The growth of the flexographic industry is positioned as one of the fastest and largest in the world. Its production process covers areas such as design, prepress, press, packaging, distribution, marketing, etc. And it is divided in turn, according to the substrate (material) to be printed (plastics, paper, cardboard, labels, etc.). This translates into a wide range of job opportunities and professional development.
Therefore, if you are considering joining this guild and you do not have previous studies in this area, you must enroll in academic programs aimed at specializing or building your career, according to the development of your skills or vocational inclination. In this sense, we show you some of the technical and university studies that you can consider:
• Packaging, Printing or Mechanics Engineering: These are university degrees that focus on printing processes and graphic production in general. They cover various industry sectors such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, electronics and logistics. Its main objective is that its graduates can design efficient packaging that meets the specific needs of each product, minimizing costs, maximizing content and environmental protection.
• Business or Business Administration: If you like finances, you can choose between a university or technical degree. Both focused on the management, administration and/or direction of companies, where you acquire knowledge in key areas, specializing in production management, financial management, budgeting, cost analysis, inventory management, evaluation of investment projects, etc.
• Graphic Design: This technical course is available worldwide, covering technical fundamentals of design, typography, software management, graphic production, digital file preparation, color separation creation, screen generation, and file optimization for the prepress process.
• Printing Technology: It is a technical course where you will learn the necessary knowledge to operate, maintain and optimize equipment, ink transfer principles, pressure, speed and temperature adjustments, assembly and disassembly of cylinders and rollers, cleaning of press components and adjustment of registration and control systems.
• Production and Quality Management: It is a technical degree where you are trained in the management of production and quality management programs, production planning and control, including specific aspects such as color management, quality control and optimization of the printing process. You learn to use statistical process control tools to monitor and analyze process performance, allowing you to identify deviations and trends, make data-based decisions, and improve process stability and capability.
These careers are just a brief summary of the most in-demand in the guild. Now, and only with the aim of helping you in your choice, we bring you a summary of the Institutions of the American Continent, which has excellent programs aimed at training successful professionals, so that you can investigate and deepen the matter:
United States – Clemson University: Offers programs in Graphic Engineering and Packaging Sciences, which can address aspects related to color technology and flexographic printing in the context of packaging, it is recognized worldwide as one of the most complete and up-to-date universities in the field. His Packaging Sciences career is one of the most comprehensive study curricula worldwide, which ranges from the basic course in science, mathematics, design, materials, polymers, and packaging distribution.
United States – Michigan State University: Offers a specialized degree program in packaging sciences, it is the first university to create a program in packaging design and engineering, which has become a diverse, multifaceted and very comprehensive program.
United States – Flexographic Technical Association (FTA): It is one of the main training destinations. Since 1958, FTA has provided the means to allow the trade to increase their skills, connect with like-minded people, expand their market and push flexo to dominate packaging printing. Its headquarters are in the United States, but its study program is available in person and online throughout the Americas.
Brazil – University of Sao Paulo: It is a public university, maintained by the State of São Paulo and linked to the Secretariat of Economic Development. This University provides excellent academic preparation. Its faculties of Architecture, Urbanism and Materials Engineering have graphic design programs that include courses on packaging and container design, with an emphasis on functionality and visual communication.
Chile – Universidad de Chile: The School of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Materials, in conjunction with the Center for Containers and Packaging of Chile CENEM. It offers to train and improve packaging specialists, both for packaging manufacturing companies, as well as for related industries and users (food, pharmaceutical, pet-food, and home care, among others).
Argentina – Instituto Argentino del Envase: It is a non-profit organization created with the mission of promoting the general development of the container and packaging industry, its headquarters are the general secretariat of ULADE, Latin American Packaging Union. In addition, it is a member of the WPO World Packaging Organization.
Argentina – University of Palermo: Palermo is considered number 1 in Design among Argentine and South American Universities, top 100 in the world for the 9th consecutive year (2015-2023) and top 1 among private universities in South America, QS World University Rankings, by Subject 2023 – Art & Design, specialized in developing the image of packaging for all kinds of products, uses and materials. It offers packaging design as an optional Orientation of the fourth year of the Design career that enables its graduates to pursue Masters and Doctorates in Argentina and the world.
Argentina – Gutenberg Foundation: It is a professional technical training center for Education that offers higher technical careers, training, research, assistance and services for the development of the graphic sector. His training covers all stages of the process (pre-press, production and finishing) for types of printing, offset, digital and flexo.
Dominican Republic – Infotep: It is a Professional Technical Training Institute (INFOTEP) where you can find training in the area of graphic design for packaging and flexographic press operator technician.
The interesting thing about this summary is that the vast majority of these institutions have online training available, which represents a great advantage. The next step before you is to discover which area you are attracted to. Flexography is a branch where you will find growth opportunities anywhere in the world, which makes it extremely attractive in the eyes of thousands of people.
We hope this article guides you a bit in your search and you end up passionate about this guild as much as we do.