TAGA Italia is a non-political, non-profit association of graphic communication technicians, founded in Italy in 1983 as an offshoot of TAGA (Technical Association of the Graphic Arts), an American organisation then based at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester (New York).
TAGA ITALIA - Associazione Tecnici Arti Grafiche
Via Benigno Crespi, 30
20159 Milano
info@taga.it
www.tagaitalia.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tagaitalia/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/taga-italia
MANAGEMENT
Alessandro Mambretti, President
Adalberto Monti, Vice President
Raffaele Angelillo, Vice President
David Serenelli, Secretary
Luca Morandi, Advisor
Elia Nardini, Advisor
Piero Pozzi, Advisor
Denis Salicetti, Advisor
Manuel Trevisan, Advisor
BUSINESS SECTORS
Services
THE INTERVIEW
Alessandro Mambretti
President
What were the main challenges you faced in 2024 and what were the most important objectives achieved?
TAGA Italia is an association of individuals supported by companies, and the challenge we face every year is finding the time to work on our activities. To do this, we need to offer relevant content, which is what we do with initiatives such as TAGA DAY. In 2024, this event was a great success in terms of attendance and speakers, who explained the various difficulties faced throughout the paper industry, from design to production.
What product lines are you working on that you intend to promote as a priority over the next year?
2024 saw the birth and consolidation of the spot colour working group, which could be in a position to finalise the document this year.
The paper converting working group is continuing to review and rewrite TAGA DOC 16 and will continue to do so throughout 2025. This year also sees the start of work on revising TAGA. DOC.18 ‘Clauses and regulations for the graphics sector’, together with Comunico Italiano, as it needs to be significantly updated. At the same time, we are working on a project to make documents available through AI tools and we are considering reopening the digital printing working group. As mentioned, this requires people and time, so everything will be closely linked to these two aspects.
What services or activities have you planned for 2025 to engage and gain customer loyalty?
We held TAGA DAY on 21 March at the Salesiani in Milan, where we discussed paper converting and digital printing in the presence of over 100 members. Now we are looking forward to Print4All, where we will have our own stand and give daily speeches. That will be the time to gather new requests and opinions. Then we have a series of events planned where we will be giving talks. We will communicate the details in our newsletter in due course.
ESG (environmental, social and governance sustainability) criteria are increasingly at the centre of companies’ development strategies, what are the actions you have taken in this regard?
As an association, we address this issue in our reports and documents: we have always focused on good management practices, environmental protection and occupational safety. For example, in our last two documents on UV printing in general and on plastics, we have dedicated entire chapters to explaining good practices.
WHAT WE DO
In over half a century of activity, TAGA has achieved a prominent position worldwide, contributing significantly to the technological growth of the graphic arts industry and the professional development of its members. Since its foundation, TAGA Italia has been part of the American association through the ‘TAGA International Relationship Committee’, incorporating the same aims into its statutes and committing itself to promoting Italian technological developments internationally and sharing the experiences of other countries in Italy. In accordance with its Statute, the Association aims, among other things, to promote and encourage research in the graphic arts sector at all levels; to improve the training of technicians in terms of professional education, culture and ethics; to disseminate and spread knowledge of the various aspects and problems of the graphic arts sector; to organise meetings, conferences, debates, and publications with the aim of stimulating interest, both at a scientific and popular level, within the Graphic Communication sector.
In over 40 years since its foundation, TAGA Italia has launched numerous initiatives, many of which have been highly successful, such as the latest TAGA tour on UV printing travelling around Italy, which saw an extraordinary participation of operators, companies and schools. TAGA Italia has collaborated with ATIF (Italian Technical Association for the Development of Flexography) in the creation of the Flexo Guidelines and with the UNI Graphics Commission and TC130 for the development of ISO standardisation regulations. Today, it is an member of FTA Europe, PDF Association and Ghent Workgroup.
TAGA Italia focuses on research and technological comparison through its Technical Committees and Working Groups, which are dedicated each year to exploring specific topics of current interest and producing documents for its members, with expert recommendations or informative articles published in trade magazines. Recent publications include studies on UV technology (TAGA.DOC. 19) and UV printing on plastic substrates (TAGA.DOC. 20). Two working groups are currently active, dedicated to the paper converting process (TAGA.DOC.16, currently being updated) and the reproduction of spot colours in printing (TAGA.DOC.21).
With over 20 online documents, events throughout Italy and the TAGA DAY, the annual meeting reserved for members, TAGA Italia contributes to the technological, methodological and process development of companies in the graphics industry.