ASC Showcase 2026 Issue 8 June

ADHESIVE & SEALANT SHOWCASE

Innovation milestone Celebrating 10 years of ASC’s Innovation Awards

Issue 8 June 2026

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Sustainability in NBR compounds through

Advancing sustainability

replacement of phthalates by vegetable oil derived plasticizer

in polymer applications with renewable functional fillers

Evolution of silica manufacturing

Industrial mixing applications:

FDA approved low PAH carbon black

Raw material handling

Sustainable materials

Custom Mixing 2026

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to the sustainable Nzerosil series from renewable rice husk

in the rubber mixing department

to meet regulatory requirements

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Driving quality and innovation in rubber processing

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Measurement of tire innerliner gauge Sustainable rubber compounding strategies for next generation tires APRIL 2026

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Disk surface sharpness and condition: Effect of different nitrile elastomers in down hole drilling applications

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Wire cord measurement sensor for tire calenders

Instrumentation/Testing Labs Directory Increasing the recycled content of automotive EPDM formulation without process interventions

Challenges with electric vehicle tires Quinonediimine (QDI) application as a

multifunctional additive in a typical PCR ply compound

Steering wheel’s water based release agent ACS Events, page 88

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Contents

Page 9

Page 12

Page 16

Page 18

The Adhesive and Sealant Council 510 King Street, Suite 418 Alexandria, VA 22314, US Tel: +1 301 986 9700 Fax: +1 301 986 9795 www.ascouncil.org

Editor Bill Allmond Editorial Andy Brice, Scribe Creative andy@scribe-creative.com Design/Production Louise Murrell, CLJ Creative louise.murrell@clj-creative.com

5 Welcome 6 News

A decade of ASC’s Innovation Awards 9 State of the Nation Q&A

Bill Allmond, ASC President, on markets, trade, technology, and more 12 Crunching the economic data

Consultant Alex Chausovsky dissects the latest economic figures 16 Pressure points

Previewing the Executive Exchange session at the Leadership Conference 18 Pulse Survey launches

New quarterly report provides industry snapshot 20 Innovation Award winners

Bostik discusses its winning entry

For advertising enquiries Claire O’Leary Tel: +44 (0) 7828 830438 c.oleary@porthmedia.co.uk Printed by Newman Thomson, UK

Front cover Shutterstock © Copyright. The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC), 2026.

All rights reserved. No reproduction without the prior written consent of The Adhesive and Sealant Council.

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 3

SHOWCASE YOUR COMPANY

Advertise with The Adhesive and Sealant Council Elevate your brand with ASC and reach thousands of key decision makers.

The ASC’s Adhesive and Sealant Showcase is a print and digital publication with outstanding reach and readership.

Get in touch to discuss our range of advertising opportunities to showcase your products and services and rise above the crowd.

Contact: Claire O’Leary, Porth Media claire@porthmedia.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 7828 830438

Welcome Growth is forecast, but agility is required The growth outlook in North America for adhesives and sealants over the next five years is positive despite multiple challenges. ASC is projecting volume growth to 6.39m tons and value growth to $30.74bn, at Compound Annual Growth Rates (CAGRs) of 3.0% and 4.4% respectively to 2030, according to our newly published North America Adhesives and Sealants Market Report.

Three forces are reshaping our industry: sustainability, regulation, and technology.

On sustainability, bio-based formulations are gaining traction, recyclable and de-bondable adhesives are becoming a competitive necessity, and natural polymer adhesives are growing in share. This isn't just a trend – it's where regulation is pushing us. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) restrictions have tightened; trichloroethylene (TCE) is now banned except in limited aerospace applications; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are under heavy scrutiny; and Extended Producer Responsibility legislation is spreading across U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

On the technology side, reactive adhesives are our fastest-growing segment; silane-modified polymer sealants are projected to grow at a 7.3% CAGR – the highest of any sealant category – and high-performance adhesives for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and renewable energy represent significant growth opportunities.

Regionally, the U.S. dominates at 80% of volume, but Canada is our fastest-growing market in North America. Key end-use growth sectors include building and construction, transportation, electronics, and clean energy, though EV momentum has been tempered by shifting federal policy. Meanwhile, near-shoring investment trends present an upside for suppliers.

The fundamentals are solid, the growth is real, but capturing it will require agility on sustainability, regulatory compliance, and high-performance innovation. The companies that lead on those three fronts will define this industry through 2030.

Bill Allmond, President, ASC June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 5

Innovation Awards: Recognizing a decade of greatness A

fter 10 years, hundreds of entries, and 30 winners, ASC’s annual Innovation Awards have become a benchmark against which the incredible achievements of the industry and the organization’s members are measured.

“This year marks a major milestone for ASC and the adhesive and sealant industry here in North America,” says Bill Allmond, ASC President. “For the past 10 years, we've been celebrating innovation in a variety of different applications across many different industries, where ASC members are investing in creating solutions to difficult problems.”

Innovation is fundamental to the success of the adhesive

and sealant industry, enabling the development of new and advanced products and technologies that have immense benefits to our everyday lives, he continues.

The annual awards were launched in 2016 as part of a strategic effort by ASC to promote the efforts of raw material suppliers, manufacturers of adhesives and/or sealants, and academia in their pursuit of impactful chemistries and product solutions that are shaping our world.

It also helped raise awareness among downstream end users, communities, and industries of the important – and often overlooked – contribution of adhesives and sealants.

“Every year we run the Innovation Awards, it grows in interest and importance,” says Allmond. “We’re proud to see companies celebrating the fact they’ve won our award, which demonstrates just how important it is and what it means to them.”

ASC members are invited to enter from September, with the submission deadline a few months later, at the end of January. The winners are all informed by early March and receive an invitation to attend and present at a dedicated awards ceremony held at ASC’s April conference.

A three-strong panel of distinguished award judges recently selected Bostik as the overall winner of the 2026 ASC Innovation Award and, for the first

Find out more

ASC Innovation Award winners 2017-2026 Year

Overall winner

First runner up

Second runner up

2026

Bostik

H.B.Fuller

H.B.Fuller

2025

3M

Wacker

H.B.Fuller

2024

H.B.Fuller

Bostik

Geisys Ventures, LLC

2023

H.B.Fuller

Nvirovate

Xlynx

2022

Avery Dennison

H.B.Fuller

ICP

2021

DuPont

Kraton

Arkema

2020

PPG

H.B.Fuller

Wacker

2019

Henkel

Dow

Sartomer

2018*

Bostik

Dow Automotive

Sunstar Engineering Americas

2017**

Organik Kimya

*Michigan State University, in partnership with POET, won the Small Business Award **Resinate Materials Group won the Small Business Award

6 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

time, decided to present both Runner Up awards to a single recipient, H.B. Fuller. You can read more about this year’s winners, including an exclusive interview with Dr. Patxi Garra, Head of Technology Development at Bostik, Arkema’s adhesive solutions business, on page 20 of this edition of Adhesive and Sealant Showcase.

Bostik has been named Winner or Runner Up on three occasions over the past decade, second only to H.B. Fuller, which has been recognized seven times. Both companies have each won the main award twice (see table).

A huge thank you to everyone who has entered over the years and, of course, to our sponsors for their support.

Find out more about entering the Awards by visiting the website www.ascouncil.org/ innovation-awards and read about past winners and their entries at www.ascouncil. org/ia-past-winners

Sponsorship If you are interested in sponsoring the 2027 Innovation Award, contact ASC’s Myranda Nickoloff, Senior Manager, Membership & Database Services, at myranda.nickoloff@ ascouncil.org

News

2017

2018

2021

2019

2020

2023

2024

2025

2026

2022

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 7

News

Celebrating a common bond

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J

oin ASC on September 29, 2026, as we mark International Adhesive and Sealant Day and celebrate the innumerable ways our lives are not only made possible, but better, through the use of glues, adhesives, caulk, tapes, and the countless other products our members produce.

“International Adhesive and Sealant Day is a time to recognize the important role in which adhesive and sealants play to enable so many different aspects of life that we rely upon every day,” says Bill Allmond, ASC President.

“This is a universal effort from Asia, Europe, and North America – on the same day, with the same message – that we are an essential part of everyday living, from electronics to hygiene to cars and trucks, packaging, footwear, and beyond.

“It demonstrates global cooperation with our friends and our allies by bringing us together – not just as counterparts, but partners, in promoting the

International Adhesive and Sealant Day is a celebration of all the incredible efforts of the industry industry we all represent.”

The concept of International Adhesive & Sealant Day came

from Mr. Murakami, the Chairman of the International Committee of the Japan Adhesive Industry

Association (JAIA).

He first introduced the idea of establishing a global day of celebration – September 29 – while attending the International Association Heads meeting during the 2022 World Adhesive and Sealant Conference (WAC 2022).

Companies throughout the adhesive and sealant supply chain are encouraged to use the opportunity to highlight the importance of their products, talk about the many industries they serve and their applications, and to inspire others to find out more.

“The best way for ASC members to be involved in celebrating International Adhesive and Sealant Day is to utilize their social media platforms to promote the advancements and the innovations that they are working on, and to highlight just how essential an industry we are,” says Allmond.

To find out more, visit www. internationaladhesivesealantday. com

Book your place at WAC 2026

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The World Adhesive & Sealant Conference and EXPO is now only a few months away, so put the date in the diary and join key industry stakeholders from across the globe at this unmissable event.

Taking place from September 16-18, 2026, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, UK, the 11th WAC will boast over 20 presentations, more than 50 speakers, and 50 marketplace exhibitors.

Hosted once every four years, WAC 2026 is being hosted by FEICA, ASC’s European equivalent, and will provide a deep dive into all the big issues and trends affecting the sector, including technology, innovation, business strategy, the supply chain, and risk management.

The preliminary program is now available on the official website, www.wac2026.org, with information about the speakers, sessions, and the EXPO. To register, visit www.wac2026.org/ registration/registrationinformation/, or scan the QR code to download the WAC 2026 brochure.

8 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

Markets

State of the Nation Bill Allmond, President of ASC, shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing the adhesive and sealant sector, technology and innovation, the upcoming midterms, and the importance of advocacy and outreach

Now we are a few months into 2026, is there a sense of optimism in the adhesive and sealant market, or concern that there are going to be plenty of challenges in the year ahead?

A

Bill Allmond: I think ASC members are cautiously optimistic, but there's concern the industry is, and will be, facing some headwinds this year.

But I think our industry is very adaptive.

When we had the tariff crisis last year, our members found ways to minimize disruptions.

When we faced COVID-19 in 2020, it was the same. Our members always find a way to minimize disruptions as best as possible to protect the company, but also to continue to service their customers.

That was the case with the major freeze storm in Texas, Storm Uri, back in 2021, that nearly shut down the hot melt industry in the U.S. And now we have the Iran war, which is creating a lot of disruption as well, particularly with some raw material availability.

Of course, the longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed and those reverberations are felt in the market, the more difficult it will be to adapt, but I do think there's optimism in the industry and that we will be able to navigate our way through all this as well.

Q

From what you heard at April’s Annual Convention & EXPO, what are members saying about how their businesses – and the supply chain overall – is being affected by the Iran war?

Q

What else is top of mind for adhesive and sealant companies right now?

A

A

It depends a lot on which type of company you’re talking to. Some raw material suppliers say they’re experiencing delays or disruption, and it’s difficult in terms of pricing and availability. They seem to be the part of the supply chain that's being affected the most.

Adhesive manufacturers, however, are taking

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Q

on double-digit, and in some cases tripledigit, price increases, which are difficult to sustain over the long term. Obviously, some companies are passing on costs to customers where they can.

I mentioned in my State of Association Address at the Convention that demand for sealing and bonding technology is the highest it has ever been. Some of that customer demand is behind the optimism I mentioned. However, the disruption we’re facing is causing a lot of challenges.

The other major topic everyone’s talking about is how adhesives are seeing so many different types of innovative uses right now.

Look at NASA’s Artemis II, which recently took off to fly around the moon.

ASC members contributed to the mission in some way or other.

It’s important to recognize just how much our industry is relied upon – not just for everyday things but for other applications, like getting us into space!

Q

What about the upcoming midterm elections? Are they likely to have much of a bearing on the sector and ASC members?

A

I think the midterms may actually continue the uncertainty because, most likely, we will have a divided government. We will have

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 9

⮞

⮞ a Republican in the White House and in Congress will have one, maybe even both, houses being controlled by Democrats.

When that happens, not much gets done, at least until the next election. And that would only extend the uncertainty, particularly around regulations, energy, and infrastructure – a lot of the different policy directions that our members need certainty on.

This will affect our members in knowing whether to invest, expand, or hire.

Q

Is it still tough in terms of recruitment and finding new talent?

A

Our industry, and the manufacturing industry here in the U.S. in general, certainly seems better off compared with other world economies. Having said that, yes, it is getting difficult to hire and to find talent.

When graduates come out of school and are looking at which industries to enter, they don't know much about the adhesives industry. We're competing with larger, more attractive industries like aerospace, automotive, or technology, so it's not always easy to find those workers.

That's why initiatives like ASC’s Scholarship Program are so important. It really helps address this lack of awareness about our industry.

This is a very attractive place to work. We pay well, we’re safe, and we’re innovative.

There are always problems to solve – and we’re always making different types of adhesives to address different challenges.

Q

What are some of the other areas of focus for adhesives and sealants right now?

A

Members are definitely viewing artificial intelligence (AI) as a big area of opportunity and a way to make their systems more

“In these times of uncertainty and volatility, it really requires companies to lean in on organizations like ASC. We provide an opportunity for members to learn and to interact. We draw the industry together” Bill Allmond ASC President

10 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

efficient, both on the factory floor as well as their overall operations. Creating those efficiencies is a major driver for the excitement around AI. Customers are also demanding more sustainable, bio-based products and adhesives that have a lower or no Volatile Organic Compound content or toxic content. This is driven by consumers as well as brand owners.

There's a lot of investment and regulation underway to influence how products are made more sustainable in the future.

Q

Which end-use markets are currently posing the greatest opportunities?

A

The automotive sector remains one of the most attractive. Of course, a lot of that is being driven by electric vehicles (EV).

Despite some government subsidies being discontinued here in the U.S., there's still strong interest in EVs and it’s driving a lot of the demand for adhesives.

Building and construction provide a lot of opportunities as well. Not so much in housing, because this area remains flat and is actually declining a little, but the advent of massive data centers popping up all over the U.S. is increasing adhesive use and commercial buildings are a key driver too.

Packaging is another major area for the

Shutterstock

Markets

industry, with more packaging companies and brand companies looking to utilize adhesives to close and seal their products.

Q

Are there any other niche or often overlooked markets that are quite exciting at the moment?

A

Well, I mentioned aerospace earlier, and I think that that's an area where we could see some increased demand, from satellites to space travel.

There's not a lot of it that takes place, but when it does, there’s an enormous amount of adhesives required for the different types of rockets, vehicles, and capsules.

Increasingly, adhesives are being used in aerospace to create a very durable bond for different materials together and to lightweight, just as they are for cars and trucks.

It’s a niche area that I'm excited to see increase and really take off, excuse the pun.

Q

What initiatives are planned by ASC in the short term to help support and guide members to grow and navigate these challenges and opportunities?

A

This is the first year of our new strategic Long Range Plan and we're going to be doing a lot more on business intelligence.

One of the things we've just launched is our quarterly Industry Pulse Survey, which asks members various questions about their performance over the previous quarter.

Topics include hiring, production, revenue growth, and their overall outlook for the next 12 months.

We combine all that data and publish it for our member companies on a quarterly basis.

It enables ASC members to then benchmark their own company data against the industry.

We're also publishing our next iteration of the North America Adhesive and Sealant Market Report. This is a deep dive into the different markets served by adhesives, including growth rates and megatrends in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. One other area we want to highlight is

More information...

To find out more about ASC and our membership, programs, and resources, scan the QR code or visit www. ascouncil.org/

advocacy. While working on the Long Range Plan, it became clear that our members need more advocacy support. We’ve therefore added to our team, hiring someone who's a seasoned industry advocate to come on board and help us, number one, address more issues that are impacting members.

We’ll now have more coverage and more engagement to influence those issues, but also more responsiveness to members who need information or have questions about compliance and regulatory issues.

Q

To conclude, what is your overarching message to ASC members for the year ahead?

A

I think in these times of uncertainty and volatility, it really requires companies to lean in on organizations like ASC. We provide an opportunity for members to learn and to interact. We draw the industry together to help understand what's going on and how companies can navigate and address mutual issues of concern.

When we’re going through times like these, I think it really underscores the need for more engagement. Companies should know they can come to ASC for that type of assistance and information.

Andy Brice

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 11

Mixed fortunes Alex Chausovsky, President of 3DM Analytics and Consulting, LLC, discusses what the latest economic data means for the adhesive and sealant industry in mid-2026

A

s we wrap up the second quarter of 2026, the macroeconomic outlook remains mixed – partly due to the conflict simmering in the Middle East, and partly due to the contradicting messages that hard data (like Retail Sales, Jobs, Industrial Production, and Capital Investment) and soft data (like Consumer and CEO confidence) are sending right now.

The trajectory of the economy moving forward will depend on the duration of the war and how much it affects the global energy market, shipping, and ultimately, inflation.

As we plan for the remainder of 2026, objective assessment is necessary to have realistic expectations for the economy and for growth in the adhesive and sealant industry in the months ahead. Planning for low, single-digit macroeconomic growth this year appears to be the prudent thing to do for now.

However, recognition of the fact that we’re in a K-shaped economy, with winning and losing sectors, is equally important.

Retail sales, labor market trends Consumption is the main driver of the U.S. economy, with Personal Consumption

Expenditures comprising about two-thirds of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year.

An effective way to track consumption, which reflects the consumer’s willingness and ability to spend money, is through a data series called Advance Retail Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services published monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau. As of March 2026, this series alone represented nearly $9 trillion of economic activity over the past year.

Despite all the policy uncertainty and geopolitical turmoil witnessed in 2025, Retail Sales accelerated last year, peaking at 4.3% annual growth in October. Since then, Retail Sales have slowed nominally but are still up 3.8% year-over-year through March (see Figure 1). This shows that U.S. consumers, despite feeling gloomy about the economy, continued spending their hard-earned money through early 2026, although the bulk of that spending is attributed to high income earners.

In January, the job market started 2026 on a positive note with the U.S. economy adding 160,000 jobs. However, February’s job numbers stood in stark contrast, with total non-farm payroll employment down by 156,000, reversing the previous month’s ⮞

Figure 1: Advanced retail trade and food services – U.S. total – rates of change Quarterly and annual growth rages (%) – data through to March 2026 40 30

Q-o-Q Y-o-Y

20

Mild deceleration

10

3.8% 3.7%

0 -10 -20

Jan 2005

Jan 2007

Jan 2009

Jan 2011

Jan 2013

Jan 2015

Jan 2017

Jan 2019

Jan 2021

Jan 2023

Jan 2025

Jan 2027

Source: US Census Bureau, 3DM Consulting

12 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

Economy Figure 2: All employees, total nonfarm (PAYEMS) Change, thousands of persons 200 160 120 80 40 0 -40 -80 -120 -160

Apr 2025

May 2025

Jun 2025

Jul 2025

Aug 2025

Sep 2025

Oct 2025

Nov 2025

Dec 2025

Feb 2026

Jan 2026

Mar 2026

Apr 2026

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED®

Figure 3: Consumer Confidence Index® Index, 1985 = 100 140 120 100 April 2026

80 60 40 20

*Shaded areas represent periods of recession

2007

2009

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

Sources: The Conference Board, NBER

Figure 4: CEO confidence surged in Q1 2026 to the highest level since Q1 2025 Measure of CEO confidence™ 90 80 70

Q1 2026

60 50 40 30 2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

2026

Sources: The Conference Board, The Business Council, NBER Shutterstock

20

*Shaded areas represent periods of recession

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 13

⮞ trend of solid monthly job gains. February’s negativity was driven mainly by continued loss of federal government jobs, which are down by nearly 350,000 (11%) since reaching a peak in October 2024. In March the trend reversed once again, with the U.S. economy adding 185,000 new jobs, and in April it added another 115,000. As can be seen in the chart (Figure 2), this whiplash effect has been evident since early 2025.

Objectively, it is evident that the labor market is noticeably more volatile since last April, when “Liberation Day” launched a reciprocal tariff regime against Americas trade partners and companies adopted a wait-andsee mentality regarding their hiring plans.

Consumer and business confidence The latest available “hard” data for consumers sent conflicting signals regarding their ability to keep spending. “Soft” proprietary data that tracks sentiment and reflects how individuals and businesses think, feel, and talk about the economy was also mixed. In assessing data series such as U.S. Consumer Confidence and CEO Confidence from the Conference Board, we get a glimpse into the mindset of spending decision makers across the economy, allowing us to ascertain what their outlook is for the remainder of 2026.

Although the Consumer Confidence Index (Figure 3) increased by 0.6 points in April to 92.8, it remains well below the four-year peak achieved in November 2024 (112.8). In fact, despite the economy doing relatively well, consumer vibes remain about as low as they were during the 2020 COVID-driven recession. Some pessimism was evident in the Present Situation Index, which reflects consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions, which decreased by 0.3 points.

In contrast, consumers were more optimistic about income, business and labor market conditions six months from now according

“The K-shaped economy highlights an unusually complex period for the adhesive and sealant industry” Alex Chausovsky President, 3DM Analytics and Consulting, LLC

Figure 5: US Industrial Production (B2B volume) Index – data through to March 2026 12MMA

Recent rising trend

105 100 95 90 85 80 75

Jan 2005

Jan 2010

Jan 2015

Jan 2020

Jan 2026

Source: Federal Reserve Board, 3DM Consulting

Figure 6: Price increases driving new orders higher Capital goods/CapEx 30

Q-o-Q Y-o-Y

20

6.7%

10 0

4.9%

-10 -20 Jan 2017

Jan 2019

Jan 2021

Jan 2023

Jan 2025

Jan 2027

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 3DM Consulting

to the Expectations Index, which rose by 1.2 points to 72.2 according to the latest data.

The Measure of CEO Confidence (Figure 4) is a barometer of the health of the U.S. economy from the perspective of U.S. chief executives and gauges CEOs' expectations about future actions their companies plan to take about capital spending, employment, recruiting, and wages. The Index, which had declined precipitously since early 2025, surged to 59 in Q1 2026, rising by 11 points from 48 in Q4 2025. A reading above 50 reflects more positive than negative responses.

CEOs’ views of general economic conditions improved significantly in Q1 2026, with 39% saying economic conditions were better than six months ago, up from 20% in Q4 2025. This could be a tailwind for the industrial economy and, potentially, for

14 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

the adhesive and sealant industry this year.

However, we must remember that the latest confidence readings for CEOs were recorded before the Middle East conflict erupted.

Industrial production, capital investment U.S. Industrial Production, a benchmark for the volume of industrial activity and capital spending, and a reflection of the B2B economy, is a much better barometer for the adhesive and sealant industry than consumption, job gains, or confidence metrics. The industrial production business cycle (assessing ratesof-change on a year-over-year basis) closely matches that of the adhesive and sealant industry, with turns in the cycle and transitions from growth to contraction and vice versa happening on a similar timeline.

A recent annual revision of U.S. Industrial

Economy in mind, companies in the adhesive and sealant industry must focus on profitable growth, and not just revenue growth at any cost.

Figure 7: The K-shaped economy – consumption 50%

Top 20% Middle class

40%

Bottom 40% Inflation

30%

Revenge spending

20% 10% 0% -10%

Pandemic savings 2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Wealthy Americans in the top 20% continue to grow their spending. Meanwhile, the ‘revenge spending’ era for the middle class and lower-income Americans is over. Their spending is roughly in line with inflation. Chart shows growth in personal outlay vs inflation.

Source: Moody’s Analytics, 3DM Consulting

Figure 8: Office construction evolution Total office construction put-in-place ($ millions) 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000

51%

5,000 2%

4,000 3,000 2,000

0

Jan 2014

General

Jan 2015

Jan 2016

Financial

Jan 2017

Jan 2018

Jan 2019

Jan 2020

Data center

Production data from the Federal Reserve Board showed that there had been essentially no growth in the industrial economy over the last two years. In fact, comparing the 12-month moving total values from December 2023 to December 2025 yields total growth of just 0.5% during that 24-month timespan.

This is a validation of the notable headwinds the adhesive and sealant sector faced during that period.

Over the last year, however, Industrial Production has been slowly accelerating (Figure 5). Currently, the year-over-year growth rate for this bellwether series stands at 1.2%. The cyclical momentum of the series, including the latest input from leading indicators, points to sideways-to-mildlypositive movement as the most likely in the coming quarters.

Jan 2021

Jan 2022

Jan 2023

Jan 2024

Jan 2025

Jan 2026

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47%

1,000

Capital spending data, represented by a series called U.S. Manufacturer’s New Orders, is performing much better. Through March, annual New Orders were up 4.9%.

Furthermore, the quarterly growth rate was 6.7%, implying more upside momentum is imminent for the annual growth rate over the next two quarters (Figure 6).

However, as this series is dollardenominated, whereas Industrial Production is an index, the acceleration in the New Orders data is, at least partially, reflecting the impact of price increases and not just organic market growth. In other words, the disparity between the growth rates of the two series in the charts presents clear evidence of inflationary pressure.

As we traverse 2026, and particularly with the inflationary implications of the Middle East war

The K-shaped economy A K-shaped economy describes a bifurcated economic landscape, where different segments of the economy perform at vastly different rates – like the two diverging lines of the letter “K”.

In 2025, examples of a K-shaped economy were evident in both the retail sales-driven consumption sector, which comprises nearly 70% of GDP, and the capital investmentdriven construction sector, which is more directly relevant to companies in the adhesive and sealant industry. In the left chart (Figure 7) we can see that while overall Retail Sales are growing at a healthy clip, it is the top 20% of income earners that are driving growth, while the middle class and bottom 40% of income earners are just keeping up with inflation.

The latest figures suggest that the top 20% of income earners are responsible for nearly 60% of all consumption activity – much higher than in previous years. In the next chart (Figure 8), the K-shape economy is also evident as data center construction spending is up immensely in recent years, while the rest of traditional office construction is down by tens of billions of dollars over the same time frame.

The K-shaped economy highlights an unusually complex period for the adhesive and sealant industry. Macro-economic growth appears solid, yet the job market is sluggish, and the unemployment rate has ticked up.

Overall consumer spending is still rising, but Americans are less confident. AI-related data center construction is soaring while nonresidential construction and the housing sector are in recession.

This conflicting narrative underscores the need for industry players to remain nimble and to pivot to the outperforming sectors of the market, while mitigating the downside pressure and risks associated with the underperforming sectors.

A proactive strategic approach, one that requires market share gains and new customer acquisition, is the only certain way to ensure company performance meets targets and objectives in 2026.

Alex Chausovsky, President of 3DM Analytics and Consulting, LLC, is presenting the opening session on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at the Executive Leadership Conference.

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 15

Tariffs, trade policy, and regulation are heaping pressure on the industry

Bill Allmond, ASC President, considers how regulations, tariffs, and the Iran war are reshaping the North American adhesive and sealant industry

T

he North American adhesive and sealant industry is navigating one of its most complex operating environments in decades. Indeed, the top four business concerns of ASC members reported in ASC’s Q1 2026 Industry Pulse Survey (IPS) are cost inflation, demand uncertainty, pricing pressure, and supply chain disruption.

A convergence of tightening federal and state chemical regulations, disruptive tariff policies, and a Middle East war that has sent energy and raw material costs surging is challenging suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users alike. Compliance costs, supplychain volatility, and margin pressure are influencing steady-growth forecasts – yet the industry's long-term fundamentals remain intact for those able to adapt.

A regulatory landscape in flux U.S. environmental regulation has long been a prominent force shaping adhesive and sealant chemistry, and 2025–2026 has brought some positive change in direction from a business-

friendly Trump administration. However, states – led perennially by California – continue to create a patchwork that tests manufacturers' resources.

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limits remain a central battleground. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) have continued tightening permissible VOC levels for solvent-based adhesives and sealants.

In Canada, new VOC concentration limits for approximately 130 product categories – including adhesives and sealants – came into force on January 1, 2024.

The regulatory picture around perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is simultaneously urgent and unsettled.

PFAS-based additives are valued in some adhesive and sealant formulations for their performance in construction, electronics, and specialized industrial applications. States, including Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey, are enacting

16 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

their own stricter PFAS rules for consumer products, leaving manufacturers to manage a fragmented and increasingly complicated compliance matrix.

California's Proposition 65 list expanded in January 2026 to include vinyl acetate, a monomer widely used as a precursor in adhesive polymers. While the listing targets the monomer rather than polymers derived from it, residual unreacted monomer in finished products may require updated product labeling or documentation. The state's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is developing a No Significant Risk Level for vinyl acetate, with additional guidance expected later in 2026.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are adding another layer of compliance complexity. Packaging-related EPR rules now apply in seven U.S. states – Maryland, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Maine, and Oregon – and in nearly all Canadian provinces.

These regulations require that adhesives

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Pressure points

Executive Exchange used in packaging applications be either recyclable or easily separable from the substrate during the recycling process.

California's SB 54 mandates that all packaging sold in the state be recyclable or compostable by 2032, with implications for label adhesives and packaging sealants that will likely set a national design standard given the scale of the California market.

Tariffs and trade policy disruption The tariff regime introduced by the U.S. federal government in 2025 was designed to accelerate the reshoring of manufacturing from Asia to the United States. By September 2025, more than $1.2 trillion in investments had been announced by companies planning new U.S. production capacity, particularly in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors – all end-markets with demand for adhesives and sealants.

The planned surge in domestic manufacturing facility construction should, in principle, drive meaningful demand for construction-grade adhesives and sealants in the coming years. In practice, however, the constant revision of tariff rules throughout 2025 and into 2026 created uncertainty that has delayed many announced investments, deferring the demand benefit.

According to some analysts, the immediate effect of tariffs has been more disruptive than stimulative for the adhesive and sealant supply chain. Raw material costs, which account for approximately half of adhesive and sealant production costs, have risen steadily. The producer price index for U.S. adhesive manufacturing climbed approximately 6.7% cumulatively from January 2023 to January 2026, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the tariffs created trade tensions with Canada and Mexico, approximately 85% of intraregional trade – including adhesives and sealants

“A convergence of tightening federal and state chemical regulations, disruptive tariff policies, and a Middle East war is challenging suppliers, manufacturers, and end-users alike” Bill Allmond President, ASC – remains tariff-free under the United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement. Despite this buffer, GDP growth slowed in all three North American economies in 2025, dampening demand growth across most end-markets.

Energy and feedstock shocks The Iran war that began on February 28, 2026, with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran has introduced a new and acute source of cost pressure for the adhesive and sealant industry.

The immediate market effect was a sharp spike in crude oil prices. Brent crude surged from roughly $72 per barrel before the conflict to more than $112 per barrel by late March, a jump of over 55%, before settling above $100 per barrel.

The disruption centers on the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20m barrels of oil and petroleum products pass daily – around one-fifth of global supply – along with liquified natural gas (LNG) exports from Qatar and the UAE that represent about 20% of global LNG trade.

For the adhesive and sealant industry, which relies heavily on petrochemical

Sources...

• ASC/Smithers, North America Adhesives and Sealants Market Report 2025–2030 (2026) • Brookings Institution, “The Iran Conflict’s Energy Shocks Are Not Yet Fully Realized” (April 2026) • Goldman Sachs Research, “How Will the Iran Conflict Impact Oil Prices?” (March 2026) • Wood Mackenzie, Middle East & Iran Conflict: Impact on Global Oil & Energy Markets (March 2026) • Deloitte Insights, “Iran and Middle East Conflict Impacts Global Economy” (March 2026) • Middle East Council on Global Affairs, “Iran War: Grappling With an Unprecedented Energy Crisis” (May 2026) • Wikipedia, “Economic Impact of the 2026 Iran War” (May 2026) • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics/FRED, Producer Price Index: Adhesive Manufacture

feedstocks derived from oil and natural gas, the implications are direct and material. ASC’s newly published North America Adhesive and Sealant Market Report, now available for purchase through ASC, notes that global energy costs, while having largely normalized from the peaks of 2022 and early 2023, have spiked again following the Iran conflict. Raw material costs are responding accordingly.

Wood Mackenzie has observed that rising oil prices weaken the value of feedstocks such as naphtha – a key petrochemical building block for resins, polymers, and solvents used in adhesive and sealant production – and that disruptions to Middle East exports and higher energy prices are negatively affecting petrochemical markets while increasing pressure across energy-intensive industries.

The U.S. adhesive and sealant industry is better insulated from the Iran conflict than its counterparts in Europe or Asia, owing to the shale revolution that has made the U.S. the world's largest oil producer.

Our country’s significant domestic production capacity provides a degree of insulation from Strait of Hormuz disruptions that Asian buyers relying on Gulf crude simply do not have. Nevertheless, oil is a global market, and sustained price levels above $100 per barrel translate into higher costs for petroleum-derived raw materials across all geographies. The conflict has also introduced broader macroeconomic risks that affect demand. Economists and central banks are warning of stagflationary pressures – higher energy-driven inflation coinciding with weakening economic growth – that could constrain capital spending in construction, automotive, and electronics, all major endmarkets for adhesives and sealants.

Outlook: resilience and adaptability The North American adhesive and sealant market was already on a path of steady, if modest, growth before the current disruptions. Growth expectations among ASC members remain positive.

According to ASC’s latest Industry Pulse Survey, 89% of members who took the Q1 survey expect growth. Additionally, ASC’s new market report projects a combined volume CAGR of 3.0% through 2030, reaching 6.39m tons. That trajectory has not been derailed by the current environment, but it has been complicated. Still, the market's long-term fundamentals remain intact.

Adhesive and sealant manufacturers are among the most adaptive in all of manufacturing. What has changed, however, is the cost and complexity of getting there.

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 17

The new Industry Pulse Survey offers ASC members the chance to share their perspectives on how the adhesive and sealant sector is performing – and to see how they compare with competitors and peers

“There are going to be a lot of takeaways for a pretty small investment of your time.

We want this to be a very quick assessment where we’re getting the current ‘vibe’” Scott Hackworth President, Industry Insights

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A

SC is excited to have partnered with leading research firm, Industry Insights, to produce its new Industry Pulse Survey – an in-depth quarterly report that assesses and monitors exactly what is happening in the adhesive and sealant market, using information captured directly from ASC’s membership.

This is not just another survey, but the launch of a powerful new tool that can truly benefit your business. To help gauge the “Pulse” of the industry, ASC is asking members for their insight into what is really happening in the marketplace and how those challenges and opportunities are shaping their success.

Industry Insights, a research firm with offices in the Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. metro areas, has extensive experience working exclusively with associations, collecting and

Keeping our finger on the Pulse analyzing data to determine performance, growth, and potential.

With the industry seemingly facing a gamut of ever-changing issues, the new quarterly Industry Pulse Survey captures the “collective voice” of ASC’s membership and puts all that useful data at your fingertips.

The survey will be available free of charge to ASC “participating members” and will include strategic insights and market intelligence, such as industry benchmarks, emerging trends, and detailed infographics.

All we ask is for member companies to complete a brief questionnaire every few months to capture “the current pulse of what's going on in the industry”.

“With the new Pulse Report, we really want C-suite involvement,” says Scott Hackworth, President of Industry Insights. “We want to know what they are seeing, what has happened in the past quarter, what their challenges are, and what are the things that are keeping them up at night.”

Each questionnaire remains open for about two weeks before Industry Insights reviews and processes all the data.

After collecting the answers, Industry Insights will create an up-to-date snapshot of how the sector is performing and provide

18 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

an accurate picture of the issues top of mind for adhesive and sealant manufacturers, raw material and equipment suppliers, distributors, and the rest of the value chain.

Get involved Conscious of how busy ASC members are and the pressures they face, the questions have been carefully designed to minimize the time and effort required to complete the study, says Hackworth. Each survey should only take a few minutes to complete each quarter.

“There are going to be a lot of takeaways for a pretty small investment of your time,” he says. “We want this to be a very quick assessment where we're getting the current ‘vibe’. It is very low effort from those taking the survey, but very high output in terms of the rewards and the value from that information.”

“The Pulse Report will provide some objective information. We're going to be able to cut that data and look at it by size of company, by type of company, and really get some insights specifically to how different companies are having different experiences.”

Each survey will include only about 10 questions, mostly based on seven-point scales. For example, participants will be asked to provide their opinion on whether a

Survey “This will help us keep abreast of what's going on in the industry, even beyond some of the usual information we're capturing,” he says.

Importantly, Hackworth stresses that all input will be anonymized, so it cannot be traced back to any individual or company.

“Industry Insights has worked with hundreds of associations, and we do a lot of these industry studies,” he adds.

“Confidentiality and keeping that data secure are the cornerstones of our business, and we take it very seriously. Everything that we report is in aggregate form, and none of your individual information is going to be shared.”

specific issue is improving, getting worse, or staying largely the same. This sliding-scale approach means important information can be captured about important areas, including revenues and profitability, employee counts, and the types of challenges they are facing, continues Hackworth.

Occasionally, a selection of rotating questions may be included on an ad hoc basis – addressing issues that might not need to be collected every quarter but are useful to track year-on-year. There will also be opportunities to provide longer, more specific comments, which will help to provide additional background information and context.

Going live The new Pulse Report was officially launched in April 2026, covering performance metrics for the first quarter of the year. The response has been fantastic, says Hackworth, with 74 member companies taking part.

The results for the first edition are due to be released as this magazine goes to press and will include a deep dive into revenues and profitability, employee counts, and expectations for the year ahead.

“The data shows that the industry overall is cautiously optimistic, but companies are operating in an environment of uncertainty and volatility,” says Hackworth. “While most respondents expect moderate growth ahead, they are dealing with rising raw material and transportation costs, pricing pressures, and other issues from tariffs and the conflict in the Middle East.”

Each respondent can access the results for free via the dedicated web portal at www.ascsurveyhub.com. To get started,

users will need to create an account – separate from the ASC member portal – and then use these credentials to log in to access all future Industry Pulse Surveys.

Through their own customized portal, participants can view not only their unique data and responses but also see how that information compares with industry aggregates.

Although voluntary, all ASC members are encouraged to participate. With more contributors, this fantastic new resource becomes even more valuable and useful, insists Hackworth.

Similarly, companies are encouraged to share the findings internally with colleagues to maximize the report's reach and benefits.

“The trending from this type of study is really where the true value comes together. It is so useful to watch how the trends and the challenges change,” he says.

“The next survey, capturing the second quarter's data, will be available in July, with results posted in August,” continues Hackworth. “We encourage members to continue participating, as their input is essential to providing meaningful insights into industry trends and helping everyone benchmark their performance against peers.”

From supply chain shocks and tariffs to difficulties finding and retaining employees, ASC believes its new quarterly report will quickly become an invaluable resource, helping its membership navigate the increasingly tricky trading conditions and make even smarter strategic decisions for their businesses.

Andy Brice

To find out more details about the new ASC Industry Pulse Survey, visit www.ascouncil.org/asc-industry-pulse.

If you have any questions about the report, contact Brian Peters, Sr. Director, Membership & Industry Programs, at brian.peters@ascouncil.org

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More details...

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 19

ASC crowns its winner Bostik’s biobased instant adhesive was the winner of this year’s top Innovation Award

Michael Socha, KDG Marketing

P

atxi Garra and Francois Court from Bostik, Arkema’s adhesive solutions business, have won the ASC 2026 Innovation Award for the bio-based Bostik Born2Bond™ Ultra K85, the first instant adhesive to withstand the industry standard 85°C and 85% relative humidity for up to 1,000 hours. The glue is 60% bio-based, extremely durable, and withstands extreme environmental stresses better than existing cyanoacrylates.

The team was “very humbled” to receive the ASC award, says Garra.

“The recognition that we are very good at innovating means a lot. ASC recognition is really a top achievement in our field, adhesives and sealants. Our best competitors have been and are present to propose their innovations to ASC. We do believe it will add to our image as a disruptor in instant adhesives.”

Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and CEO of Arkema, paved the way to this disruptive innovation when he challenged the Group’s adhesives teams (Bostik) to develop more sustainable alternatives to conventional superglues sold in the DIY shops.

Cyanoacrylates were first commercialized as instant adhesives

Dr. Patxi Garra, Head of Technology Development at Bostik, Arkema’s adhesive solutions business (center) collects the ASC 2026 Innovation Award

Winning entry...

Find out more about Bostik’s winning entry at https://born2bond.bostik.com/ en/products/instant-adhesives/ultra-k85

in the 1950s after a chance discovery during World War II. The adhesives are highly effective and there had been little major innovation since the development of methoxyethyl cyanoacrylates (MECAs) 25 years ago.

The scientists rose to the challenge and began searching for bio-based alternatives to the petroleum-derived ethyl and methyl alkyl groups of existing cyanoacrylate monomers.

They tested a range of substances, including bioethanol.

They finally landed on castor bean oil, which Arkema uses to make a bio-based highperformance polymer called Rilsan Polyamide 11, one of its flagship products. Making the polymer requires cleaving the naturally occurring 18-carbon triricinolein molecules

20 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

in the oil to create 11-carbon molecules. The process leaves behind 7-carbon heptanol, enabling opportunities.

Arkema already has its own supply of castor beans grown in India. “What is important is that castor beans are not in competition with food nor feed because the plants grow on soils that are not good enough for agriculture, and they need very little water,” says Garra.

The bio-based heptanol has a lower carbon footprint than petroleum-based ones, but the teams are still working on a complex final lifecycle analysis.

The team used the bio-heptanol to create a new long-chain alkyl cyanoacrylate (bioCA) using a crackless process developed within the Arkema Group.

In the last 70 years, cyanoacrylates have been synthesized using a Knoevenagel condensation reaction (basic environment), but this creates a prepolymer that must be cracked back to the desired monomer at high temperature. In 2020, Bostik scaled up a patented process for a crackless method using an acidic catalyst system and mild

Innovation Awards

Stretch and flex With its small size, ethylcyanoacrylate (the main component of standard superglues) can evaporate leaving a white bloom. The large heptylcyanoacrylate doesn’t evaporate easily, which means it is less odorous than other cyanoacrylates and does not bloom when dry.

The glue proved to be more waterproof and stretchier than typical superglues, allowing 30% elongation compared with the standard 2%.

This ability to stretch and flex makes Born2Bond™ ideally suited to some medical applications such as silicon prosthetics and swab foam bonding or for luxury goods such as leather bags and belts. Consumers who accidentally get adhesive on their fingers also benefit from this flexibility, which prevents it forming an uncomfortable hard coating.

As well as the standard maintenance, repair, and overhaul uses, “the other market where we have had good results, especially to replace the problematic ethyl cyanoacrylate, is in electronics, including smartphones and wireless chargers,” says Garra.

Electronics producers “really love the lack of blooming – that’s the number one feature for them,” says Garra. “The second feature is the double 85. They like the fact our glue is more durable than normal cyanoacrylates.”

Being less brittle than other engineering adhesives means that the bioCA bonds stay strong when two different materials are stuck together.

Bostik has also had some good leads and first sales in the medical market as well. “The glue has very low toxicity, which not only benefits workers but also opens up applications such as catheter bonding,” Garra says.

The company receives requests to fine-tune the adhesive using some clever chemistry. “Some customers want a more viscous product than the medium viscosity

Single recipient, H.B. Fuller, named for both Runner Up awards H. B. Fuller was named both first and second runner up at this year’s ASC Innovation Awards ceremony. The first award was for Millennium PG-1 EF ECO2, a two-component, solvent-free polyurethane foamable adhesive that contains no blowing agents with high Global Warming Potential (GWP).

It uses naturally found atmospheric gases as blowing agents, eliminating the need for chemical alternatives such as HFCs and HFOs. The adhesive is packaged in pressurized canisters and dispensed through a disposable applicator with long hoses, with no need for additional equipment.

The second accolade was for H.B. Fuller’s Novel, Custom Designed Polymer Platforms & Formulations Enabling Functional Coatings for Paper Packaging.

Its water-based barrier coatings help to support a move from plastic to paper-based packaging. They replace polyethylene and PFAS-based coatings.

All of the products are compatible with H.B. Fuller adhesives.

Michael Socha, KDG Marketing

conditions. This avoids the high PH conditions of the traditional Knoevenagel condensation and stops at the monomer step, which turns out to be crucial for long chain monomers (e.g. bioCA).

When we tested out new bio-based glues, “the heptylcyanoacrylate really stood out,” says Garra.

They were delighted when the bioCA, which was officially launched as Born2Bond™ in January 2025, not only cured in under 30 seconds, but also proved extremely resilient during the standard 85:85 durability test.

“We were really, really pleased that this new molecule was able to perform well in the double 85 - it’s in the name of the final product, with K standing for 1,000 hours,” says Garra.

H.B. Fuller won both the 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up awards – the first time this has ever happened in the 10 years of ASC’s Innovation Awards

Winners...

Read more at https://www.ascouncil. org/news/asc-announces-winners-of2026-innovation-awards

Ultra K85 currently on the market. Others are interested in using the Born2Bond™ product as a coating, not just for bonding, especially for medical devices,” Garra says.

Bostik is also working on a two-component product that could be used to fix holes and bond gaps, for example, in automotive rather than just gluing surfaces together.

“Born2Bond™ is just the start of a new

era of bio-based cyanoacrylates, reducing reliance on petroleum and offering durability, flexibility, and safety,” says Garra. The teams continue to innovate.

Garra stresses that the success of Born2Bond™ with its Innovation Award was all down to “teamwork”. His innovative R&D team in Barcelona, Spain, works with application experts at the Bostik Smart Technology Centre in Venette, France as well as electronics experts in Shanghai, China, and a scale-up team in Taiwan.

The award was presented at the ASC’s Annual Convention & EXPO in Nashville, Tennessee, in April.

Emma Davies

June 2026 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | 21

ASC Convention

“Thank you...”

A huge thank you to everyone who was able to come along to ASC’s Annual Convention & EXPO from April 20-22, 2026.

It was fantastic to welcome 730 plus attendees to the event for three days of top-level programming, presentations from leading industry experts, plenty of networking opportunities, and a bustling exhibition area with over 90 vendors.

Photography: Michael Socha, KDG Marketing

Here are a few snapshots of some of the highlights – and you can view the full photo gallery by visiting https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCSjvH

22 | The Adhesive and Sealant Council | June 2026

2027

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