The Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters (ARC) is introducing ARC Exchange, a series of one-day, regional expos and training events held in conjunction with a university partner.

Designed to provide an easily accessible event for converters, suppliers, new industry professionals and university students, the first ARC Exchange event will take place on Sept. 10, 2025, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Union South) in Madison. The Rochester Institute of Technology (Gordon Field House) in Rochester, NY, will host the second ARC Exchange on Oct. 28, 2025.

Each event will feature ARC’s Intro to Converting course plus a supplier expo with 50-60 tabletop exhibits.

“ARC Exchange events will deliver benefits across the industry,” explains Bob Pasquale, president of the ARC, who also serves as president of New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. “Converters will find equipment, materials, software, services, and technical information to enhance their operations while having the opportunity to engage with tomorrow’s workforce. Suppliers will reach a targeted audience of prospective customers and partners in an environment that fosters in-depth discussion. For students and R2R professionals, the technical sessions will provide training on new technologies, trends and best practices as well as networking opportunities.”

“We are excited to join with ARC to give our students and members of the industry an opportunity to learn and connect in this important Wisconsin industry. Wisconsin employs over 43,000 people in this industry, making it the eighth-largest state for employers of plastic converters,” says George Huber, the Richard Antoine Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“We look forward to welcoming exhibitors and attendees to our campus and to providing our students with technical knowledge and a real-world, career-building experience,” adds Kyle Dunno, chair of the Department of Packaging and Graphic Media Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Another event on the ARC schedule, the R2R USA Conference will be held on May 17-19, 2026, at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, OH. The spring date was chosen based on attendee feedback and to avoid conflicting with other industry events. The agenda for the 2026 R2R USA Conference will continue the meeting’s revamped structure, opening with introductory content related to process fundamentals, followed by intermediate and advanced sessions, organized in five technical tracks and focused on emerging applications, operational excellence and material and process innovation.

“The Cleveland venue will provide more exhibition space and build on the positive momentum of the well-attended 2023 R2R USA Conference in Milwaukee, WI, and the 2024 R2R USA Conference in Charlotte, NC,” notes Chris Kerscher, executive director of ARC. He adds, “The roll-to-roll industry is thriving, and the association is adapting to converter needs. In 2025, we will host the ARC Summit, a market-focused event covering flexible packaging and sustainability, R2R Europe to engage our international audience, and two ARC Exchange events to strengthen connections with university research and regional members. It’s an incredible lineup as we build to the next R2R USA in 2026 in Cleveland.”

Registration for the 2025 ARC Exchange events is now open to attendees and exhibitors. Early-bird registration, available until Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, gives ARC Converter Members and University Students free access. Non-Member Converters pay $50, Member Suppliers pay $500, and Non-Member Suppliers pay $700. Sponsorship opportunities are available and provide recognition at all ARC events throughout the year. Contact Tim Janes at [email protected] for details.