Hot Melt Adhesive Manufacturing Process Facts You Need To Know

The hot melt adhesive manufacturing process can seem complicated. But Conversion Technologies International knows how to make understanding it simple. Read below for further details before moving forward with your manufacturing needs.

How does the hot melt adhesive manufacturing process work?

The great thing about the hot melt adhesive manufacturing process is that we have it down to a science. Experienced manufacturers like CTI have executed this type of project time and time again. On the most basic level, this process involves blending thermoplastic base polymers with different substances, depending on your final goal. These substances include waxes, tackifying resins, and antioxidants. Once placed in a heated mixer, we’ll melt this blend before shaping it into sticks, blocks, or pellets.

Diving further into the details, the steps break down into:

• Selecting the raw materials. Here, you’ll select the base polymer(s) and additional products.
• Heating and mixing. At this point, you’ll place the blend into a mixer, where it’s heated and converted into a liquid, molten form.
• Filtering. From there, you must filter the mixture to ensure it lacks impurities.
• Shaping and cooling. This is the step of the process wherein you’ll shape the mixture into its hardened form. This makes it easier to transport and apply where needed. Once the mixture is in the right mold, you’ll let it cool, ensuring it hardens properly.

The standard procedure here is to pack the hardened, shaped product into boxes or other containers.  While you’ll encounter some variations, depending on the mixture’s purpose and components, this is the general process followed by most manufacturers.

One of the main benefits of working with a third party converting services provider like CTI is our experience. You don’t have to worry about trial and error. You’ll get the hot melt adhesive you need and want from the beginning, without having to waste time and money on failed product runs. Instead, you’ll hand the process off to us, and we’ll deliver the final results efficiently and as requested.

Why do we use hot melt adhesives?

We use hot melt adhesives for a number of different reasons. One of the biggest benefits of the product is its flexibility—and we’re not just talking about its liquid form. You can use hot melt adhesive in a variety of industrial settings, as it works with several core products. These include wood, plastic, glass, metal, and various packaging materials like cardboard. This makes the product selection process much simpler. Additionally, we can stock one product, while working with many others. Speaking of—their solid forms make them easier to stock, too. You can keep a lot of hot melt adhesive product on hand without taking up too much space.

Other benefits include:

• No drying time. Solvent-based glues require a drying time, slowing down the manufacturing process. Hot melt adhesives dry almost instantly. They form a strong bond with their substrates within seconds. This ensures greater efficiency, allowing you to produce the adhered product in little to no time at all.
• A long shelf life. Not only is hot melt adhesive easy to store—it also lasts. You don’t have to maintain a specific environment, either. A hot melt sheet, for example, will last, potentially for years, as long as it’s kept relatively cool and dry.
• Environmentally friendly. Some adhesives contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them difficult for employees to handle safely. This isn’t a concern for hot melt adhesives. They’re much safer to work with, adding to the overall efficiency of the manufacturing process.
• Efficient application. As previously discussed, this product’s dried form is easy to transport. However, it’s also easy to apply, once melted. Processes like hot melt lamination take little time, and generally speaking, you can use less adhesive and still maintain a strong bond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need more details? Don’t worry. We have you covered.

Which industries use hot melt adhesives?

Due to its general versatility, a wide variety of industries use hot melt adhesive. These include:

• Woodworking and furniture. Hot melt adhesive allows us to seal cabinets and panels cleanly and affordably. Plus, it lasts.
• As we mentioned above, hot melt adhesive bonds to cardboard with ease. You can also apply it to film, making it a favorite in the packaging industry.
• Disposable products. Hot melt adhesive works quite well with product hygiene products like diapers and feminine care items.
• Both hardcover and paperback books benefit from hot melt adhesive’s flexibility.
• At the same time, you can seal electronic components with hot melt.

And much more!

What’s the difference between a toll manufacturer and a contract manufacturer?

When searching for a third party manufacturer, you’ll likely run into terms like “toll manufacturing” and “contract manufacturing”. A toll manufacturer takes a “toll fee” in exchange for processing and delivering your order. However, in this case, you don’t provide the raw materials. A contract manufacturer handles everything for you, including the raw materials. While it all depends on your preferences, contract manufacturing can be more convenient than toll manufacturing.

Does CTI have experience producing adhesives?

Absolutely! CTI has a lot of experience manufacturing adhesives. In one case, our client needed a unique adhesive roofing material. We provided them with a peel and stick roofing adhesive, and have since created several other variations.

Where do I go from here?

We’d recommend consulting with us first—we’ll answer any further questions you may have. Call CTI at 419-925-5566 or contact us here for further information.