How To Improve Efficiency, Reduce Process Steps and Decrease Waste with a One-component Laminating Adhesive
Automotive manufacturers, particularly in North America, primarily use two-component waterborne, reactive hot-melt, and solvent-borne adhesives for laminating thermoplastic olefin, polyvinyl chloride and leather skins to polyethylene and polypropylene foams. Additionally, these adhesives are used to laminate these foils to rigid substrates for applications like interior door panels, consoles and instrument panels. Although such adhesives are well-known and in common use, manufacturers and suppliers of automotive interior components seek opportunities to improve environmental factors, sustainability, ease of manufacturing and cost effectiveness for numerous reasons.
First, most laminating adhesives used for vehicle production, particularly in North America, use a two-component formula, in which two components are combined in a pre-mix room away from the manufacturing line. The mixing process is time-consuming and requires product to be transported from the pre-mix room to the line – where costly automatic mixing equipment is used – which is purchased separately or built into the adhesive price.