Brand Protection and Athletic Applications of PSA
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Event Details
Abstract:
Pressure sensitive adhesives have a come along way since their invention in 1845. This webinar will cover the novel applications of PSA in security applications as well have athletic applications. First part of the webinar will focus on PSA derived from renewable monomers that are utilized in security applications for brand protection against counterfeiting. The second part of the webinar will discuss athletic applications with particular focus on chemical hook-and-loop for handball. Sample formulations for each of the applications will be discussed. The webinar will conclude with the challenges and opportunities for future developments for these applications.
Objectives:
- Learn about the background of PSA application in counterfeit protection and how the newer adhesive formulations are helping advance the technology. Sample formulations and their results will be shared along with the challenges and opportunities for future developments.
- Learn about the background of PSA application in development of chemical hook-and-loop for handball applications and how the newer adhesive formulations are helping advance the athletic application. Sample formulations and their results will be shared along with the challenges and opportunities for future developments.
Agenda:
- Security application: PSA based on renewable monomers for brand protection labels
- Athletic application: Chemical hook-and-loop for handball
- Key Takeaways
Who Should Attend:
This is an ideal webinar for professionals in technical as well as marketing roles. Adhesive formulators as well as end users will find the information useful in developing new formulations as will as end use applications.
SPEAKERS
Raphael Schaller
Collano AG

Raphael Schaller is the CTO at Collano AG and also serves as an lecturer at ETH Zurich for Polymer Science and processing. Previously he served as the CTO at nolax AG and is the founder of the start up "thin-ply". He has a Ph.D. in polymer science from ETH Zurich with post-doctoral appointments in Switzerland, UK and China.
Nikki O’Brien
Executive VP Business Development, Collano AG

Nikki O’Brien graduated from Furman University in 1994 with a dual degree in Philosophy and Asian Studies. She began her career in the adhesives industry in 1995 with National Starch & Chemical, focusing on technical sales. In 2000, she joined the Swiss-based KMU Collano/nolax in the United States, marking the beginning of a 25-year journey dedicated to innovation in adhesives.
After relocating to Switzerland in 2009, Nikki led several start-up initiatives within nolax, driving the development and commercialization of disruptive solutions across diverse adhesive applications. In 2020, she was appointed CEO of nolax, where she continued to foster strategic growth and technological differentiation.
Following the 2024 merger of nolax with Collano AG, Nikki assumed leadership of global business development. In this role, she is responsible for spearheading international market entries and scaling pioneering Swiss adhesive technologies worldwide.
In 2026, Nikki was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Adhesive & Sealant Council (ASC), where she contributes to advancing and supporting the global adhesive and sealant industry.