There are two pieces of information that have been repeatedly presented to me since I started editing this publication: one – people in this industry work very hard to create new chemistries to solve large and small problems across many, many industries; and two – the average person never really considers the impact adhesives and sealants have on their day-to-day lives. I recently came across another interesting example of how innovative technology is touching millions of people.

Apple is now using a new electrically-released adhesive in its iPhone 16 models that can be deactivated with a small electrical current. When a voltage, such as from a 9V battery, is applied to the adhesive, it loses its bonding properties, allowing components like the battery to be easily removed without leaving any residue. This technology makes the disassembly process easier and cleaner, enhancing the repairability and modularity of the device, which in turn gives Apple one more technology that increases its commitment to sustainable and user-friendly designs. As an added bonus, this small bit of adhesive could cut down the amount of time customers have to wait in line at the Apple store for a simple battery replacement.

The new iPhone 16 adhesive is just one example of information that causes me to smile when I tell a friend or new acquaintance that I edit a publication about adhesives and sealants. When I share this information, I often get the inevitable comment about "writing about glue." Adhesives and sealants are everywhere, my friend, and they touch our lives in many ways, every day.

When I think about how much the technology that we cover in ASI impacts our day-to-day lives, I inevitably think about all the products, like the iPhone 16, that are assembled using the adhesives that readers of this publication develop. This is why I am excited to tell you about a new event sponsored by ASI that will allow adhesive providers an opportunity to present their technologies to manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical, and other sectors.

Taking place April 16-17, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, the Adhesives in Action show is co-located with the ASSEMBLY Show South and The QUALITY Show. This inaugural event will focus exclusively on the end-use applications of adhesives and will feature an Expo and several educational opportunities for attendees. Corporate and executive management, operations professionals, design engineers, and other industry professionals involved in the use of adhesives across diverse manufacturing sectors will be attending the show. It promises to provide a great opportunity for manufacturers of adhesives, as well as providers of dispensing equipment and related technology, to feature their products to end-users involved in the manufacturing sector. To learn more about this new event, click here. If you are interested in exhibiting at Adhesives in Action, contact Jean Gust, our national sales representative, at gustj@bnpmedia.com, or the publisher of ASI, Tom Fowler, at Fowlert@bnpmedia.com.

This issue of ASI features our annual Buyers’ Guide, a valuable source of information for people in our industry. Among the articles in this month’s issue are: a feature about the value of volumetric filling from ProSys Fill LLC; an interview with a representative from Sasol Chemicals where we discuss how the company is helping customers reach their sustainability goals — including the introduction of a new industrial-grade wax that helps lower the carbon footprint in packaging adhesives; and an article by Dow about how solventless silicone PSAs are helping to create more sustainable electronics. Thanks for reading! And as always, please contact me at parkerk@bnpmedia.com with your comments and questions.