Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape is known for its everyday practical uses. Need to stick up holiday decorations? Wrapping a birthday present? Showcasing a work of art from your little one? Grab the tape! But PSA tape has far more applications than many realize—spanning uses in the automotive, medical, transportation, and building and construction industries. In fact, within building and construction, PSA tape is often used in applications such as flooring, roofing, HVAC, protective/barrier usage and interior design.

The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) is introducing a new Building and Construction Market and Applications conference track at its annual Tape Summit, taking place May 15-16, 2019, in Baltimore. This event is focused on PSA tape uses, technologies, innovations and trends. The industry-focused presentations will include those from the building and construction arena identified in the PSTC’s recently released Phase II of its research report, “Maximizing Usage of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tape in the Construction Vertical,” which specifically identifies this industry as an area of growth for PSA tape usage.

Increasing Building and Construction Use

The goal for this specific track is to help building and construction professionals—across all internal verticals, including adhesives and sealants specialists—better understand the variety of PSA tape solutions available that offer greater compatibility with building materials of all kinds. The development of this track stemmed from the PSTC’s participation at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2018 International Builder’ Show, where the importance of connecting the PSA tape product to real-life applications was made clear. This market and applications track is designed specifically to address how PSA tapes are used from a building and construction applications standpoint.

This includes addressing the challenges of using PSA tape and how to overcome them, recent innovations that make tape use desirable, and solutions found through the use of PSA tape. Case studies and non-technical, solution-driven panelists will discuss practical applications, such as tape use for remodeling or decorative applications, tape used for ice/water shielding and moisture/air/noise abatement, tape used in flooring and roofing applications, and more.

Ultimately, as PSA tape is used in industries such as building and construction, the adhesives industry as a whole benefits. The PSTC’s aim is to continue engaging its community in order to best drive the conversations surrounding the use of PSA tape within the industry. The goal is to share information and broaden the understanding of how adhesives can be integrated into many industries. More information about the building and construction track will provide attendees different perspectives on how to view PSA tape as a sustainable option within this vibrant industry.  ASI

Michel Merkx is president of the Pressure Sensitive Tape
Council and corporate vice president and general manager of American Biltrite Inc. For more information, visit www.pstc.org.

Any views or opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent those of ASI, its staff, Editorial Advisory Board or BNP Media.