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Advantages of Industrial Adhesives in Manufacturing Processes

Advantages of Industrial Adhesives in Manufacturing Processes

Posted 15 Aug 2023 by Thomas Kauffman, External Innovation Director

Industrial adhesive technologies and innovation in design are firmly linked. FEICA, the Association of the European adhesive and sealant industry, describes how industrial adhesives will lead into the future of manufacturing, saying, “In this way, innovative construction products meeting certain requirements are possible… so, the technological and ecological potential of adhesive bonding technology makes it the number one joining technology in the 21st century. This century requires development of a wide variety of materials to meet rising demands.”

The versatility of industrial adhesives reaches into all sorts of consumer goods, packaging, wood compositing, electronics, automotive tires, building and construction, and green-energy product manufacturing.

transportation

The advantages of these bonding technologies include lighter weight, cost-effectiveness, safety, and improved production speed.

FEICA specifies the importance of adhesives in auto manufacturing: "The advantage is that the adhesively bonded joint between the pane and the body increases the torsional stiffness of the vehicle by 15 - 20% compared to that of the inserted pane. This, in turn, makes it possible to use thinner, lighter sheet metal and reduce the vehicle's weight."

Marine craft, railcars, and heavy-duty truck trailers likewise achieve a significantly reduced weight when adhesives replace mechanical joints, reducing fuel vehicles use and the resulting CO2 emissions.

Using flexible industrial adhesives in transportation reduces acoustic intrusion and vibration, creating an ideal environment for a quiet and comfortable commute or secured cargo in transit.

Save on Labor and Materials

Applying welds consumes production budgets, as specialized workers perform mechanical fastening. Welding requires many materials and steps, including preparing the joint, concealing weld scars, and polishing the affected area of the weld. Even with these measures, discoloration may create a less attractive appearance and a suboptimal surface to apply graphics.

The costs of ordering, shipping, and stocking metal joiners can surpass that of adhesives by an impressive amount.

The Adhesives and Sealants Council reports on the savings to materials, labor, and energy, saying, "The most obvious sustainable benefit in using engineering adhesives over mechanical fastenings is that these adhesives reduce the number of tools and parts that are procured, transported, and stored… Adhesive solutions can be used in place of hundreds of washers, reducing energy, resource, and fuel consumption in washer manufacturing and transporting as well as vastly decreasing storage requirements."

Manufacturers save production costs significantly by replacing joining techniques such as welding and soldering with adhesives. Surfaces require minimal preparation with adhesives, and no additional equipment is necessary when using the Bonding Agents. Many of the adhesive solutions feature one-step application.

Improved Strength

One of the great advantages adhesives offer is strengthened structural integrity. Adhesives often outperform mechanical fasteners in longevity and durability, especially in applications where performance matters.

As FEICA remarks, “With adhesively bonded component samples made of high-strength steels that are not suitable for welding, it was also possible to demonstrate high strength under dynamic loads.”

strength

Improved strength and structural integrity mean products built with adhesives have a longer service life, while the materials that must be discarded (and maintenance frequency) reduce.

Improved protection from moisture penetration makes adhesives a logical choice in automotive and trailer manufacturing, in addition to providing corrosion prevention and chemical resistance.

Environmental Advantages

Adhesives and Sealants Industry magazine provides insight into the recyclability and environmental impact of adhesives: “The use of adhesives and sealants in many sectors, including electronics, contributes to improved durability, recycling, CO2 reduction, repairability, upgradability, and material efficiency of final products.”

The possibility of dismantling joints for reuse and recycling extends the life of bonded materials and contributes to the circular economy. Adhesives also support green initiatives in many industries' current and future product development.

At H.B. Fuller, our dedication to sustainability continues to produce significant results in reducing waste, emissions, energy and water withdrawal.

Reports

Since establishing our sustainability goals, we’ve reduced solid waste by 14,500 metric tons, reduced CO2 emissions by 20,475 metric tons, and reduced water withdrawal by 63 million gallons.

Innovative Products by Design

Industrial adhesives have a variety of uses in new product creation and act as ideal candidates to develop innovative solutions in manufacturing, along with improvements to existing products. They can bond two dissimilar materials, allowing for complex designs that would otherwise be impossible with traditional methods of joining.

innovative

FEICA notes this trait: "Adhesive bonding technology has long since developed into a (future) technology applicable everywhere. Adhesives can be used to join the parts of everyday objects as well as in highly complicated special products.”

Unique formulations can make lightweight designs with a cleaner appearance achievable, in addition to meeting the rising demand for eco-friendly manufacture and construction.

The freedom to create new, thin components that have finer designs in applications (such as smaller, lightweight eyepieces for VR goggles) will meet the growing demand for improvements in the appearance and comfortability of consumer products.

Process Improvement

Industrial adhesives naturally fill in gaps due to their low viscosity, improving the durability of bonds. Some adhesives are even compatible with automated dispensers or spray guns, increasing the efficiency of assembly lines.

Applications where adhesives provide an advantage include:

Industrial Adhesives by Type

Instant adhesives

Instant Adhesive Series

Instant adhesives have exceptional adhesion properties and come in one-component and solvent-free formulations that polymerize in seconds. As reported by the journal Science,  instant adhesives can increase the reusability of plastics. Multi-material joints made by H.B. Fuller instant bond technologies adhere to plastic, rubber, metal, wood, and other surfaces combined with a light base, such as water. 

The complete line is cost-effective, and these adhesives provide an unmatched combination of convenience, ease of use, reliability, and high strength.

Hot Melt Adhesives

Hot-melt adhesives integrate in packaging applications well, increasing productivity by design. Our innovative hot melt adhesives solve many manufacturing challenges without sacrificing performance in applications that require high temperature resistance and durability, such as packaging and bookbinding.

These industrial adhesives have high-performance and don’t require drying, so automated manufacturing lines can run quickly, achieving the needed rapid bond.

Elastomers

Electric Vehicle

Electric Vehicles are quickly forging a way to an electric, eco-conscious future. New innovations in tires will develop in step with the next wave of automotive technologies, and H.B. Fuller’s line of elastomer adhesives match the growing industry.

Tires made with H.B. Fuller’s elastomers have improved traction while offering excellent cold resistance. Because of this, the lifetime performance of elastomers reduces tire waste, both in materials and CO2 emissions, thanks to the improved durability and lighter weight of the tires.

Elastomer adhesives, sealants, and coatings are available with specialized formulations for a variety of applications.

Adhesive-coated tapes and strings

Adhesive coated systems

Manufacturers gain a competitive advantage by using adhesives, especially in the recyclable packaging space.

Delivered packages are subject to jostling and impacts from road conditions. Here, adhesives help to prevent loss from damage and secure packages by providing a means to effectively seal packaging while still allowing the ease of opening shipped containers.

Consumers increasingly prefer sustainable packaging and will pay a premium if it is an option. McKinsey notes, “Across all end-use segments, 60-70% of consumers said they would pay more for sustainable packaging. A willingness to pay more was relatively equally distributed across end-use segments.”

H.B. Fuller’s first generation of sustainable, bio-based packaging tapes and strings are both sourced with environmentally and socially responsible processes and include the awarded Open Sesame®: a first-of-its-kind, highly repulpable, fiber-based tear tape that does not need to be removed before recycling occurs.

Our full range of sustainable packaging solutions also extends into the health and hygiene, beverage labeling, nonwovens paper and textile industries, in addition to plywood composing adhesives that features optimal wood recovery.

Partner with Us for Solutions in Everyday Life

Industrial adhesives surround our everyday lives and are versatile bonding materials with myriad uses. They are an ecological choice for companies that want to contribute to the circular economy and improve the sustainability of a breadth of manufactured products.

We have a global reach and are committed to innovating in the industries we serve. Our direct relationships with raw material providers secure the supply chain necessary for consistent availability. Contact a product specialist to learn more about the advantages of industrial adhesives.

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