FTA

What FTA does

Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional association founded in 1958 and headquartered in Bohemia, New York, dedicated to the flexographic printing and broader package printing industry. It serves approximately 1,650 member sites representing more than 1,400 companies and 35,000 individuals across four primary segments: flexographic printers and converters, suppliers and equipment manufacturers, consumer product companies and brand owners, and educational institutions. FTA's Foundation (FFTA), established in 1974, functions as the association's educational arm.

FTA's core assets are its industry standards and certification programs — most notably the FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) program, trusted across the industry for over 25 years and continuously updated through research conducted by the Flexo Quality Consortium (FQC). The product portfolio spans FIRST Individual and Company certifications, in-person FIRST Live training, FLEXO Magazine (40+ years of archives, including a new Tech Talks webinar series), major annual events (FORUM INFOFLEX exhibition and FTA Technical Conference), awards and recognition programs (Excellence in Flexography, Hall of Fame, Technical Innovation, Sustainability Excellence, and newly inaugurated Printer of the Year and Supplier of the Year), the MemberConnect members-only portal, and community initiatives such as Women of Flexo and the LIFT emerging-leaders program. A newly formed AI Advisory Group is exploring how AI and emerging knowledge-delivery technologies fit the association's mission.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual membership dues tiered by company size and location (single-location $340-$1,225; multi-location $2,755-$8,110; international $620), event registration and exhibition fees (FORUM INFOFLEX with 170+ exhibitor companies, Technical Conference), training and certification (FIRST Live at $2,500 member / $3,250 non-member; FIRST Level 1 at $250 promotional), Excellence in Flexography Awards entries, and publications/advertising through FLEXO Magazine. The go-to-market is community-led, anchored by volunteer committees, standards work, and a board governance structure under President Nathan Ridnouer and Board Chairman Paul Teachout. FTA is actively expanding into Mexico (FIRST 7.0 in Spanish, 2026) and has 11-50 employees.

Name

FTA

Legal name

Flexographic Technical Association

Website

https://flexography.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1958, serving 1,400+ flexographic printing companies across 1,650 member sites through FIRST certification standards, FLEXO Magazine, annual FORUM INFOFLEX and Technical Conference events, training, and Flexo Quality Consortium research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bohemia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees based on company size and location. Single location memberships range from $340-$1,225 depending on employee count. Multi-location memberships range from $2,755-$8,110. International locations (outside N. America) are $620.
2. Event Registration and Exhibitions: Revenue from FORUM INFOFLEX, FTA Technical Conference, and other industry events. Includes booth sales, registration fees, and sponsorship opportunities.
3. Training and Certification Programs: Revenue from FIRST certification programs, virtual trainings, and live training events. FIRST Live training is priced at $2,500 for members and $3,250 for non-members.
4. Awards Competition Entries: Entry fees for Excellence in Flexography Awards and other annual award competitions. Member pricing available for award entries.
5. Publications and Advertising: FLEXO Magazine subscription and advertising revenue. Magazine provides technical articles, industry news, and product showcases. Members receive complimentary access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

FTA is a non-profit professional trade association serving the flexographic printing industry. It provides certification programs (FIRST), live and on-demand training, technical conferences, an industry magazine (FLEXO), and awards programs for printing converters and suppliers. Membership-based organization delivering education, standards development, and networking opportunities to flexographic printing professionals.

Product overview

The Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) is a professional association serving the flexographic printing industry with a unified platform of interconnected products and services. The core offerings include FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) training and certification program, FLEXO Magazine industry publication, and major annual events (FORUM INFOFLEX exhibition and FTA Technical Conference). Supporting services include the MemberConnect member portal, the Flexo Quality Consortium (FQC) research committee, award programs (Excellence in Flexography Awards, Hall of Fame, Technical Innovation Award, Sustainability Excellence Award, Flexographic Printer of the Year, Supplier of the Year, President's Award), and scholarship programs. Community initiatives include Women of Flexo and LIFT (Leaders Inspiring Flexo's Tomorrow) for emerging leaders. The Wi$e1 program provides member discounts on business services. FTA also maintains an AI Advisory Group to explore emerging technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• FIRST certification programs trusted for over 25 years with thousands of certified professionals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Flint Group Packaging SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Host partner for FIRST Live training events. FTA conducts in-person hands-on training programs at Flint Group's Narrow Web North American Headquarters in Rogers, MN, with Flint Group providing curriculum content on ink management alongside FTA's FIRST certification program.
• MiracloncoreTechnology or IntegrationMiraclon participates in FTA's AI Advisory Group and contributes to industry standards development. Company received 2026 Technical Innovation Award for FLEXCEL Prime Plate technology.
• Vemax Finishing SolutionsminorOthersExhibitor Advisory Collaborative member representing supplier perspective in FTA event planning.
• AV Flexologic bvminorOthersExhibitor Advisory Collaborative member and AI Advisory Group participant.
• DuPont Cyrel Flexographic SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuPont leads FTA Mexico industry association (founded 2023) to professionalize the flexographic sector. Representatives serve on FIRST Committee and FLEXO Advisory Group.
• Windmoeller & Hoelscher CorpminorOthersExhibitor Advisory Collaborative member representing equipment manufacturer perspective.
• Eaglewood Technologies LLCminorOthersExhibitor Advisory Collaborative member.
• ApexminorOthersExhibitor Advisory Collaborative member.
• Interflex Laser EngraversminorOthersExhibitor Advisory Collaborative member.
• SOMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI Advisory Group member and 2026 FTA Supplier of the Year recipient. Garrett Taylor serves on AI Advisory Group and received President's Award.
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution participant in AI Advisory Group and FQC projects. Representatives include Bobby Congdon and Kathryn Taylor.
• DuPont Cyrel Flexographic SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJulian Fernandez represents DuPont on FLEXO Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. Company also leads FTA Mexico association.
• Hub LabelsminorOthersFLEXO Magazine Editorial Advisory Board member representing converter perspective.
• PPC FlexminorOthersFLEXO Magazine Editorial Advisory Board member and Excellence in Flexography Award winner.
• BW ConvertingminorOthersFLEXO Magazine Editorial Advisory Board member.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• FINAT: European trade association for the self-adhesive label industry, covering flexographic and digital label converters across Europe. Comparable in scope and member-based service model to FTA but focused on Europe rather than North America.

Direct peers

• AIMCAL (Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators): Trade association for the metallizing, coating, and laminating industry — a downstream flexographic printing value chain segment. Comparable to FTA in offering technical education, conferences, and association-level networking for converters and suppliers.
• Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI): Trade association serving the narrow-web tag and label manufacturing industry, a core flexographic converter segment. Directly comparable to FTA in mission, revenue model (membership dues, events, awards like the TLMI Awards), and audience (label converters and their suppliers).

Broad incumbents

• TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry): Large global trade association for the pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries. Comparable to FTA in serving converters with technical education, standards, and conferences, but much broader in scope spanning the full paper-based value chain.
• Association for Print Technologies (APTech): North American trade association formerly known as NPES, focused on print technology suppliers and equipment makers. Overlaps with FTA in serving the printing equipment and technology ecosystem but oriented toward suppliers rather than converters.
• Printing United Alliance (formerly SGIA / PIA): The largest US-based printing industry trade association, formed via the merger of Printing Industries of America and SGIA. Comparable to FTA as a membership-based organization delivering training, certifications, events, and publications to the broader printing industry, though it covers print more broadly rather than specializing in flexography.

Emerging players

• RadTech International: Trade association focused on UV and EB curing technologies used across printing, including flexographic applications. Comparable in operating model (membership, conferences, education) but narrower in technical scope.

Others

• Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics (Clemson University): Academic packaging and graphics institute at Clemson University that partners with FTA on research (FQC) and training. Comparable as a flexographic education provider and FTA's former employer pool for technical leadership (Kenny Tucker).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flextechassn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FTA