Charlotte, NC - When SGS expanded their global partnership with Flint Group last year, they wanted to ensure, as a leading supplier of nyloflex^® printing plates, that they were providing consistent quality plates throughout their organization.  So they teamed up with Flint Group and went through Flint Group’s FlexoExpert Certification Program.  After a rigorous review, training and audit process, SGS locations in McBee, SC; Marietta, GA; Appleton, WI; Brooklyn Park, MN; Mississauga, ON; and Philadelphia, PA, have received the FlexoExpert Certification.  This program is being implemented globally for SGS, and more sites are currently in the process of gaining certification. 

Consisting of three main steps: evaluation and training, implementation, and audit, the FlexoExpert Certification Program ensures that a company’s operations are consistently providing the finest quality printing plates.  With the FlexoExpert Program, SGS and Flint Group jointly reviewed platemaking operating procedures, equipment performance and quality standards.  Training was provided at each SGS facility and a summary of the evaluation, providing both areas of strengths and opportunities for improvement, were provided to each location.  After a six-month implementation phase, audits were conducted ensuring that all standards were being met. 

Rich Emmerling, Flint Group Technical Director, said, “We put a lot of effort into ensuring that our customers are providing the best possible product to their customers. With our FlexoExpert Certification Program, SGS customers should be confident that all flexo best practice standards are being met.”  Pat O’Connor, SGS Vice President for Flexo, commented, “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to partner with Flint Group in executing a thorough evaluation of our plate making facilities.  The FlexoExpert Certification program provided an independent and objective review of our processes with the intention of ensuring consistently high-quality plate making across the network, and is supportive of our ongoing objective to harmonize our operations.”