print.

Speaker Bio

About Bobby: Bobby Congdon is the assistant director at the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University, managing a small but capable team providing world class training, research and services to the printing and packaging industry.

The Impact of Various Cleaning Methods for Anilox Rollers on Cell Volume and Print Density

Jose Canas, Student at Central Piedmont Community College

Presentation Details

Jose conducted research on the impact of various cleaning methods for anilox rollers as part of his research for the 2022 Gary Hilliard FQC Scholarship project. He will share the data he collected revealing the impact the cleaning had on the cell volume and print density.

Speaker Bio

About Jose: Jose is a student at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) Harper campus in Charlotte, NC. His interest in flexography was sparked after meeting his department chair, Zachery Blackburn. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he intends to work in a creative position after graduating.

2022 Standards Review

Steve Smiley, Principal at SmileyColor & Associates LLC

Presentation Details

ISO/TS 10128:2009 Graphic technology — Methods of adjustment of the colour reproduction of a printing system to match a set of characterization data, was updated in 2022, adding The Optimal Method as one of the methods combining CMS and plate curves. Listen to Steve as he shares the results of the different methods from multiple print segments. Additionally, he will identify another method for process control using CTV.

Speaker Bio

About Steve: Steve Smiley is a 50-year veteran from print, premedia and packaging brand solutions. Steve’s previous position was managing color across all printing types, commercial, direct mail and packaging, managing print globally. Steve is a proud member of the FTA family, participating at annual FORUMs.

As a brand manager, Steve has developed the tools for physical and digital standards to define common ingredients and aims across supply chain partners, along with supporting documents like ISO 12647-6 Flexographic Prints, ISO 17972-4 CxF X4 Spot Color Characterization Exchange Format and ISO 19303-1 Guidelines for Schema Writers Packaging. He is the recipient of the Holzinger Award, FTA President’s Award and the Clemson Top Cat Award. Steve has a degree in photography. In 2017, he was inducted into the FTA Hall of Fame.

The 2023 Phoenix Challenge College Competition Winning Team

Presentation Details

Session

FQC: Respecting the Past While Focusing on the Future

Tuesday, April 18

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Grand Ballroom

About This Session

Join Jean Engelke and Joe Riccardella as they preside over an FQC session focused on the evolving technology that is flexographic printing, as seen through industry research.

Kicking off this session will be a detailed update of the current FQC project findings, then a presentation from the 2022 Gary Hilliard FQC Scholarship recipient. The session will conclude with a presentation from the 2023 Phoenix Challenge College Competition winning team.

Presentations & Speakers

Plate Life Indicator Project

Kevin Schilling, Flexo Print Applications Specialist at Miraclon and PJ Fronczkiewicz, NA Manager of Technical Marketing and Service at DuPont

Measurable Slur Target Project

Bobby Congdon, Assistant Director at Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University

Bobby’s presentation will update the findings thus far of the FQC project seeking to develop a measurable slur target to detect overimpression or slur in the print.

About Bobby: Bobby Congdon is the assistant director at the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University, managing a small but capable team providing world class training, research and services to the printing and packaging industry.

The Impact of Various Cleaning Methods for Anilox Rollers on Cell Volume and Print Density

Jose Canas, Student at Central Piedmont Community College

Jose conducted research on the impact of various cleaning methods for anilox rollers as part of his research for the 2022 Gary Hilliard FQC Scholarship project. He will share the data he collected revealing the impact the cleaning had on the cell volume and print density.

About Jose: Jose is a student at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) Harper campus in Charlotte, NC. His interest in flexography was sparked after meeting his department chair, Zachery Blackburn. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he intends to work in a creative position after graduating.

2022 Standards Review

Steve Smiley, Principal at SmileyColor & Associates LLC

The 2023 Phoenix Challenge College Competition Winning Team

The winning team from the 2023 Phoenix Challenge College Competition will present its project and results.

Session Chair

Jean Engelke

FQC Executive Committee Chair

Session Chair

Joe Riccardella

ABX Packaging

Session Chairs

Jean Engelke

FQC Executive Committee Chair

Joe Riccardella

ABX Packaging

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Months of exposure before, during and after FORUM.

A variety of opportunities across different marketing channels.

For more than 60 years, FTA has been enabling flexographers to grow their skills, connect with likeminded individuals, expand their reachable market and drive flexography to package printing dominance.

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