October means one thing in our household: Halloween! So much candy, so little time. On average, we Americans annually consume over 24 lbs of candy per person,* and the majority of that consumption will occur this month. As I was perusing the candy aisle at the grocery store the other day, the sheer volume of packaging required for all of that chocolatey goodness struck me as monumental.

Adhesives and sealants play a key role in the ability of converters and packagers to help provide the means of transporting, housing, and protecting the literally millions of different products we use every day. For example, a new microsphere adhesive has been developed that provides firm hold while being removable and repositionable. Potential applications range from food packaging and repositionable notes to product decorations and wall graphics. Learn how “Microsphere Adhesives Open a World of Possibilities” on pp. 19-20.

Paper and cardboard packaging also relies heavily on adhesives, and a new copolymer dispersion could provide a host of benefits. Read “Smart Adhesives with Strong Hold” (pp. 21-23) for additional details. The full Table of Contents for this issue can be found on p. 5.

Announcement

It is with a heavy heart that I must share the news that Sue Love has had to step down from her role as publisher of ASI due to medical reasons. We thank Sue for her tireless service and dedication, and we wish her all the best for the future. Sue has long been a friend and champion of the industry, and she will be sorely missed.

Rest assured that ASI’s commitment to providing you with the latest, highest quality information continues during our search for a new publisher. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (330) 336-4098 or <a href="mailto:suttons@bnpmedia.com>suttons@bnpmedia.com.

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau