The annual AWA Release Liner Industry Leadership Award was presented to Alex Knott during the recent AWA Global Release Liner Industry Conference & Exhibition held this year in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Knott currently heads up a global team at Dow that has developed a wide range or products in pressure sensitive silicone release liner coating technology, including the introduction of Dow’s Flat Release Systems.

The award was established four years ago and is now an annual fixture.

Knott began his career as a development chemist at Dow Corning and over the decades has held positions in application engineering, technical leadership and senior scientist roles. He is also chairman of the label association FINAT’s Technical Committee and a FINAT board member.

“Alex has been involved in many collaborative efforts, across the value chain, working with suppliers and customers alike – benefiting the entire release liner industry,” says Corey Reardon, AWA president and CEO. “He has a global reputation as an authority on silicone release systems, and through his work with FINAT has been instrumental in driving a number of market and technical initiatives.”