ASC Showcase 2024 Issue 3 March

Election hangs in the balance

How will the result shape the industry?

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Welcome Getting involved...

Often, I hear a member ask, “Bill, how do my employees get involved in ASC?” My first reaction is, “Fantastic, let me share with you all the many ways.” However, sometimes the real question is, where can they get involved? It isn’t always obvious where, even if there are many opportunities for a member to leverage their membership. Here are a few easy steps you can take to get plugged in.

My first tip is to create a profile on ASC’s website by visiting ASCouncil.org. Doing so unlocks access to members-only content and ensures you receive our newsletters and magazines, important announcements, and much more.

Secondly, on our homepage, under “About Us”, select “Committees” from the drop-down menu. Joining one of ASC’s eight committees or two special task forces gives your company a voice. It’s an instant way to connect with ASC and your industry peers. There is no limit per company. The best part? It doesn’t require you to travel and they are free to join.

Third, attending an ASC event is essential. Yes, there is a cost – but between the contacts you make and the education you receive, the long-term take-home value far outweighs the shortterm investment. It also enables you to be visible, giving you in-person exposure to your peers to ask questions, share your perspective, and introduce you and your company.

Lastly, contact us anytime. In fact, make this your first step. My team and I are happy to find the right opportunities for you and your colleagues – to provide more details and to ensure you are aware of how to get involved in ASC and recoup your dues investment.

Our ASC community is only as strong as the people within it. I invite you to come and be a part of it!

Bill Allmond President, ASC

Membership matters

Building on the fantastic momentum of last year, ASC’s membership continues to grow, with 10 new members joining us already in 2024. ASC is delighted to welcome these new members to the association:

• Brenntag Specialties

• Engineered Polymer Solutions

• Excel Color Corporation

• ExxonMobil

• HarperLove

• Holland Colours (HCA)

• Istec International

• Newson Gale

• Re Mixers

• Weiss USA

The full ASC Membership Directory can be accessed via the website (https://www. ascouncil.org/memberdirectory), complete with company overviews and contact information.

ASC strives to keep everyone in the adhesive and sealant value chain connected. By becoming a member, your teams have immediate access to events, training programs, publications, and many more fantastic resources.

The association aims to help shape the future of this critical sector and strengthen its member businesses. By working together, the industry’s voice becomes so much stronger.

To get involved and receive a membership kit, or if you have any questions regarding ASC membership/benefits, contact Brian Peters, Director, Membership & Industry Programs at brian.peters@ ascouncil.org

You can also find out more about how ASC is getting out on the road on page 19.

Make the most of ASC’s resources

Do you know about all the free resources available to you as an ASC member?

Just go and visit www.ascouncil. org, click the “Resources” tab at the top of the page, and select from a huge range of valuable member resources using the dropdown menu.

Besides News, Fact Sheets, and Event Photos, check out the new ASC Buyers Guide, which includes a powerful search engine that allows users to find suppliers and manufacturers among ASC’s membership. Make your selection and the profile for each organization will explain their services, key market segments, and contact information.

The website also includes

some fantastic free sources of industry news such as this very magazine, the Adhesive and Sealant Showcase, ASC’s Quarterly Bulletin e-newsletter, and the regular podcast series, Connected to ASC

Hosted by Bill Allmond, ASC President, each podcast episode discusses the hot topics within the adhesive and sealant sector, previews upcoming events, and features interviews with leading experts.

Last call for Hall of Fame nominations

Is there someone you know who deserves a coveted place in ASC’s Hall of Fame?

This is your chance to submit your nomination for an individual who throughout their career has made a significant contribution to the adhesive and sealant sector.

These “giants” of the industry do not necessarily have to be senior leaders but could be from the technical and development side of the business or have held a position that allowed them to become an ambassador, role model, or make a lasting contribution.

Up to three candidates will be selected and added to the Hall of Fame to join previous recipients James J. Owens (Class of 2022)

and Theodore (Ted) Clark, Dr. Selim Yalvac, and David Nick (Class of 2023).

Those chosen will be invited to the ASC Executive Leadership Conference taking place in the fall, where they will have the opportunity to give a short acceptance speech and receive their own special award as recognition of their achievement.

The deadline for nominations is May 1, 2024. These should be emailed to ASC’s President, Bill Allmond, at bill.allmond@ ascouncil.org

Get stuck on the web with Adhesives.org

The new and improved website, Adhesives.org/ Sealants.org, is officially live. The relaunched website was unveiled in February 2024 and reflects ASC’s commitment to providing an enhanced userfriendly online platform for downstream end users, industry professionals, academia, retailers, government agencies, and the general public.

Easy to navigate, the portal offers a huge amount of content, organized by end use market – building and construction, packaging, transportation, DIY, woodworking, footwear, and assembly. It is ideal for anyone looking to learn about the basics of adhesives and sealants or wanting to access to a selection of free technical white papers

and selection guides.

The updated website includes a breakdown of the science behind adhesives and sealants, technical resources, the latest innovations and news, sustainability, and interactive tools to help identify product and sourcing solutions. There is even a comprehensive video library that explores everything from packaging and assembly to sustainability.

“Accelerating the adoption of adhesives and sealants is vital to strengthen ASC member businesses, so ASC is excited about the enhanced capabilities that Adhesives.org now offers to downstream end users and to the general public,” says Bill Allmond, ASC President.

“This initiative aligns with our mission to foster collaboration,

knowledge-sharing, and innovation within the adhesive and sealant industry and the design communities in which our industry’s products are used,” he

adds. “I strongly encourage users to bookmark Adhesives.org and visit the site often.”

To find out more, visit the website at https://adhesives.org/

Diary dates...

September 23-25, 2024

Sustainability Summit

The Sustainability Summit comes to Cincinnati, Ohio, offering indepth insight into one of the key pillars of ASC’s Long Range Plan. Expect presentations about innovation, trends, and market drivers.

October 21-23, 2024

ASC Executive Leadership Conference

Join other leaders, managers, and senior executives at ASC’s notto-be-missed event at the Wild Dunes Resort – Sweetgrass Inn in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina.

Bookmark ASC’s podcasts

Each month, the Connected to ASC podcast delves into the biggest issues affecting adhesives and sealants. Tune in, subscribe, and catch up on past episodes at https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/bill-allmond

May 10, 2024

Process Optimization and Overall Equipment Effectiveness

Bob Kramer, Director of ChemQuest, leads the first webinar of four in ASC’s new Operational and Manufacturing Excellence series with a walkthrough the operational efficiency, yields, margins, and quality that translate to increased EBITDA.

May 17, 2024

Optimizing Plant Operations Including Design Considerations for Growth

This free session, the second in the Operational and Manufacturing Excellence webinar series, is hosted by ChemQuest Directors Bob Kramer, Warren “Pete” Smith, and Joel Shertok. This time, the focus is on facility start-ups, plant expansions, increases in operations capacities, alternate capabilities, plant relocations, and asset retirements.

May 22, 2024

Advanced Curing Technologies

Join Debkumar Bhattacharjee of Synergy Services as he explores how best to design adhesives and sealants systems with a long shelf life.

June 7, 2024

Optimizing Supply Chain to Increase the Bottom Line

Part three of the Operational and Manufacturing Excellence webinar series sees ChemQuest’s Bob Kramer joined by Vice President Ray Glaser for a look at how to improve overall supply chain efficiencies impacting performance by looking at fully integrated supply chain tools.

June 14, 2024

Safety First! Best Practices in Environmental, Health and Safety

To conclude the webinar series, Bob Kramer of ChemQuest discusses the evolution of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.

October 16, 2024

Thermal Interface Materials for EV Batteries

Join Sandrine Teixeira of Stammer Chemie GmbH for a comparison of the different thermal material solutions for an electric vehicle battery pack.

Ready for another busy year ahead…

Most likely as you read this, ASC’s 2024 Annual Convention & EXPO is well underway and you are among the 700 plus attendees enjoying this fantastic venue and the many presentations and networking opportunities here in Louisville, Kentucky.

What better way to kick off the year than to reunite with friends and colleagues to hear about the big issues affecting the adhesive and sealant industry and the latest technologies, processes, and applications?

This year’s program includes the usual powerful keynotes, educational tracks, social events, and expansive EXPO area where exhibitors can demonstrate the equipment, services, and systems that are driving the industry forward. Attendees will also hear some topical panel discussions, learn about the latest industry news and best practice, and discover the winners of the 2024 Innovation Awards (see page 16 for an exclusive interview with last year’s winner).

Co-located alongside the Convention, many of you may also be participating in our

always popular Polyurethane and Formulation Strategies Short Courses, which offer technical professionals a deep dive into these important chemistries.

All this, spread over these three days, captures just some of the ways ASC is working to represent and support our membership. ASC’s mission, after all, is to help strengthen your businesses and grow the adhesive and sealant industry with networking and educational opportunities found nowhere else in North America.

No sooner than the Convention draws to a close, ASC’s team will then turn its attention to planning the upcoming Sustainability Summit, which is heading to Cincinnati, Ohio this September.

Sustainability remains one of the core strategic priorities of ASC’s Long Range Plan (see box) and a critical part of corporate strategy for the entire industry. This year’s event will, of course, consider the trends and market drivers for this increasingly important issue, but will also offer attendees a fresh

perspective with a focus on end users and their needs and challenges.

Then, on September 29, ASC will once again join with its European and Asian counterparts to celebrate the second International

The EXPO helps make ASC’s Annual Convention a standout event

September’s Sustainability Summit has become a key date in the calendar ASC

Adhesive and Sealant Day and highlight the many ways this industry contributes to the betterment of society. To showcase the positive impact made by ASC members, everyone will be encouraged to mark the

occasion by posting about the important role these vital products play in our everyday lives on their social media channels. Join in and find out more by visiting https://www. internationaladhesiveandsealantday.com/

Next Long Range Plan postponed

After much deliberation, ASC’s Board of Directors has unanimously decided to postpone the introduction of ASC’s next Long Range Plan, which outlines the association’s strategic priorities moving forward. Discussions will resume for the new Plan in early 2025, ready for it to go live at the start of 2026.

The decision, says ASC’s President Bill Allmond, was twofold. Firstly, a delay felt appropriate given the widespread uncertainty surrounding the market. Due to the prevailing conditions, the Board felt it best to wait and introduce the next iteration in 2025 when there should be more clarity about the needs and challenges facing the industry.

Second, he says, the consensus was that with fantastic progress being made with the three current strategic priorities – sustainability, end user engagement, and advocacy – it would be beneficial for them to remain ASC’s focus for the time being.

Read more about the 2024 Long Range Plan and how ASC is increasing the value of membership by visiting https://www. ascouncil.org/about-us

Next comes the annual Executive Leadership Conference from October 2123. As ASC’s final big meeting of the year, it makes a welcome return to Charleston, South Carolina. The theme, Navigating ⮞

The Executive Leadership Conference in October provides high-level insight for senior leaders in the industry ASC ASC

ASC

Through Change, Driving Success, perfectly captures the current market conditions and will offer the usual expert insight, analysis, and commentary that ASC members have come to expect. Keep checking www.ascouncil.org for more details on this in the months ahead.

Besides all these exciting events, be sure to mark May 1, 2024 on the calendar as well. This is the deadline for nominations for entry into the ASC Hall of Fame – an initiative launched just a few years ago to honor the “giants” who have made a significant contribution to the adhesive and sealant industry.

Submissions received in time will be reviewed and shortlisted by the ASC Board

of Directors, with an induction ceremony to welcome the new entrants taking place the Executive Leadership Conference from October 21-23.

ASC will also soon announce the latest lucky recipients of its Scholarship Program, which aims to support students who are a direct relative of an active member of the association in pursuit of their degree in a related field.

Scholarships totaling $8,000 will be awarded to selected juniors and seniors this semester, with another $17,000 of funds to be presented to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors later in the fall. For the first time ever,

ASC members will also be offering winners the opportunity of summer internships and co-ops, providing valuable, first-hand experience of working within the industry.

It has certainly been a busy start to the year. These past few months have also seen ASC welcome another 10 new companies to its ever-expanding membership as well as the successful relaunch of the Adhesives. org website, which provides a one-stop-shop where visitors can learn everything about the important solutions this sector provides.

Thank you to all our members for their continued support – and rest assured, there is plenty more to look forward to.

Reflecting on an eventful 2023

Starting the second year of his tenure, Forest Driggs, ASC Board Chairman and Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Franklin International, looks back on the association’s progress

As Chairman of the ASC Board, I have the privilege of being centerstage to the great work being done by our volunteer leaders and staff to advance our industry forward. We are fortunate to have many dedicated individuals who serve the ASC organization and represent the interests of the industry to the best of their

When I began my two-year term last January, I made enhancing the member experience a priority. One of the first improvements we made was transitioning to a more user-friendly website, allowing members to more easily access information, manage their profile, add employees to their company record, and view and

In April, the ASC Convention & EXPO in New Orleans was one of the largest we have ever had. The attendee satisfaction was also among the highest at over 90%.

Similarly, in October, fun memories were made at the ASC Executive Leadership Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach. Between the excellent speaker program and networking events, stories will be told for years to come by those who were

We launched the first-

ever International Adhesive and Sealant Day with our regional partner associations in Europe and Asia. Together, our associations and members celebrated the many ways our products improve daily living and contribute to sustainability.

To increase member participation in ASC committees, the Board outlined for the staff specific steps to improve communication about how to join. Stop by the ASC booth during the ASC EXPO in Louisville to find useful information about what opportunities are available.

In September, we brought together the adhesive and sealant value chain at the second annual ASC Sustainability Summit. Suppliers and manufacturers alike discussed challenges, opportunities, and trends in adhesive and bonding technologies.

Adding to the number of tools members have within their reach, we published the North America Adhesive and

Sealant Market Report. It is available for purchase and provides a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the North America market and provides forecasts and growth rates to 2027.

Advocating for our industry’s interests to regulatory authorities was also a highlight and remains a major ASC priority.

Last year, we strongly pushed back against proposals by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to severely limit or outright ban substances used in consumer and industrial adhesives. We also engaged regulators on the state and local levels, as well as with Canadian policymakers, to ensure our industry’s voice is heard.

My first year as ASC Board Chairman was a busy one thanks to the support from ASC’s volunteer leaders and staff. We are off to a great start to 2024 and have much to look forward to in the months ahead.

Race for the White House

The upcoming election offers voters stark differences on regulatory policy, says Bill Allmond, ASC President

The attention of the nation is soon turning to the U.S. presidential election taking place this November. Voters will have a clear and familiar choice of candidates and their public policy priorities. The candidates – President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump – offer divergent approaches on most issues. From taxes to the environment to national security, significant differences separate both men and their administrations, especially with regards to federal regulation.

Regulatory policy plays a pivotal role in shaping public life and private industry. Positions taken by different administrations towards regulation can have far-reaching consequences on manufacturing, the environment, public health, and overall economic stability. It is essential to understand how each candidate’s position on issues of critical importance to our industry will likely affect us over the course of the next four years.

A natural starting point in understanding

“Positions taken by different administrations towards regulation can have far-reaching consequences on manufacturing, the environment, public health, and overall economic stability”

Bill Allmond President, ASC

key differences is evaluating Biden and Trump’s regulatory approach. This will provide us with a roadmap from which to navigate the likely path each candidate will pursue in the White House if elected.

Generally-speaking, the Trump administration favored – and would likely continue to favor if he is elected – deregulation. Overall, the Trump administration's regulatory approach was characterized by a focus on reducing government intervention in the economy and promoting market-driven solutions. In contrast to Trump’s deregulatory approach, the Biden administration has adopted a more interventionist approach to regulation, seeking to reverse many of the policy changes implemented by the Trump administration and strengthen regulations across various areas, such as the environment.

Deregulation and market emphasis

The Trump administration came into power in 2017 with a clear agenda of reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and promoting economic growth.

One of the defining features of Trump's regulatory policy was the rollback of Obama-era regulations across various sectors, including environmental protection, healthcare, and financial services. Rollbacks were made to regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as the Clean Power Plan and fuel efficiency standards for vehicles. Additionally, in response to complaints from the manufacturing community, the administration lowered the regulatory burden on issues related to air and water quality, citing concerns about regulatory overreach and burdensome compliance costs.

Reinforcement of regulations

Within the area of environmental policy, addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice have been major priorities of the Biden administration. Executive actions were taken to rejoin the Paris Agreement and restore environmental regulations rolled back under the Trump administration. Additionally, ambitious plans were announced to invest in clean energy infrastructure and promote sustainability across sectors. Therefore, looking ahead, two policy areas to watch are environmental rules and trade policy.

Environment

As mentioned, Trump’s environmental actions are remembered for reducing the

regulatory burden on industry and rolling back Obama-era regulations while creating a more industry-friendly U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In a shift away from global cooperation on tackling climate change, the administration withdrew from the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed by 196 parties, in 2020.

In a boost for industry, the Trump administration streamlined the environmental review process. Budgets for EPA and other agencies were reduced during Trump’s term in an effort to consolidate authority, narrow the decision-making process, and create more efficiency.

In another Trump administration, I would expect much the same approach: a focus on deregulation, withdrawal (again) from the

Paris Agreement, and a tougher stance on EPA, which his advisors have said they would like to dismantle. Some also expect that Trump and Republicans in Congress will also target the Inflation Reduction Act, repealing energy and environmental provisions in the law, which includes support for clean energy projects and electric vehicles.

The Biden administration’s environmental policy in his first term has emphasized a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, promoting clean energy, protecting natural resources, and advancing environmental justice.

Of particular concern for the adhesive and sealant industry, the Biden EPA has been very active implementing risk management decisions under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), targeting substances with adhesive and sealant applications. The specific concern is the proposed actions by the administration impose broad bans and/ or restrictions of the substances in consumer and industrial applications. ASC has pushed back strongly on those proposals, submitting substantive written comments, which have gotten the attention of agency staff.

In a second Biden term, I would expect a continuation of current policies, including burdensome risk management decisions on chemicals with adhesive and sealant applications and further global collaboration on climate change.

Trade

President Trump’s international trade policies could be characterized as economic nationalism, seeking to prioritize American interests and reduce trade imbalances. He imposed tariffs on a wide range of imports, particularly targeting countries like China, the European Union, Canada, and Mexico.

These tariffs on China and other countries were aimed at protecting domestic industries, addressing perceived unfair trade practices, and reducing trade deficits. However, for some ASC members, they also negatively impacted their ability to import raw materials, especially those only made in China.

After hearing concerns expressed by American manufacturers, especially those needing chemical raw materials, the administration put in place a limited exemption process by which a U.S. manufacturer could apply for an exemption from the tariff for a limited time.

I was in Shanghai in 2018 giving an update on U.S. regulatory policy to more than 1,000 attendees at the Asia Regional Adhesive Conference. It was the day after the Trump

administration imposed its steepest tariffs on Chinese goods. Needless to say, I received a few questions from the audience.

In another term, I would expect former President Trump to take more a more drastic approach to trade policy. Recently, for example, he said he plans to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imported goods. His noble aim to incentivize American manufacturing has good intentions. However, think tanks on both sides of the aisle fear that such a move would raise costs for everyday items on Americans and trigger retaliatory tax increases by international trade partners on U.S. exports.

President Biden’s trade policy has focused on restoring alliances with traditional trading partners, such as the European Union. This included efforts to resolve trade disputes through negotiation rather than unilateral action. His policy has emphasized enforcing existing trade agreements and pursuing new ones that incorporate worker and environmental protections. Major supply chain disruptions during his term also prompted a new strategy to address vulnerabilities in healthcare and technology and strengthen domestic production capacity.

While Biden largely maintained Trump’s tariff approach on China, his administration has sought to reset relations, emphasizing fair competition.

His administration has also advanced climate change priorities within trade agreements, supporting sustainable development and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

In a second Biden administration, I would expect a continuation of the current approach: restoring trade ties with the U.S.’s allies while maintaining a strategic, coordinated policy on China that address concerns with intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices.

Differing stance

The regulatory policies pursued by the Trump and Biden administrations represent contrasting approaches to governance. While the Trump administration prioritized deregulation and market-driven solutions, the Biden administration has sought to reverse course and reinforce regulatory safeguards across various domains.

The ultimate impact of these policies on economic prosperity, public health, and environmental sustainability remains to be seen, but they will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of governance and society for years to come.

H.B. Fuller’s award-winning team reflects on what it meant to be recognized for its innovative electric vehicle battery encapsulant

ASC awards encapsulate innovation

In 2023, the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) named H.B. Fuller and its EV Protect 4006 lightweight encapsulant, designed to help prevent thermal propagation in lithiumion batteries, as winner of its prestigious Innovation Award.

Winning the accolade was as important for the team behind its development as it was for the product itself, says Marlen Valverde, Business Development Manager, ePower and Energy Storage at H.B. Fuller.

“It validates the process, from listening to the market and identifying an unmet need, right through to working with the customers to deliver the answer to that need,” she says. “We spent time perfecting this material. It is

great to have that effort recognized. There was a lot of pride in the team.”

Working alongside Valverde in the team were Albert Giorgini, Technology Manager and R&D Fellow, who she describes as the primary formulation mastermind; Elizabeth Knazs, Business Development Manager, ePower and Energy Storage; and Nathan Whitford, Product Manager Director, Engineering Adhesives.

For H.B. Fuller, ASC’s Award clearly showed just how much the adhesive and sealant industry valued an innovation that could help to enhance the fire safety, crashworthiness, performance, and life of the lithium-ion battery packs used in cars, trucks, public

transport, and a host of industrial and consumer applications.

If Li-ion battery packs are misused or if they are incorrectly specified, overheating during charging is possible. By enhancing the fire protection of the battery pack in these and similar cases, the pack becomes safer.

Looking more closely at the automotive segment, the world is rapidly shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs) because of their lower carbon emissions compared with conventional cars, vans, trucks, and buses. The momentum that is building is certainly impressive. Figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA) show global EV sales were over 10m in 2022. The share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled in three years, rising from 4 percent in 2020 to 14 percent in 2022. In the U.S., the market grew from 600,000 vehicles sold in 2021 to 1.6m in 2023.

Just as conventional vehicles rely on flammable gasoline or diesel, which must be stored as safely as possible, the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs can also cause problems if they are damaged in collisions.

The EV Protect 4006 project team at H.B. Fuller successfully designed a potting compound for Li-ion battery packs that would significantly reduce these dangers and enhance the lifetime and performance of the battery packs.

After these packs are physically assembled, they are filled with EV Protect 4006 as a liquid, which then foams, surrounding each of the battery elements with an insulating material. This layer of insulation surrounding the cells is highly beneficial in collisions and day-to-day use, says Valverde.

H.B. Fuller Shutterstock

H.B. Fuller won the ASC’s Innovation Award for its EV Protect 4006 lightweight encapsulant

The foam’s thermal insulation helps to prevent the cascade of failing battery units that can lead to runaway heating or even fires. By making it harder for battery packs to ignite, EV Protect 4006 Protect helps to protect the vehicle’s occupants and reduces the risks faced by first responders when they arrive at the scene of an accident.

The foamed product is ultra-low density when compared with traditional encapsulants. The reduced weight helps improve range or energy efficiency.

The EV Protect 4006 foam is also slightly flexible, which helps to improve the noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics of the vehicles.

As well as improving ride quality, by absorbing vibrations and jolts on uneven road surfaces, the foam reduces wear and tear on connections within the batteries as well as between the battery modules and the vehicle.

“The recognition was confirmation that we are doing the right job and treating the market’s needs the right way. It shows that the winning product is at the forefront of innovation”

Meet the rest of the H.B. Fuller team...

“This type of product has become the go-to solution for battery encapsulation in many parts of the market. It has become very popular,” says Valverde.

Besides the many safety aspects, the foam brings automotive battery packs thermal regulation properties.

“On cold Minnesota mornings when the car starts, the center of the battery pack is likely to warm much faster than the batteries on the edge of the pack. Over time, the different thermal history of each cell in the battery pack can mean that they will charge at different rates,” she notes.

“Using EV Protect 4006 helps to insulate the cells, so they heat up and cool down more evenly. Reducing the temperature variations between cells can have a significant effect on the life of battery packs. This adds value to our clients and their customers, all the way to the consumer.”

The battery packs have software to adjust charging rates between cells. However, if cells age differently due to varied thermal histories, there may be occasions when the software struggles to manage the differences in charging rates or capacities.

“Winning ASC’s Innovation Award has helped to independently validate the research and development process that led to the production of EV Protect 4006,” says Valverde.

Watch the video...

Find out more about H.B. Fuller’s EV Protect 4006 Lightweight Encapsulant for Lithium-Ion Batteries by visiting https://www. hbfuller.com/en/markets/ electric-vehicles and watch a video about the technology by scanning the QR code.

Read more about the ASC 2023 Innovation Awards winners at https:// www.ascouncil.org/news/for-immediaterelease-asc-announces-winners-of-the2023-innovation-awards.

that the approach used by H.B. Fuller’s development and marketing team is robust and valued by the company’s peers in the marketplace.

“The recognition was confirmation that we are doing the right job and treating the market’s needs the right way. It shows that the winning product is at the forefront of innovation. It shows that we have the ability to develop an industry leading product.”

Marlen Valverde Business Development Manager, ePower and Energy Storage, H.B. Fuller

“We spent a lot of time scoping out market developments and technological advances. Our teams talked and listened to our customers about our products and what more they needed to increase safety and meet their customers’ demands.”

The award has helped the EV Protect 4006 product commercially, but also shows customers and prospects in the market

“We want to partner with our customers and industry to provide other answers to their needs, which are likely to be different from this product,” she adds. “EV Protect 4006 will be the platform for us to build a range of diverse solutions that meet the varying needs of our different customers and applications.”

Simon Robinson

Albert Giorgini Technology Manager and R&D Fellow

Elizabeth Knazs Business Development Manager, ePower and Energy Storage

Nathan Whitford Product Manager Director, Engineering Adhesives

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ASC hits the road

Getting to know our membership and understanding what you think about the industry, opportunities, challenges, and how we represent you is hugely important

Brian Peters, The Adhesives and Sealant Council’s (ASC) Director, Membership, and Industry Programs, spends much of his time out and about visiting maybe 15-20 ASC member companies each year.

“I want to see as many member companies and facilities as I can and bring out the true value of ASC membership to the companies I visit,” says Peters. “For me, they are listening tours. We discover where we can bring value to our members and our members tell us of areas that they would like to see us help with or improve. I like the meetings to be in-person, to be physically present. Both sides learn so much more that way.”

“The ASC is there to see, listen, and hear our members,” he adds. “We want to see, hear, and look at how they are using us, whether they are new members, or longtime supporting companies that have been members for many years.”

For Peters, he wants members of the ASC to

get the very most out of their membership and reap the benefits.

This could be greater awareness of the education and training program that would

“The ASC is there to see, listen, and hear our members. We want to see, hear, and look at how they are using us, whether they are new members, or longtime supporting companies”

Brian Peters Director, Membership, and Industry Programs, ASC

benefit their associates or the advocacy work of its ASC Regulatory Committee.

Not only is this about being helpful to its members in the short term, but these member engagements also allow ASC to keep its finger on the pulse of the industry, the trends, economic indicators, the talent and people challenges, new product innovations, and the real day-to-day issues that the membership is facing.

In the longer term, a greater presence and increased company interaction help to ensure the ASC is there in the future to support its members.

This is by no means a small task. Members range in size and complexity – from the small family firms that make up a vibrant part of its membership; the mid- to large-scale adhesives and sealant manufacturers across the US; and the larger raw material suppliers, which also take part in the ASC.

Members are generally either

manufacturers of adhesives and sealants, raw material suppliers, distributors, or affiliate partners. The diversity of our members is really exciting, insists Peters.

From his perspective, each visit is about understanding what members need and what the ASC can do to help.

This makes the visits and engagements much more than just delivering donuts. “They can range from 60 minutes to about an hour and half. I’m not just ping-ponging from member to member in the field, I try to deliver more quality time, with each member.”

“I like to have a facility tour, if possible, to see the way that companies work. I may not fully understand the technical side of the adhesives and sealant business, the chemistries, but I find it interesting to see how people work together. To me, it’s all about the people.”

Peters joined the ASC in February 2022, right before the World Adhesive and Sealant Conference in Chicago, Illinois. It was an event that really helped introduce him to the industry with many ASC members in one place.

Prior to ASC, Peters spent most of his trade association experience within the wholesale distribution industry. He was attracted to the ASC because of its solid membership base, with loyal committed members, and a great internal culture.

He saw that the best value approach for the ASC in his first year was to immerse himself in key regions, so targeted the territories with the highest concentration of ASC members, with clusters around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas; MinneapolisSt Paul, Minnesota; and, in the area around Boston, Massachusetts.

On each visit, he tries to be proactive. “With each engagement, I like to have as much diversity as possible from our members and in our meetings,” he says. “It’s nice to have associates that are in human resources, technical, sales/marketing, operation type roles to all participate in our meeting. ASC has a vast offering of member benefits. Sometimes it’s easier for our member companies to divide and conquer our resources and benefits, based on their respective roles.”

ASC offers quite a “menu” of offerings, from its Training Academy and live webinars to its research reports and guides. To help members navigate the many resources that are available, Peters has developed a concise one-page graphic to help provide as a visual roadmap of what is available – a handy guide on how to “get started” with the ASC.

ASC has a diverse mix of members, ranging in size, and really spread out throughout the U.S. “I try to organize our member visits that make the most sense and based on need,” he adds.

For newer ASC members that have just joined, the Zoom and Microsoft Teams platforms prove particularly useful. Peters enjoys helping to onboard newer members within those critical first three-to-four months. “It really is important that they understand the resources that they have available at their

To find out more about the association or to arrange a visit from ASC, email Brian Peters directly at brian.peters@ascouncil.org

fingertips,” he says. “Our member delegates can invite whomever from their team to join in on these virtual calls. We’re in the process of making available a simple way for our members to request this type of virtual engagement.”

Peters says he would like to be even more proactive and creative in the future. As a call to action for member companies, Peters would welcome the chance to try to incorporate an occasional ASC update from himself or ASC President, Bill Allmond, into an internal team meeting on a consistent basis throughout the year.

At his current rate of progress, Peters thinks he should be able to visit all the Adhesives and Selant Council’s members by the end of the decade. If you think that is too long to wait, or if you are unsure of what your ASC membership benefits are, why not drop him a line, give him a call, or invite him over?

Simon Robinson