History and mission of the flexographic specialist group for the Czech and Slovak Republics.
In the nineties of the last century, impulses and stimuli for the establishment of a specialist group for flexographic printing came from many sources. The dynamic development of flexographic printing in the world was and is on a permanent rise, and some important users of flexographic printing in the Czech Republic and Slovakia became members of the international association IFTA (International Flexographic Technical Association) or its branch DFTA in Germany.
At that time, specialist groups in printing techniques and packaging technology operated within the Society of Printing (specialist groups for gravure, offset and screen printing) and within the Society of Paper and Cellulose (specialist groups for the processing of paper and cardboard for packaging).
At the joint general meeting of these companies on April 29, 1993, a proposal to establish an expert group for flexographic printing was approved. The General Assembly authorized Ing. Josef Machána, expert consultant for packaging printing techniques and Dr. Petra Peřinka, deputy director of the Secondary School of Graphic Arts in Prague, to prepare the establishment of a professional group in cooperation with the secretariats of both companies.
On 17 November 1993, a constituent meeting was held at which the expert group was established.
Expert group program – four basic points
Ensure connection to the European flexographic organization EFTA and its subsidiary organization for German-speaking countries DFTA and obtain the most up-to-date technical information from it.
Organize professional conferences with a certain thematic focus with the participation of foreign experts and companies.
Organize short-term professional courses in the field of flexo printing (in cooperation with SPŠG Prague and the department of polygraphy of the University of Pardubice).
To prepare the conditions for a dual system of flexo printing apprenticeship and master’s exams in this field.
CFTA follows this supporting program to this day and successfully implements it. On November 4, 1996, a meeting of European FTAs was held in Stuttgart, where our CFTA was adopted as the first of the post-socialist countries.
During its existence, the CFTA carried out the following professional events
Professional conferences and international conferences on “Development trends in flexographic printing”
International professional seminars (pre-press preparation, flexo printing machines, raster cylinders, printing forms, flexo printing inks, etc.)
Seminar courses for business managers, technicians and machinists
Seminar basic flexo printing courses
Seminar courses – Flexographic printing of corrugated cardboard