Afera Tape College editorial 2022
Afera holds 10th successful Tape College in Brussels
After a pause of more than 2 years due to the pandemic, the Association’s popular educational event took place at the Brussels Marriott Hotel on 4-6 April. The well-established Tape College is traditionally attended by all newcomers to the Industry who want to learn the fundamentals and current technical essentials of adhesive tape technology. This time, over 75 participants were treated to a 20-lecture programme designed and presented by experts, covering the selection, manufacture, conversion, application and testing of tapes. In addition to information exchange, networking is a primary focus.
Exchanging ideas about technologies, applications and the hot issues of today and tomorrow
Afera President Evert Smit, who is also director scouting at Lohmann GmbH & Co KG, delivered the first presentation, “A General Introduction to Tapes”, to Industry colleagues working all along the adhesive tape value chain in R&D, customer and technical service, sales, marketing, engineering, production, processing, quality assurance and general management, representing a total of 44 companies from 10 European countries.
Our event was formulated and hosted by a focussed working group including Ralf Rönisch, head of R&D at Coroplast Fritz Müller GmbH & Co. KG; Gert-Jan van Ruler, technical support and business development manager at DRT; Ian Grace, business development manager of healthcare at Loparex B.V.; Martijn Verhagen, team leader for liquid coated adhesives at Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG; Michel Sabo, R&D application development manager of Nitto Belgium N.V.; and Afera Secretary General Astrid Lejeune.
In a participant survey, event organisers received the most positive feedback on the “overall educational event” and “overall schedule of events”. Although all the speakers received very high marks, Michael Ortner (silicone specialist for Mondi’s functional paper & films release liner segment) and Peter Harendt (head of technical marketing BU TP at Lohmann) received the most praise for their lectures “Release Coatings Applied” and “Insight Into Tape Conversion Technology,” respectively. Review the entire Programme here.
“For me as an R&D manager, having no specialised knowledge in adhesives, my expectations about the event were fully met,” one participant said. “I learned a lot about the basics and important parameters of the field of tapes, and the networking was also really nice.”
“The 10th edition of Afera’s Tape College has shown us one thing above all: The future of adhesive tapes is a bright one! Every newcomer had the unique chance to meet colleagues from the Industry,” commented Mr. Smit. “The lectures were well-received, the time to get to know each other used well, and both of these activities took place in an open atmosphere. This low-threshold character of the Tape College will definitely contribute to the further development of our industry: We’re in this together!”
My colleague and I think the Tape College was very informative and included all the information that someone working with tapes should know.
Joanna Walenska, Coroplast Fritz Mϋller GmbH & Co. KG
A unique educational event for the European tape industry
Held in Europe’s capital, the Tape College is a well-established technical learning event providing tape business professionals with the fundamentals and current technical essentials of adhesive tape technology. During this back-to-school experience, field experts will educate you on the principles involved in the selection, manufacture, conversion, application and testing of tapes.
Our attendees, both Afera and non-members
Afera’s premier educational event is designed for those new to the world of adhesive tape technology and is open to all industry professionals, both Afera and non-members alike. Our attendees include those affiliated with adhesive tape manufacturers, suppliers (raw materials, machine and packaging), distributors, converters, end users, research institutions, universities and national tape organisations.
If you work in R&D, customer and technical service, sales, marketing, engineering, production, processing and quality assurance—even general management—you will benefit from receiving a solid overview of the current technologies of the tape business. What’s more, we routinely see a number of returning participants who either want to brush up on their field knowledge or to network.
Our 20+ lecture programme designed and presented by experts
Why Tapes?, Tapes Deconstructed, Tape Production, Tape Use & Testing... The Tape College programme offers these 4 themed clusters of in-depth lectures, time for debate with presenters and opportunities for networking.
Our event is formulated and hosted by a focussed working group including Reinhard Storbeck, director of R&D at tesa SE; Ralf Rönisch, head of R&D at Coroplast Fritz Müller GmbH & Co. KG; Danny Beekman, technical support manager at DRT; Michel Sabo, R&D application development manager of Nitto Belgium N.V.; Ian Grace, technical sales manager at artimelt AG; Martijn Verhagen, team leader for liquid coated adhesives at Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG; Matthias Renka, regional technical sales manager at Organik Kimya San. Ve Tic. A.S.; and Astrid Lejeune, secretary general of Afera.
Afera’s past Tape Colleges, all held in Brussels, Belgium
2019
9th Tape College highlight: an introduction to PSA tape technology
Looking back on a successful 9th Afera Tape College
Afera 9th Tape College countdown is running: 4 speakers spotlighted
2017
Editorial with testimonials
Presenters talk about the unique take-away from their session at Afera's Tape College 2017
2017 Programme
Press Release
Sponsor Afera's Tape College in 2017
2016
Afera's 2016 event (Testimonials)
Afera Tape College 2016 Event Editorial by Dr. Michael Gerstenberger