Newsletter for December 2005

Yet another year has come and almost gone. In reviewing the past year,

in January, this year the FTASA ran the 2004 Print Excellence Awards luncheon to coincide with the World Print Conference in Cape Town.

In May over 60 delegates attended the "Getting it all from Flexo" conference at the Johannesburg Airport Holiday Inn

The 2005 Print Excellence Awards attracted over 300 entries this year. The judges' comments were that the quality of entries gets better every year making the selection of the winners harder and harder. However unfortunately one or two entries had to be disqualified as the entrants did not comply with the competition rules

This year's awards were given out at on the 8^th November at a luncheon at the renamed Holiday Inn, now the Southern Sun Johannesburg International with over 200 members and guests in attendance

Now a look forward to 2006

Your executive committee are planning another conference at the same venue for the middle of July, and have asked members for technical flexographic topics on which they would like to learn more about before the end of January.

(It takes at least 6 months to organise a good conference).

The Print Excellence Awards Luncheon is planned for the 1st November with entries required by August 30^th with judging taking place early in September.

Entry to this competition is open to all Flexographic printers in Africa

Printers outside South Africa have a special "Out of Africa" trophy for which to compete..

Non members should contact the Executive Secretary by e-mail at

ftasa@telkomsa.net

for entry details. A postal contact address will be required.

Welcome to New Members

At the time of writing this newsletter the Executive of the FTASA would like to welcome the following new members

Acme Graphics of Johannesburg

Syndicate Graphics of Johannesburg

Standard Labels of Port Louis Mauritius

Training

It is well understood by your executive that all is not well with the current training of flexographic printers in South Africa.

The Executive in conjunction with the Cross Media Training Centre are at present looking into this problem with some urgency, with a view to bring the training up to current and future requirements and to comply with the new learnership regulations of SAQA and the MAPPP SETA.

 ALL THAT REMAINS is for The Executive of the FTASA to wish their Christian Members a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful holiday season to members of other religions

We hope that 2006 will be a prosperous business year for your companies.