Afera Tape College 2024 Day 3

Morning

Chaired by Matthias Renka (Organik Kimya), the 11th Afera Tape College concluded its final session “Tape Use and Testing” last week w/a strong lineup, beginning with Prof. Andreas Gross’ (Fraunhofer IFAM) instruction on modern surface treatment methods increasing the adhesion of PSAs to several materials. Plasma treatments work especially well, and he also reviewed various economic and ecological parameters of each option.

Some people still use their thumbs to test and evaluate pressure-sensitive tapes. Alternatively, Afera standardisation consultant Karsten Seitz shared the latest on standardised test methods which yield much more reliable, reproducible and meaningful results. He zeroed in on the measurement principles of adhesive performance related to specific applications.

Before and after a networking break, Afera Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability Manager Pablo Englebienne reported on the latest developments in the 2 areas covered by his role. First, he reviewed the Afera Flagship Sustainability Project, which aims to translate the European Green Deal to Afera Members. Afera and Industrieverband Klebstoffe e.V. (IVK, the German Adhesives Association) are collaborating with Sphera to develop a web-based, sector-wide tool for PCF calculation of both adhesives and adhesive tapes using a harmonised, straightforward, affordable method.

We are also working on developing a tape waste recycling/recovery programme and advocacy for Member Companies through an established link with the European Commission (re: ISCC Plus certification, DfR Guidelines, Ecodesign, etc.).

Afera’s reg. affairs activities are managed through a dedicated working group composed of Member Co. delegates, who are currently focussed on monitoring/responding to the PPWR, ESPR, E.U. Deforestation Regulation, Green Claims Directive, CSRD, CS3D, Silicone Monomers POP proposal, PFAs REACH Restriction, PVC REACH Restriction and U.K. and Spanish Plastic Packaging Taxes.

Last up was Michel Sabo (Nitto EMEA), who took us on a trip through “The Versatile World of Adhesive Tapes”. He taught us that a tape should be seen as a functional sheet enabling a job to be done, whether that is adhering, protecting, blocking or transferring, or a combination of these.

In their concluding remarks, Afera Pres. Evert Smit (Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG) and Afera Technical Committee Chairman Reinhard Storbeck (tesa) emphasised that the most important themes for the tape business now are 'co-operation' and 'collaboration'. Coming together for Afera’s technical events and Conference was likened to a family reunion—“and you can never leave your family!” Evert joked.

“Not only did you all come here to learn a lot about how the European tape industry works, but you learned to know many faces— which is just as important. I am pretty sure that many of you sitting here now in several years will be standing here on stage instructing the next generation.”