Making sense of the markets
Industry looks to navigate the ever-changing market conditions
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Welcome
Tariffs are a sticky issue
The North American adhesive and sealant industry is having trouble managing through an ever-changing U.S. policy on tariffs. “The back-and-forth changes on tariffs have made it extremely hard to conduct business,” said one ASC member who responded to a recent membership survey. “We put through price increases due to tariffs that were later walked back and waited to put through others to see final results but losing margin now.”
Another said, “The constant fluctuation in rates makes it difficult to plan finished good[s] or alternative sourcing to ensure profits are stable and not disruptive to business. Any announced rates need plenty of notice and a stable timeline of implementation.”
It isn’t surprising that the survey found tariffs on imported raw materials are unpopular. Nearly 70% of respondents say tariffs on imports are a bad idea. Most also oppose tariffs on foreign-made adhesives imported into the U.S.
There are multiple reasons why, but, of course, cost is highest among them.
“Collectively for my company, [the tariffs] have impacted a lot of business due to customer demands being softer due to them [wanting] to avoid the extra costs and divert to other streams of input,” one ASC member explained.
Another added, “Tariffs will make it much more expensive to formulate and/or assemble products in the USA. Products that are assembled or formulated will move to other countries, especially Mexico. This will cause a net reduction in U.S. production of formulated or assembled products.”
To be fair, some reported the tariffs will benefit them. So, I want to be transparent by saying not all ASC members agree tariffs are bad or will have a bad outcome. Also, many don’t yet know whether or how much tariffs will impact their business.
Nevertheless, for those impacted, the concern is heightened. “The money we pay in tariffs is twice our payroll,” said one member. Most survey respondents said the cost will be less than $1 million, but others said the costs could be greater than $10 million.
What do you think? Drop me an email at bill.allmond@ ascouncil.org. I’d love to hear from you.
Bill Allmond, President, ASC
Introducing ASC’s new members
A huge welcome and thank you to the 21 companies that have become ASC members to date this year. As the association continues to grow and add more manufacturers, raw material and equipment suppliers, and distributors, our community and voice gets even stronger!
We look forward to representing and supporting you as we work together to support growth, innovation, and success in the adhesive and sealant sector and all the markets it touches. Below is a list of our new members in 2025, so far:
• 3D Barrier Bags Inc
• Artecola Quimica S/A
• BioBond
• Bryant Park Consulting
• Calcean Minerals & Materials
• ChemSpec
• Ergon Energy & Specialty Solutions
• Fluid-Bag LLC
• Hodgson Sealants Ltd
• Infineum International
• INOUE MFG. USA, INC.
• J-B Weld
• MO SCI, LLC
• Microban
• Newry LLC
• Nucleus Inc. (Stanley Chemicals)
• Poly-clip System
• Quin Global US
• Sansara
• Sonoco Products
• Technical Adhesives
The full membership directory is available via our website.
Scan QR code or visit www.ascouncil.
org/memberdirectory
A common bond on a special day
International Adhesive & Sealant Day on September 29 each year unites the world in acknowledging the many ways your critically important products contribute to our everyday lives.
From the automotive sector to construction, and everything from cell phones to food packaging and clothing, it is difficult to imagine a world without glues, adhesives, caulks, foams and the essential formulations that we all depend on.
That is why, during the 2022 World Adhesive and Sealant Conference, Mr. Murakami, the Chairman of the International Committee of the Japan Adhesive Industry Association (JAIA), proposed a special day each year to acknowledge and raise awareness about these products that are invisible but
More information...
ASC has created a dedicated website packed with information to commemorate International Adhesive & Sealant Day. Take a look at https:// internationaladhesivesealantday.com/ to access resources and statistics; ASC’s Buyer’s Marketplace Tool to simplify sourcing; sustainability reports; training and webinars; conference and meeting updates; as well as podcasts and news and updates about the industry.
everywhere. The International adhesive and sealant associations, FEICA, ARAC & ASC, unanimously supported the idea!
The third annual celebration of the adhesives and sealants industry this September saw countless suppliers, manufacturers, and innovators across the globe take to social
media to mark the occasion and showcase these essential products and processes. Stories shared online highlighted the incredible efforts of ASC members in their pursuit of more effective and efficient technologies that contribute to, and enable, enormous sustainability benefits.
Connecting companies at the Convention
The 2026 Annual Convention & EXPO is just a few months away, so make sure you book your spot for what is always one of the adhesive and sealant industry’s biggest and most important events of the year!
From April 20-22, 2026, ASC’s team is expecting to be joined by more than 750 of you at the Grand Hyatt Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee for three days of information-packed presentations and unparalleled networking opportunities.
The program promises a diverse range of content focused on end-use application challenges and developments; innovations in product development and technology; and the latest sustainable advancements.
There will also be sessions looking at the latest issues facing the supply chain, raw materials, and market dynamics; the impact of digitalization; as well as the usual regulatory updates.
In fact, there are still some speaking slots available, so if you would like to propose hosting
your own presentation, abstracts can be submitted online for consideration before the deadline of December 12, 2025.
Find out more about the process by visiting the ASC website at www.ascouncil.org/ abstract-submission
In addition to a great lineup of industry experts and speakers, the popular EXPO will also be running alongside the Convention – offering attendees the chance to see firsthand the latest technologies, services, and processes available to the
adhesive and sealant industry.
The bustling exhibition space will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and feature over 90 companies showcasing material and equipment, and connecting you with key contacts.
The deadline to reserve your own booth is March 7, or until sold out.
Contact Malinda Armstrong, CMP at malinda.armstrong@ ascouncil.org or call on 301-9869724 for information and to make a booking.
Short courses
Running concurrent with the Annual Convention, ASC will also be hosting two short courses. The Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA) and Caulks & Sealants (C&S) Short Courses will be colocated at the meeting and offer in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals and latest developments for these important technologies and their applications.
To find out more, scan the respective QR codes.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA)
Caulks & Sealants (C&S)
Annual Conference shines light on the European sector
ASC was once again proud to represent the North American adhesive and sealant industry during a recent trip to the FEICA Conference & EXPO in San Sebastian, Spain.
FEICA, the Association of the European adhesives and sealants industry, hosted a fantastic event from September 10-12, 2025, bringing together friends and colleagues from across the globe to celebrate the achievements and advancements of the industry, and address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Centered on the theme ‘Boosting a Competitive Industry: Innovation and Sustainability for a Stronger
Diary dates...
November 5, 2025
Trends and Opportunities in the Global Bio-based Chemicals Market
In this exclusive webinar, Doris de Guzman, principal of Green D Market Analytics, will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of renewable chemical technologies and their integration into industrial value chains. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on emerging feedstock sources – including biomass, recycled carbon, and captured CO₂ – as well as recent innovations in renewable diols, olefins, aromatics, and hydrocarbons.
Europe’, the FEICA Annual Conference provided the perfect forum to share ideas, expertise, and insight into the technologies and processes provided by the sector.
Podcasts...
Tune into the Connected to ASC podcast as it delves into the latest news, trends, and hot topics that are affecting the adhesive and sealant sector – for free!
Each month, ASC President, Bill Allmond, is joined by industry experts and senior executives for in-depth discussions and analysis about all the big issues, challenges, and opportunities that are affecting your business.
Recent episodes have focused on tariffs and trade disruption, the big wins for ASC so far this year, sustainability, and supply chain strategies.
Head over to the official ASC podcast page to subscribe and to access all past recordings: https:// www.podomatic.com/ podcasts/bill-allmond
The presentation will also highlight key applications in adhesives and sealants, as well as discussing regional investment activities and project developments across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
December 10, 2025
Coating Defects and Resolution for Hot Melt Adhesive Coating Join Mark Miller, founder and CEO of Coating Tech Slot Dies, as he explores this important topic. As coating corporations work toward increasing margins, getting more out of the capital equipment at the site, improving turns in inventory, and reducing
environmental impact, they are running into the edge of material, expertise, and equipment capability. Hot melt adhesive coating is a great option for traditional solvent-based tape and label manufacturing, especially as the “green” label is providing a marketing edge in commerce. This presentation will look at the current direction hot melt adhesive manufacturing companies are headed and what the impact is for raw material suppliers and roll-to-roll coaters.
April 20-22, 2026
ASC 2026 Annual Convention & EXPO
Be among the hundreds of attendees at one of the most important events in the calendar! The 2026 Annual Convention & EXPO is taking place from April 20-22, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. This three-day convention is your premier opportunity to connect with a global network of over 700 industry leaders and hear about the latest, and most pressing, issues affecting the adhesive and sealant industry.
New investment supports sustainability
ASC is pleased to announce significant investment in several initiatives to support members’ sustainability needs.
These past few months, the association has been working closely with the Sustainability Committee to identify concrete ways to deliver valuable programs and services.
One of the main areas of focus this year is updating the Product Category Rule (PCR) that ASC published with Underwriters Laboratories back in 2016 and which expired in 2021.
A PCR is a set of guidelines and requirements for conducting a Life Cycle Analysis and is used to develop an environmental product declaration (EPD).
Essentially, the PCR
standardizes the process of evaluating a product’s environmental impact through its entire lifecycle, ensuring consistency and comparability
within that product category.
These PCRs offer a lot of key benefits, primarily related to standardization, transparency, and comparability in the
context of product sustainability assessments.
They also streamline the life cycle assessment process, ensuring that there is consistent data collection and analysis for products within the same product category.
The new PCR will be created by a company called Smart EPD and is expected to take six to nine months to complete.
In addition, ASC will also be developing EPDs for multiple product chemistries used in building and construction. This will again be produced using an outside consultant and is expected to take approximately 16-18 months.
Once complete, the EPDs will be made available to all ASC members.
Celebrating excellence: enter your innovation for ASC’s annual awards
Now is your chance to submit your entry for the 2026 ASC Innovation Awards Program.
Designed to recognize the innovative adhesive and sealant product developments that contribute to downstream industries’ unmet needs, this coveted award has marked some incredible achievements over the years.
Entries for the 2026 Innovation Award are now invited from raw material suppliers, manufacturers, and academics by the submission deadline of January 31, 2026. These will then be assessed
by a judging panel of three technical experts who will base their decision on five key criteria: Science and Innovation;
Applicability and Impact; Impact of the Technology Relative to the State of the Art; Qualifications, Experience and Capabilities; and Significant Milestone.
Judging will be completed by February 28, with ASC informing the winners by March 10.
The overall winner will receive a special crystal award recognizing the achievement. ASC will also present awards to the first and second runners-up – all of whom will be requested to be at the Convention for the official presentation and to participate as a speaker to explain
their winning innovation. The winners will be announced during a special ceremony at the ASC Annual Convention from April 20-22.
For more details about the Awards and how to enter the competition, download the nomination package via the ASC website at https://www. ascouncil.org/innovationawards
Remember, entries must be received no later than January 31, 2026. Read all about last year’s winning entry on page 19.
London, UK
Hosted by:
Co-organised by:
Long Range Plan
Planning long term
Securing our future through enhancing your membership investment is a priority for the next Long Range Plan, says Bill Allmond, ASC President
Beginning in the spring, the ASC Board and staff began engaging the membership to strengthen ASC’s value to members.
Much work was completed over the summer and, as a result, we will soon be unveiling strategic priorities upon which ASC will focus resources over the next three years.
First, taking a few steps back, a major question in any strategic planning process is, what is the desired outcome after you have successfully achieved what you’ve set out to do?
For those members helping develop the next three-year plan, it is the desire for ASC to be the indispensable partner for the industry, widely recognized as the trusted source of information, the unifying voice for the industry, and the dynamic community of
choice, driving the global advancement and sustainable future of member businesses.
Moving forward through the early stages of the planning process, it was essential we understood how members view ASC as the industry’s go-to organization representing their interests.
Through extensive input from members, we learned that they:
• Are satisfied with their engagement in ASC. View the value of membership as worth the cost.
• Consider membership in ASC a necessity. Interviews, focus groups, and survey responses validated that members view ASC as the industry’s convenor – and see an opportunity for ASC to become the source for regulatory information and unmatched
networking opportunities that more specialized organizations cannot replicate.
Members told us that key value drivers, such as advocacy, networking, market intelligence, and education, remain consistent since ASC’s previous strategic planning survey and that current areas of focus and investment are aligned with their needs. However, there are areas for improvement to further strengthen current member offerings.
Bringing industry together
A value driver often voiced by members as a major priority is ASC’s networking opportunities. Investing in new opportunities for networking and peer-to-peer learning was a high priority among raw material suppliers, in particular.
A deeper connection with end user communities is desired by technical and R&D professionals within the membership. ASC is being looked upon to innovate approaches to make greater inroads with the industry’s customers. Next, it was imperative we understood the current challenges members face or expect to face over the duration of the new strategic plan, which is three years.
We learned that geopolitical instability and economic volatility are top concerns across membership types. Members are looking for ASC to become the proactive voice to support them amidst this change.
Among the top three opportunities members are looking to ASC to prioritize are:
• Increasing advocacy at the state, federal, and global levels.
• Increasing the visibility and awareness of the industry.
• Increasing engagement with industry end users.
Adhesive and sealant sustainability also emerged as a top priority for members. They are looking for ASC to provide support amidst an increased demand for sustainable products, along with the development of new adhesive & sealant technology.
Reusability/recyclability of products and the sustainability of the entire supply chain and manufacturing processes were the top area cited by members.
“It was essential we understood how members view ASC as the industry’s goto organization representing their interests”
Bill Allmond ASC President
Key priorities
Long Range Plan
The second priority addresses members’ need for tools and information that help them grow their business.
Here, we wish to provide members with emerging macro-economic, industry and market trends to drive strategic decisionmaking.
We wish to deliver tailored guidance on complex technical challenges.
Lastly, we wish to increase awareness of the benefits of adhesives and sealants through partnerships with key associations, institutions, and select end user communities.
Evaluating all the data we had collected from many sources over multiple months, three strategic priorities emerged: Champion member interests and enable advocacy excellence.
• Drive industry growth and innovation.
• Ensure the long-term vitality and leadership of ASC.
The first priority addresses members’ advocacy needs. Here, we wish to execute a comprehensive advocacy strategy that effectively unites and amplifies members’ efforts on critical legislation and policy issues. To do so, we must position members at the forefront of the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
The third priority looks inward, within ASC, to ensure we continuously innovate and enhance networking opportunities to drive enduring value; establish ASC’s position as the primary educational resource for professionals entering the industry; and enhance ASC’s marketing and communications strategy to drive member growth and engagement.
The final step is approval of the plan by the ASC Board of Directors at its fall meeting in October.
Once approved, ASC will mobilize resources to achieve the strategic priorities and objectives over the next three years with a single goal in mind: to further strengthen the value of your investment as an ASC member.
Outlook mixed
Given the ever-changing market conditions, the adhesive and sealant sector can expect uncertain and unpredictable economies in the U.S. and beyond in the years ahead, according to Dr. Kevin Swift, Managing Director at Swift Economics LLC
The 7.83-billion-pound adhesives and sealants market is valued at $11.5 billion in the U.S. and has a broad range of applications. Packaging is the largest, followed by general product assembly, automotive, building & construction, woodworking, furniture, and other leading markets.
Other markets for adhesives and sealants include pressure-sensitive, consumer, and general product assembly.
Overall demand for adhesives and sealants is thus dependent on the consumer, automotive, construction, and manufacturing. These in turn are dependent upon the state of the overall economy.
During the pandemic year, U.S. adhesives and sealants demand slumped across most product categories.
After the lifting of pandemic restrictions, a sound recovery emerged in all markets. Improvement continued into mid-2022, when housing – and other construction markets –turned down amid rising interest rates and other factors.
This affected on-site use of adhesives and
“Since January 2025, considerable uncertainty has arisen among business and consumers, the result of U.S. tariff turmoil”
Kevin Swift Managing Director, Swift Economics LLC
sealants as well as adhesives used in various wood products.
In addition, many OEM assembly and other industrial applications suffered due to a “rolling recession” in manufacturing. This continued into 2025.
Tariffs take their toll
Since January 2025, considerable uncertainty has arisen among business and consumers, the result of U.S. tariff turmoil.
The progress on trade deals thus far has brought some certainty back to markets and decision-makers, but some damage (economic and reputational) has been done. A “wait and see” approach emerged and business investment, hiring, and consumer spending have slowed.
Tariffs are pushing up the cost of light vehicles and housing; both will see tepid demand this year and next. Tariffs could add to inflationary pressures later this year but unless expectations heighten will dissipate in outlying years.
By 2027 a broad-based recovery in U.S. economic growth will emerge, led by large investments and the recovery of key markets for adhesives and sealants.
In the long term, support will be provided by the continuing need to improve productivity and to facilitate re-shoring as supply chains re-configure. This will be a major theme through the end of the decade.
American petrochemical production remains advantaged, and this will be supportive for U.S. manufacturers of adhesives and sealants. As end-use markets recover by 2027, overall U.S. adhesives and sealants demand will rise about one percent per year, from 7.83 billion pounds in 2024 to 8.28 billion pounds in 2030.
Re-shoring should provide a boost to this
business, which will aid OEM markets.
Construction applications will also perform well. The most rapid growth in the period to 2030 will occur in sealants followed by thermoset (aminos, phenolics, polyurethanes, epoxies, cyanoacrylates, etc.), thermoplastic (ethylene vinyl acetate, low density polyethylene, acrylic, poly vinyl acetate, poly vinyl chloride, polyamide, etc.), and other (radiation curable, polyimide, etc.) adhesives. Within adhesive and sealants, consolidation will continue. Competition will strengthen. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will allow for more definitive tailored formulations for very specific properties for very specific applications, resulting in generally higher-performing products. While some deregulation is expected in the coming years, government regulation will still be significant in the industry.
Environmental regulations will continue to pressure raw material suppliers and
Economy
producers to develop “green” products with a better environmental footprint. Regulatory compliance has been a driver for R&D spending in recent decades. A focus will also be on products having better environmental profiles along with lower costs and better performance. Sustainability is also a driver of R&D efforts.
Market trends
The global market for adhesives and sealants will depend upon industrial development, infrastructure development, construction, and the rise of a middle-class and urban consumer.
Many emerging markets are industrializing and with diversification of supply chains may benefit. We expect overall global growth in adhesives and sealants will average over three-and-a-half percent per year during the long term. The best opportunities will be found in the emerging markets of India, China, and various Southeast Asian economies. Europe, North America, and Japan represent very mature markets.
Among megatrends, one thing is clear. The 40-year paradigm of falling interest rates has ended (with rates going forward that are higher than 2010s) as has the world Neoliberal order.
Rising geopolitical tensions and logistical issues from the COVID-19 pandemic led many firms to diversify supply chains, leading to reshoring benefiting India, Southeast Asia, Mexico, etc. and to the rise of a multi-polar world.
The healthy growth of last several generations is ending with a pronounced demand growth slowdown in the 2040s. Demography and public debt will weigh on economic growth.
Due to labor shortages and demographic shifts, expect more investment in productivity as AI transforms industries. Resilience will be key to growing uncertainty and will lead to shifting trade patterns and new market opportunities. Geopolitical tensions (for example, a fracturing world) are the top longterm risk followed by structural weakness, deglobalization, and climate change.
Business leaders need to be flexible and using scenarios helps organizations prepare for uncertainty by considering various potential future outcomes, leading to better decisions, enhanced risk management, and increased agility in adapting to change.
Dr. Kevin Swift is Managing Director at Swift Economics LLC and is presenting at the 2025 Executive Leadership Conference at St. Pete Beach, Florida, from October 20-22.
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Riding the tariff yo-yo
Tariffs mean budgeting, business planning, and margin protection are absolutely essential for the adhesives and sealants sector, says Stephan Liozu, Ph.D., Chief Value Officer at Zilliant
For the adhesives and sealants industry, 2025 has been another year of watching Washington, Brussels, and Beijing more than watching the plant floor.
Tariffs have once again been used as a political lever, swinging back and forth in short cycles. In the first half of the year, new duties were introduced on specialty chemicals and industrial intermediates coming from Asia, only to be revised, delayed, or partially lifted weeks later. This has made sourcing unstable and cost forecasts inaccurate. Some companies passed costs on to customers; others tried to absorb them in an effort to protect relationships. Neither approach was without pain.
For many adhesives and sealants manufacturers, the impact has not just been on imported materials. It has also spread into logistics, packaging components, and export competitiveness. Fluctuating inputs have eroded carefully planned margins. Even contract terms with customers and suppliers have become a battleground, as clauses around price adjustment, surcharges, or tariff passthrough are being challenged or renegotiated.
Strategic sourcing, once a quiet background function, is now center stage. The tariff yo-yo has taught the industry that stability is not guaranteed and that trade policy is now a material risk in financial planning.
Navigating disruption
The rest of 2025 is unlikely to bring relief. With global elections, geopolitical tensions, and continued realignment of supply chains, unpredictability will remain a defining feature. Adhesives and sealants leaders cannot afford to wait and see. They must plan for ongoing volatility as the baseline, not the exception.
One of the most effective ways to handle short-term volatility is by reinforcing pricing discipline. Teams need to revisit pricing logic more frequently and be ready to execute tactical adjustments quickly. For companies still relying on static price lists or annual negotiations, now is the time to move toward more dynamic pricing capabilities. Real-time cost monitoring and structured price-review processes can help protect contribution
“What is holding many organizations back is mindset. Disruption fatigue is real, but so is complacency”
Stephan Liozu Chief Value Officer, Zilliant
margins when input costs spike.
Procurement teams should also increase their collaboration with finance and commercial leaders. Keeping a shared pulse on tariff risks, inventory strategy, and supplier terms can reveal options that preserve flexibility, whether it is dual-sourcing, regionalizing suppliers, or negotiating shorter contracts. In volatile environments, agility becomes a financial advantage.
Equally important is internal communication. Cross-functional teams should be meeting regularly to align on market changes, customer behaviors, and cost impacts.
Silence or delay in addressing disruptions often leads to inconsistent responses in the field. This not only damages margins but can erode trust with both customers and internal teams. Transparency and speed matter.
Planning amid uncertainty
As budgeting season approaches, the question is not how to get the numbers exactly right for 2026, it is how to create plans that are strong enough to act on, but flexible enough to adjust when the next wave hits.
Adhesives and sealants companies should not assume that tariffs, logistics costs, labor issues, or global politics will stabilize. If anything, the next year may bring more sharp turns.
Budgeting in this context means designing multiple scenarios, not just one base case. Finance and business leaders should model out a range of outcomes: continued high tariffs, partial rollback, or even retaliatory measures from trade partners.
Each scenario should have contingency actions, what gets cut, what gets delayed, what gets accelerated. Rather than trying to predict the future, companies should focus on preparing responses to plausible futures.
Leadership teams will also need to sharpen their ability to read signals, policy announcements, supplier behaviors, customer feedback, and economic indicators, and use those as early warning signs for when to pivot. This does not require sophisticated forecasting tools; it requires clear roles, disciplined listening, and fast decision-making.
Critical thinking and scenario discipline must become part of the culture. That means engaging more leaders across the organization in budgeting conversations, not just finance, but also sourcing, commercial, operations, and even customer service. Everyone has a role in sensing change and helping shape the right response.
Train for disruption
The next three to six months are a window. We do not know what 2026 will bring, but it is likely to be messy. Rather than brace for impact, manufacturers should treat this period as a training ground.
Every team, procurement, pricing, sales, finance, needs to revisit its approach to decision-making. This is the time to learn new technologies, explore scenario planning, and experiment with playbooks for responding to cost shocks.
This is the time to let younger talent get involved in designing responses to real market volatility. This is not a period to freeze or wait. It is a time to build new muscle.
What is holding many organizations back
Markets are facing continued disruption
is mindset. Disruption fatigue is real, but so is complacency.
The assumption that things will “settle down” in 2026 is not only naive, it is dangerous. The next wave of disruption will reward teams who have been learning through action. The ones who got their data flows cleaned up. The ones who practiced what-if planning using internal and external data. The ones who took pricing alignment seriously. The ones who stopped blaming tariffs and started building systems to outmaneuver them.
Build the muscles for volatility
The adhesives and sealants industry has always been resilient. But the tools that
Podcast: Connected to ASC
ASC President, Bill Allmond, was joined by Stephan Liozu, an organizational scientist and a renowned “Agent of Disruption”, for a recent edition of the Connected to ASC podcast. In this special episode, Liozu provides his take on the latest business disruption caused by the tariffs, considers how companies are responding, and highlights effective strategies to manage those challenges. Find out how to live in this interconnected world of continued disruption by tuning in. Scan the QR code to listen and subscribe for free.
worked in stable times, fixed budgets, annual pricing reviews, long contracts, are no longer enough. In this tariff yo-yo environment, the winners will be those who plan in pencil, not in ink. Those who build plans can flex, and organizations that can learn and react quickly.
Budgeting for 2026 is not about locking in targets. It is about understanding your risk exposure, identifying your levers, and preparing your teams to use them when conditions shift. Disruption does not reward perfection, it rewards preparedness. The goal is not certainty. The goal is the confidence and capability to move when the game changes again, because it will.
ASC members have seen firsthand how policy, supply chains, and pricing are intertwined. Now is the time to lead with clarity, think with discipline, and budget with resilience. Now is the time to turn disruption into opportunity.
Stephan Liozu, Ph.D., is Chief Value Officer at Zilliant and is a keynote speaker at this year’s Executive Leadership Conference. With 30 years of experience in the industrial sector with companies including Owens Corning, Saint-Gobain, Freudenberg, Ardex, and Thales, he specializes in organizational transformations, pricing ROI, and valuebased pricing.
3M wins the plaudits
A portable spray system, co-developed with Worthington Enterprises, is a gamechanger for the industry, offering a water-based alternative in certain construction applications
An innovative portable adhesive spray system from 3M was unveiled as the overall winner of the 2025 ASC Innovation Awards during a special presentation ceremony at the ASC Annual Convention in April.
According to 3M, its Fastbond Pressure Sensitive Adhesive 1049 delivers the performance and productivity 3M customers expect in a new portable, ergonomically engineered cylinder delivery system from Worthington Enterprises. The product is the first cylinder on the market that does not use a flammable propellant, which results in lower emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), says 3M. The company points out that traditional cylinders use solvent-based adhesives, most of which contain flammable propellants and emit a certain level of VOCs.
Industry trends such as increasingly stringent emissions regulations worldwide and a transition to more sustainable alternatives from solvent-based adhesives are driving research and development work at the science and technology giant.
“There has to be a sustainable play in every single one of our new product offerings, which is why we were looking at a water-based product,” says Ryan McKenney, Advanced Product Support Specialist at 3M’s Industrial
“No one has really done this before, both developing new waterbased adhesive formulations, as well as new solutions to dispense them”
Ryan McKenney Advanced Product Support Specialist, Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division, 3M
Adhesives & Tapes Division. But, he adds, “waterbased adhesives historically have a shorter shelf life just based on how they are stored, so that's one element we were really looking to solve”.
Work on an initial concept started in 20192020. 3M collaborated with Worthington Enterprises – a designer and manufacturer of industrial products – to develop the hardware, notably a cylinder that would be able to hold a water-based adhesive without suffering from internal corrosion. Cylinders are typically made of steel, which corrodes on contact with water-based (and other) substances.
Worthington Enterprises then developed and patented the PowerCore portable spray cylinder, which uses pressurized nitrogen with an internal diaphragm instead of solvent propellants – the first on the market to do so, 3M claims. The delivery system also features a disposable nozzle and hose, which reduces or eliminates the need for both cleaning and disposing of a solvent.
The use of a non-flammable propellant means VOC emissions are lowered to below one percent. This, explains Nicole Roland Ecker, Global Portfolio Senior Manager in 3M’s Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division, means that the adhesive “meets or exceeds the VOC standards that are in place in each
respective location, complying with global environmental, health, and safety (EHS) regulations and making workplaces and storage facilities inherently safer”.
She adds that one particular benefit of switching to the water-based adhesive is that it can free up VOC credits at customers’ manufacturing sites, enabling them to switch from a solvent-based product.
Another first, according to 3M, is that the cylinder uses an internal “bladder”, which prevents contact between the water-based adhesive and the metal cylinder, stopping corrosion. This bladder is also said to help maintain the product’s shelf life of up to 18 months versus six months for rival products.
Innovation Awards
Congratulations to our Runners Up
This year’s 1st Runner Up award went to Wacker for its “GENIOSIL® STP E140/340: Polymers for fast-curing, tin-free, creep resistant adhesives and sealants”. Wacker’s Toby Vick accepted the award, pictured center alongside ASC President, Bill Allmond, and Board Chairman, Tom Stewart.
The 2nd Runner Up award went to H.B. Fuller for a development titled “Rapid Strength Hybrid Reactive Hotmelt Adhesives for use in Auto Assembly”. Marlen Valverde accepted the award for the team.
To find out more information about these innovative technologies, visit the ASC website at https://www.ascouncil.org/innovation-award-winner
One other key differentiating feature of 3M’s adhesive is that it has a solids content of about 50 percent, which is about twice as much adhesive versus a solvent-based adhesive with a liquefied propellant. For instance, the solid content of Fastbond 1049 in a 26.6lb container is 53 percent, which compares with 21 percent solids in a 27.3lb cylinder for its solvent-based brand Holdfast 70.
The higher solids content translates to more coverage. According to 3M’s figures, one cylinder of the Fastbond 1049 system can cover 2,650 square feet, which compares with 1,036 square feet covered by Holdfast 70.
“No one has really done this before, both developing new water-based adhesive formulations, as well as new solutions to dispense them,” says McKenney. “It’s really a big platform development for us that we plan to build on in the future.”
One of the challenges the 3M team faced when developing the water-based adhesive was how to keep the product stable, but with a performance akin to its solvent-based counterpart, such as fast and strong bonding.
“It’s a very fine balance between the
a short video explaining this groundbreaking technology by scanning the QR code.
chemistry and the process, but after a lot of work, we created a formulation that is stable and can also start to bond very quickly, especially on nonporous substrates,” says McKenney.
The adhesive forms a strong bond between lightweight materials and fiberglass to various substrates that include polystyrene, wood, metal, concrete, and geotextiles.
Target applications are in insulation, noise reduction, floor bonding, waterproofing, and overlaying concrete in industries that include construction, HVAC, marine, specialty vehicles, metalworking, and general industrial.
3M introduced its Fastbond 1049 adhesive to global markets on August 29, 2025.
“We’ve gotten great feedback from the market with people really happy and impressed with the system’s capability and spray pattern, as well as the fact that it’s portable, which is a nice option for many jobsites,” says Roland Ecker.
She adds that current users of 3M’s Holdfast 70 solvent-based adhesive could switch to Fastbond 1049. Options for using the water-based alternative could be found in various construction applications, for instance, in below-ground waterproofing and insulation attachment; seaming together geotextiles when building new roads; and for bonding geotextile underlayers directly to concrete when repairing existing road surfaces.
3M has also launched a second waterbased adhesive using the new cylinder delivery system, called Fastbond Foam Adhesive 1100NF, which 3M describes as
“We’ve gotten great feedback from the market with people really happy and impressed with the system’s capability
and spray pattern, as well as the fact that it’s portable”
Nicole Roland Ecker
Global Portfolio Senior Manager, Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division, 3M
ideal for foam and fabric applications where flammability is a factor. Certainly, the 3M team has plans to build on the success of its innovative cylinder technology with more new adhesive formulations. “The hardware is there, we’d like to start working and focusing on new adhesives, new performance capabilities, and new applications,” says McKenney.
3M’s CEO Bill Brown has previously announced that its goal is to launch 1,000 new products within the coming three years. As Roland Ecker says, “We are constantly going to be trying to get products out there, and this platform is one that we’re taking bets on!”
Elaine Burridge
Hall of Fame
Honoring industry’s giants
ASC’s Hall of Fame gains three more exceptional executives, all of whom have helped support and enhance the adhesives and sealants industry
The ASC has inducted three “outstanding and distinguished” individuals into its Hall of Fame, citing their significant contributions toward improving the industry and setting a great example for others to follow.
The three are Daniel Murad, CEO of The ChemQuest Group, and Michael Klonne and Alan Longstreet, who were latterly of Bostik and H.B. Fuller, respectively, and both are now retired.
When asked how Murad felt on hearing news of the ASC’s recognition, he admits to being shocked and surprised, adding: “Then I felt humbled, followed by a sense of honor and pride.”
Murad has worked for more than 40 years in the specialty chemicals and advanced materials industries, leading ChemQuest for the past 20 years to become “the preeminent management consulting firm within the specialty chemicals and advanced materials industries”.
He comments: “Having an opportunity to work with many leaders and executives about
the challenges and opportunities for growth has always been a main driver for me in terms of helping them navigate the industry, the economic environment, and the dynamics that are going on within the market itself. That stands out for me as one of the most enjoyable parts of my career.”
Before ChemQuest, Murad spent two decades in various leadership roles at Rohm
& Haas. He also serves on many professional and industry trade organizations and committees, and is an independent director on the boards of six private companies.
Murad says he “probably had the most fun” in developing the concept for the ASC’s Building the Industry program, which sought to expand industry efforts on educating endusers about the capabilities and functionalities of adhesives.
It was the description of adhesives as “a commodity business” – made by the leader of a major producer during a presentation –that galvanized Murad into action. He says, “I wanted to change that perception as I felt it was just the farthest from reality. But the dilemma was how to set about disproving that comment and making users aware that the adhesives sector was actually a specialized and high-value industry.”
“It was such a monumental task and took a long time to build a specification to prove the concept,” he recalls.
However, over a period of three years, ⮞
Hall of Fame
Murad managed to assemble a consortium of 44 companies that developed programs to educate end-users about the benefits of using adhesives instead of mechanical fasteners.
Murad comments: “To this day, adhesives and sealants continue to take share from mechanical fasteners, but it was all built on the foundation of that program.”
On a more personal level, he says the program “drove my passion and enabled me to make significant friendships throughout the industry at all levels of organizations. So, I’ve been very, very fortunate in that regard”.
Murad joined the ASC in 1985 and has since been an active member, serving on committees, presenting at conferences, and supporting events through generous sponsorships. For Murad, the ASC has been a family that has seen his children grow.
“From day one, I never realized that I would spend a lifetime in the adhesives industry, but it stuck,” he quips, adding that he has made lifelong friends along the way.
When asked to sum up his career in just a few words, Murad responds with “passion, family and friendship, and dedication”.
Indeed, he is passionate about his message for the next generation and their careers, whether that is in the adhesives industry or elsewhere.
Alan Longstreet
“From day one, I never realized that I would spend a lifetime in the adhesives industry, but it stuck”
Daniel Murad CEO, The ChemQuest Group
“Choose a path that you’re passionate about. Choose a path that you can wake up in the morning and be excited to go and accomplish something along that path. Anything else to me winds up being secondary.”
The adhesives industry – and the ASC – has certainly benefitted from Murad’s passion,
Alan Longstreet held multiple leadership positions at H.B. Fuller, including Group President and General Manager North America, Group President and General Manager Asia Pacific Group, Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Business Units, and Senior Vice President of Performance Products, among others.
Longstreet served on the ASC Board of Directors for many years, serving as part of the Board leadership, including as Chair from 2004-2006.
During his time on the ASC Board, Longstreet led multiple efforts that resulted in improving ASC’s financial position. In 2000, he worked with his fellow Board members to restructure ASC’s dues model to right-size the organization. He led ASC through difficult financial times, increasing ASC revenues, which eventually enabled excess operating funds to be transferred into reserves for the first time in 10 years.
After retiring from H.B. Fuller, Longstreet worked as a consultant to many small- and medium-sized adhesive companies.
which he says “lies in enhancing sustainable profitable growth through innovation and value creation”.
And that is something he has patently achieved, and the reason he has entered the Hall of Fame as an industry “giant”.
Elaine Burridge
Michael Klonne
Michael Klonne was the force behind Findley Adhesives’ growth from a $20 million regional company to a $300 million global company, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 1990.
Following Elf Atochem’s purchase of Findley in 1997, and the subsequent merger with Total, Findley was integrated into Bostik, Total’s adhesives subsidiary.
Klonne was CEO of Bostik for 15 years, guiding it to become a nearly $2 billion company, with over 1,000 employees and 20 sites worldwide.
Klonne had a keen ability to spot talent early in people’s careers and to coach, develop, and give people stretch assignments that shaped many of the industry’s next generation of leaders.
His engaging personality, outstanding customer relationship skills, and focus on results consistently brought out the very best in people.
After retiring from Bostik in 2010, Klonne continued to support the adhesives industry by providing executive consultations, serving on boards and mentoring adhesives leadership.
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