R2R USA Conference Draws Biggest Crowd in Five Years

Published: December 28, 2023

The R2R USA Conference hosted by the Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters (ARC) in October, recorded the highest number of attendees in five years. Planning for next year’s meeting (September 22-26, 2024 in Charlotte, NC) is already underway with expectations for an even bigger event.

The following content tracks will be offered in 2024:

• Coating & Laminating
• Vacuum Web Coating
• Battery Manufacturing
• Web Handling
• Printing
• Sustainability
• Flexible Packaging.

Submit presentation ideas for consideration at www.rolltoroll.org/r2r-call-for-papers, and watch the website for location information and agenda details.

ARC Presents Live and Online Converting School Courses

The ARC in-person Converting School Courses return to Green Bay, WI, April 17, 2024. Two eight-hour courses will be offered to help participants learn new skills:

Introduction to the Coating Process — Instructor: Ted Lightfoot. This course provides an overview of the coating operation. Major topics include wetting and coating, common types of liquid coatings and their behavior, introduction to the coating window, common coating operations and their capabilities, defects associated with various coating methods, coating windows for common coating methods, managing the coating window and coating formulations, operating technology for a coating machine, statistical process control and control charting, maintenance, safety, troubleshooting and defect reduction.

Essentials of Web Handling — Instructor: Dr. David Roisum. Master the fundamentals of the must-know topics of rollers, nip, tension and path control, wrinkling, spreading and winding.

The in-person courses cost $499 per person for ARC members and $899 per person for nonmembers. Sign up at www.RolltoRoll.org, click “Education” and select “In-person.”

ARC also offers an array of online courses. “With an online course, coursework can be completed at your convenience,” explained Chris Kerscher, executive director of the ARC. It also saves travel time and expenses.

Online course subjects include:

• Web Handling and Converting — Instructor: Dr. David Roisum
• Roll-to-Roll Vacuum Deposition onto Flexible Substrates — Instructor: Dr. Charles A. Bishop
• Adhesion and Adhesives for Converters — Instructor: Professor Steven Abbott
• Drives for Web Handling — Instructor: Clarence Klassen P.E.
• Web Slitting Technology — Instructor: Dave Rumson
• Winding: Machines, Mechanics and Measurements — Instructor: Dr. David Roisum
• Solution Preparation and Mixing — Instructor: Dr. Kenneth McCarthy
• Gravure Basics
• Gravure Application Professional
• Gravure Entry-Level Technician
• Gravure Operator
• Gravure Master Operator

The cost per course for non-gravure-related courses is $499 for ARC members, $599 for nonmembers. Gravure course costs range from $750 to $2,700 with discounts for ARC members and require the purchase of two textbooks: “Gravure: Process and Technology” and the GST Blue Book, “Gravure Specifications and Tolerances.” Learn more and register at www.RolltoRoll.org, click on “Education.”

ARC Announces 2024 Schedule of Activities

ARC organizes or participates in numerous events each year. The schedule for 2024 is filled with an array of activities beginning with ICEC USA (January 9-11, 2024; Orange County Convention Center; Orlando, FL), which will feature an ARC Pavilion with discounted booth space for members. Other 2024 events include:

• Converting School Courses: Introduction to the Coating Process and Essentials of Web Handling (April 17, 2024; Green Bay, WI)
• Annual Meeting, Spring 2024
• R2R Europe Conference (Summer 2024; Munich, Germany)
• R2R USA Conference (September 22-26, 2024; Charlotte, NC). In addition to multiple technical tracks, attendees will recognize the 2024 Class in the ARC Hall of Honor and the recipient of the 2024 Women in Industry Scholarship for Excellence (WISE). Applications for nominations to the Hall of Honor may be found at rolltoroll.org, click on “Events,” then “Industry Recognition.” To apply for the 2024 WISE or to donate to support the program, go to www.rolltoroll.org/wise-scholars.

Membership in ARC Yields Many Benefits

Many companies join the ARC to solve technical problems, network and expand their business relationships. Core member resources are found at www.rolltoroll.org under “Resources.”

All personnel employed by ARC member companies have access to a newly expanded Technical Library, which includes more than 400 webinars, articles and R2R Conference presentations (videos). Many companies use these resources for training or onboarding new employees.

“We are the only association providing direct access to multiple roll-to-roll industry segments in one place,” reported Tim Janes, member outreach director for the ARC. “This enables member companies to expand their business into other high-growth segments, learn best practices from others and apply them to their business.”

For more information, visit www.rolltoroll.org or contact Janes at (803) 948-9469, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..