The adhesive and sealant industry will come together for the first time in two years when the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) holds its Convention & EXPO, scheduled for October 25-27 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate near Orlando, Fla. The event, which will include a Waterborne Adhesives Short Course, informative technical sessions, the exhibition, and multiple networking opportunities, will be followed by the ASC’s Executive Leadership Conference on October 27-29 at the same location.
“We’re hearing from a lot of our members who are really excited to be getting back together again,” says Bill Allmond, ASC president, who emphasizes that many precautions will be in place to safeguard the health and wellbeing of attendees, presenters, and exhibitors. ASC organizers are closely collaborating with the host hotel regarding its cleaning policies and protocols, as well as best practices for social distancing and meeting space and exhibit layouts.
Registration at the event will be contactless, and masks and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the week. In addition, the ASC is providing colored wristbands using the familiar green, yellow, and red color scheme that will enable attendees to visually indicate their comfort level for interactions while networking.
Technical Sessions and Keynotes
Technical sessions during the convention are intended to help participants understand various factors impacting the industry and learn about new technologies and opportunities. A sampling of tracks includes: Feedstock & Supply Chain, Diverse Solutions in Building Applications, COVID Challenges, Sustainability Approaches: Feedstock to Process Considerations, and Disruptive Technologies Across Markets.
Tuesday’s opening general session breakfast will feature a keynote from Catherine Putney, an economist with ITR Economics. She will discuss the impact that COVID-19 has had on the economy, as well as ongoing trends and tips for navigating the “new normal” that will evolve in the future.
During the general session and lunch on Tuesday, Allmond will detail the council’s 2023 Long Range Plan. In addition, winners of the 2021 ASC Innovation Award will be announced, as will recipients of the ASC Scholarship Program and graduates of the ASC Training Academy Certificate Program.
Wednesday morning’s general session keynote will be given by Brian Toleno, Ph.D., who serves as manager of Advanced Materials for Facebook Reality Labs. His discussion will focus on augmented and virtual reality headsets, providing insight into this market and the challenges inherent in these high-tech and complex products.
Executive Leadership Conference
The 4th Annual Executive Leadership Conference, which is designed for senior-level industry executives, will also provide insightful speakers, as well as multiple networking opportunities. Topics to be covered include disruption and innovation in the wake of the pandemic, customer value, trade policy, sustainability, and more.
For full schedules, registration, and additional details, visit www.ascouncil.org.
