It’s been two years since the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University debuted an online version of its introduction to flexography workshop – Intro to Flexo Online.
The online version of the institute’s most popular hands-on workshop is geared toward individuals in need of fundamental knowledge of the flexographic printing process. This online course combines visual instruction coupled with interactive modules utilizing the Sonoco Institute’s STRIPE Online platform – a real-to-life simulation of the institute’s own pressroom and narrow-web flexographic press where you can adjust key press variables in real time.
Ben Grote, Anderson & Vreeland
Benjamin Grote, Account Manager for Anderson & Vreeland, a leading manufacturer and distributor of flexographic plate processing equipment and materials, took the Intro to Flexo Online course earlier this year. Ben was kind enough to share his thoughts on the course:
What would you say to someone thinking about taking this course?
As someone brand new to the flexographic printing industry, it’s not easy finding training that starts at a rudimentary level. Oftentimes, I would find myself inundated with highly advanced terminology. This was a challenge as I still didn’t understand the basics of Flexography. The ability to start with a foundation and to learn concepts from the ground up has made my training far more rewarding, and I feel that the Clemson course gave me that foundation. If you’re someone who is new to the industry and you desire a centralized resource to kick-start your training in Flexographic printing, this course is the place to do it.
What was your biggest takeaway from the course?
My biggest takeaway from the course is that Flexographic Printing is a diverse field in which the training never truly stops. The course illustrates how technical the printing process can get but still explains high-level concepts in an easy-to-understand presentation.
What type of people in the industry would you see benefitting from this curriculum?
I would not only recommend this course to new entrants into flexographic printing, but also to anyone in the industry looking for a refresher on a wide variety of flexography subjects.
Did this course give you any new confidence?
The Intro to Flexo Online course is self-paced with 11 modules to complete in 30 days
As someone in a customer-facing role, this course was crucial in my development. The course is broken down into 11 modules, with each module having a quiz to check your comprehension of the course materials. I found these module quizzes to be crucial in drilling these concepts down which helped me retain information.
Intro to Flexo Online includes 11 modules on the flexographic printing process where trainees will engage with STRIPE Online (the web version of STRIPE VR) which is a life-like simulation of the institute’s own pressroom and narrow-web, flexographic press. The browser-based press simulator allows users to explore components of the press and adjust certain key variables for flexographic printing, such as anilox volume and plate impression. The simulator visually demonstrates the effects of these changes in real time, while providing an interactive and unique way of exploring the printing press.
Modules cover an overview of major printing processes, image reproduction, ink and ink delivery, flexographic platemaking, press component identification, density and tone value, evaluating a banded anilox test, measuring color, prepress for flexography, process control and troubleshooting and current trends in flexography.
The Intro to Flexo Online course is $895. Visit SonocoInstitute.com/Flexo-Online to learn more and register for the course. For information on group rates, send an email to info@sonocoinstitute.com.
