What to Consider When Selecting Adhesives for Your Appliance Design & Manufacturing

Choosing the right adhesive for your application is critical in appliance design and manufacturing. The right adhesive can streamline assembly, reduce overall costs, improve product durability and more, but the wrong one can lead to failures and costly redesigns. In this guide we have outlined the most important considerations to make when choosing the appropriate manufacturing adhesive.

What is the application?

Most importantly, what are you bonding? Are you securing a touch screen or decorative trim, bonding large exterior panelling, or attaching handles, all of these require different solutions.

• Dishwashers and washing machines will require chemically resistant, watertight seals, and noise dampening materials.
• Ovens need adhesives which can withstand extreme temperatures and high stress.
• Sensors and cameras will need an optically clear adhesive which is invisible and UV resistant.

Additionally, will this application require overhead bonding or vertical application, if it does then you’ll need to consider the viscosity of your product. (Learn about viscosity from our White Paper) 

Do aesthetics matter?

Will the bond line or seam be visible and if so, will that affect the product? This is especially important in premium consumer products. Adhesives already have aesthetic benefits over traditional fasteners, but depending on how important the final look is, you’ll want to consider thin bond lines, non-yellowing adhesives, or the ability to paint over.

What materials are you using?

Different substrates require different formulations. Each material presents challenges which must be considered especially when bonding dissimilar materials such as chrome to plastic. Low surface energy materials, for example, require specialised adhesives, while clear glass and plastics will require optically clear adhesives but allow for UV curing.

What is your current process?

Is your current manufacturing process already automated, is it based inside or out, can your process be changed if needed? A heat cure adhesive means integrating ovens, UV adhesives need UV lamps, some adhesives cannot cure in cold temperatures, and so on. You also need to consider training, safety regulations and PPE.

How much does it cost?

The cost to consider includes labour, materials, storage, and equipment. A more expensive adhesive could reduce process steps, eliminate additional product and ultimately deliver lower total costs.

This also includes surface preparation costs, some formulations require surface treatment which may increase bonding but adds steps and costs, others do not need any surface prep.

Does your material need to meet industry standards?

Certain applications will require safety certifications and be compliant with industry standards. For example, FDA approved for direct or indirect food contact, other regulations include REACH/RoHS compliance, flame retardancy, UL approvals, and VOC emission regulations.

Other things to consider:

• Will disassembly be required for serviceability?
• Factor in lead times, shelf life, and storage requirements.

For more information about why you should be using adhesives for appliance manufacturing, read our guide.

TECHSiL; Adhesive Solutions Made Easy

For over 30 years, TECHSiL has supplied high performance adhesive materials across industries, 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.

Our Technical Team can arrange on-site visits to gain a better understanding of your application and process and recommend the best adhesive solution tailored to you.

Why Choose TECHSiL?

Book your free consultation with an expert today!