3M and TECHSiL have enjoyed a successful working partnership since TECHSiL acquired Viking Industrial Products Ltd. in 2024.
Science. Applied to Life.™
WHO IS 3M?
For over a century, 3M has applied relentless scientific curiosity and technological expertise to solve global challenges. Their commitment to innovation is clear: they continuously develop breakthrough products that enhance safety, improve efficiency, and protect the environment, the kind of solutions we know your business needs.
Choose 3M through for trusted, ethical, and innovative science that's advancing industries worldwide.
WHY USE 3M ADHESIVES?
3M is globally recognised for applying science to solve complex challenges, offering a vast portfolio of products known for their extreme reliability and high-performance in demanding applications. Their advanced solutions deliver value across essential functions such as superior adhesion, electrical insulation, robust sealing, filtration, thermal management, and comprehensive health and safety protection, making them a trusted choice for manufacturers worldwide.
CUSTOM 3M SLITTING
TECHSiL have on-site tape slitting facilities which allow for logs to converted and slit into any size width required to suit applications exactly.
BROWSE 3M APPLICATIONS OR GET EXPERT ADVICE
Find out more about the Industry Applications of 3M products, or Let us help you find the ideal product for your needs no matter what the application.
EXPERT ADVICE
BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION with one of our experts to help find the perfect products for your needs.
technical@techsil.co.uk | +44 (0) 1789 774 244
"Unlock the power of people, ideas, and science to reimagine what’s possible."
WHAT INDUSTRIES USE 3M PRODUCTS?
3M science has been instrumental in the evolution of aerospace for over 70 years, providing innovative solutions that are essential across the entire lifecycle of an aircraft, from initial design and structural assembly to maintenance and repair operations (MRO). By leveraging advanced materials like structural adhesives, void fillers, and high-performance tapes, 3M helps manufacturers achieve crucial goals like significant weight reduction for fuel efficiency, meeting stringent build-to-print requirements, and enhancing durability for critical components, including composite parts, rotor blades, nacelles, and engine structures.
3M Aerospace Solutions Offer:
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Advanced Structural Adhesion for high-stress applications (Propulsion & Structures)
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Solutions for an optimal balance of Weight, Strength, and Aesthetic Appeal (Cabin Structures & Interiors)
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Polyurethane Protection Tapes and Films for corrosion and wear resistance
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High-performance Sealing and Insulation for acoustics, thermal protection, and moisture barriers
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Materials engineered for Long-Term Durability and Performance
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Simplified Assembly and process optimization from OEM to MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul)
3M innovation is key to the modern appliance industry, helping manufacturers design and build household appliances that are stronger, lighter, and more cost-effective. From sleek refrigerators and energy-efficient washing machines to advanced ovens and cooktops, 3M's advanced tapes and adhesives provide essential solutions for assembly, protection, and performance that meet the demanding requirements of today's consumers.
Utiliing products like high-strength 3M™ VHB™ Tapes and specialized transfer adhesives, 3M supports critical applications such as bonding glass panels to oven doors and refrigerators, securing internal components like coils and insulation, and attaching modern digital touch panels. Their solutions also address consumer experience, delivering innovative ways to minimize unwanted noise and vibration across the entire product line while ensuring safe packaging and transit.
3M Appliance Solutions Offer:
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Strong, Permanent Bonding of glass, metal, and plastic components
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Effective Noise and Vibration Damping (NVH)
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Solutions for Lightweighting and design flexibility
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Thermal Management and securing insulation (e.g., for coils and HVAC)
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Attachment for Electronic Controls and membrane switches
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Secure Temporary Holding and protection during shipping
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Solutions that meet stringent Appliance Performance Requirements
Read TECHSiL's Guides to Appliance Applications:
High Stress, Load Bearing Parts
As a premier supplier of 3M solutions, we provide a specialised portfolio of tapes, adhesives, and protective products vital across the entire modern automotive sector. Our technical range ensures quality from initial Body Shop assembly and intricate Paint Shop finishing to enhancing vehicle interiors and providing crucial safety marking for compliance.
Utilising high-strength materials like 3M™ VHB™ Tapes, we deliver robust, invisible bonding solutions for permanent exterior trim, emblems, and panel attachments, often eliminating the need for traditional mechanical fasteners. For the cabin, we supply materials crucial for creating a quiet passenger experience, supporting low-VOC/low-odour bonding for interior trim, headliners, and instrument panels. Our range also includes 3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners to create secure, reusable access points and high-performance masking systems essential for flawless paint and finishing applications.
3M Automotive Solutions from Techsil's Range
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High-Strength 3M™ VHB™ and Acrylic Foam Tapes for permanent exterior and interior attachment
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Specialist Acoustic and Damping Materials for superior NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) mitigation
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Low-VOC Adhesives for bonding interior components to meet cabin air quality standards
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3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners for secure, reusable access panels and components
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Precision Masking Systems for flawless, intricate paint and finish applications
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Mandatory Reflective Marking Tapes for commercial vehicle safety and compliance
3M is a critical partner across the diverse Manufacturing Industry, providing innovative solutions engineered to boost efficiency, improve employee safety, and ensure high-quality output across fabrication, assembly, and processing. From ultra-strong abrasives that keep metalworking processes running smoothly to advanced materials that literally lighten the final product, 3M's vast portfolio supports manufacturers in getting it right the first time, every time, driving down costs and optimising operations worldwide.
Our solutions address core industrial needs, including high-strength Bonding and Assembly applications using products like 3M™ VHB™ Tapes and specialised structural adhesives to replace mechanical fasteners and streamline production. In Metalworking, products featuring technologies like 3M™ Cubitron™ ensure precision and speed across cutting, grinding, and finishing. Furthermore, our range supports Design and Specialty Materials by providing light-weighting solutions like 3M™ Glass Bubbles, alongside reliable Packaging and Fulfilment tapes to protect finished goods.
3M Manufacturing Solutions & Core Categories
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High-Strength Bonding and Assembly solutions (Tapes, Adhesives, and Sealants)
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Advanced Abrasives for rapid and precise metalworking and finishing
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Lightweighting and specialty materials for component design and fabrication
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Industrial Tapes for protection, masking, sealing, and component fastening
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Secure Packaging and logistics materials for product fulfilment
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for employee safety and compliance
The Electronics Industry relies heavily on advanced material science to enable smaller, faster, and more reliable devices, spanning everything from consumer electronics to communications infrastructure and data centers. 3M's focus is on solving challenges related to device performance, longevity, and thermal management, while helping manufacturers manage costs and solve complex design problems.
As a trusted distributor of 3M products, we provide the highly specialised materials required for these intricate applications. Our range focuses on critical areas like permanent bonding, electromagnetic compliance, thermal management, and circuit protection.
3M Electronics Solutions from TECHSiL's Range
We supply key 3M materials that address essential needs in electronics manufacturing, ensuring performance, protection, and compliance:
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Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding and Absorption: We provide materials like 3M™ EMI Absorber AB8000 Series and 3M™ Flux Field Directional Material EM25TP. These are critical for managing internal interference and suppressing magnetic loss in compact electronic devices, helping them meet electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements.
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Permanent and Conductive Bonding: Our inventory includes specialized tapes, such as 3M™ Electrically Conductive Single-Sided Tape 5113SFT and 3M™ Electrically Conductive Double-Sided Tape 9772 Series. These advanced tapes provide both high-strength adhesion and excellent electrical conductivity along the Z-axis, essential for grounding, shielding, and connecting components within PCBs and enclosures.
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Thermal Management: We supply Thermally Conductive Interface Tapes (like 3M™ 8926) that efficiently transfer heat away from critical components, improving device reliability and lifespan, particularly in high-power applications like servers and automotive electronics.
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Protection and Damping: Products such as 3M™ Bumpon™ Quiet Clear Protective Products are used to provide superior sound and vibration damping, serving as self-adhesive rubber bumpers to protect devices and reduce noise in consumer and industrial electronics.
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General Assembly: We also stock general 3M™ Adhesives, Sealants & Fillers and 3M™ Tapes used for general assembly, sealing, and affixing labels within electronics manufacturing.
3M BRANDS & PRODUCTS
3M Tapes
3M™ tapes are renowned throughout the world for their high performance and quality. Appointed in 1989 as one of the main 3M™ distributors in the UK, Viking Industrial Tapes proudly supplied the full range of 3M™ industrial products and tapes. Now a part of the TECHSiL Ltd. we continue to offer expert advice and unrivalled service to all our customers.
3M Adhesives and Sealants
The extensive 3M™ adhesives and sealants range spans over 23 types of products in various sizes, types, and uses. From Scotch-Weld industrial-strength products to primers and adhesive sprays for DIY applications. Renowned for their quality and performance, 3M™ adhesives and sealants are a go-to for any indoor and outdoor projects.
3M Aerospace Products
3M is a trusted, long-standing supplier to the global aerospace industry, leveraging 70+ years of science to enable lighter, stronger, and more efficient aircraft. Their specialised solutions, including structural adhesives, sealants, protective tapes, and composite materials, are engineered to meet the stringent demands of airframe, cabin, and engine applications.
3M™ VHB™ High-Strength Bonding Tapes
Permanent and Structural Bonding These acrylic foam tapes create incredibly strong, durable, and virtually invisible bonds that replace mechanical fasteners, rivets, and welds. They provide excellent stress distribution, damp vibration, and seal against water, making them ideal for sign mounting, structural glass, and high-performance panel assembly.
3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives
High-Performance Assembly This comprehensive range includes two-part epoxies, acrylics, and polyurethanes engineered for high-impact resistance, rapid cure times, and exceptional strength on challenging materials like metals, composites, and engineered plastics. They are essential for applications demanding high-shear and peel strength.
3M™ Bumpon™ Protective Products
Vibration and Noise Damping Self-adhesive rubber bumpers, feet, and spacers designed to absorb shock, reduce vibration, and dampen noise. Used extensively in electronics enclosures, household appliances, and automotive interiors to prevent scratching, skidding, and buzzing (BSR).
3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners
Heavy-Duty Reclosable Fastening An innovative alternative to screws and zippers, these mushroom-shaped stem fasteners interlock with high tensile strength. They enable components to be opened and closed hundreds of times, providing easy, invisible, and secure access for service panels, automotive trim, and display mounts.
3M™ Electrically Conductive Tapes
EMI Shielding and Grounding These specialised tapes provide reliable electrical connection and conductivity in the Z-axis, essential for grounding components, managing electromagnetic interference (EMI), and shielding sensitive circuits in consumer and industrial electronics.
3M™ Electrical Insulation Tapes & Coatings
Protection and Dielectric Strength A professional line of vinyl, rubber, and mastic tapes and sealants that provide high dielectric strength, temperature resistance, and superior conformability. They are critical for insulating splices, repairing cable jackets, and sealing electrical components in harsh environments.
3M™ STRUCTURAL ADHESIVES & ADVANCED TAPES
While 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives are load-bearing, high-strength formulations designed to create durable bonds that can often replace mechanical fasteners and welding, 3M's material science excellence extends powerfully into High-Performance Tapes. We leverage 3M's full portfolio to deliver versatile and durable solutions, encompassing both high-speed liquid bonding and advanced tape technologies like 3M™ VHB™ and 3M™ Dual Lock™, which often serve as direct, cleaner, and faster alternatives for assembly and sealing.
3M™ SCOTCH-WELD™ SUITABLE MATERIALS:
3M Structural Adhesives are engineered for versatility in multi-material assembly, which is crucial in modern lightweight design.
They are suitable for structurally bonding a wide range of substrates, including:
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Metals: Aluminium, Cold Rolled Steel, Galvanised Steel, and even oily metals (with specific acrylics like DP8407NS).
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Plastics: High Surface Energy (HSE) plastics, and specialised acrylics (like DP8010) that provide structural bonds to Low Surface Energy (LSE) plastics such as Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) without extensive surface preparation.
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Composites: Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GRP), and other fibre composites.
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Dissimilar Materials: Creating strong, insulating bonds between materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion (e.g., metal to plastic or glass).
WHAT ARE 3M™ STRUCTURAL ADHESIVES?
Structural adhesives are high-performance polymeric formulations (such as Epoxies, Acrylics, and Urethanes) that, when fully cured, have exceptional load-bearing capabilities and are designed for long-term durability and strength.
Unlike sealants, these products are used for primary assembly where high shear, peel, and impact strength are non-negotiable.
They are typically two-part systems, meaning the resin and hardener are mixed immediately before application, initiating a chemical reaction that cures the adhesive quickly at room temperature (a process that can be accelerated by heat).
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
The versatility of 3M Structural Adhesives and advanced bonding solutions allows them to be used across diverse high-stress applications:
- Automotive & Aerospace: Bonding exterior panels, composite assemblies, and stiffeners to body panels for weight reduction and increased rigidity (often using structural adhesives or 3M™ VHB™ Tapes).
- Electronics: Bonding electronic components, encapsulating and sealing sensitive parts, and securing internal mounting features.
- Industrial & Rail: Bonding floor panels, side wall panels, and structural components in specialty vehicles and railcars.
- Signage & Displays: Panel-to-frame bonding, trim attachment, and creation of heavy-duty, invisible access panels using 3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners.
WHY USE 3M™ STRUCTURAL ADHESIVES?
Choosing 3M structural adhesives provides critical performance and process advantages over traditional joining methods:
- Superior Load Distribution: Spreads stress evenly across the entire bond area, which improves fatigue resistance compared to high-stress points created by fasteners.
- Aesthetics and Design Freedom: Enables seamless, invisible joints that eliminate the need for visible rivets, screws, or welds.
- Environmental Resistance: Offers exceptional resistance to extreme temperatures, moisture, UV radiation, and many industrial chemicals and solvents.
- Process Efficiency: Many acrylic and urethane formulations are highly tolerant of lightly prepared or oily surfaces, reducing or eliminating labour-intensive surface prep steps.
- Corrosion Protection: Provides insulation between dissimilar metals, preventing galvanic corrosion.
Common 3M FAQs
The core difference lies in their form and application process.
Structural Adhesives (Scotch-Weld™ Epoxies/Acrylics) are liquid or paste systems that cure chemically to form a bond, often achieving the highest ultimate shear strength for small, critical joints and dissimilar materials in harsh environments.
VHB™ Tapes are pre-formed, viscoelastic acrylic foam tapes that offer immediate handling strength and excel at distributing stress and accommodating thermal expansion across large surface areas (e.g., panel bonding). They are often cleaner and faster to apply.
VHB™ stands for Very High Bond. The tape's strength comes from its unique viscoelastic acrylic foam core. This foam acts like both a liquid (allowing it to flow into surface irregularities for a strong wet-out) and an elastic solid (allowing it to absorb dynamic loads, vibration, and thermal movement). This combination provides superior durability and performance compared to standard foam tapes.
Proper surface preparation is critical for achieving maximum bond strength for both products. The general rule is that the surface must be clean and dry.
1. Cleaning: Use a mixture of Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and water (50:50) to remove dirt, grease, or light oil.
2. Abrasion: Lightly abrading or sanding rigid surfaces (like metals) with a fine abrasive pad can increase surface area and improve adhesion.
3. Primers: For Low Surface Energy (LSE) plastics (like Polypropylene/PE) or certain porous materials, a specific 3M Primer or Adhesion Promoter is often required before applying the adhesive or tape.
This depends heavily on the product:
- VHB™ Tapes: Typically reach 50% of ultimate strength in 20 minutes, 90% in 24 hours, and 100% in 72 hours at room temperature.
- Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives: Handling strength (when the part can be moved) can be reached in as little as 5-30 minutes depending on the formulation (e.g., faster Acrylics vs. slower Epoxies). Full cure is generally reached within 24 hours to 7 days. Note that higher temperatures accelerate the cure time for adhesives.
Yes. This is one of the key strengths of 3M's structural adhesive line, particularly the Urethane and Acrylic chemistries. These formulations are designed with enough flexibility (elongation) to handle the differential movement caused by the different thermal expansion rates of materials like aluminium and composite plastic.
Structural adhesives perform best when the joint design subjects them to Shear (sliding force) and Tensile (pulling straight away from the joint) stress. They are less effective against Peel or Cleavage forces, which concentrate stress at a single point.
3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners use tiny, rigid mushroom-shaped stems that interlock with an audible "snap," creating an engagement significantly stronger than traditional soft hook-and-loop (Velcro®). This makes Dual Lock ideal for applications requiring secure, load-bearing, reclosable attachment like access panels, vehicle trim, or large display components.
Yes. VHB™ Tapes are specifically designed to be extremely durable and resistant to environmental extremes. Their 100% closed-cell acrylic construction provides outstanding long-term resistance to UV exposure, moisture, and temperature cycling (typically -40C to +90C long term, with intermittent resistance up to +150C for some series).
3M RESOURCES
Visit our Resource Centre and discover a comprehensive collection of articles and resources about 3M products, and related applications and industries. Here you can find indepth looks at product ranges, as well as technical guides to thermal management, optical bonding, and conductive silicones.
3M VIDEOS
WHY CHOOSE TECHSiL?
We are not simply a warehouse and distribution operation; we have earned an enviable reputation in customer care and service
For over 30 years, TECHSiL has supplied high performance materials across industries from our offices in the UK, offering adhesives, silicones, tapes, lubricants, O-rings and related products. With a dedicated team of internal and external sales and customer service professionals, we work together with our customers and suppliers to find the best product solution for your application.
- Customised Tape Slitting
- Repacking Capabilities
- ISO9001:2015 Approval
- Boeing/Airbus/OEM Approvals
- Bespoke Packaging Options
- Dedicated Customer Service
- JOSCAR Registered
- Stock Management Solutions
- Proven Technical Expertise
- AS9120 Quality Assurance
- NSN/MIL Spec Approvals
Do you have an enquiry?
Reach out to our Team for expert assistance.
technical@techsil.co.uk | +44 (0) 1789 774 244