Reflections from ASE 2025 – Shanghai, China
September 23–25, 2025
Attending the Adhesive and Sealant Expo (ASE) at SNIEC in Shanghai this September was both a professional milestone and a personal reflection point for me. My first trip to China was back in 2003, and since then I have returned nearly ten times. Over that span, I have witnessed dramatic changes: the air quality improvements and environmental clean-up leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the transformation of Shanghai’s skyline, and now the country’s rapid shift toward electrification of transportation — evident from the green license plates on so many cars. Each visit reminds me how fast China moves, how quickly it adapts, and how global industry must evolve to keep pace.
This year’s ASE was especially meaningful because it marked the first time Teckrez had a booth at the show. Creating a presence on the show floor allowed us to do more than just attend — we became a destination for both our suppliers and customers. Our team designed a booth that provided a comfortable, efficient space for meetings, which fostered meaningful conversations about resin supply, market challenges, and innovation opportunities. Those connections are critical as we continue to navigate a market that is increasingly global and interconnected, with supply chain resilience and collaboration more important than ever.
Being in Shanghai is a wake-up call: the pace of development and investment here is relentless. For American enterprise to thrive, we must match that urgency with our own commitment to growth. We have the freedom, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit to lead the world — but we must channel those strengths into action. It’s time to invest boldly in infrastructure, revitalize domestic manufacturing, and reward innovation that keeps us globally competitive. The world will not wait for us to catch up; we must choose to lead. If we set the correct priorities and act with focus, American industry can remain the standard-bearer for progress and opportunity in the decades ahead.
By Marc Jackson
