Members of the adhesives and sealants industry will meet this year in Jacksonville, Florida, for the Adhesive and Sealant Council's 2025 Annual Convention and EXPO. Set to take place April 14-16, 2025, the three-day event offers concurrent conference sessions that cover a variety of topics, including regulatory issues, sustainability, and the latest market-disrupting technologies. The event offers attendees many opportunities to learn, network with colleagues, and see the latest industry innovations at the EXPO.  

The convention kicks off with an opening welcome reception from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday evening. The "Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville Welcome Reception and Dinner" provides an opportunity for attendees to relax and network with friends and colleagues while also learning interesting facts about Jimmy Buffet. The reception will include ASC's annual give back community service project, which involves a backpack donation initiative for local organizations in Jacksonville, including The Women’s Shelter of Jacksonville, Project 1.27 of Jacksonville, a volunteer initiative for teens involved in the child welfare system, and Jacksonville Public Schools. Donated backpacks will include things such as school supplies, snacks, and hygiene products.

The conference starts on Tuesday morning and will provide concurrent tracks that cover a broad array of topics, including feedstocks, the supply chain, sustainability, end-use applications, advancements in sealant technology, recycling for circularity, adhesives and sealants in electric vehicles, hot-melt technology, waterborne technology, regulatory issues, additives, and new product innovations.   

Bill Allmond, president of the ASC, spoke to ASI about some of the highlights of this year's conference, "The theme this year is 'Innovate to Elevate.' So, you'll see some sessions that address this theme. For example, we have a session on developments in hot-melt adhesives technology. We are featuring advancements in waterborne technologies for end-use markets. We'll be doing new product introductions again this year. Naturally, there are going to be sessions on AI, machine learning, and data management. We're going to be discussing emerging trends and technologies and, of course, sustainability. There is something valuable and nuggets of information in each one of these."

Allmond explained “I'm going to be facilitating the regulatory track again this year. We have some great speakers looking at the new administration and what regulatory policy means for the adhesive and sealant industry. We have my good friend Kristel Ons, who is the secretary general of FEICA, back with us again to give us a picture of the market and regulations from Europe."

The conference will feature four keynote addresses. The opening keynote is Cassie Chandler, the FBI’s first African American female special agent assistant director. Chandler will speak on "Succeeding in Difficult Environments." At lunch on Tuesday, Bill Allmond will give an update on the adhesive and sealant industry in North America, as well as present recent ASC highlights and achievements. Allmond will be followed by ASC Chair Tom Stewart, who will present the recipients of the 2025 ASC Innovation Award. Wednesday morning will feature an address by Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence. He will provide an in-depth analysis of the global economy's shifting landscape and its implications for the adhesive and sealant industry in an address titled "Trends and Forecasts for the Global Economy in the Adhesive and Sealant Industry." At lunch on Wednesday, Timothy Long, a professor at Arizona State University, will discuss emerging challenges in adhesion and interfaces, with a focus on sustainability. His address is titled "Emerging Challenges for Adhesion Interfaces: Nurturing a Molecules-to-Manufacturing Approach to Innovation." Closing things out on Wednesday is Stephanie Grant, senior scientist at Kraton Corp., who will explore two innovative strategies for reducing the carbon footprint in adhesive products in an address titled "Utilizing Sustainable Materials to Reduce Carbon Footprint in Adhesives."

The ASC EXPO and Reception will take place on Tuesday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The EXPO features many different types of technology, products, and services available to adhesive and sealant manufacturers. With over 90 exhibitors, it offers industry professionals a convenient opportunity to become up to date on the latest innovation in the industry, as well as network with colleagues. It will also include a reception in the expo hall for additional networking time. After the expo, attendees will have a chance to take advantage of the warm weather and plethora of restaurants in downtown Jacksonville.

True for every ASC event, the networking opportunities for members to meet and mingle with their peers abound at the Annual Convention and EXPO. These include Monday evening's Welcome Reception, networking breakfasts on Tuesday and Wednesday, and networking and refreshment lounges on Tuesday morning and afternoon and Wednesday morning. Monday evening features an invitation-only First Time Attendee & New Member Reception that gives new members and first-time attendees a chance to chat, meet the ASC Board of Directors and staff, and ask questions about ASC and its programs. The event winds up with the closing keynote and reception, where attendees can ask any additional questions they may have, solidify contacts made over the course of the event, and kick off the 2026 Annual Convention, which will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.  

For additional information about the ASC’s 2025 Annual Convention and EXPO, visit www.ascouncil.org/events.