ITALY • The newly formed FTA Europe used Converflex 2015 in Milan to showcase its plan for coordinating the efforts of national organisations into a cohesive working partnership. The association was established by five founding member associations: EFIA (UK), Atif (Italy), ATEF (Spain), EFTA (Benelux), and ATF (France).
Membership of FTA Europe is open to all national flexo associations, and will be governed by a board, supported by Intergraf and Lejeune Association Management, which will create specialised working groups and negotiate European funding. Plans are well ahead for the 2015-16 period, with the creation of a new FTA Europe website, a launch project to develop a European flexo curriculum for professionals working in the industry, and a European Flexo Award, scheduled for next year. FTA Europe can also support its member associations through joint advocacy and collaborate in promotional activities, like awards, and the development of a technical knowledge bank.