“Resilience and competitiveness in the global tape business”

 

European Tape Week returns for its second edition in Porto, bringing the European adhesive tapes community together in an excellent-value setting for a programme spanning technical learning, business insight and high-value networking.

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Early-bird registration is now open, with flexible options to join the 12th Tape College, attend Afera’s 69th Annual Conference, register for the entire week programme at an attractive price, or purchase a Booth Pass for access to the Tabletop Exhibition. Check back regularly for programme updates.
 

Monday, 21 September 2026

09.00 – 19.00                
Check-in at Afera registration desk
Hotel Lobby

 

12th Tape College

 

12.00 – 13.30

Buffet Business Luncheon for Tape College Participants
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

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Conference Room – Douro II

 

Session 1: Why tapes?

Session Chairman: Reinhard Storbeck, Dir. of R&D at tesa SE (Germany) / Afera Technical Committee Chairman

13.30 – 13.40                
Opening remarks by the Tape College and Session 1 Chairman

Reinhard Storbeck

 

13.40 – 14.20
Made to stick: A general introduction to tapes

Evert Smit, Consultant at QBond / Afera President 

14.20 – 14.50
Introduction to pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape technology

Caroline Sperling, Mgr. Customer Solution Centre Europe at tesa SE
 

14.50 – 15.20
Networking coffee break
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

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Session 2: Tapes deconstructed

Session Chairman: Matthias Renka, Regional Technical Sales Manager at Organik Kimya San. Ve Tic. A.S. (Turkey) / Afera Technical Committee Member

 

Part I – Adhesive technologies

 

15.20 – 16.00
The world of acrylic PSA: Solvent-based and UV hotmelt

Philipp Ernst, New Product Development Mgr. UV Acrylic HM at Henkel (Germany)

 

16.00 – 16.25
Emulsion polymers: From milky white liquid to PSA tapes

Dr. Christoph Scholten, Principal Scientist - Application Development, Adhesives at Synthomer Deutschland GmbH (Germany) / Afera Technical Committee Member

 

16.25 – 17.10
Panel discussion with speakers and audience Q&A

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19.00 – 21.00                

12th Tape College opening dinner
An informal networking dinner at Douro I (at the Hotel), exclusively for Tape College attendees.

 

Tuesday, 22 September 2026

 

09.00 – 19.00                 Check-in at Afera registration desk – Hotel Lobby

Conference Room – Douro II

Session 2: Tapes deconstructed

Session Chairman: Matthias Renka, Regional Technical Sales Mgr. at Organik Kimya San. Ve Tic. A.S. (Turkey) / Afera Technical Committee Member

 

Part II – Polymers, backings & sustainability

 

09.00 – 09.20
SIS block copolymers for hot melt PSAs

Geert Vermunicht, Global Adhesives Market Mgr. at TSRC Corporation (Luxembourg)

 

09.20 – 09.50
Chemistry of hotmelt PSA formulations

Danny Beekman, Technical Service Mgr. at DRT - Les Dérivés Résiniques et Terpéniques (France)

 

09.50 – 10.15
Silicones as adhesives and release agents

Gwénaël Lusseau, Technical Service Mgr. Release Coating & PSA at Elkem Silicones (France)
 

10.15 – 10.40
Viscoelastic properties of high-performance tapes

Hans Peter Dette, Senior Product Development Engineer at 3M (Germany)

 

10.40 – 11.10
Networking coffee break
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

11.10 – 11.35
Polyethylene foams as backing materials for technical tapes

Lukas Berger, Application Development Mgr. Adhesive Coating at Sekisui Alveo (Switzerland)

 

11.35 – 11.55
Designed for recycling: A call for value chain collaboration

Mikko Rissanen, Dir. of Technology at UPM Specialty Papers (Finland)

 

Part III – Release systems

 

11.55 – 12.15
Chemistry of release coatings

Jürgen Pomorin, Senior Technical Manager EMEA RC Silicones at Evonik Operations GmbH (Germany)

 

12.15 – 12.40
Release coatings applied

Michael Ortner, Technical Expert at Mondi (Functional Paper & Films Release Liner Segment) (Germany)

 

12.40 – 13.00
Panel discussion part 1 with speakers and audience Q&A

 

13.00 – 14.15
Buffet Business Luncheon
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

Conference Room – Douro II 

14.15 – 14.40
Panel discussion part 2 with speakers and audience Q&A

 

Session 3: Tape production

Session Chairman: Evert Smit, Consultant at QBond (The Netherlands) / Afera President

 

14.40 – 15.05
Co-extrusion manufacturing of adhesives

Wilko Willuhn, Managing Dir. & Chief Inspiration Officer at INDAG Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany)

 

15.05 – 15.40
Coating and drying technologies in roll-to-roll production, incl. UV crosslinking

Konstantin Martynov, Regional Sales Manager at KROENERT GmbH & Co KG (Germany)

 

15.40 – 16.10
Networking coffee break

Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

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16.10 – 16.35
Tape conversion technology

Yvonne van Zadelhoff, Operations Mgr. at TACON - Tape Converters Holland BV (The Netherlands)

 

16.35 – 17.20
Panel discussion with speakers and audience Q&A
 

18.00 – 19.30
Cocktail reception with hors-d'œuvres – Terraço Douro I + II

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19.30
Free evening
Selection of restaurants available

 

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 

09.00 – 19.00

Check-in at Afera registration desk

Hotel Lobby

 

09.00 – 12.45

Buildup and opening of Tabletop Exhibition

Douro I

 

09.00 – 12.30

Afera Technical Committee Meeting
Douro III

 

Afera Marketing Committee Meeting
Douro IV

 

Conference Room – Douro II 

 

Session 4: Tape use & testing

Session Chairman: Ian Grace, Technical Sales Mgr. at artimelt AG (Switzerland) / Afera Technical Committee Member

 

09.00 – 09.45

Modern surface treatment methods

Andreas Groß, Head of Workforce Qualification and Technology Transfer at Fraunhofer IFAM (Germany)

 

09.45 – 10.15

Reliable tape testing methods

Karsten Seitz, Afera Standardisation Consultant and Chairmen of Afera Next-Level Test Methods Working Group (Germany)

 

10.15 – 10.45

Networking coffee break
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

10.45 – 11.10
Afera Flagship Sustainability Project

Karla Pastor, Sustainability Project Manager at Afera (The Netherlands)

Sreeparna Das, Sustainability Communications Consultant at Afera (India)

 

11.10 – 11.35

Adhesive tapes regulation in Europe: Afera Regulatory Working Group report on Afera’s latest actions and upcoming topics

Pablo Englebienne, Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability Manager at Afera (The Netherlands)

 

11.35 – 12.00
The versatile PSA world

Michel Sabo, R&D Application Development Mgr. at Nitto Belgium NV

 

12.00 – 12.45
Panel discussion with speakers and audience Q&A

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12th Tape College & 69th Annual Conference & Tabletop Exhibition

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12.45 – 14.15
Buffet Business Luncheon for Tape College participants, Committee Members, Annual Conference participants and booth delegates: Opening luncheon of 69th Afera Annual Conference

Douro I, Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

12.45 – 17.00
Tabletop Exhibition for both Tape College and Annual Conference participants
Douro I

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Confirmed to date:

• H.B. Fuller

• Valco Melton

• Loparex

• Elite Cameron

• Synthomer

• Ichemco

• Henkel

• Hueck Folien

• BASF

• Uncountable

• Mondi

 

14.00 – 17.30

Afera Steering Committee Meeting

Douro IV

 

19.00 – 23.00

69th Annual Conference welcome cocktails & dinner

Cocktails at Terraço do Jardim, Dinner at Restaurante Palácio do Freixo (Dress code: smart casual)

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Thursday, 24 September 2026

 

09.00 – 17.00
Tabletop Exhibition for Annual Conference participants
Douro I

Conference Room – Douro II 

69th Annual Conference

 

Regulatory compliance, sustainability & circularity

 

08.30 – 08.35
President’s welcome / Opening of 69th Annual Conference

Evert Smit, Consultant at QBond (The Netherlands) / Afera President

 

08.35 – 08.40
Setting the stage by Conference hosts

 

08.40 – 09.05

What does it take to reach the next level of sustainable paper-based liners?

Sven Reiter, Liner Scientist in Technology Development / Liner & Backings at tesa (D)

 

09.05 – 09.30

Afera Flagship Sustainability Project (AFSP): Member benefits

Karla Pastor, Sustainability Project Manager at Afera (The Netherlands)

Sreeparna Das, Sustainability Communications Consultant at Afera (India)

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09.30 - 09.55

Adhesive tapes regulation in Europe: Afera Regulatory Working Group report on the Association’s latest actions and upcoming topics

Pablo Englebienne, Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability Manager at Afera (The Netherlands)

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09.55 – 10.20

U.S. regulatory update: What European adhesive tape companies should watch
Bill Allmond, President of The Adhesive & Sealant Council (ASC) (U.S.A.)

 

10.20 – 10.50
Networking coffee break
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

Business resilience & competitiveness

 

10.50 – 11.15

Strategic management intersecting with Asian competition and uncertainty: Resilience and transformation

Speaker TBA​​​

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10.50 – 11.15

Building an AI-ready R&D engine: Kraton’s structured-data journey for the tape value chain

Carolien Jacobs-Vis, Technical Leader R&D at Kraton Chemical B.V. (The Netherlands)

 

11.15 – 11.40

Building an AI-ready R&D engine: Kraton’s structured-data journey for the tape value chain

Carolien Jacobs-Vis, Technical Leader R&D at Kraton Chemical B.V. (The Netherlands)

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​​11.40 – 12.10

Panel discussion with speakers and audience Q&A

 

12.10 – 13.20

Buffet Business Luncheon and Exhibit

Douro I, Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

Conference Room – Douro II 

 

Market data & trends

 

13.20 – 13.45

Microsphere adhesive technology: Market growth, application opportunities, and next generation performance requirements

Speaker TBA at H.B. Fuller (U.K.)

 

13.45 – 14.10

Analysis of Annual Afera Member Company Market Trends/Radar Survey

Brenden Drijgers, Marketing Manager at Kraton Corporation (The Netherlands) / Afera Marketing Committee Member

 

14.10 – 14.35

Global and European market data report update: AWA’s Global specialty pressure sensitive tapes market 2026 plus trends and other insights

Corey Reardon, President & CEO of AWA Alexander Watson Associates (The Netherlands)

 

14.35 – 15.05

Networking coffee break

Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

15.05 – 15.30

Analysis of Global Tape Forum Regional Market Trends/Radar Survey

Evert Smit, Consultant at QBond (The Netherlands) / Afera President

 

15.30 – 16.00

Panel discussion with speakers and audience Q&A

 

19.00 – 23.00

Meet in the hotel lobby at 19.00 for group departure by bus
Welcome drinks at Angel’s Share (WOW’s Wine Bar), Dinner at 1828 Steakhouse (also at WOW, elevated views of the Douro River and Porto)

 

 

Friday, 25 September 2026

 

08.30 – 14.00

Tabletop Exhibition for Annual Conference participants

Douro I

Conference Room – Douro II
 

Risk management & the global economy

 

08.30 – 09.15

The global economic outlook: How will Europe do?

Andrea Boltho, Since 2007 Emeritus Fellow / Director of Economics at University of Oxford (U.K.)

 

09.15 – 09.40
Packaging tape sustainability: Circular design, lower carbon and credible claims

Speaker TBA

                                           

09.40 – 10.05

Supply chain, trade and global competition report for the European adhesive tapes industry

Richard D. Holder, CEO of Loparex (U.S.A.)

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10.05 – 10.35

Networking coffee break

Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

                                           

10.35 – 11.20
Closing keynote │ From uncertainty to complexity: What geopolitics and tariffs mean for European adhesive tape businesses in 2026

Alex Chausovsky, President & CEO of 3DM Consulting (U.S.A.)

 

11.20 – 11.30
Brief coffee break
Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

 

11.30 – 12.15
Panel discussion │ The 2026 operating environment: Where risks are rising — and where growth is emerging for tape makers with Captains of Industry moderated by Alex Chausovsky

                                        

12.15 – 12.30

Putting the 2026 Annual Conference and European adhesive tape business into perspective

Evert Smit, Afera President

 

12.30 – 14.00

Closing Buffet Business Luncheon and Exhibit

Douro I, Foyer and outside, weather-permitting

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15.00

Social activity in Porto for Annual Conference participants and partners (at additional cost, depending on interest indicated upon registration)