Custom Manifolds & Gun Applicators
There are not many manufacturers in the hot melt industry that have the ability to work with clients and create custom manifolds and gun applicators to fit their unique needs. Universal Systems SE has that ability and is willing to pair up our engineers with our client’s team to ensure that we manufacture the exact applicator needed for any job.
Over the last forty years, Universal Systems SE has manufactured an array of different custom manifolds and gun applicator systems for different types of industries. Not only can our custom gun manifolds distribute adhesive onto boxes in packaging lines, but they can be used for distributing make-up, candle gel, etc. Depending on the viscosity and melt rate of the substance needed to make the transfer, our custom manifolds and applicators will work with several different types of materials.
The custom manifold and gun process is simple. Contact one of Universal Systems SE’s customer service representatives, by either calling in to (561) 272-5442 or submitting a custom gun online form. You will then be connected with a USSE mechanical engineer. After all of the client’s needs are communicated with our engineering team and all questions answered, USSE will provide the customer with a custom manifold drawing for approval. The drawing will include dimensions of the manifold, spacing of modules, type of modules and all cordsets that are included and the location of those cordsets. Once the drawing is signed off on by the customer, we then manufacture the manifold body. After a vigorous quality control process, each custom manifold is inspected and tested to ensure all dimensions are correct and that the custom gun matches the approved drawing. Once the manifold passes all initial testing, modules are added and the custom gun is created and tested internally by two different QC Engineers. Once there is approval by both engineers, the final product is cleaned and ready for shipping.
The normal process for custom manufactured manifolds and completed guns is four to six weeks, with extra time potentially added in depending on customer turnaround time for drawing approvals.
If you are interested in learning more about the types of custom manifolds and gun applicators that Universal Systems SE can engineer for you, please call (561) 272-5442 or email sales@ussefl.com.
Hot Melt Glue is Not Just for DIY Projects
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.