Overlays: Demand and Supply in the North American Market, 1996 Plastic Laminates Symposium Proceedings

The Laminating Materials Association was formed in 1985 with the express purpose of providing it’s members with a continuous stream of statistical data on the production of decorative overlays. Currently the LMA specifically represents vinyl films, low basis weight papers, decorative foils, saturated papers, heat transfer foils, and edgebanding. Although we do not represent high pressure laminate, all of the domestic manufacturers of this product belong to the Association. In addition to the core companies (who produce decorative overlays and edgebanding), the LMA has associate members that produce substrates, adhesives, and laminating equipment. We have quite a few members that produce laminated products utilizing the materials of the other members. At this time there are 122 members in the LMA, with 36 companies comprising the core, or overlay members, and 86 members in the associate category. Although the primary goal of the LMA is to provide production statistics on the decorative overlays represented by the association, a number of committees in the association have been formed to address additional areas of interest to the membership. The first committee formed within the LMA was the Marketing & Promotions Committee. The focus of this group is to explore avenues by which the LMA can promote the benefits of laminating as well as membership in the LMA. In September of this year the LMA will hold it’s second laminating seminar, which is the direct result of this committee’s actions. The second committee within the LMA goes by the unique name of the Gerschtickem Committee. The purpose of this committee is to determine if a simple test or tests may be devised whereby a laminator can measure the bond strength of their laminated product. Although faced with a difficult task, the members of this committee continue to review potential test procedures that might ultimately be certified by the LMA....