I’ve been thinking a lot lately about progress. Today’s manufacturers have access to technologies that previous generations could literally not have dreamed of. Imagine what the Wright brothers could have achieved with access to a CAD system!

I feel overwhelming gratitude for the generations of innovators who worked tirelessly with limited resources to elevate manufacturing to its current state of the art. They could have just decided to sit back and relax, avoiding the stress and turmoil associated with the challenges they had to face in order to advance their chosen field. We all benefit from their pragmatism and willingness to take risks in the pursuit of progress.

Hundreds of examples of progress will surely be on hand at the ASC’s Fall Convention and Expo, to be held October 21-23 in Louisville, KY. The event will feature expert industry speakers, relevant educational sessions, the three-hour Expo, a technical short course about caulks and sealants, and more. Our coverage begins on p. 12 of this issue. Be sure to also check your email in-box on October 12 for a special event preview, as well as messages from key exhibitors regarding their offerings at the show.

From innovative packaging designs and high-tech formulations to industrial displays and consumer appliances, this issue of ASI details the progress made in a broad range of adhesives and sealants applications. Let’s continue this path of constant innovation and improvement, despite the inherent risks. What technological breakthroughs could be made in the coming year if we approach the development process with thoughtful bravado? As chemist and past president of Harvard University James Bryant Conant once quipped, “Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”