Flexo Is No Longer Going at It Alone: What the New FTA Awards Signal to the Industry

The FTA (Flexographic Technical Association) is one of the most prominent trade associations in global flexo and package printing. Its annual Excellence in Flexography Awards serves as the industry's recognized benchmark for quality, where winning entries set the standard for the field

In early September 2026, the FTA announced that submissions for the 2027 awards are officially open, featuring two clear changes in the rules:

・First, the Excellence in Flexography Awards established an independent 'Digital' category for the first time, evaluated using judging criteria tailored specifically for digital print applications rather than traditional flexo scoring rubrics

・Second, it introduced a 'Multiprocess Pilot' program dedicated to entries that combine flexography with another printing process

As a side note, the FTA also simplified entry fees to a flat 95 dollars for members, making it easier for companies to submit across multiple categories. This small adjustment speaks volumes: the association wants more entries, especially from digital and hybrid print providers who were previously shut out by rigid rules

Put simply, flexography uses flexible photopolymer relief plates paired with fast-drying inks to print onto folding cartons, labels, and flexible packaging films. It runs fast, covers wide web areas, and adapts well to uneven substrates, which is why it has long been the primary workhorse of package printing

Digital printing skips plate making altogether, sending files straight to inkjet or toner presses for output. Its greatest strength is handling variable data, such as serial numbers, QR codes, or packaging runs where every single piece looks different. That neatly fills the gap left by flexo's built-in limitation of fixed-plate, high-volume production

For a long time, award competitions judged these two processes in separate silos. Flexo was flexo, digital was digital, and the two never crossed paths. By spinning digital into its own official category, the FTA is admitting something important: clients do not want an either-or choice between flexo and digital. They want both working together, and that is already the norm, not an edge case

Historically, the Excellence in Flexography Awards enforced a rigid threshold: at least 90 percent of the printed surface had to be produced via flexo, while any other processes used were completely ignored by the judges. This essentially forced printers to conceal any hybrid techniques used in their submissions

The new Multiprocess Pilot breaks down that barrier. Judges will now evaluate the quality of the flexo printing itself, the quality of the accompanying process, and how well the two hold together as a whole. This means the FTA formally recognizes that combining a flexo foundation with digital enhancement is a technical achievement in its own right, not a cheap compromise

For readers in Taiwan, this shift is meaningful: if your job uses high-volume flexo for solid base colors and static graphics, followed by a digital press to imprint customer-specific variable data, that hybrid setup can now be entered as a legitimate, recognized piece without having to hide the hybrid steps

The takeaway is straightforward: stop planning equipment investments around merely buying a better flexo press. Start treating digital imprinting capability as a standard feature across your production line

Much of the pressure felt by small and mid-sized package printers in Taiwan over the last year or two stems from brand clients demanding greater customization. Short runs, multi-version graphics, and orders requiring unique details across every piece are all growing. A standard flexo press cannot meet those demands alone, but digital imprinting fits right in

While this rule adjustment originates from a US trade association, it mirrors the exact direction global packaging supply chains are taking toward deeper data integration and traceability. Packaging must carry dynamic data, not just static graphics. For Taiwanese print shops handling orders for international brands, this reality is impossible to ignore

Start with an equipment audit. See if your existing flexo line can integrate an inline digital imprinting module, or at least sit down with equipment suppliers to map out a clear upgrade path. You do not need to overhaul everything at once. Being able to run short-run test jobs is more than enough to begin

For brand owners currently vetting print vendors, ask them directly whether they have a proven track record in hybrid flexo-digital printing. Being able to ask that question today separates printers that are actively adapting from those falling behind

If you are unsure whether your project calls for pure flexo, pure digital, or a hybrid approach, walk through the specs with consultants who have real pressroom experience. MINDS has extensive experience handling mid-to-high-end custom commercial printing and can help calculate the cost and quality trade-offs across different process combinations. If you just want to run small digital proofing samples to check the output first, MINDS offers an online ordering model with low minimums and fast turnarounds, perfect for testing a small batch before committing to scale

Winning awards is secondary. What matters is that this rule change brings flexo-plus-digital out into the open, and your production planning should move in the same direction

The FTA 2027 awards introduce an independent Digital category, marking the association's formal recognition of digital printing alongside flexo standards

The Multiprocess Pilot removes the old 90 percent flexo area requirement, allowing hybrid printing methods to compete openly for the first time

Flexo's strength lies in high-volume static graphics, while digital excels at variable data. The two complement each other rather than compete

Small and mid-sized printers in Taiwan should shift their equipment strategy from simply buying a better flexo press toward building a hybrid flexo-plus-digital setup

When brand clients evaluate print vendors, proven experience with hybrid processes is now a direct, practical screening factor

This FTA rule change might seem like a minor technical update to an awards program, but for print shops assessing equipment purchases, it serves as a clear industry bellwether. Flexo is not being replaced by digital, but pure flexo production lines will find it harder and harder to win orders demanding heavy customization. Small and mid-sized shops do not need to rush out and spend big money on a full digital press line right away. A more practical path is talking to existing equipment suppliers about modular add-ons, or outsourcing part of the digital imprinting work to test client response on live jobs before building out an in-house line. Brands and designers can also use this opportunity to audit their current packaging: details like expiration dates, batch numbers, or personalized marketing codes that once seemed like headaches are now the very challenges that hybrid flexo-plus-digital workflows solve best

・FTA Opens 2027 Awards Program with New Digital Category and Multiprocess Pilot