Adhesive Tape College Successful in Munich, Bringing Together European Industry
Adhesive tape technology is one of the key technologies of the future for developing complex fastening systems. Understanding tape technologies is crucial to its proper use and application for a variety of end use products. Afera, the European Adhesive Tape Association, reported that its premier learning event that took place in March, 2024 at Le Méridien Munich in Munich, Germany, was a tremendous success bringing together 120 tape-related company delegates, including a significant number of professionals in R&D, customer and technical service, sales, marketing, engineering, production, processing and quality assurance—even general management.
The attendees represented 69 companies from 15 European countries plus U.A.E. Afera members made up about 71% of the participants, 44 from Afera member tape manufacturers and 38 from member suppliers of raw materials, machines and packaging.
“Not only did you all come here to benefit from a solid overview of the current technologies of the tape business, but you got to know many new faces—which is just as important,” Afera President Evert Smit, who is also director scouting for sustainability, technology and innovation at Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG., told the audience at the end of the last session. “I have seen many returning participants here this week, and I am pretty sure that many of you sitting here now in several years will be standing up here on stage instructing the next generation.”
Both Mr. Smit and Afera Technical Committee Chairman Reinhard Storbeck, who is also director of R&D at tesa SE, emphasised in their concluding remarks that the most important themes for the future of the tape business now are co-operation and collaboration. Coming together for Afera’s technical events and conference was likened to a family reunion—“and family tends to stick with you!” Evert joked.
Source: Afera, the European Adhesive Tape Association