New Afera format proves itself with strong content and high attendance

Afera the European Adhesive Tape Association organised its first European Tape Week at the end of September in Thessaloniki. For the first time, the technical seminar, the annual conference and the committee meetings were brought together in one programme. With 185 participants from 20 countries and 44 speakers representing more than 100 companies, the European tape industry took an important step towards more collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation. The organisation and programme support were delivered by the Afera team with the secretariat outsourced to Lejeune Association Management, working closely with Afera’s technical and marketing committees the association’s freelance partners.

“The combination of two major events in one week proved to be a powerful formula for knowledge sharing connection and progress.”

A week focused on content and connection

The first European Tape Week brought the full value chain of the European tape industry together for five days of technical insights market research and strategic discussion. The programme offered more than fourty presentations and panels on the key themes of today:

• Innovation in chemistry technology and AI
• Sustainability and regulation with updates on AFSP, PPWR and the Regulatory Affairs Working Group
  
• Global economic trends and industry strategy
• Market development and applications in areas such as packaging automotive and energy storage

Participants appreciated the new format where content and networking went hand in hand. Cocktail receptions, lunches and dinners created ample opportunity to deepen knowledge and strengthen connections within the community.

Team behind the success

Under the leadership of Astrid Lejeune, the Afera Secretariat with Pablo Englebienne, Karla Pastor, Stephanie Feith, and Bathsheba Fulton was responsible for the development and delivery of the full programme. This included content design and speaker selection, communications, logistics, and sustainability.

In addition, Pablo Englebienne, Karla Pastor and Sreeparna Das contributed as speakers during the conference. In doing so, the team shaped both the organisation and the substantive lines of the week.

In close cooperation with the Technical and Marketing Committees, this resulted in a week that placed knowledge sharing and collaboration within the European tape industry at the centre.

Inspirational speakers and forward-looking themes

The event featured 44 speakers from industry technology and academia including Evert Smit chair of Afera, Prof Andrea Boltho of Oxford University and representatives from Henkel BASF Arkema tesa SE and UPM.

Sustainability was a central theme throughout the week from circular chemistry to regulation and data transparency. Experts such as Dr. Martin Klatt (BASF) and Dr Dennis Bankmann (Emerging Motif) shared insights into the growing demands around registration, recycling and collaboration within the value chain.

In the closing plenary programme Evert Smit underlined the importance of curiosity and collaboration as drivers of innovation and future readiness in the sector.

A shared success

The European Tape Week was made possible through the involvement of many partners and sponsors within the Afera community including BASF, Elite Cameron, Henkel, Indafor, Mondi, Sekisui, Alveo, Synthomer, ICHEMCO, Bostik and UPM.

Their contribution highlighted the shared ambition to further strengthen innovation, sustainability and collaboration in the tape industry.

The next edition will take place from 21 to 25 September 2026 in Porto Portugal.