THE BIG INTERVIEW: Flexo can compete with the best

21 January 2010



Flexo has joined the cream of printing technologies and EFTA is largely responsible, believes Lesley Hide, who explained why to Joanne Hunter


The European Flexographic Technical Association deserves credit for flexo’s strength in the UK, says EFTA’s managing director, Lesley Hide.

“Since its formation in 1972, EFTA has been fundamental to flexo reaching the standard it has today,” she says. “Key to this has been independent training. Gone are the days of college-based learning; we’re not taking on apprentices; and the only college offering training is in Leeds.”

As such, flexo’s efforts to breed its own technically proficient workforce will continue to be vital to the health of the sector, believes this highly energetic supporter of EFTA members.

Industry modernisation impacts on social aspects, too. Lesley says: “Fewer people are being employed due to technology changes and EFTA regards training as the means to get the best from a versatile print process.”

With unwavering belief in the technology, she says: “My view of the industry is that flexo can be used to a high level by everyone. Up to four or five years ago companies were ‘challenged’. But the technology is now robust and stable. We are as good as competing technologies and don’t have to fight that battle any longer.”

Today’s issues are about being as efficient as possible, Lesley explains. And it’s not just to do with rolling out work more speedily and cost effectively. Upgrading a company’s industry knowledge similarly must be carried out with minimum disruption.

“Our online EFTA Academy has developed from feedback from companies. As manpower has reduced, a week out of work to train is no longer feasible.

“Our programme launched 15 months ago and already 100 students have been through it. They’ve come from established companies such as Learoyd Packaging, Bischof + Klein (B+K), Amcor, DS Smith and Schawk.” Enrolling in 2010 is inspirePack, a corrugated business that was formerly part of Mondi, and companies within the supply chain such as prepress providers are interested in developing their people through the Academy, too, says Lesley.

One of the challenges to be overcome is that experienced people often think they know all there is to know, she explains. EFTA’s educative role is to teach better ways to work that take advantage of latest operating processes. This may mean breaking old ‘dyed in the wool’ habits.

The online programme has a modular format covering all basic flexography training. It aims for a consistent level of knowledge within the sector.

The training also could be relevant to those served by flexo printers. “Flexo savvy commercial people will be better able to deal with customers. And while print buyers don’t have to understand the process, they do want to know its capabilities - the possibility to design to requirements using fewer colours, for example.”

Flexo is being used for printing everything from newspapers to toothpaste tubes and corrugated boxes, with flexibility Lesley thinks it is ‘probably the most complex process with the greatest number of variables, inks, press configurations anilox and plate options’.

As for latest developments, she adds: “There were exponential changes in the late 1990s and early noughties including servo driven processes, finer anilox screens and digital plates.” These have all contributed towards the quality and consistency being achieved. “The reality is that the changes now are incremental, making the process more stable.”

EFTA is promoting lean manufacturing during 2010 and will be producing guidance on how to avoid waste.

“Essentially, lean production means taking out all waste and keeping processes running. The waste element is challenging, but material waste is higher than we can afford.

“Much of what we produce goes into the FMCG environment. Own brand labels make up 50%, if not more, of the market and the power of retailers impacts on profit margins.

“The packer we supply is looking to deliver the level of consistency demanded by their end customer at low cost. That higher efficiency is our target.”

Even the best firms can do better if they measure waste and its causes accurately, she says, and estimates that by this analysis waste can be reduced to less than 5%.

“Question why you are wasting material,” she advises. “It’s not just the cost of material; it’s the manpower cost of moving it around and the hourly rate per machine. In flexible packaging, for example, material can reach the slitting stage before being discarded. To improve needs an open mind, and we at EFTA help members online and in-house to achieve their goals.”


Lesley Hide, EFTA managing director Lesley Hide

External weblinks
Converting Today is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

EFTA UK

Lesley Hide Lesley Hide


Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.