Pressure Sensitive Tape Council
The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) is a Chicago-based not-for-profit trade association founded in 1953, serving North American pressure sensitive adhesive tape manufacturers and supplier partners whose members produce over 90% of regional PSA tape volume. It sets industry test standards, delivers educational programs, and convenes the sector through annual Tape Week and Fall Leadership Forum events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pressure Sensitive Tape Council does
The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, serving the North American pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape industry. Its members — manufacturers and supplier partners — collectively produce over 90% of total PSA tape volume in North America and represent approximately $10 billion in annual sales, with operations spanning 28 U.S. states. Member companies include 3M, Avery Dennison, tesa, Intertape Polymer Group, Adhesives Research, Shurtape, MACtac, and Adchem, alongside supplier partners Dow Chemical, BASF, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, and Bostik.
PSTC's core outputs are industry standards, education, and convening rather than manufactured products. The Test Methods for Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes manual, first published in 1955 and now in its 16th/17th edition, codifies 30 standardized test procedures (180° peel, shear holding, tensile, elongation, moisture vapor transmission rate, and others) referenced industry-wide. Education is delivered through the Tape Academy — including Fundamentals of PSA Tape, Fundamentals of PSA Tape Applications in Industry Verticals (Transportation, Building & Construction), and Adhesives & Advanced Technologies — plus a three-tier Certificate Program (Industry Specialist, Professional, Master). Annual events include Tape Week (Technical Track, Markets & Applications Track, Sustainability Track, Exhibitor Showcase) and the Fall Leadership Forum, supplemented by the member-exclusive Collaborative Corner virtual discussion series.
The association's revenue model is anchored in tiered annual membership dues: manufacturers pay $2,970 to $20,600 depending on sales volume, while supplier partners pay $6,200 to $16,000. Supplemental revenue comes from educational course fees (members receive discounts), Test Methods Manual sales to non-members at $995, and event sponsorships. The organization employs 1-10 staff, governed by a Board of Directors composed of executives from member companies, and operates international partnerships with AFERA (Europe), CNAIA (China), JATMA (Japan), KSCIA (Korea), and the Taiwan Regional Association of Adhesive Tape Manufacturers under the Global Tape Forum framework. Recent strategic initiatives include the 2025 launch of the Women in the Tape Industry Program and the 2026 launch of the Ascend Program for professionals under 40.
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pressure Sensitive Tape Council
- Legal name
- Pressure Sensitive Tape Council
- Website
- https://pstc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) is a Chicago-based not-for-profit trade association founded in 1953, serving North American pressure sensitive adhesive tape manufacturers and supplier partners whose members produce over 90% of regional PSA tape volume. It sets industry test standards, delivers educational programs, and convenes the sector through annual Tape Week and Fall Leadership Forum events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Adhesives & Sealants (2891)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tapes, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (IMAEAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Materials (labelstock, PSA labels, liners) (IMAMAHAE)
Keywords
Where Pressure Sensitive Tape Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: PSTC generates revenue through annual membership dues from manufacturer and supplier partner members. Dues are tiered based on company type and sales volume. Manufacturers pay $2,970-$20,600 annually, while Supplier Partners pay $6,200-$16,000 annually depending on sales volume.
- Test Methods Manual Sales: The 16th edition of Test Methods for Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes is available for free to members and $995 for non-members.
- Educational Course Fees: Revenue generated from educational courses including Fundamentals of PSA Tape (Members: $850, Non-Members: $1,250) and Fundamentals of PSA Tape Applications in Industry Verticals (Members: $400, Non-Members: $800).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Manufacturer Members - Less than $5M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Manufacturer Members - $5M-$25M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Manufacturer Members - $25M-$100M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Manufacturer Members - Greater than $100M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Supplier Partner Members - Less than $100M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Supplier Partner Members - $100M-$250M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Supplier Partner Members - Greater than $250M sales |
| Subscription | Annual | Fundamentals of PSA Tape Course |
| Subscription | Annual | Fundamentals of PSA Tapes in Industry Verticals |
| Subscription | Annual | Test Methods Manual 17th Edition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) is a not-for-profit trade association that serves pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape manufacturers and supplier partners. It provides standardized test methods (the PSTC Test Methods Manual with 30 standardized procedures), educational programs (Fundamentals of PSA Tape, Industry Verticals courses, Adhesives & Advanced Technologies), professional certification (Industry Specialist, Industry Professional, Industry Master tiers), and premier industry events (Tape Week, Fall Leadership Forum). Membership is sold in two tiers: Manufacturer Members (voting) and Supplier Partner Members (non-voting).
Product overview
The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) operates as a trade association rather than a product company. Its core offerings include educational programs (Fundamentals of PSA Tape, Fundamentals of PSA Tape Applications in Industry Verticals, and Adhesives & Advanced Technologies), the Test Methods manual for standardized PSA tape testing, professional certification at three levels, and annual industry events including Tape Week and the Fall Leadership Forum. Additional offerings include the Carl Dahlquist Award for technical excellence and the Collaborative Corner member-exclusive discussion series.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Women in the Tape Industry: Program dedicated to empowering, celebrating, and advancing the impactful contributions of women throughout the pressure sensitive tape sector. Launched in 2025.
- Ascend
- Tape Academy
- Tape Week
Products and services
- Fundamentals of PSA Tape Course On-demand course covering foundational concepts of pressure sensitive adhesive tape technology, including overview, terminology, polymers, adhesion science, adhesives, backings, release liners, manufacturing, converting, testing, and applications. Priced at $850 for PSTC Members and $1,250 for Non-Members.
- Fundamentals of PSA Tape Applications in Industry Verticals On-demand course covering key descriptions and performance terms of PSA tapes, focusing on Building & Construction and Transportation market applications. Priced at $400 for PSTC Members and $800 for Non-Members.
- Adhesives & Advanced Technologies Course In-depth technical course covering polymer technology, adhesive chemistry, surface science, theories of adhesion, and advanced topics in PSA tape design for technical professionals, taught by dedicated volunteer faculty with many years of practical industry experience.
- Test Methods for Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes Comprehensive manual of 30 standardized test procedures for quality control and performance measurement of PSA tape in laboratory settings. Available as PDF download free for members or $995 for non-members.
- Tape Week Annual premier knowledge-building and networking event for PSA tape professionals featuring Technical Track, Markets & Applications Track, Tape Academy, Sustainability Track, Keynote Speakers, and Exhibitor Showcase.
- Fall Leadership Forum Annual member executive gathering for organizational updates, networking, and learning for member company executives.
- Pressure Sensitive Tape Certificate Program Tiered professional development program with Industry Specialist (250 points), Industry Professional (450 points), and Industry Master (650 points) levels recognizing participation in training, events, volunteering, and professional contributions.
- Collaborative Corner Interactive virtual discussion series providing regulatory updates, economic insights, professional development topics, and industry trend discussions exclusively for PSTC members, covering topics like PFAS regulations, mentorship, tariff policy, and economic updates.
Companies that use Pressure Sensitive Tape Council
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Chemsultants InternationalcoreFormed the Alliance for Excellence in Tape Testing to provide educational opportunities and resources on proven tape testing methods and state-of-the-art tape testing equipment. Chemsultants hosts the yearly Manufacturer class by providing a venue for hands-on experience, aligning with PSTC's education platform. Chemsultants is also the preferred source for pressure sensitive adhesive tape testing equipment as specified in PSTC Test Methods.
- The European Association for the Self-Adhesive Tape Industry (AFERA)coreAfera brings together the European tape industry to enhance product, business, marketplace and future of self-adhesive tape. PSTC maintains a global partnership through AFERA for global tape forum events and information sharing. AFERA is comprised of members from 18 European countries representing the scope of expertise of the tape industry.
- China National Adhesives Industry Association (CNAIA)minorGlobal tape organization partnership for China region, representing Chinese adhesive industry interests and facilitating international cooperation.
- Japan Adhesive Tape Maker's Association (JATMA)minorGlobal tape organization partnership for Japan region, facilitating communication and best practice sharing among Japanese tape manufacturers.
- Korea Specialty Chemical Industry Association (KSCIA)minorGlobal tape organization partnership for South Korea region, representing specialty chemical and tape industry interests.
- Taiwan Regional Association of Adhesive Tape ManufacturersminorGlobal tape organization partnership for Taiwan region, facilitating regional cooperation in tape manufacturing.
- Adhesive and Sealants Council (ASC)minorASC offers an educational web portal catering to engineers and designers looking for more information about adhesives/sealants. PSTC links to ASC resources for additional adhesive industry information.
- National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)minorNAM advocates for manufacturers to enhance competitiveness by shaping legislative and regulatory environment for U.S. economic growth. PSTC provides this resource for member regulatory compliance.
- Trinity ConsultantscoreTrinity provides PSTC member companies with Quarterly Regulatory Bulletin covering top 2-4 emerging environmental compliance issues. Each member company receives 60-minutes per year of free support from a single consultant. Trinity presents at Tape Week EHS: Sustainability Track and participates in Innovative Poster Sessions. Partnership focuses on PFAS regulatory updates and EPA compliance.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): NAM is the largest U.S. manufacturing trade association and a resource PSTC refers members to for regulatory advocacy. Operates a similar membership-and-advocacy model but at vastly greater scale across all manufacturing sectors.
Regional players
- CNAIA (China National Adhesives Industry Association): CNAIA is the Chinese national adhesives industry association and a formal PSTC partner. Comparable in mandate of representing adhesive/tape manufacturers but focused on the China market.
- JATMA (Japan Adhesive Tape Maker's Association): JATMA is the Japanese regional PSA tape trade association and a formal partner of PSTC. Comparable in mandate and operating model, but its membership and event focus are concentrated in Japan.
- KSCIA (Korea Specialty Chemical Industry Association): KSCIA is the Korean specialty chemical industry association and a formal PSTC partner. Comparable in representing chemical/tape manufacturer members but operates regionally in South Korea.
- FINAT (International Association for the Self-Adhesive Labeling Industry): FINAT represents the European self-adhesive labeling industry. Operates a similar membership-and-education model to PSTC but addresses labels rather than tapes and is regionally focused on Europe.
Others
- ASTM International: ASTM is a globally recognized standards development organization whose tape-testing methods are referenced alongside PSTC's. Comparable in standards-setting authority but not membership-funded in the same trade-association sense.
Direct peers
- AFERA (European Association for the Self-Adhesive Tape Industry): AFERA is the European counterpart trade association for PSA tape manufacturers, with members in 18 European countries. It is PSTC's closest functional peer — both serve as regional standards, education, and networking bodies for the same industry.
- INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry): INDA is a North American trade association for nonwoven fabrics, many of which use PSA technology. Comparable operating model (membership dues, training, annual conferences such as IDEA Show, standards advocacy) and similar member demographics.
- Adhesive and Sealants Council (ASC): ASC represents the broader adhesives and sealants industry in North America and is a partner to PSTC for cross-promotion. Comparable in operating model (membership trade association, education, advocacy) but covers a wider product scope beyond PSA tape.
Emerging players
- TLMI (Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute): TLMI is the North American trade association for the label and packaging-converting industry. It shares significant overlap with PSTC in pressure-sensitive materials, membership-based education, and standards work, but its primary focus is labels rather than tapes.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council social profiles
Digital presencePressure Sensitive Tape Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pressure Sensitive Tape Council
What does Pressure Sensitive Tape Council do?
The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) is a not-for-profit trade association that serves pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape manufacturers and supplier partners. It provides standardized test methods (the PSTC Test Methods Manual with 30 standardized procedures), educational programs (Fundamentals of PSA Tape, Industry Verticals courses, Adhesives & Advanced Technologies), professional certification (Industry Specialist, Industry Professional, Industry Master tiers), and premier industry events (Tape Week, Fall Leadership Forum). Membership is sold in two tiers: Manufacturer Members (voting) and Supplier Partner Members (non-voting).
Is Pressure Sensitive Tape Council a public or private company?
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pressure Sensitive Tape Council founded?
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council was founded in 1953. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pressure Sensitive Tape Council based?
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pressure Sensitive Tape Council make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are test Methods Manual Sales and educational Course Fees.
Who are Pressure Sensitive Tape Council's main competitors?
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are CNAIA (China National Adhesives Industry Association), JATMA (Japan Adhesive Tape Maker's Association), KSCIA (Korea Specialty Chemical Industry Association) and FINAT (International Association for the Self-Adhesive Labeling Industry). ASTM International is listed as an others. Direct peers are AFERA (European Association for the Self-Adhesive Tape Industry), INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry) and Adhesive and Sealants Council (ASC). TLMI (Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Pressure Sensitive Tape Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pressure Sensitive Tape Council.
What industry is Pressure Sensitive Tape Council in?
Pressure Sensitive Tape Council's product category is Industry Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAGAJ, Tapes, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives, with a secondary code of IMAMAHAE, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Materials (labelstock, PSA labels, liners). Its NAICS code is 813990 and its SIC code is 8600.