FTA Europe
FTA Europe is a Belgian non-profit trade association founded in 2015 that serves as the pan-European umbrella organization for the flexographic printing industry, representing eight national member associations across Europe and providing advocacy, education, technical standards work, and industry events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FTA Europe does
FTA Europe is a Belgian non-profit trade association (Association Sans But Lucratif) founded on 5 February 2015, headquartered in Brussels at Intergraf's offices. It serves as the pan-European umbrella organization for the flexographic printing industry, representing the common interests of eight national member associations from the UK (EFIA), Italy (ATIF), Spain (ATEF), the Benelux region (EFTA), France (ATF), Sweden (Sweflex), Denmark (GRAKOM), and Poland (PLFTA). Individual companies, pre-press associations, and supplier trade associations can also join as associate members. The association acts as a collective voice for the industry, which the organization values at €39.2 billion in European flexographic printing output, and provides advocacy, education, technical standards work, and industry events.
The association does not develop or sell technology products. Its core offerings are knowledge resources and event programming: the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox (a digital eBook available in English, Italian, and Dutch for flexo machine operators), the annual Diamond Awards ceremony celebrating excellence in flexo printing (now in its sixth edition), the Shaping the Future with Packaging conference co-hosted with Intergraf and Smithers, the Flexbinar webinar series, the Guide to Applying Food Contact Materials Legislation, and a Technical Committee working on ISO standards and test forme development. Marketing and distribution rely on the FTA Europe website, LinkedIn, a quarterly newsletter, press releases, and presence at major industry exhibitions (Drupa, Labelexpo, Print4All).
FTA Europe is funded through a mix of annual membership dues from national associations and associate members, event revenue (Diamond Awards ticket sales and tiered sponsorships such as €2,500 Silver and €2,500 Cocktail sponsorship packages, plus €170 single tickets), one-time sales of the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox eBook through its online shop, and newsletter advertising. The organization is governed by a Board elected from member representatives, with Sante Conselvan serving as President since founding and Beatrice Klose as Secretary General. Total headcount is approximately 8 employees, and the association does not publicly disclose its financial results.
FTA Europe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FTA Europe
- Legal name
- FLEXOGRAPHIC TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION EUROPE ASBL
- Website
- https://fta-europe.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FTA Europe is a Belgian non-profit trade association founded in 2015 that serves as the pan-European umbrella organization for the flexographic printing industry, representing eight national member associations across Europe and providing advocacy, education, technical standards work, and industry events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FTA Europe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Printing Industry Trade Association
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA), Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH)
Keywords
Where FTA Europe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FTA Europe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from national flexo associations (full members) and individual companies (associate members).
- Event Revenue: Revenue from Diamond Awards ceremonies, conferences, and sponsorship packages including ticket sales, table bookings, and various sponsorship tiers (Diamond, Gold, Silver).
- Publications and Products: Sales of the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox eBook and other publications through the FTA Europe shop.
- Advertising: Advertising opportunities in the quarterly newsletter distributed to a global audience of printers, suppliers, trade press, and FTAs worldwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Single ticket to Diamond Awards ceremony |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Silver Sponsorship package |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Cocktail & After Party Sponsorship |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | 10-seat table booking |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
FTA Europe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FTA Europe is a non-profit trade association that represents the common interests of the European flexographic printing industry by serving as the umbrella body for national flexo associations and providing advocacy, education, training, standardization, networking, and industry recognition. It sells publications such as the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox eBook, runs the annual Diamond Awards ceremony, hosts the Shaping the Future with Packaging conference (in partnership with Intergraf and Smithers), produces webinars (Flexbinars), manages Technical Committee projects on ISO standards and test formes, and issues guidance documents such as the Guide to Applying Food Contact Materials Legislation.
Product overview
FTA Europe is a European trade association for the flexographic printing industry that operates as a unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core products include the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox (a digital training eBook), the Diamond Awards (annual industry awards), Technical Committee projects (test forme standardization, ISO standards), guidance documents on food contact materials legislation, the annual Shaping the Future with Packaging conference, and webinars (Flexbinars). These products and services collectively serve to advance the flexo industry through education, standardization, advocacy, and networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Diamond Awards: FTA Europe's flagship awards ceremony celebrating excellence in flexographic printing, recognizing the best flexo products in Europe across multiple categories.
- Flexo Best Practice Toolbox
- Flexbinar
Products and services
- FTA Europe Flexo Best Practice Toolbox A digital eBook designed for flexo machine operators to achieve consistent, predictable results on press. Content includes engaging videos and diagrams developed by leading industry experts, available in multiple languages (English, Italian, Dutch).
- FTA Europe Diamond Awards An annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in flexographic printing across Europe. Winners of national flexographic printing awards compete at the European level across multiple categories. The 2024 edition (sixth) was held during Drupa in Düsseldorf, Germany.
- FTA Europe Technical Committee Projects Technical projects including a standardized test forme for flexo printers, ISO standards analysis, and ongoing development of the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox. The Technical Committee comprises experts from each member country.
- Guide to Applying Food Contact Materials Legislation A guidance document developed jointly with Intergraf to help printing and converting companies making printed food contact materials demonstrate legal compliance with EU food contact materials legislation.
- Shaping the Future with Packaging Conference An annual conference organized in partnership with Intergraf and Smithers, bringing together professionals from the European packaging and printing sector to discuss market trends, sustainability, and innovation. The 2025 edition was held in Brussels in April 2025.
- FTA Europe Webinars (Flexbinars) A series of webinars (Flexbinars) covering technical topics relevant to the flexo industry, including Expanded Color Gamut, Food Contact Materials Legislation, and other subjects.
- National Association Membership (Full Membership) Full membership available to European national flexo trade associations. Provides European-level coordination, EU advocacy, standardization work, access to education resources, and event participation.
- Associate Membership Associate membership available to individual flexo companies in countries without a national association member, pre-press trade associations, or supplier trade associations. Benefits include brand exposure, networking, event access, and committee participation.
Companies that use FTA Europe
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FTA Europe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
FTA Europe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Polish Chamber of Flexographers (PLFTA)coreJoined FTA Europe as its eighth member association in March 2023. Organization bringing together companies involved in the flexographic industry in Poland.
- SmitherscoreSmithers is a consultancy providing market research and expertise on the packaging industry. Partnered with FTA Europe and Intergraf for the Shaping the Future with Packaging conference series and provides exclusive market reports to conference participants.
- Felix BöttcherminorFirst associate member to join FTA Europe in September 2021. Leading international supplier to the printing industry with around 2000 employees worldwide. Specializes in covering of sleeves, rollers, and supplies for printing machine manufacturers.
- IntergrafcoreIntergraf is the European printing industry association representing employers in the sector. FTA Europe has its registered address at Intergraf's offices in Brussels and collaborates on conferences, guidance documents, and EU advocacy. Key partner for the Shaping the Future with Packaging conference series.
- EFIA (UK)coreFounding member of FTA Europe representing the flexographic printing industry in the United Kingdom.
- ATIF (Italy)coreFounding member of FTA Europe, the Italian Technical Association for Flexography. Represented by President Sante Conselvan who served as FTA Europe's first President.
- ATEF (Spain)coreFounding member of FTA Europe representing the flexographic printing industry in Spain.
- EFTA (Benelux)coreFounding member of FTA Europe, the flexo technical association for The Netherlands and Belgium. Vice President Wim Buyle represented EFTA Benelux on the FTA Europe Board.
- ATF (France)coreFounding member of FTA Europe representing the flexographic printing industry in France.
- UtecominorDiamond Sponsor for multiple Diamond Awards events. Italian company specializing in printing technology.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FTA Europe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Picon (Printing Industries Confederation): UK printing industry trade body. Operates as a broader incumbent trade association for the UK print sector (not flexo-specific), parallel to Intergraf at European level — useful peer for benchmarking association economics and member service models in adjacent markets.
Direct peers
- DFTA (Deutscher Fachverband für Flexografie): Germany's national flexographic technical association. Functionally identical to FTA Europe's other member associations (training, technical standards, German-language flexo community) and represents the single largest European flexo market — a prime membership expansion target and structural peer.
- EFIA (European Flexographic Industry Association - UK): A founding member of FTA Europe representing the UK flexographic industry. Provides analogous services (Best in Print awards, training, technical guidance) at the national level and is structurally identical to FTA Europe in mission, just narrower in geographic scope.
- FTA (Flexographic Technical Association): The US-based Flexographic Technical Association is the closest direct peer — a national trade association serving the American flexographic printing industry with awards (Phoenix Awards), technical standards, and member education. Directly comparable in mission and product structure (association, awards program, technical resources).
- ATIF (Associazione Tecnica Italiana per la Flessografia): Italian Technical Association for Flexography, a founding member of FTA Europe. Organizes the Bestinflexo Prize and provides technical training to Italian flexo printers — a direct national-level peer with identical value proposition translated to Italian market.
- EFTA Benelux: Flexo technical association covering The Netherlands and Belgium, and a founding member of FTA Europe. Direct national-level peer providing identical association services to Benelux flexo printers.
- ATF (Association Technique Française de Flexographie): French national flexographic technical association and founding member of FTA Europe. Direct national-level peer with analogous training, awards, and technical guidance programs for the French flexo community.
Others
- Smithers: Market research and consulting firm specializing in packaging and printing. Co-organizes FTA Europe's Shaping the Future with Packaging conference and supplies market reports. Adjacent ecosystem participant — comparable in serving the same flexo community but as a research/commercial partner rather than an association.
Broad incumbents
- PRINTING United Alliance: Major North American printing industry association covering all printing processes. Comparable as a broad trade association peer (events, certifications, advocacy, education) but not flexo-specific, paralleling how Intergraf relates to FTA Europe at the European level.
- Intergraf: The European printing industry employers' federation that hosts FTA Europe at its Brussels offices and co-organizes the Shaping the Future with Packaging conference. Operates as a broader incumbent across all printing processes (not flexo-specific) and provides FTA Europe's EU advocacy infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FTA Europe social profiles
Digital presenceFTA Europe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FTA Europe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
FTA Europe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FTA Europe 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 FTA Europe
What does FTA Europe do?
FTA Europe is a non-profit trade association that represents the common interests of the European flexographic printing industry by serving as the umbrella body for national flexo associations and providing advocacy, education, training, standardization, networking, and industry recognition. It sells publications such as the Flexo Best Practice Toolbox eBook, runs the annual Diamond Awards ceremony, hosts the Shaping the Future with Packaging conference (in partnership with Intergraf and Smithers), produces webinars (Flexbinars), manages Technical Committee projects on ISO standards and test formes, and issues guidance documents such as the Guide to Applying Food Contact Materials Legislation.
Is FTA Europe a public or private company?
FTA Europe is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FTA Europe founded?
FTA Europe was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FTA Europe based?
FTA Europe is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does FTA Europe make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue, publications and Products and advertising.
Who are FTA Europe's main competitors?
Picon (Printing Industries Confederation) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are DFTA (Deutscher Fachverband für Flexografie), EFIA (European Flexographic Industry Association - UK), FTA (Flexographic Technical Association), ATIF (Associazione Tecnica Italiana per la Flessografia), EFTA Benelux and ATF (Association Technique Française de Flexographie). Smithers is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are PRINTING United Alliance and Intergraf.
Does FTA Europe have an API?
No public API is recorded for FTA Europe.
What industry is FTA Europe in?
FTA Europe's product category is Printing Industry Trade Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels, with a secondary code of BPADANAA, International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies. Its SIC code is 8600.