Global consumption of coatings, adhesives, sealants and inks (CASI) was 54.1 million tons in 2014, worth $182.6 billion, according to Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney. Volume growth is forecast at a 5% annual rate, with coatings, adhesives and sealants matching the overall growth, but inks trailing at only 2% per year.

Like the billions of bits of data buzzing through your computer and smartphone at this moment, technology today is moving faster than ever before.

Customizing adhesive formulas allows customer needs to drive innovation. As the number of adhesive-using industries grows, the variety of uses for hot-melt solutions is expanding to the point where there is not a one-size-fits-all formula for any industry.

Adhesives are widely used in the electronics industry for bonding surface mount components, wire tacking, conformal coatings and encapsulating components.

"The release liner industry is innovating," said Corey Reardon, president and CEO of AWA Alexander Watson Associates, as he opened the annual AWA Global Release Liner Conference and Exhibition.

Domestic demand for construction chemicals used in on-site applications is projected to grow 8.2% per year through 2018 to $12.1 billion, according to “Construction Chemicals,” a recent study from The Freedonia Group Inc.