AWA Alexander Watson Associates Analyzes Global Pressure-sensitive Tape Market

The global market for specialty pressure-sensitive tapes continues to grow at a healthy rate around the world, spanning a surprisingly diverse spectrum of industries and applications. A new market study from leading analysts AWA Alexander Watson Associates - Global Specialty Pressure-sensitive Tape Market Study & Sourcebook 2012 -- defines the status quo, and examines future opportunities by sector, geography, and materials. All companies involved in any way in the manufacture and use of specialty tapes, from tape producers and material suppliers to converters and end users will benefit from the insights and knowledge the study provides.

Markets and materials

World production of specialty tapes grew 4.5% over prior year in 2011, with the Asia Pacific region taking the majority share. Pressure-sensitive specialty tapes - usually double-sided or transfer tapes, their adhesive delivered on, and protected by a carrier (paper, foam, or film) and/or release liner - may feature differential adhesives (eg permanent and removable) on the two sides of the carrier. As well as being applied in the reel, they may be diecut to singles for use in individual structural bonding, fastening/holding, and gasketing applications. This versatility has driven their acceptance in many industries: automotive, aerospace, electrical and electronics (including white goods) building and construction, defence and military, medical, and hygiene are good examples.

While North America and Europe - the worlds most mature manufacturing markets - have adopted specialty tapes very evenly across the industries, the mix in Asia is, unsurprisingly, dominated by electronics applications, as well as automotive, electrical, and white goods applications. This is a market that will, AWA forecast, continue to enjoy around 7% growth in the medium term. The dynamically-developing South American region is currently focused, in specialty tapes, on medical and hygiene uses; and in Africa and the Middle East the picture is very similar.

Global Specialty Pressure-sensitive Tape Market Study & Sourcebook 2012 highlights trends in the industry, and discusses its market structure and value chain, in the context of overarching concerns such as raw material pricing, environmental issues, and globalization.

Materials used in the construction of these tapes, as the AWA study shows, are wide-ranging - many of them actually specified for individual or particularly demanding end-use applications. Plastic films, based on a variety of polymers, ARE globally the most-used carrier, with paper and woven/non-woven materials (especially in medical markets) the next most popular choices. Converting technologies are also examined, and the study concludes with a company directory.

About AWA

AWA Alexander Watson Associates is a global business-to-business market research, publishing, and advisory services company with a unique industry focus on the specialty paper, film, packaging, coating, and converting industry. AWA publishes a series of market studies, undertakes private client research in the markets in which the company specializes, and - through AWA Conferences & Events - organizes international conferences and a growing portfolio of workshops and training programs.

Source: AWA