Feature: Stepping into the ring at the Builders’ Show.
The 2025 International Builders’ Show revealed many opportunities for PSA tapes to rise up the ranks to become the industry’s bonding champion.
Las Vegas has hosted more than its share of big prizefights over the years. So, it's only appropriate that the Avery Dennison Performance Tapes Building and Construction (B&C) team attended the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Vegas with the swagger of a title contender. Sure, the B&C industry has relied on mechanical fastening and wet glue bonding solutions for a very long time. But while PSA tapes may be an upstart in B&C, their powerful value proposition gives them great potential to become one of the industry’s bonding champions.
The largest annual light construction show in the world
The marquee event — that is, the IBS — took place from February 25 – 27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The event promotes itself as the largest annual light construction show in the world, bringing in nearly 80,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors.
The Avery Dennison Performance Tapes booth was the team’s “corner” during the event. The booth’s theme, “Tape Applications for Inside and Out,” highlighted our portfolio’s many applications for B&C, including interior bonding, HVAC, metal buildings, flashing and seaming, and more. The booth was also a platform to discuss our customization capabilities and the important value provided by many converters and OEMs we collaborate with daily.
The Avery Dennison team’s takeaways
Our team at IBS included John Cahoon, business development manager, Maria Pitorak, senior product manager, and Ricardo Soto, design and application engineer. They split time between staffing the booth and exploring the show’s other exhibits. And they had a few takeaways.
Heavy interest in flashing and seaming solutions
The show featured numerous window and door companies, and highlighted a growing trend of windows with larger and larger panes of glass. This is a powerful opportunity for flexible flashing tapes, such as those in the recently launched Avery Dennison Flashing & Seaming portfolio.
A need for more versatile adhesives
The growing diversity of building materials and construction methods is prompting a demand for adhesive bonding solutions that can do more and more. Tapes must be able to adhere not only to wood but to concrete, steel, aluminum and other metals. There’s also a need for adhesives that can seal well around metal fasteners. And more companies are looking for low-VOC adhesive options.
A powerful benefit of PSAs is exactly that type of versatility. Avery Dennison can expand its already broad portfolio with custom solutions that meet very specific application needs.
Growth in structural and energy-efficient materials
Materials such as structural insulated panels (SIPs) are becoming popular in segments including modular homes. As the term implies, these panels combine structural/sheeting with insulation, allowing for more efficient construction. The manufacturing of these panels could be a big opportunity for PSA tapes.
Continued need for ease of use, speed
The B&C industry continues to deal with a labor shortage. The adoption of new technologies that allow work to be done more efficiently is just one of many proposed solutions. PSAs are fit for this task; their “peel-and-stick” ease of use, repositionability, and overall versatility allow fewer workers (or less-skilled workers) to get more done in less time. It’s an opportunity that Avery Dennison is keen to capitalize on.
Making the most of our opportunity
Another IBS highlight was a 30-minute presentation by Avery Dennison in the Building Systems Councils Lounge. A casual but interested audience heard Ricardo provide an overview about our Building Envelope portfolio, including a high-level overview of the many benefits of PSA tapes for B&C applications.
“IBS is a gigantic show with a lot to see,” said John. “But one thing we came away with is that there’s strong demand for advanced adhesive solutions,” “We saw real interest in better and more versatile seaming, flashing, and bonding solutions. It’s clear that PSAs have a real opportunity to play an even bigger role in the industry,” he concluded.
PSA tapes are poised to rise up the ranks
PSA tapes may yet be a “challenger” in B&C. But the industry is diverse, with vast opportunities for new technologies that address a wide range of manufacturers’ and contractors’ needs. There’s no doubt that PSA tape solutions — such as those in the Avery Dennison Building and Construction Portfolio — will continue to rise up the ranks to become the industry’s preferred bonding method.
To learn more about our Building and Construction portfolio, contact your Avery Dennison account manager or visit, www.tapes.averydennison.com/buildingandconstruction.