What Are Non-Woven Fabrics?

Hot melt adhesives play a key role in the manufacture of many products, including non-woven fabrics. But what, exactly, are non-woven fabrics, and how does the right hot melt adhesive system help to streamline product assembly for these fabrics?

In the broadest sense, non-woven fabrics are engineered fabrics consists of fibrous materials bonded through some method other than weaving. In most cases, these fibers are bonded in a sheet or web form through mechanical, chemical adhesive or thermal bonding processes. Of these three processes, thermal bonding (using a hot melt adhesive) is often considered the least expensive and safest option when possible.

Benefits of Non-Wovens

Non-woven fabrics provide a wide range of versatility across a number of applications compared to their woven counterparts. For example, non-wovens can be designed to be single-use or biodegradable, limited in scope or highly durable, depending on the need. They can be designed to resist tearing under piercing or high pressure; they can also be flame retardant, temperature-resilient, water absorbent or water repellent, stretchable, washable, anti-bacterial and so much more. Effectively, non-woven fabrics give us much more control over what we need these fabrics to do.

Examples of Non-Woven Fabrics

Non-woven fabrics can be found in nearly every aspect of our lives, from industrial applications to home-use products. Examples of non-woven products include:

  • Disposable diapers
  • Carpeting
  • Upholstery
  • Jacket lining
  • Household wipes
  • Insulation
  • Automotive coverings
  • Roofing
  • Laundry aids
  • Hygiene products
  • Medical use products
  • Fiber envelopes

How Hot Melt Adhesives Help with Product Assembly for Non-Woven Fabrics

Hot melt adhesives are made up of thermoplastic resins that become pliable under heat and pressure, yet are also able to cool quickly after application. These properties make hot melt adhesives an excellent option for manufacturing non-wovens because:

  • They create the necessary bonding without affecting the properties of the material itself (e.g., the product retains its softness, flexibility, etc.).
  • They accelerate the manufacturing process because there no drying, curing or cooling stage is necessary.
  • They are more economical than other bonding options.
  • They are safer and more eco-friendly than other bonding options.

Whatever your non-woven manufacturing needs, Sure Tack hot melt adhesive systems are designed for the fast, efficient and uniform application of just the right amount of adhesive to help you maximize productivity with minimal downtime. Contact Sure Tack Systems to learn more about which our systems and tools are right for you.

Team Training For Hot Melt Adhesive Systems

Sure Tack Systems are designed for efficiency, smooth operation and extensive use — but that doesn’t mean everyone uses them correctly. Many system failures and breakdowns can be easily prevented simply by knowing how to operate and maintain the equipment properly. This is why we include team training for our hot melt adhesive systems as part of our wide-reaching customer support policy.

How the Team Training Works

When your Sure Tack hot melt adhesive system is installed and ready to go, we’ll schedule a time for one of our experts to provide comprehensive training to your entire team, including anyone who will be operating the equipment as well as anyone else who needs to understand how it works. Our team training includes the following:

  • Proper daily operation of each part of the system.
  • System-specific training. We customize the training specifically to the equipment you have installed, so you’re not wasting time learning about components you don’t need or won’t use.
  • Preventative maintenance protocols — to ensure optimal productivity, prevent many breakdowns and extend the life of your products.
  • One-on-one training and support. Even when training an entire team, we don’t treat it like a “class.” We provide one-on-one training as needed to make sure every person on your team has their questions answered and has a good working knowledge of the system.

Ongoing Lifetime Support

One of the greatest benefits of Sure Tack team training for our hot melt adhesive systems is not just that it’s free, but that it’s ongoing — for as long as you own the equipment. We understand that as you grow, expand or experience turnover, you may have new employees who need to learn the equipment. You may also install updates and expansions to the system itself. Sure Tack understands that training is an ongoing need with our clients, so we’ll come back and train your new people, or provide refresher courses, as often as needed, for the life of your Sure Tack system.

At Sure Tack, we want your hot melt adhesive system to help your company be as productive and profitable as possible. Team training for hot melt adhesive systems is just one way we help meet this goal. To learn more about our systems, training options and support, contact Sure Tack Systems today.

Hot Melt Adhesive Systems 101

The manufacturing sector has relied on various adhesives for decades, but in recent years, the advancement of high-quality hot melt adhesive systems has revolutionized many of these processes. These days, a large number of industries have turned to hot melt adhesives as opposed to solvent-based adhesives, including a few industries you probably didn’t realize. Hot melt adhesives are preferable to solvent-based adhesives for a number of reasons, including the fact that they are safer, “greener” and generally easier to apply. If you’re considering implementing a hot melt adhesive system for your manufacturing process, here are the basics you need to know.

Choosing a Hot Melt Adhesive System

Selecting the right hot melt adhesive system for you will depend on a number of different factors. To start, you’ll need to evaluate your process to decide on what kind of glue equipment you’ll need for your particular application. For example, would your assembly process benefit more from an automated spray application or an extrusion system? Which types of hot melt adhesives would be best suited to your needs? Would your company work best with a manual application system or an automated system, and in case of the latter, what should you look for in an automated hot melt adhesive dispensing system? Sure Tack can help guide you through these decisions according to your specific processes, needs, and budget.

Using Your Hot Melt Adhesive System

Once you have selected the right hot melt adhesive system for your needs, understanding how a hot melt system works can go a long way toward helping you make the most of it. Take some time to learn the equipment and educate yourself and your team on the best ways to utilize it most efficiently. For instance, setting up individual workstations often works best for manual applications, and learning the best dispensing techniques for each piece of equipment will help improve productivity while reducing costs. Learning the correct way to support your hose will also prevent costly, dangerous wear-and-tear to the equipment.  Read here for additional useful tips and tricks for getting the most from your system.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

As with any piece of complex equipment, your hot melt adhesive system requires regular maintenance, and even with a consistent maintenance plan in place, occasionally you may experience some common problems with your adhesives. Cold temperatures can affect the performance of pressure sensitive adhesives, for example. Incorporating a glue pressure gauge can help you monitor your dispenser’s performance and detect signs of trouble. Proper preventative maintenance will greatly improve your hot melt adhesive efficiency. If you’re experiencing performance issues, our troubleshooting guide can help. Click here for additional maintenance tips.

Sure Tack Systems is committed to helping you learn all you need to know about how to choose, use and maintain the right hot melt adhesive system to elevate your business. Contact us to learn more.

The Definitive Guide to Hot Melt Adhesive Products

Adhesives have played a key role in modern product assembly for quite some time, but in recent years, hot melt adhesive technology has taken great strides forward, making adhesive applications both safer and more cost-efficient. That said, choosing the best hot melt adhesive system for your company’s needs can be challenging. For instance, what is the best hot melt dispenser to use? Which adhesives are best for foam bonding? Which high-temperature adhesive applicators do you need?

While there are certainly certain pieces of hot melt glue equipment everyone should have, each company has unique needs that may require certain types of equipment for custom applications. As an industry leader in hot melt adhesive systems, Sure Tack has put together the following guide to serve as a starting point for companies looking to install hot melt adhesive equipment for product assembly.

Manual Inline vs Wide Web Spray

One of the first questions you’ll need to ask yourself is whether to go with a manual inline spray gun or an automated wide web spray system. Generally speaking, for larger-scale manufacturing operations, a wide web spray system saves a lot of money in the long run by increasing productivity and reducing labor costs. Automated systems used to be primarily allocated for solvent or water-based adhesives, but most industries today prefer hot melt wide web spray systems over water-based applications.

For smaller operations or more precise tasks, a manual inline extrusion system is typically the most effective and economic solution — and Sure Tack offers some of the most efficient and advanced inline handgun products available on the market. Between the versatility and high yield of wide web spray and the precision of inline handguns, some industries actually benefit from both systems — the wide web spray for primary assembly and inline extrusion workstations for finer applications and finishing.

Adhesives

In addition to choosing the right equipment, you’ll have to decide on the right type of hot melt adhesives for your application. Wood bonding adhesives will differ considerably from the finer adhesives required for package sealing, for example. Sure Tack can offer sound advice on the best type of adhesive to use for your application and your hot melt system.

Accessories

If your hot melt system is the engine, the accessories are like the turbo boost. Choosing the right hot melt adhesive accessories and add-ons can greatly streamline your product manufacturing and make your workflow many times easier. There are many decisions to make here, such as:

As you can see, there are many choices to make when configuring a hot melt adhesive system for your particular application. Hopefully, this guide has given you a good place to start asking the right questions. The experts at Sure Tack can help you with more specific decisions as to the right products for your needs. Contact us to learn more.

Using Hot Melt Adhesive Systems for Product Assembly

From assembling mattresses and furniture to automobiles and picture frames, a hot melt adhesive system is a critical component in most product assembly applications. Many manufactured products rely on an efficient hot melt system, including some products that might surprise you. Even fugitive glue, the temporary adhesive that holds credit cards in place while traveling through the mail, is applied with hot melt.

Choosing the right hot melt system for assembling your products can greatly increase productivity to meet the growing demands of your customers. Let’s explore a bit further the role of hot melt adhesive in product assembly and discuss how having the right tools can greatly enhance your assembly line.

Automotive

From the instrument panels to the upholstered seats to weather stripping, a huge part of automobile assembly depends heavily on hot melt adhesives. Thanks to modern advances like high volume configuration hoses, hot melt adhesive systems are radically changing the automotive industry in a number of interesting ways — for example, adhesives make automobiles lighter in weight while reducing production costs. Due to the variety of needs and applications, an automotive production line needs a number of glue systems working in tandem for maximum results. Click here to learn more about the best glue systems for automotive product assembly.

Furniture

For years, furniture products in general, and wood furniture have relied on adhesives for reinforcement, consumer safety, quality control, and cost control. Spray adhesive systems often work quite well with furniture assembly, allowing for increased production volume as well as greater precision. Learn more about the best hot melt adhesives for woodworking applications.

Mattresses

Over the years, adhesives have become an integral part of quality mattress assembly. Not only do hot melt adhesive systems improve factors like production volume and cost control, but the adhesives used are also non-flammable and mold-resistant, both of which make mattresses safer for consumers. In recent years, the 90-degree mattress machine has revolutionized the mattress industry by automating adhesive processes that once had to be applied manually.

Packaging

Not only are thousands of consumer products assembled using hot melt adhesives — so is the packaging used to contain and ship those products. In fact, the packaging industry relies on hot melt adhesive systems perhaps more than any other industry on the planet. From keeping our food safe and fresh to bonding foam to packaging for reinforcement — to sealing the packages themselves — it’s hard to imagine how we’d package products without these systems. Even so, as the technology keeps evolving, hot melts continue to change the packaging industry by making systems more efficient and streamlined.

Non-Woven Fabrics

Non-woven fabrics are textiles made from long fibers that are bonded together through means other than weaving. Products made from non-woven fabrics include disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, and certain medical/surgical products. Understandably, hot melt adhesives offer a number of benefits in the manufacture of non-woven materials — for example, they help create flexible bonds without affecting the quality of the product, and they keep costs low. Learn more about the best machines used for bonding non-woven fabrics.

Sure Tack Systems offers a wide range of products and services that can greatly enhance the product assembly process through hot melt adhesive systems. Contact us to learn more about how our tools and machines can improve your production.

Further Reading on Product Assembly

Hot Melt Roll Coater vs Hot Melt Spray Systems

When it comes to hot melt adhesives, technological advances have created a number of viable application methods. Two of the more prominent methods are roll coaters and wide web spray systems. Both methods have their advantages depending on the task at hand. Let’s take a closer look at each application method.

Roll Coater

Roll coaters are adept at the uniform application of an adhesive. They are designed to evenly coat a substance from edge to edge without regard to the shape of the object. This type of coating is usually able to adapt to meet precise specifications depending on the temperature of the adhesive, the speed at which the material is moving through the coater, and even the material itself. It’s most common to use a roll coater for applying an adhesive when working with paper, plastic, metal, and wood.

There is also a large selection of roll coaters to choose based on your specific needs. You may need to consider the type of adhesive you want to use, the thickness and width of the material you’re using, and the amount of adhesive you need to apply when selecting the right roll coater. In a way, this enables you to find the perfect machine. However, it also makes it difficult to move seamlessly back and forth between different projects if the width and thickness of the substrates changes.

Spray Systems

Wide web spray systems, whether fully or partially automated, are now common on assembly lines that require large amounts of adhesive to be applied to products. They are designed to spray a specific amount of adhesive over a given area. This helps to avoid wasting expensive adhesive while also saving time. On the other hand, a roll coater will always leave some of the adhesive on the surface of the roller. Spray systems are also helpful in keeping the line moving and improving overall productivity.

While spray systems can be compatible with just about any adhesive or product, they have caught on with the manufacturing, furniture, and automotive industries specifically because they ensure high levels of productivity even when large volumes of adhesive are needed. Even if it lacks the precision of roll coaters, there are great benefits of using wide web spray systems in the right setting.

As is usually the case with hot melt adhesives, choosing between roll coaters and a spray system depends on the specific task. Roll coaters can offer more versatility and precision than most spray systems. However, spray systems are easy to automate and customize for large-scale operations.

Contact us today for more information about our hot melt systems.

How to Automate a Product Assembly Line’s Adhesive System

If you are a company, big or small, that relies on the assembly line to keep your business running, making certain processes automated can be a great way to boost efficiency. While not everything can be automated, your hot melt adhesive system is one thing that can become either partially or fully automated. Here are a few of your options when it comes to making your adhesive system automated.

Spray Applicators

An automated wide web spray system can be quite useful on the assembly line when it comes to furniture, mattresses, carpet tiles, and other products that require a large amount of adhesive being applied to the product. Spray systems from Sure Tack Systems can be fully customized, holding between one and 14 modules so you can use the exact amount of adhesive that you need every time while also applying it quickly and efficiently. This type of automated system can significantly cut down on any wasted adhesive or wasted time. Sure Tack also uses inline filtration for its spray system, which prevents clogging and keeps the assembly line moving.

Extrusion Applicators

Extrusion applicators will typically use less adhesive compared to wide web spray systems, but they can still become automated. They are similar to the automated spray applicators in that they can hold up to 14 modules and have the same kind of inline filtration design that helps to prevent clogged nozzles that can hold up the assembly line. Sure Tack’s automated extrusion applicators are also capable of applying adhesive into tight spaces and can be just as effective as manual extrusion handguns. This makes automated extrusion applicators perfect for assembly lines that deal with packaging and smaller products.

Slot Coating Applicators

Slot coating applicators are always automated and have the benefit of being able to handle both a diverse range of volumes, speeds, and patterns. Sure Tack’s slot coating systems can handle anything from 1/8’’ up to 12’’ while also adapting to various speeds and customized designs. For assembly lines that operate at a high speed or have a specialized pattern for applying adhesives, an automated slot coating applicator will likely be the perfect fit and a huge help for improving the overall efficiency of the assembly line.

Contact us today for more information about our hot melt systems.

How to Increase Productivity on a Product Assembly Line

Running an assembly line is a lot like a game of solitaire. As a company, you’re competing against yourself to make the assembly line as productive as possible. A lot of times, it’s about working smarter rather than harder to increase productivity. Fortunately, there are a great many ways that companies attempt to boost productivity, regardless of the products they produce. Here are a few ways to improve productivity on the assembly line.

Review Current Workflow

Before you start thinking about making any changes, you have to know what changes need to be made. This requires an extensive review of your assembly line in which you ask a lot of questions. Do you have the right people in place and do those people have the right skillsets? When you map out your workflow, are there obvious bottlenecks holding up productivity? Do you have the right equipment or can some of your machines be updated?

Once you answer some of these questions, you’ll know if any changes need to be made. Just keep in mind that you don’t want change for the sake of change. However, if you spot problems that are a safety hazard, costing you money, or slowing down productivity, it’s worth looking into ways that you can make improvements.

Automate Hot Melt Adhesives

One area where new technology can mean drastic improvements on the assembly line is the use of hot melt adhesives. Most product assembly lines require some kind of adhesive at some point and technology has advanced to the point that skilled labor is not always required. Companies like Sure Tack Systems offer spray applicators, slot coating applicators, and extrusion applicators that are either partially or fully automated and compatible with a wide variety of industries. These systems can be relied upon to apply the right volume and pattern of adhesive every time, helping keep the assembly line moving seamlessly.

Keep Up with Maintenance

When you invest in modern equipment, it’s crucial that you also keep up with regular maintenance on those machines. You want to keep up with the recommended maintenance schedules for your expensive machines and not wait if repairs are needed. In order to maximize productivity, these machines need to be working at optimal levels all the time. If a piece of equipment breaks down or needs to be replaced, you could be looking at an extended period of downtime, which will hurt your productivity a lot more than if you just took a small amount of time to take care of routine maintenance on your equipment.

Invest in Employee Education and Training

If you start investing in new equipment, you have to make sure your employees are properly trained to use that new equipment. After all, with new technology, workers need to develop new skills. This is why it’s wise to encourage your employees to explore new education and participate in training programs. You can also hold in-house workshops to help train employees on new equipment. Even if you have fewer workers on your assembly line than you used to, it’s still smart to invest in their training so that they can develop the skill sets they need to keep the line moving at a good pace. It’s also vital that your employees can troubleshoot any problems that pop up with the new equipment so that the high-tech machines you invested in are running properly.

Set Goals, Offer Incentives

The final way to boost productivity on the assembly line is to set goals and let your workers know that they are responsible for reaching them. Obviously, these goals should be reasonable so you don’t set up your workers for failure. These goals should also be accompanied by incentives for employees who work on the assembly line for meeting and exceeding your production goals. This keeps employees accountable for their work while also motivating them to always work to the best of their abilities. Remember, happy and motivated employees will always keep the assembly line flowing.

Contact us today for more information about our hot melt systems.

Wide Web Spray Hot Melt Adhesive Systems VS Water Based

When it comes to using adhesives, there are always options. For many years, water-based adhesives were commonly used for a number of applications. However, advances in technology have helped to make wide web spray hot melt adhesive systems more prevalent. Both have their advantages and their drawbacks, so what option is best for you? Let’s take a closer look at each option.

Wide Web Spray Hot Melt Adhesive System

Hot melt adhesive spray systems have quickly gained popularity because of how efficient they are when working with a large amount of adhesive. On large-scale assembly lines, they can apply a large volume of adhesive on a particular area quite quickly, helping to keep the line moving. These systems can also be automated to help improve both the efficiency and the consistency of the adhesive application.

A number of industries have adopted the wide web spray system with great success. The automotive and woodworking industries use a spray system almost exclusively. However, manufacturing and packaging companies also use it because of how strong and quick the adhesive bonds, not to mention the overall efficiency along the assembly line.

Water-Based Adhesives

Water-based Adhesives are not quite as popular as they used to be, but they can still be reliable in certain situations. For instance, this type of adhesive is solvent free, making it safe to use in places that may not be well ventilated. Water adhesives can also be applied in a number of ways, including roller coating, immersion, and spraying. Perhaps equally important, water-based adhesives are typically more cost effective than other types of adhesives. They can also be easier to clean.

Industries that work with paper, foam, plastic, fabrics, and wood may find it beneficial to work with water-based adhesives. This type of adhesive usually forms a strong bond and has proven to be quite flexible. Water adhesives have also been shown to be resistant to both heat and chemicals, which has its advantages depending on the specific application.

Ultimately, choosing between a spray hot melt adhesive system and a water-based adhesive will come down to the specific need. Most packaging, automotive, and manufacturing operations will likely be best served using a wide web spray system. However, companies that work exclusively with fabric, plastic, or paper may be better off using water-based adhesives to get the job done.

Contact us today for more information about our hot melt systems.

Do I Need a Manual or Automated Adhesive Spray System?

Businesses in a variety of industries require hot melt adhesive spray systems for their product assembly. Often times, the biggest question is whether to utilize a manual or automated spray system. If you’re using one kind of system when you should really be using the other, it could be hurting your bottom line. Here are a few things to consider when deciding if your business will be better off with a manual or automated spray system.

How Big Is My Operation?

When choosing between manual and automatic systems, size matters. Most of the time, manual applicators are utilized by smaller companies that eventually work their way up to an automated system as they grow. When you find your business has a lot of workers and is spending a small fortune on labor costs, it may be time to graduate to an automated system.

How Tight Is My Budget?

If you’re operating on a shoestring budget, you may have no choice but to go with manual applicators. An automated system is usually a serious investment for companies. With manual applicators, you typically use less adhesive and less labor, which helps you keep your costs manageable.

How Much Precision Is Required?

Not all product assembly lines are created equal. Some require pinpoint precision when it comes to applying hot melt adhesive, and in such cases, manual spray systems are usually the best way to go. In fairness, automated systems are advanced enough to also have great accuracy and precision. However, there are times when there is no substitute for the human touch, which likely means you’ll have to stick with manual applicators.

What Are My Productivity Demands?

The debate between manual and automated often comes down to quantity. If you have high productivity demands, odds are you’ll need an automated system in order to keep up. Even with the ergonomic design of Sure Tack’s manual spray applicators, it can sometimes be difficult for workers to keep up the pace necessary to meet demand. This will be less of an issue with an automated system, which will usually provide a boost in overall productivity compared to a manual system.

Does My Product Require Frequent Changes or Complex Designs?

This will vary based on the industry and the specific product, but automated systems are usually better if you apply adhesives with complex designs or find that your needs frequently change. Automated spray systems from Sure Tack Systems can hold up to 14 modules and utilize inline technology. This makes it easy to both clean and change the applicator filters and keep things running with little downtime. If you have these kinds of needs on your assembly line, an automated system will be far more efficient than a manual one.

Contact us today for more information about our manual and automated hot melt systems.