DFTA

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut e.V. (dvi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026DFTA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainability topics related to flexible packaging as part of DFTA's knowledge section.
• IK IndustrievereinigungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainability studies and industry initiatives.
• Společnost tisku z.s (Czech Printing Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Czech printing association's CFTA Fachgruppe for joint conferences on topics like automation in printing.
• DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland) GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
• tesa SEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
• Miraclon Belgium BVBAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
• Rossini GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.
• Sandon Global GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the DFTA Award 2026.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• Xx.com/DFTA_Flexodruck
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DFTA_Flexodruck
• Facebookfacebook.com/dftaflexodruck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dfta-flexodruck-fachverband-e-v
• Instagraminstagram.com/dfta_flexodruck

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 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 DFTA