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How much time do you think you spend in a day looking at a screen, be it a cell phone, tablet, computer screen or television? I know I’m sometimes guilty of checking my email on my phone one last time before bed—long after I’ve asked my kids to turn off and put away their devices. Research has shown that people spend an average of 8 hrs, 41 min on media devices, compared to 8 hrs, 21 min sleeping a day—a pretty remarkable statistic. Manufacturers of these devices are driving innovation in adhesives and sealants.

Welcome to ASI’s annual Buyers’ Guide, a purchasing and applications resource for raw materials, equipment and services used to manufacture adhesives and sealants, pressure sensitives, and adhesives and sealants products such as tapes and labels. The Buyers’ Guide also includes supplier details for finished adhesives and sealants.

Dave Dunn's December 2017 column.

When I began my career in the chemical industry, my company’s initiatives impressed and intrigued me. The leadership would lay out our direction and focus, as well as the metrics by which we would measure success in the coming year. Eventually, I came to understand that, even with the push to improve profitability through various company initiatives, it makes good business sense to not lose sight of the measurable basics.

If you look around your workplace, I’m certain that most things you see have been assembled in one way or another—from the telephone and computer to the very chair you spend most of the day sitting in. This month, people from all sectors of the assembly industry will gather at The Assembly Show, scheduled for October 24-26 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Now in its fifth year, the event will offer three days of educational sessions, hundreds of exhibiting companies, thousands of industry professionals, a dynamic keynote speaker, and two networking receptions.

It sounds like you sell to several different markets. Although there is some overlap of silicone or polyurethane markets, they are often used in distinct applications.

Raw materials and chemicals are the building blocks of every adhesive and sealant formulation. Our annual “Raw Materials and Chemicals Overview” examines some common chemicals and raw materials used in adhesives, sealants and coatings.

We’ve been trying to get the metal button of a rear-view mirror to bond to a new windshield. We’re in the summer heat of Las Vegas where it is routinely over 110°F―and even hotter inside a closed car. We’ve tried all the typical glues but, while the button will cure and hold, it falls off when the mirror is attached.

I’m excited to announce the ASI Top 25 in this issue! Our annual ranking article details the leading worldwide manufacturers of adhesives and sealants to provide readers with an overview of the top players in the industry. Each company listing includes annual revenue for 2016 (if publishable) and contact information, as well as noteworthy news items from the last year and any additional information provided by company sources.

We use an acrylic UV adhesive to bond and coat a complex medical device, and get areas where there is incomplete curing. How can we improve this?