
(Left to right) Bernard Ghyoot, FEICA secretary general; Will Barclay, Geocel director and incoming FEICA president; and Jean-Marc Barki, outgoing FEICA president.

Francois Bauduin, Forbo Adhesives (left) talks with delegates at the conference.
Three themes, or tracks, were presented: Technical, Marketing and EU Legislative. Presentations were well received and provided excellent insight and background on issues affecting business in the EU.

Dr. Bernd Burchardt, SIKA.
The marketing track included two presentations on the outlook of the adhesive and sealant industry in North America and Europe. Both regional markets were significantly affected by the current economic recession. I represented the U.S.-based Adhesive and Sealant Council, Inc., giving a presentation on the current and near-term outlook for the North American market. Monique von Dungen provided the European perspective for FEICA.

John Murdoch, British Association president, and Monique von Dungen, ChemResearch (author of the FEICA Market Study).
The EU’s new initiative to study the migration of adhesives in food packaging was described. There is a move to establish standards and test protocols, and the outcome will be the labeling of adhesive products for food packaging. FEICA announced a separate conference on this subject, scheduled for April 27-28 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

David Nick, DPNA International (author of the ASC North American Market Study).
The General Assembly of member associations took place the day prior to the conference. Appointed as a new director to the FEICA board was Dr. Ramon Bacardit of Henkel, who will be the new vice president of FEICA and will become president in 2012. Will Barclay, director of Geocel Ltd., was elected as the new FEICA president, replacing current president Jean-Marc Barki.

FEICA member association representatives.
The FEICA conference concluded Sept. 18 with a business forum on Sustainability.
The next FEICA conference will take place September 15-16 at the Scandic Marina Congress Center in Helsinki, Finland. For more information, visitwww.feica.com.
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