If you mention the term “Hot Melts” to someone under the age of 20, they’ll probably think you’re referring to the English surfer/punk band out of Liverpool. But for those of us who are just a few years older than that, hot melts is more often recognized as a form of thermoplastic adhesive. It’s also the topic of the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s spring short course.
The two-day program, which will be held at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina on April 17 and 18, will introduce attendees to every aspect of hot-melt technology. Topics will include the introduction of some of the key raw materials that are fairly standard in any hot-melt adhesive, what to consider when you are actually formulating, what you need to know when testing the efficacy of that formulation, and what types of end-use applications use hot melts and why. Speakers will include leading hot-melt experts from industry and academia who will not only cover those topics, but also explore the various types of equipment used in applying adhesives and look at market sizes for some of the end-use applications.
Instructors include Sharf Ahmed, H.B. Fuller Co.; Bill Arendt, Emerald Kalama Chemical; Dave Dillard, Virginia Tech University; Andreas Dobmann, Nolax Inc.; Donn DuBois, Kraton Polymers; Gerhard Haas, Jowat Corp.; Nestor Hansen, Cray Valley; Dick Hartshorn, The ChemQuest Group, Inc.; Dick Lindmark, Adherent Labs; Colin Li Pi Shan, Dow Chemical; Dave Nick, DPNA International; Michael Orzech, Sasol Waxes; Shawn Peecher, 3M; P. Rajesh Raja, Eastman Chemical; and Larry Saidman, Nordson Corp. These presenters will share their technical knowledge and offer tips and best practices for making hot-melt adhesives a successful part of your company’s market strategy.
Hot-melt adhesive technologies can present great advantages, including reduced adhesives cost (on a per-pound basis); the removal of HAPs and VOCs from a process; the elimination of air pollution control devices; and the removal of dryers from customers using them in production. Because of these advantages, a full understanding of the technology is essential to creating custom-tailored solutions for your customers. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about all of these facets of hot melts at theASC’s Hot Melts Short Course.
And if you’re looking for the latest Hot Melts CD, check them out on iTunes.
