Laminating adhesives (LAs) comprise a relevant and growing segment among energy-curable product markets. Initially regarded as being too expensive and not technically advanced enough for laminating applications, these adhesives have become major players in the converting and packaging industries, particularly in specialty applications.

Elastic bonding adhesives are found around the world in many industries, including construction, packaging, footwear, electronics, medical and transportation. They are essential for applications requiring strong joints without perforating substrates, a certain amount of flexibility to accommodate movement such as material expansion, protection from corrosion or the elements, and durability.

This issue of Adhesives & Sealants Industry magazine brings the ASI Top 25, our exclusive ranking of the leading 25 worldwide manufacturers of adhesives and sealants. ASI combined reader survey information with details from company websites, annual reports and press releases to compile the rankings. Included with each company’s listing are contact information, estimated 2016 sales figures (if publishable), a company profile, and news highlights.

Our industry has seen an unprecedented increase in moisture-related claims due to many factors associated with a wider selection of floor coverings in use. These factors range from fast-track building construction and the increased use of non-standard size flooring tiles and planks to a reduction in porous floor-covering backings, as well as improperly specified and applied adhesives, improperly trained installers and poor drainage.

U.S. adhesives consumption continued to grow in 2015, a positive trend that began after the culmination of the global recession seven years ago. Compared to 2014, the market has increased by 3% in value terms to $11.3 billion, and by 18% when compared with 2008.

If you own a company that participates in the global adhesives and sealants industry, you’ve likely enjoyed several years of sustained growth bolstered by the performance of major end use sectors such as packaging, construction, and automotive.

When most people think about sustainability in manufacturing, they think “green”—as in using less energy per unit of output, using materials that are more environmentally friendly, generating less waste, etc. These are all worthy components of sustainable manufacturing, aimed at reducing the consumption of limited resources so that our businesses can continue to grow today and prosper tomorrow.

In the medical sector, more and more equipment and casings are glued together, rather than screwed or plugged. At BBraun, a leading manufacturer of medical technology and pharmaceutical products, a production step was recently examined by Supratec Syneo, a sales partner of the ViscoTec brand preeflow in France.

A caulking sealant has three basic functions: filling a gap between two or more substrates; forming a barrier through the physical properties of the sealant itself and by adhesion to the substrate; and maintaining sealing properties for the expected lifetime, service conditions, and environments.

From May 15-19, nearly 300 pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape professionals—including scientists, professors, CEOs, VPs and sales professionals—gathered at the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas Convention Center for the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council’s (PSTC) Tape Summit 2017.