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HEADLINES - May 2009
 
FSEA Green Initiatives
  IADD•FSEA ODYSSEY 2009 - A Bright Success in Tough Times

Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

It is with this spirit that the IADD/FSEA Odyssey celebrated its 5th Anniversary May 6-8, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Each year the Odyssey has faced – and triumphed over – specific and particular challenges. However this year's rather daunting economic and industry pressures, coupled with concerns about health pandemics, required exhibitors and attendees alike to take a leap of faith in supporting the show. Obviously it paid off, as the show closed amidst high praise and general optimism that Odyssey will be a catalyst for both industry change and future economic recovery.

Every two years, Odyssey brings together the industry’s most innovative and progressive companies under one roof. For three days, it offers a comprehensive program designed to educate and serve all segments of the converting industry. Attendees raved about the high quality of this year's educational sessions and the information that was presented there. Many commented that it was just what was needed in these challenging times.

With a theme of "Explore ... Experience … Excel," attendees were encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to explore strategies for profitability, experience a place where technology soars, and excel with practical, real-time solutions. This year seven media partners helped to grow the show’s visibility. Through the efforts of Board Converting News, Converting Hotline, Corrugated Today, The Cutting Edge, Inside Finishing, Official Board Markets, Paperboard Packaging, Paper, Film & Foil Converter, and Georgia Printer Odyssey reached further out into the industry than ever before, expanding the impact of the show while still retaining its focused nature.

Exhibitors were pleased to meet so many potential customers, and a large segment of the equipment displayed in the Technology Hall and Techshop was sold and is on its way to new owners.

Odyssey 2009 featured 8 hands-on Techshop and 18 classroom sessions, plus 6 New Products & Processes Showcases. The 943 people registered, who represented 20 different countries, filled 700 sessions seats and 152 showcase seats. They were able to visit and explore 91 exhibiting companies in 167 booths. During Odyssey, the IADD unveiled its new Can-Am Braille Standard, developed in cooperation with the Braille Authority of North America, and Kevin J. Carey of DieInfo received the IADD Lifetime Achievement Award. FSEA honored a number of its members who won Gold Leaf Awards.

Beyond the numbers, Odyssey was best summed up by one of the planners who said, "Not only do people come to the show to look and buy, they come there to dream. Of course dreams are no good without action, but I believe that anyone still in business today would have to be both a dreamer and a person of action. Odyssey planted a lot of dreams in the minds of attendees; just think what that will do for our industry now and in the future."

It's not too early to plan now for the next Odyssey which will be held at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA on May 4-6, 2011. We hope to see you there!
 
  FSEA Now Foil & Specialty Effects Association

The Foil Stamping & Embossing Association, Topeka, Kan., is pleased to announce an exciting expansion in the direction of its association. As of March 1, 2009, the association’s name is now the Foil & Specialty Effects Association – although still the FSEA. The continuous emergence of print-enhancement technologies in the marketplace such as cold foil technologies, specialty coatings, laminates, and laser cutting has created a wealth of opportunity for growth in the print finishing industry. It is the goal of the Foil & Specialty Effects Association to embrace these emerging technologies that complement foil stamping and embossing. The use of foil and its counterpart, embossing, will remain an integral focus of the association. It remains the lead in the new association name.

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association plans to serve as a resource and educational platform for many of these new decorating technologies, as well as continue its support of existing ones. According to FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson: “New technologies to apply foil, such as the cold foil process, continue to develop. As an entirely different foil process that requires no stamping, cold foil technology has its own set of applications and is not viewed as competitive to conventional foil stamping is most situations.” Furthermore, common ground does exist, particularly in growing the use of foil in the marketplace – a main objective of the FSEA.

Many FSEA members currently engage in several value-added processes, which offers even more reason to unite. Now a cohesive resource for all decorative finishing needs, a sounding board that covers a wide range of processes, and an even greater opportunity to connect and network on a broader scope will exist for current and prospective FSEA members.

“Keeping the acronym FSEA was important to this change, because it is recognized nationally and internationally, drawing more than 10,000 hits to the FSEA website each month,” Peterson continued. “We are the same FSEA but with a broader, unified focus.” The FSEA officially launched its name change at a press conference on February 27, 2009, at Graphics of the Americas. For more information on the Foil & Specialty Effects Association or on becoming a member, call (785) 271-5816 or visit www.fsea.com.
 
  2008 FSEA National Convention a Shining Success

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) hosted a record turnout at its 11th national convention at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas in Scottsdale, Ariz. last April. A group of over 150 attendees and guests gathered from 10 different countries to enjoy three days of educational programming, networking opportunities, and the warmth and sunshine of Scottsdale. Speaker highlights included PIA/GATF CEO/President Michael Makin in a State of the Industry address, Rich MacInnes from Net Results on lean practices, a technology panel on new trends with foil and finishing, and an entire afternoon track on ‘Pathways to Finishing Green’. The convention kicked off with the Supplier Trade Fair and Welcome Reception where participants had the opportunity to visit with industry vendors and peers in a festive pavilion with a southwestern flare. The event attracted area print/finishing companies, in addition to convention attendees. Adventure in the Sonoran Desert with a desert Hummer excursion and golf tournament at Stone Creek Golf Club drew a record number of participants who happily soaked up the sunshine and warmth of the day! The convention culminated with the FSEA’s gala Gold Leaf Awards Banquet, where guests had the rare opportunity to experience a Native American hoop dance. McGraphics, Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., received the prestigious ‘Best of Show’ award for its Halloween invitation set and Prism Grafix from Australia received an Honorable Mention for its 2008 calendar. Among the many awards presented to all the 2007 Gold Leaf Award Winners, special recognition was given to past FSEA Chairman Kevin Bennitt (Fine Arts Engraving) and to the FSEA 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Fred Isler (Bobst Group North America). Visit our gallery of photos from the 2008 FSEA National Convention.
 
  FSEA Offers Lean Training through Net Results

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) and Net Results, Inc. have developed a new program together to offer FSEA members Net Results Lean Enterprise training courses at a discounted rate. These training courses are based on the Lean Enterprise Memory Jogger series published by GOAL/QPC. The Lean Enterprise courses offer a practical knowledge base to transform your company into a Lean Enterprise, retaining valued customers when price and cost pressures continue to be a challenge. Course content emphasizes identification and prevention of waste (i.e., extra time, labor, materials, motion, etc.). The Lean Enterprise courses include the following: Introduction to the Lean Enterprise, Error Proofing, Visual Management, Quick Changeover, Mapping the Value Stream, and Total Productive Maintenance. Rich MacInnes, CEO of Net Results, Inc., and author of the Lean Enterprise Memory Jogger series, gave two presentations at the FSEA National Convention in April.
 
  2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient - Fred Isler

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association is pleased to present its 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award to Alfred ‘Fred’ Isler of Bobst Group. The prestigious award recognizes Isler for his nearly five decades of commitment to the growth of the foil stamping and embossing industry and for his leadership in introducing revolutionary technologies, especially in the areas of large format stamping, embossing, and diecutting.

Isler began to work for Bobst S.A. in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1960. Six years later he transferred to Bobst Group USA as a field service technician and began to work with others to develop a Bobst 49″ hot foil stamping prototype for Hallmark Cards, Inc. A year later, Isler installed the 49″ unit at Alford Packaging, the first company to produce cigarette and cosmetic packaging on a large format machine. In 1973 Isler was promoted to Bobst’s technical staff and moved to company headquarters in Roseland, N.J., where he was instrumental in introducing Bobst folder-gluers in the North American market and would be heavily involved in customer training for the next 20 years. After numerous other promotions, Isler became director of Special Technical and Sales Support in 1992, responsible for customer demonstrations and training courses for customers and Bobst Group USA technicians and sales staff. In 1993 Isler became vice president and general manager of Bobst Canada. Although he officially retired from the company in 2006, Isler will continue to handle one major account for Bobst until next year.

Isler’s strong leadership qualities and dedication to customer service have earned him a reputation of the highest regard among industry peers. He was honored at the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Banquet in conjunction with the FSEA National Convention in April.
 
  2007 Wage and Benefit Survey

Following a similar survey conducted in 2001/2002, the 2007 survey is designed to provide FSEA members and others with detailed statistical information regarding the foil stamping and embossing industry. The 2007 survey also includes information regarding benefits, as benefits are increasingly an issue in employee recruitment and retention. The survey has been completed by companies actively involved in the foil stamping and embossing/trade finishing industry, allowing others in our industry to benchmark their own policies. This survey is FREE to members of the FSEA and can be accessed through the Members Only section of the site. Non-members can purchase this document through our FSEA Bookstore.
 
  Members Only Section

Current members will be able to access valuable information in our Members Only section – information that can be utilized internally to increase productivity and efficiencies, such as with archived InsideFinishing technical articles and reports and ‘Question and Answer’ technical articles. Information also can be accessed and utilized to ‘sell the value of foil and embossing’ such as with case studies and research studies – formatted and designed as presentations – just print and you’re ready to go! Updated continuously, this section will be a valuable source of information to help our members increase their bottom line. Other items you will find in this section in the future include survey results, benchmark studies, and more.
 
  FSEA Bookstore

Visit our online Bookstore. It has all of the offerings from the Foil & Specialty Effects Association available and will soon include links to publications from our members.
 
  Designer's Guide 2nd Edition

"A Different Breed: The Designer's Guide to Foil Stamping and Embossing" reference guide will take you on a journey through an exotic world of color, texture, and dimension. An informative sample-oriented book for designers and printers  – and a unique marketing tool for foil stampers and embossers – the 2nd Edition includes updated information and a new section on preparing artwork.
 
  Employee Recognition Program

The FSEA Employee Recognition Program is a great way to show appreciation and recognition to your employees for a job well done. It’s easy, affordable, and available now through the Foil & Specialty Effects Association.
 
 
 
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