Conference Examines Release Liner Issues, Opportunities

Published: January 08, 2009

HERTS, UK | The 2009 Global Release Liner Industry Conference, to be held March 4–6, 2009, in Miami, FL, will explore both opportunities and issues in an industry that provides technical functionality across a variety of markets. At the same time, the release liner industry attracts continuing focus from the environmental and waste management lobby, particularly in the packaging industry.

Hosted by AWA Conferences & Events, the annual forum has been developed for all concerned in the manufacture and use of release liners. The formal conference agenda is prefaced by four concurrent workshops, addressing different topics of significance for industry participants: a technical update on silicone release coating; test procedures and equipment for evaluating release liner properties; a business development workshop; and a current status report on the REACH chemical regulation.

The conference itself opens with a keynote session addressed by Loparex Group's CEO, Michael Apperson, on the state of the industry and its future expectations; on current market status by AWA Alexander Watson Assoc.'s president and CEO, Corey M Reardon; and on renewability, sustainability, and recycling in the release liner industry by leading world expert Calvin Frost, CEO of Channeled Resources Group. The session concludes with business-focused presentations on entrepreneurial vision from Duncan Wall, President of Fox River Associates Ltd., and on M&A activity from Jonathan White, president of Blaige & Co. LLC, specialist investment bankers.

Delegates can then choose between silicone and release technologies or developments in materials, which drill down into the technical detail with papers from industry-leading companies. The final plenary session of the conference will examine the major market segments for release liner, pressure-sensitive labels, specialty tapes, and medical disposables.

A tabletop exhibition complements the conference sessions. The conference is sponsored by Bluestar Silicones, Evonik, Huhtamaki, Loparex, Mondi, and UPM. Full details of the Global Release Liner Industry Conference 09 program, and online registration, are available via the AWA Conferences & Events website, www.awa-bv.com.