Hot melt glue is a thermoplastic adhesive that melts and flows when heated and solidifies when cooled. Most of the time, when someone mentions hot melt glue we think of do-it-yourself craft projects. However, hot melt is actually used in many different industrial applications because of its drying time, shelf life, and bond strength.
The drying time for most hot melt products is nearly instant. As soon as the adhesive product is dispensed from the applicator the temperature rapidly falls and begins to turn back to a solid state. A great example of the final result is the dots of glue that hold together the top of cereal boxes. Hot melt can adhere to nearly any kind of material and creates an immensely strong weather resistant bond. Most products held together with hot melt will stay for years, which is another reason why hot melt is used instead of other water based adhesives.
Companies across the globe take advantage of these traits and use hot melt for bookbinding, lamination, automotive assembly, appliance manufacturing, even the creation of diapers and air filters. Not to mention, it is the most convenient and widely used method for sealing boxes. We often encounter hot melt on primary packaging like the boxes that protect products like frozen food, cosmetics and toys. These boxes are actually shipped in layers of secondary packaging like inside corrugated cardboard cases or palletized, both of which use hot melt.
The technology used to heat and apply hot melt continues to change, but the overall need and use of hot melt remains the same. If you would like to increase efficiency and add hot melt equipment to your packaging application, please give us a call or send us an email.