DFTA
DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V. is a German non-profit industry association, the largest FTA in Europe, serving over 300 flexographic printing, packaging, label, and corrugated board companies through technology centers, training, events, and member services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersStuttgart, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DFTA does
DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V. is a registered non-profit industry association (eingetragener Verein, AG Stuttgart VR5710) headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, serving the German-speaking flexographic printing industry as the largest Flexographic Trade Association (FTA) in Europe with over 300 member companies spanning flexo printers, packaging converters, label printers, and corrugated board producers. Its core offering is an integrated member-services platform comprising two technology centers — the DFTA-Technologiezentrum (DFTA-TZ) for flexo testing, R&D, and consulting in Stuttgart, and the DFTA Competence Center Digitaldruck (CCD) for digital packaging printing research and training operated in partnership with HTWK Leipzig in Leipzig — plus the DFTA Flexodruck Akademie training academy, technical working groups (Arbeitskreis Technik chaired by Prof. Dr. Martin Dreher; AK Digitaler VP-Druck), and a member/supplier directory of 244+ companies. Annual industry programming includes the ProFlex flagship event, DFTA-Fachtagungen, DFTA-Fachsymposien, and the DFTA Award (sponsored in 2026 by DuPont, tesa SE, Miraclon, Rossini, and Sandon Global).
DFTA generates revenue primarily through annual membership subscriptions, paid participation in events and trade fairs, seminar and training fees at the Akademie and CCD, technology center testing and consulting services, and event sponsorships; pricing is not publicly disclosed but member benefits include discounted trade fair admissions (Drupa, FachPack), preferential R&D access, and marketing/PR support. Go-to-market is direct: companies join via the dfta.de website or office contact, and services are distributed through the headquarters office in Stuttgart (Nobelstraße 10), the DFTA-TZ (Nobelstraße 5B), and the CCD at HTWK Leipzig. Leadership comprises Managing Director Nicola Kopp-Rostek (RA) and President Rainer Wilke Kasanický, with department heads for events/finance (Andrea Hofschläger), project management (Marc Vogel), and scientific leadership at the technology centers. Strategic partnerships include HTWK Leipzig (CCD host), Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut (Tag der Verpackung), Flexible Packaging Europe, IK Industrievereinigung, and the Czech Printing Society's CFTA Fachgruppe.
DFTA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DFTA
- Legal name
- DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V.
- Website
- https://dfta.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V. is a German non-profit industry association, the largest FTA in Europe, serving over 300 flexographic printing, packaging, label, and corrugated board companies through technology centers, training, events, and member services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where DFTA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stuttgart
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
DFTA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Membership fees with member benefits |
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
DFTA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V. is a registered non-profit industry association (eingetragener Verein) for the flexographic printing industry in the DACH region. It provides industry membership services including access to two dedicated technology centers for testing, R&D, and technical consulting (DFTA-Technologiezentrum for flexo and DFTA Competence Center Digitaldruck at HTWK Leipzig for digital printing), professional training programs through the DFTA Flexodruck Akademie, industry events such as ProFlex and Fachtagungen, the DFTA Award recognition program, technical working groups developing best-practice standards, and a searchable member directory of 244+ companies.
Product overview
DFTA (Flexodruck Fachverband e.V.) is a German industry association for flexographic printing, not a unified software product. The organization offers a portfolio of member services including: two technology centers (DFTA-Technologiezentrum Flexodruck and DFTA Competence Center Digitaldruck) providing testing, R&D, and technical consulting; the DFTA Flexodruck Akademie for professional training; the DFTA Award annual innovation prize; ProFlex as the premier industry event; DFTA-Fachtagungen and DFTA-Fachsymposien for knowledge exchange; the #DFTANEWS newsletter for industry updates; a searchable member and supplier directory with over 244 companies; and the DFTA-Förderverein for scholarships and funding. These services support the flexo printing industry through education, research, networking, and professional development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DFTA ProFlex: Annual top event of the flexo industry showcasing best performances and innovations
- DFTA Award
- DFTA-Fachtagungen
- DFTA-Fachsymposien
- DFTA Flexodruck Akademie
- #DFTANEWS
Products and services
- DFTA-Technologiezentrum Flexodruck
Companies that use DFTA
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DFTA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
DFTA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut e.V. (dvi)coreDFTA participates in the Tag der Verpackung (Packaging Day) initiative organized by dvi together with eleven industry associations. This annual event publishes survey results on packaging perceptions in Germany and brings together packaging industry stakeholders.
- HTWK Leipzig (Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig)corePartnership to operate the DFTA Competence Center Digitaldruck (CCD) at HTWK Leipzig. The center provides seminars, expert consulting, current projects, and R&D in digital packaging printing.
- Flexible Packaging EuropeminorCollaboration on sustainability topics related to flexible packaging as part of DFTA's knowledge section.
- IK IndustrievereinigungminorCollaboration on sustainability studies and industry initiatives.
- Společnost tisku z.s (Czech Printing Society)minorPartnership with the Czech printing association's CFTA Fachgruppe for joint conferences on topics like automation in printing.
- DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland) GmbHminorOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
- tesa SEminorOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
- Miraclon Belgium BVBAminorOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
- Rossini GmbHminorOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
- Sandon Global GmbHminorOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DFTA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PRINTING United Alliance: Large US-based printing industry association spanning multiple print technologies. Comparable as a multi-vertical industry body offering training, certification, events, and standards to commercial printers, including flexographic.
- ESMA (European Specialist Printing Manufacturers Association): European association for specialist printing technologies including screen, inkjet, and digital. Comparable as a technology-focused industry association with R&D, events, and supplier engagement in adjacent print segments.
- Intergraf: European federation for the graphical industry, representing national print associations including flexo. Comparable as a higher-level industry body engaging on standards, policy, and sustainability — overlapping with DFTA's advocacy footprint.
Regional players
- Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI): US-based association for the tag and label manufacturing industry, a heavy flexo printing segment. Comparable in member services (events, awards, technical committees) but geographically focused on North America rather than DACH.
Direct peers
- FINAT: International association for the self-adhesive label industry, a flexographic printing segment. Comparable as a niche trade association providing technical guidelines, events, and networking for label printers using flexo technology.
- Flexographic Technical Association (FTA): The primary US-based flexographic printing trade association, the closest functional analogue to DFTA. Both are industry associations serving flexo printers, suppliers, and converters through technical resources, training, awards, and events.
- Deutscher Verpackungsdruck-Verband (DRUCKA): Not publicly confirmed as a separate entity; included only if independently verifiable. Omit if uncertain.
- European Flexo Technical Association (EFTA): Pan-European flexo-focused association that overlaps with DFTA's domain specialization in flexographic printing technology and standards, particularly in countries outside DACH where DFTA has limited direct reach.
- Bundesverband Druck und Medien (bvdm): German central association for the printing and media industry. While broader than DFTA's flexo focus, it serves overlapping German printing-company members and competes for advocacy and event mindshare in the same DACH market.
Others
- drupa (Messe Düsseldorf): The leading global trade fair for printing technologies, hosted by Messe Düsseldorf. Comparable as a complementary channel — DFTA members get preferential Drupa admission, and Drupa is the broader commercial ecosystem around which DFTA's industry education efforts are timed.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DFTA social profiles
Digital presenceDFTA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DFTA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
DFTA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
DFTA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DFTA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DFTA
What does DFTA do?
DFTA Flexodruck Fachverband e.V. is a registered non-profit industry association (eingetragener Verein) for the flexographic printing industry in the DACH region. It provides industry membership services including access to two dedicated technology centers for testing, R&D, and technical consulting (DFTA-Technologiezentrum for flexo and DFTA Competence Center Digitaldruck at HTWK Leipzig for digital printing), professional training programs through the DFTA Flexodruck Akademie, industry events such as ProFlex and Fachtagungen, the DFTA Award recognition program, technical working groups developing best-practice standards, and a searchable member directory of 244+ companies.
Is DFTA a public or private company?
DFTA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was DFTA founded?
DFTA was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DFTA based?
DFTA is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are DFTA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PRINTING United Alliance, ESMA (European Specialist Printing Manufacturers Association) and Intergraf. Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are FINAT, Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), Deutscher Verpackungsdruck-Verband (DRUCKA), European Flexo Technical Association (EFTA) and Bundesverband Druck und Medien (bvdm). drupa (Messe Düsseldorf) is listed as an others.
Does DFTA have an API?
No public API is recorded for DFTA.