Stick to growth

18 April 2016



Stick to growth


Stick to growth

With a surge in R&D in adhesives, 5.6% growth is predicted in the global market. Sustainability, performance and regulations are all focal points. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to industry leaders to get the skinny on the sticky.

 

The global adhesives and sealants market is predicted to reach nearly $44 billion by 2020, according to a report by Radiant Insights. Evolving regulations play an important role in this growth, as do the eco-friendly adhesive solutions featuring biobased materials. The report states: "Key adhesive and sealant uses include insulation, facades, panel laminating, flooring, coating and lamination, along with a host of other applications. Volatile, raw-material supply is likely to exert pressure on profit margins and deter industry growth. Regulatory evolution is also anticipated to play a key role in the adhesives market development over the next five years."

Nearly 40% of the growth is expected to come from the Asia-Pacific region, which has already established dominance over the sector with high infrastructure spending. Water-based adhesives are increasingly the technology of choice, accounting for more than 46% of the overall market share, with solvent-based and hot-melt adhesives each sitting at 18%.

It comes as no surprise that price sensitivity remains a driving force, as leading global manufacturers such as HB Fuller, Henkel and Dow launching programmes dedicated to the progress and commercialisation of sustainable adhesive and sealant products.

 

Constant improvement

Global adhesives giant HB Fuller knows that adhesive solutions must be responsible solutions. For more than 125 years, the company has been a leading global adhesives provider with its tag line: 'We are perfecting adhesives'. It illustrates the company's commitment for constant improvement. HB Fuller's portfolio of adhesives includes hot-melt, solvent-based, water-based and reactive chemistries. Due to the company's strategic collaborations, its brands include Advantra, Full-Care, Clarity and Rapidex.

The brands owned by HB Fuller are part of what the company calls its game-changing adhesives. Marketing manager Elizabeth Staab says: "As an industry-leading adhesive formulator, we are going to great lengths to gain a comprehensive understanding of our customers' evolving business needs and challenges. Meeting these challenges has led us to create a new wave of innovative adhesive solutions that will enable new packaging applications in case and carton sealing, flexible packaging, container labelling, retail-ready packaging and speciality packaging."

HB Fuller's recent product launch highlights how the company is planning to grow in the flexible-packaging market. Staab says: "The strong market trend for flexible packaging has generated great expansion opportunities for manufacturers that can keep up with the changes in customer demand. In developing our two new flexible-packaging adhesives (Flextra Fast and Flextra Reseal), we have connected with the operational efficiency and sustainability drives of manufacturers, brand-owners and consumers.

"Flextra Fast and Flextra Reseal drew a lot of interest at ICE Europe from those looking for flexible-packaging solutions. Visitors especially appreciated the way our new adhesives make it possible to bring together sustainability and good looks, so brand-owners and consumers can enjoy packaging that's kind to the environment and pleasing to the eye."

Customer-focused approach

Global adhesive giant Henkel used the recent trade exhibitions as a platform from which to launch its innovative products. At Fachpack European Trade Show 2015, Nuremberg, Henkel's team illustrated how its end-to-end, 360° approach integrates adhesive consumption, measurement and optimisation. The customer-focused approach supports customers across the value chain. Henkel is able to provide high-quality intact and safe packaging, particularly for the FMCG sector.

Stefan Tomke, Henkel's technical manager, says that the company's recent product launches have expanded its famous Loctite range. With Loctite Liofol LA 2760/LA 5891-21 and Loctite Liofol LA 2760/LA 7371 offering food-safe, modular-adhesive solutions for demanding packaging applications, Henkel's products reflect the growing trend for extended shelf-life in the food industry. Tomke says: "The new, modular-aliphatic-adhesive system is designed for high-performance applications covering low-migration and fast-curing products. It offers high reliability and sustainability for food and non-food packaging and delivers best results for film and film structures, including SiOx- or AIO-x-coated barrier films and film and foil structures."

With Henkel's two adhesive products suitable for retort applications of up to 60 minutes and a temperature up to 124°C, its single system means that testing for primary aromatic amines is not required. Also, unlike existing products, neither tin catalyst nor Bisphenol-A epoxy resins are used in the manufacture.

Another important development for Henkel is its acquisition of Novamelt, which is now part of Henkel Adhesive Technologies. Novamelt's appeal lies in its comprehensive portfolio of specialised hot-melt PSAs, as part of a broad range of solutions, which is expected to fit well with Henkel's high-performance, pressure-sensitive business.

FEICA's Exchange Network

The Association of the European Adhesive and Sealant Industry (FEICA) represents many multinational players in the industry. FEICA's ninth Exchange Network on Exposure Scenarios (ENES9), held in Brussels in November 2015, highlighted product developments to improve information on use and exposure in the communication supply chain under REACH as part of the CSR/ES Roadmap. Key topics included how those involved across the adhesive and sealant supply chain can improve performance on exposure and use by providing data for formulators, as well as explaining why certain products are necessary. The forum featured presentations from industry players on topics such as the uses of petroleum substances and REACH's impact assessment on chemical safety in the workplace.

REACH is trying to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. FEICA is at the forefront of these developments. Part of FEICA's role is to pro-actively support and promote the adhesive and sealant industry interests by constructively influencing EU legislation and public opinion. It is no wonder why major manufacturers listen so attentively to REACH and FEICA's guidance and use events such as the ENES9 to maximise business opportunities.



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