March 5, 2003 -- Flexography is hot these days, as more and more printers look to producing labels, flexible cartons, and other packaging as a path to growth in an otherwise uncertain economy. Flexo is also a hot topic at the upcoming Graphic Arts The Charlotte Show, where a recently announced special exhibit section called Flexotek Showcase has been expanded to meet vendor and attendee demand. The show is open March 13-15 at the Charlotte, NC Convention Center. Flexotek Showcase offers visitors a single area of the exhibit hall where they can meet with a large number of flexo specialist vendors in a short time. To keep the interactions personal and direct, displays are limited to small exhibits in a special format. Since announcing the special flexo section late last year, the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) has signed up more than 20 vendors and has expanded the section to accommodate them. “The enthusiastic response to Flexotek Showcase strongly indicates there is a need for just this type of forum, a place where show visitors can explore new market possibilities and exhibitors can economically reach new groups of prospective customers,” said GASC President Regis J. Delmontagne. Exhibitors taking part in Flexotek Showcase as of mid-February included Agfa, Arjobex, BASF, Beta Industries, CREO Americas, DuPont, Max Daetwyler, Environmental Inks and Coatings, Flint Ink, Harper Corporation, Jet USA, Mark Andy, Phoenix Challenge, Pitman Company, Prime UV, Printcafe, Printers Service (PRISCO), RipIT Computer, Soma Engineering, Tailored Solutions, Water Ink, Wikoff Color and Xymid. Some of these firms are participating only in Flexotek Showcase, while others have additional exhibits elsewhere on the show floor and are included among the roughly 200 staging exhibits at Graphic Arts The Charlotte Show. GASC expects about 10,000 industry professionals from throughout the Southeast to be on hand. In addition to exhibits, a 60-session educational program will be staged by GASC and the Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA). Complete program information and online registration is available at www.charlotteshow.com.