FEATURE

By Karen Parker, Editor-in-Chief, ASI

The premier event for professionals in the PSA tape industry, Tape Week 2024 is taking place April 29 to May 2, 2024, at the Hilton Orlando.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape professionals across the industry will meet in Orlando April 29 to May 2, 2024, for the annual Tape Week. Hosted by the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC), the premier event for the U.S. PSA tape industry will present the latest in polymer and adhesion science, as well the most current information about markets and applications within the industry. With the theme, "Adapting to Change, Optimizing for Excellence," the event promises to give industry professionals the right tools to meet the ever-evolving needs of customers.

The Tape Academy

A course through the PSTC’s Tape Academy is being offered during Tape Week 2024. This certificate program provides training on the fundamentals of PSA tape. This year, "Adhesives & Advanced Technology of PSA Tapes" is offered. The courses will take place Monday and Tuesday, April 29 and 30. It provides a detailed understanding of polymer and adhesion science as it relates to the design and testing of PSA tape, adhesive chemistries, surface science, polymer properties, theories of adhesion, and problem solving.

Introducing the ESG Track

Following the success of the summit on sustainability at Tape Week 2023, the PSTC is offering a track focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) within the industry. Presentations in this track will analyze sustainability’s future role within the PSA tape industrial space. The track begins Tuesday morning and will include topics such as environmentally friendly adhesive tape solutions, UV acrylic adhesives, life cycle assessment, UV hot melt technology, PFAS reporting, and the use of recycled resin in closed-cell polyolefin foam tape. Speakers include Paul Schwitter, chief commercial officer of ATP Group; Nicolas Velez, business development manager at Henkel Adhesive Technologies; Tad Radzinski, president of Sustainable Solutions Corp.; and Mason Macknick, R&D engineer at Sekisui Voltek LLC.

Keynote Address and Executive Roundtable Discussion

At this year’s General Lunch and Keynote on Tuesday afternoon, Alex Chausovsky, Bundy Group director of analytics and consulting, will discuss the current economic and labor market. Chausovsky’s keynote address, "Economic and Labor Market Update — A Shift in Momentum," will review time-sensitive economic events of concern in the U.S. economy and what they mean for PSTC members. Practical and actionable advice to help business leaders make plans for the future will be provided.

After the lunch and keynote address, Chausovsky will participate in the members-only Executive Forum, where industry leaders will continue to discuss the information presented in the keynote address. The session will pose questions relevant to the information provided by Chausovsky, giving attendees a chance to discuss how that information applies to their individual businesses.

Following the conversation with Chausovsky, the Executive Forum will offer a session on digitalization, titled "The Value of Digital Transformation: What is it, why now, and how to monetize your investments." Presenters Sean Wade and Becky Kelderman of Rockwell Automation will discuss how digitalization can present cost-saving opportunities. Automating of processes, decreased reliance on manual labor, optimized resource allocation, and the reduction of operational inefficiencies are among the topics covered in this presentation.

Additionally, a reception will be held on Monday evening for those who have the Executive Forum badge. For those who have attended Tape Week in prior years, this event was formerly known as the spring member meeting.

Technical and Market & Application Tracks

Tape Week offers two concurrent tracks during the conference, the Technical Track and the Market & Applications Track. Topics covered in the Technical Track sessions include tape peel adhesion, silicone PSAs, water whitening, styrene-butadiene adhesives, PSAs for interior building applications, LED curing of hot melt acrylates, rheology of reverse roll coating, acrylic emulsion PSAs, and waterborne silicone PSA dispersions. The Market & Application track is offering the following sessions: pivoting from different converting industries, trends in the North American EV market, an overview of the market and applications for energy storage and EVs, strategies for hiring and maintaining employees, growing the market for tapes in building and construction, the ROI of automation, wearable silicone adhesives, an overview of the housing market, and the role of solvent-based PSAs within the context of sustainability.

Exhibitor Showcase

Tape Week’s annual exhibitor showcase and networking reception will be held on Wednesday, May 1. The Showcase Luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At the luncheon, attendees have an opportunity to see the latest products and services for the PSA tape industry while networking with colleagues and enjoying lunch. At the end of Wednesday’s conference sessions, attendees will gather again at the showcase for a networking reception, which takes place from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. More than 40 exhibitors will present their latest technologies for the industry during the showcase. Additionally, showcase exhibitors will introduce a new company technology, product, or best practice in a poster display on Tuesday evening from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.

Tape Week 2024 is an informative and productive event for professionals in the PSA tape industry. In a recent Tape Talk column for ASI, Joe Tocci, PSTC president, explained, "With such a comprehensive lineup of speakers, courses, and networking opportunities, Tape Week 2024 promises to deliver meaningful insights and connections that will make real impact both day-to-day and in planning for the future. Whatever your role or membership status, if you have an interest in PSA tape I hope to see you there."