FESPA Launches Online Technical Q&A Service For Screen & Digital Printers

FESPA has launched an online technical Question and Answer service for members of FESPA's national Associations. Printers can now simply access a password-protected area of the FESPA website (www.fespa.com), register their details, and post their question, which may address any aspect of screen, pad and digital printing. Questions will be answered by a panel of FESPA technical experts, and the service aims to provide printers with an answer to most postings via email within 24 hours. Although the facility to post a question is restricted to Association members, the questions and corresponding answers will build into an openly accessible technical 'FAQ' section on the FESPA website. Users of the service may choose to remain anonymous. This is the latest in a series of educational and training initiatives to be instigated and funded by FESPA, with the objective of providing practical support to screen and digital printers worldwide. Chris Smith, FESPA's New Projects and Membership Services Manager comments: 'The diminishing standard of training and education in the screen and digital printing industry in recent years, coupled with the closure of so many technical learning institutions in Europe, has made it increasingly difficult for printers to gain access to accurate, impartial technical advice, without relying on equipment suppliers or incurring substantial technical consultancy costs. 'In today's just-in-time marketplace, printers need rapid, expert solutions to production problems. This new development allows them to tap into the wealth of hands-on experience and expertise that exists within the FESPA organisation. We are sure that the FESPA online technical Q&A service will quickly become an indispensable business tool for Association members around the globe.' FESPA Association members wishing to use the online technical Q&A service can contact their national Association Secretary to obtain a password. They can then register via the 'Members Only' area of FESPA website with their email address and password to obtain access to the question and answer pages. FESPA board director Michel Caza is one of the international experts who will contribute to the online technical Q&A service. He concludes: 'For over 30 years, whenever and wherever I meet screen and digital printers, they have a torrent of technical questions to ask me. I am delighted that FESPA has funded the development of an online resource to provide more democratic, global access to the information and expertise which the organisation can offer. This will be an incredibly valuable resource, and I'm confident that many members of FESPA's national Associations will benefit from knowing why things go wrong and what they have to do to put them right.'