Lanskroun, Czech Republic – SOMA (www.soma-eng.com), producer of flexographic printing presses, plate mounters and slitter rewinders, announces that plans to open The Flexo Xperience Center (The FXC) at MacDermid global headquarters in Atlanta, GA, USA continue to move forward, on schedule for the first quarter of 2022. The FXC will bring the industry’s best innovation providers together in one place and will be the industry's first experience center where visitors can access the entire flexo value chain, including artwork, prepress, platemaking, print, print finishing, and print evaluation. The partnership includes the installation of SOMA equipment, including the Optima2 printing press at MacDermid's global headquarters in Atlanta, GA, USA.

The mission of The Flexo Xperience Center is to move flexo forward. This global center will combine both hands-on and virtual visits for a “one-stop-shop” for the package printing industry's entire workflow to experience the latest flexographic printing innovations. The FXC will foster and host industry training, collaboration, research, experimentation, and learning, all designed to ensure package printing excellence. The center will be open to pre-media suppliers, tradeshops, printers, converters, consumer product good companies, industry associations, educational institutions, manufacturers, and other players in the package printing industry. While still in the planning stages, the FXC hopes to schedule at least four major events per year to showcase the center’s new technologies.

SOMA and MacDermid are both focused on customer support and innovation to advance flexo in the packaging printing industry. This partnership expands both companies’ histories of collaboration with flexo focused partners to drive product development and application solutions. Both SOMA and MacDermid have committed to providing employees dedicated to the center, to keep the Optima2 press and additional consumables and equipment operating in the center. Many other industry-leading partners—to be announced in the future—will contribute additional, supporting equipment, software, and consumables to The FXC.

Everyone will benefit from The FXC. Printers and converters will have the rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the latest technologies—everything needed to conduct start-to-finish print trials. Brand owners will have access to a full graphics supply chain network, with the ability to create and produce design mock-ups at a neutral location. Industry partners will be able to conduct R&D testing and product trials within a complete test area. The industry benefits with a live in-person option to meet industry innovators. The FXC intends to collaborate with universities, schools, and leading flexo suppliers in an environment conducive to design, innovation—and learning.

“SOMA has built its products and reputation by listening to customers—understanding their business and printing challenges and working to solve them,” notes Garrett Taylor SOMA US and Canada Sales Director. “We also value the relationship we have with many partners—and particularly MacDermid—to advance flexo technology by working together to push the limits of flexographic printing. The FXC will offer a unique opportunity to provide both: a place to get the most out of flexo technology as well as a lab environment to learn. It is going to be a very special place.”

Additional details regarding The Flexo Xperience Center, partners, and the opening timeline will be released throughout 2021.