Adhesion Matters
Adhesion Matters pulls back the curtain on the remarkable world of adhesives—the invisible technologies quietly revolutionizing everything from smartphones and EVs to Hollywood effects and wind turbines. We guide listeners on a deep-entangled journey through innovation, sustainability, and the surprising human stories behind the products that hold our modern life together.
Adhesion Matters isn’t just about chemistry—it’s a storytelling lens on how sticky stuff shapes our world. Every episode reveals that adhesives do more than bind—they enable durability, safety, and innovation across industries. Tune in if you’re curious about the overlooked tech that really holds things together.
Adhesion Matters
Adhesive Dispensing Technology
What if the invisible gear behind your smartphone, EV battery, or medical patch was not software—but the precision adhesives that hold it all together? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we explore the quietly powerful world of adhesive dispensing technology—a high-stakes, high-growth mechanical art form that’s reshaping modern manufacturing.
What You’ll Discover:
- An $37 Billion Market You Didn’t See Coming
From 2024’s valuation to a projected rise of nearly $55 billion by 2033, the blistering growth in adhesive dispensing is being driven by sectors like EVs, advanced electronics, and healthcare. - Beyond “Glue Guns”—This Is Precision Engineering
Gone are the days of messy manual gluing. Today’s systems deliver micron-level accuracy—places a dot of adhesive smaller than a grain of sand, every single time. - Automation Meets Intelligence
Witness the evolution from mechanical dispensers to smart, AI-enabled jetting systems and vision-guided robots. These aren’t just machines—they’re mobile quality controllers. - Sustainability in Motion
Equipment innovations like “Melt-on-Demand” systems slash energy use and waste. Bio-based glues and reduced waste aren’t add-ons—they’re integral to today’s design. - Who’s Driving the Innovation
Major players like Nordson, Henkel (Loctite), Graco, PVA, Valco Melton, and Dymax are not just pushing tech—they’re reshaping how adhesives are applied, one drop at a time.
Why You Should Listen:
Because this isn’t just about crafting better bonds—it’s about redefining what’s manufacturable. From electric vehicles to wearable devices, precise adhesive dispensing isn’t just holding products together—it’s enabling their very creation in ways that were once science fiction.
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today we're tackling a topic that might seem a bit niche at first glance, but it's actually, well, Holding our modern world together, quite literally.
Elena Bondwell:That's a good way to put it.
Lucas Adheron:We're talking about adhesive dispensing equipment. We've got a whole stack of market reports, research snippets here. And our mission, really, is to pull out the key insights, maybe some surprising facts, and show you just how far this tech has come. It's way beyond just, you know, simple gluing these days.
Elena Bondwell:Oh, absolutely. It's precision engineering now.
Lucas Adheron:Right. So when you think about modern manufacturing... maybe robots assembling cars, intricate circuits.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah, the high-tech stuff.
Lucas Adheron:Exactly. But have you ever really stopped to think about the bib that actually sticks all those components together? This equipment, often kind of hidden in the background, It's indispensable.
Elena Bondwell:It really is crucial. We're talking about applying adhesives, sealants, various fluids with incredible precision and efficiency. It's not just about sticking A to B. Yeah. No, it's fundamental for optimizing the whole production workflow. And importantly, ensuring the final product is reliable has integrity. Okay. Honestly, without this level of precision, a lot of the complex, miniaturized things we use every day, they just wouldn't be manufacturable. Not at scale, anyway.
Lucas Adheron:And when we say foundational, this This isn't some tiny corner of the industrial world. The market right now, 2024, is valued at around 37.1 billion U.S. dollars.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah, it's substantial.
Lucas Adheron:To give you some context, that's bigger than the entire global market for drones.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah.
Lucas Adheron:Just quietly holding everything together. Your phone, airplane wings.
Elena Bondwell:It's a silent giant, definitely. And it's not standing still. The growth projections are really robust.
Lucas Adheron:Like what?
Elena Bondwell:Well, estimates vary a bit depending on the analysis, but we're seeing figures like maybe $47.27 billion by 2030. Okay. Which is a healthy 5.23% compound annual growth. Or potentially even higher, maybe $54.5 billion by 2033, according to another source.
Lucas Adheron:Wow. So multiple reports are pointing towards solid growth.
Elena Bondwell:Exactly. And it highlights this fundamental shift, you know? Manufacturers moving strategically from manual, often inconsistent, app towards these precision-controlled automated systems. It's become a core part of competing effectively.
Lucas Adheron:Okay, so let's unpack that. Why the boom? What are the actual practical benefits driving this expansion?
Elena Bondwell:Well, there are quite a few compelling reasons. I think number one has to be precision and consistency. Right. Automated systems just deliver amazing accuracy. And it's not just about making things slightly better. It actually enables products that you physically couldn't make reliably before.
Lucas Adheron:Like what sort of accuracy are we talking?
Elena Bondwell:We're talking micron level. hitting a target the width of a human hair.
Lucas Adheron:Seriously.
Elena Bondwell:Seriously. And that's absolutely vital in electronics, you know, where the tiniest blob of misplaced adhesive can cause a major failure. Or think about aerospace. Automotive bond integrity is literally a safety issue there.
Lucas Adheron:That's incredible. So it's not just improving things, it's enabling totally new things.
Elena Bondwell:Exactly that. And tied very closely to that is increased efficiency and productivity.
Lucas Adheron:Makes sense. Robots are faster.
Elena Bondwell:Much faster than manual methods, yeah. But it's also about reduced downtime, maximizing throughput because these systems can often run 24-7 continuously. That feeds straight to the bottom line.
Lucas Adheron:Higher output, more profit.
Elena Bondwell:Precisely. And another huge one is reduced waste and cost savings.
Lucas Adheron:How so?
Elena Bondwell:Because the equipment is so precise, it dispenses exactly the amount needed, no more, no less. That drastically cuts down on material costs, which is a big deal when you're using expensive, high-performance adhesives. And it ties into sustainability goals, too. Less waste is always good.
Lucas Adheron:Yeah, that's a big driver these days.
Elena Bondwell:Definitely. And all of this contributes to enhanced product quality and durability. If the adhesive is applied consistently and precisely every single time.
Lucas Adheron:You get stronger, more reliable bonds.
Elena Bondwell:Exactly. Products last longer. They meet tough quality standards more easily. And you reduce the risk of those really costly product recalls.
Lucas Adheron:And are the machines themselves pretty flexible? Can they handle different glues and stuff?
Elena Bondwell:Oh, yeah. Versatility and adaptability are key. Modern kit can handle a massive range of adhesive types. Everything from like super thin epoxies to really thick, goopy hot melts. And they can do different jobs too. Bonding, sealing gaps, applying protective coatings, potting electronics to shield them. Very adaptable.
Lucas Adheron:It sounds like there's a lot of smarts built into like controlling the process.
Elena Bondwell:Absolutely. That's the improved process control and quality assurance aspect. Many systems have real time monitoring. You can program specific parameters. They have feedback loops.
Lucas Adheron:So they check themselves.
Elena Bondwell:Pretty much. They track accuracy, the volume dispensed, where it's going, minimizing defects proactively. It's like having a quality inspector built right into the machine. And let's not forget safety and ergonomics. Automating this stuff means fewer people direct handling potentially hazardous chemicals. And it saves workers from the strain of doing the same repetitive motion over and over all day. Big ergonomic benefit.
Lucas Adheron:Okay. And you mentioned miniaturization earlier.
Elena Bondwell:Yes. That's a critical point. This equipment is a foundational technology enabling miniaturization.
Lucas Adheron:How?
Elena Bondwell:It allows for these incredibly intricate patterns dispensing tiny, tiny dots of adhesive, sometimes as small as 300 microns.
Lucas Adheron:How small is 300 microns?
Elena Bondwell:Smaller than a grain Wow. Wow. 300 microns. Yeah. That's practically microscopic
Lucas Adheron:gluing. It really is transformative, isn't it? Not just sticking things, but enabling entirely new designs. It's clear these systems are critical, driving efficiency and precision. But it's easy to forget how recent some of this is. I mean, you mentioned Neanderthals making tar.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah, the very early days.
Lucas Adheron:And now we're talking nanoliter precision. How did we get from A to B? What did that journey look like?
Elena Bondwell:It's quite a story. So, yeah, the ancient origins, evidence goes back maybe 200,000 years. Neanderthals birchbark tar for tools. Later, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans used plant resins, beeswax. even compound adhesive 70,000 years ago. But the key thing was, it was all manual. Inherently limited in consistency,
Lucas Adheron:speed. Right. Slow and probably messy.
Elena Bondwell:Pretty much. Then came the Industrial Revolution and early mechanization. The 20th century brought pressure-sensitive adhesives, think sticky notes. Stan Avery patented a self-adhesive labeling machine in 1935. Paul Cope invented thermoplastic hot melt in the 40s, but it wasn't very precise back then. The real game changer, arguably, was George Shultz inventing the polygon in 1954 The
Lucas Adheron:first industrial glue gun?
Elena Bondwell:Essentially, yes. Yeah. 3M bought the tech in 73. Around the same time, mid-60s, Nordson got into making equipment specifically for these new hot melt adhesives.
Lucas Adheron:So things started speeding up.
Elena Bondwell:They did. And in the late 20th century, we see the rise of automated and semi-automated systems. This is where pneumatic electromechanical systems come in. Much more control, better efficiency, safer. Right. Companies like PVA founded in 92, jumped in, building XYZ robots. Those are robots moving in three dimensions, X, Y, and Z axis. And they started sold their first automated system that year. By 94, they had the PBA 2000 for selective conformal coding. That's like a tiny, precise raincoat for circuit boards using closed loop servo control for accuracy.
Lucas Adheron:So the machines started getting smarter.
Elena Bondwell:Definitely. And this era also brought revolutionary jetting technology, non-contact application. Think 330 adhesive drops per second.
Lucas Adheron:Per second.
Elena Bondwell:Per second. And volumes as small as two nanoliters.
Lucas Adheron:Two billionths of a liter. That's... That's almost nothing. The precision just exploded.
Elena Bondwell:It really did. Which brings us pretty much up to date. The 21st century and the transition to smart automation and industry 4.0 integration.
Lucas Adheron:Right. The current era.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah. Designed by digital tech, IoT-enabled smart systems, data analytics, AI, things like Loctite Pulse for real-time monitoring. These machines aren't just precise anymore. They're becoming intelligent.
Lucas Adheron:It's incredible, that acceleration. You're absolutely right. This isn't just gluing. It's serious precision engineering. So looking at today, right now, how has industry 4.0 really transforming this market? What's the cutting edge?
Elena Bondwell:Well, the dominance of automation and robotics is undeniable. Semi-automatic systems are still the workhorses. Yeah. Holding about 45.65% market share currently.
Lucas Adheron:Oh.
Elena Bondwell:But the trend is clear. Fully robotic in-line systems. They're projected for the highest growth. Nearly 9% CAGR through 2030. Wow. And we're seeing more collaborative robots, co-bots working alongside people. Great for smaller batches. Plus things like robotic taping systems. Robotape is one example, saving a lot of labor and packaging. And the
Lucas Adheron:actual dispensing tech itself, what's new there?
Elena Bondwell:Huge advancements in dispensing technologies. Volumetric systems using a precise screw or pump are still big, reliable, super precise, largest share, over 56%. Okay. But jetting and microdispensing are the fastest growing, over 8.5% growth, driven by that miniaturization trend, needing non-contact nanoliter accuracy, dispensing tiny drops without touching the surface.
Lucas Adheron:Right, like those two nanoliter drops.
Elena Bondwell:Exactly. Exactly. And even more impressive, maybe, are piezojet solutions. Nearly 10% growth there. Systems like Nordson's Vulcan Jet use tiny electrical pulses.
Lucas Adheron:Piezo, like in speakers.
Elena Bondwell:Similar principle, yeah. To eject adhesive incredibly fast. Response times like 0.8 milliseconds. Faster than blinking. It basically eliminates problems like stringing or dripping, perfect dots every time.
Lucas Adheron:Incredible.
Elena Bondwell:And yeah, even older tech, like pneumatic systems are still significant, around 40% share. Plus other methods like time pressure, dispensing, screen printing.
Lucas Adheron:So it feels like the intelligence, the software side, is becoming just as important as the mechanics.
Elena Bondwell:Precisely. That's the integration of smart technologies. It's huge. The connectivity, the data, it's as critical as the physical precision now.
Lucas Adheron:Like the IoT stuff you
Elena Bondwell:mentioned. Yeah. IoT systems like Loctite Pulse for remote monitoring, vision-guided systems using cameras for pinpoint accuracy.
Lucas Adheron:How accurate.
Elena Bondwell:We're seeing crazy numbers. Unity gantry cells claiming plus or minus 0.02 million That's insane. That's insane. That's the new battleground really.
Lucas Adheron:Makes sense. What about sustainability? Is that pushing innovation too?
Elena Bondwell:Oh, big time. Sustainability and eco-friendly solutions are major drivers. You've got regulatory pressure like EU rules on producer responsibility.
Lucas Adheron:Right.
Elena Bondwell:Pushing innovations like melt systems without the big heated tanks. Valcomelton's Melt on Demand is an example. They claim up to 30% energy savings, 50% less adhesive use. That really cuts the total cost of ownership.
Lucas Adheron:And using greener adhesives.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah. Growing demand for equipment that works well with biodegradable or low VOC adhesives, reducing that environmental footprint.
Lucas Adheron:And are specific industries driving particular innovations?
Elena Bondwell:Absolutely. Innovations driven by specific application needs. Take EV battery assembly. That needs micrometer level accuracy for bonding cells, applying fireproof coatings.
Lucas Adheron:High stakes stuff.
Elena Bondwell:Totally. Electronics miniaturization pushes those jetting technologies for nanoliter deposits in chip packaging. Medical devices. They rely on super precise nanoliter to So with all this
Lucas Adheron:dynamism, who are the key players? Who's actually making this equipment?
Elena Bondwell:It's a mix of big established names and specialized innovators. Among the leading manufacturers, you've got giants like Nordsen Corporation. They're huge, especially in hot melt systems like their PIO Nexus jetting platform. Big in packaging, automotive. Henkel, famous for Loctite adhesives. They also do dispensing gear, including cobot cells now. Ditto Peg Group are specialists in metering and mixing, especially for reactive resins. Graco has a wide range, including dedicated EV battery platforms. Right. Dymax focuses on contaminant-free valves, Valcomelton, strong and hot melt, known for those tankless systems, PVA, specializing in dispensing, coding, custom automation, their XYZ robots.
Lucas Adheron:Lots of familiar names in manufacturing.
Elena Bondwell:Yeah. And you see strategic moves, too, like acquisitions to gain specific expertise, maybe a micro-dispensing for medical tech. It shows consolidation, but also this drive for deep specialization.
Lucas Adheron:And the industry is using this. You've mentioned a few, but it sounds like it's everywhere.
Elena Bondwell:Pretty much. The industries served are incredibly diverse. Automotive and e-mobility Okay. Right. Right.
Lucas Adheron:And others.
Elena Bondwell:Oh, yeah. Construction, consumer goods, appliances, aerospace, woodworking, telecoms, lighting. The list goes on. It's genuinely fundamental across manufacturing.
Lucas Adheron:An astonishingly broad reach. Okay, let's pull back for the bigger picture. What's the road ahead look like? And are there any major bumps in that road?
Elena Bondwell:Well, the global market size and forecast looks strong, as we said. Asia-Pacific is the dominant region, almost 40% share in 2024.
Lucas Adheron:Driven by manufacturing growth there.
Elena Bondwell:Exactly. China, India. And it's also projected to be the fastest growing region, over 8% CAGR. North America and Europe are still very significant markets, of course.
Lucas Adheron:And the main drivers pushing that growth?
Elena Bondwell:The key growth drivers really recap our discussion. It's automation advancements, the push for manufacturing efficiency, demand for lightweight materials, the shift to eco-friendly adhesives, and just continuous tech innovation in these smart systems. Plus, growth in those key end-use sectors, auto, electronics, medical, just pulls the dispensing market along with it.
Lucas Adheron:So it sounds like a clear path forward, but it can't all be plain sailing, right? What are the challenges manufacturers face when adopting or using this tech?
Elena Bondwell:That's a really good point. It's not without its hurdles. A big one is the high initial cost.
Lucas Adheron:Yeah, I bet these machines aren't cheap.
Elena Bondwell:Not at all. The upfront capital needed for sophisticated automated systems can be a major barrier, especially for smaller companies trying to upgrade. It's the machine, the software integrating it. It adds up.
Lucas Adheron:Okay. What else?
Elena Bondwell:Integration complexities. Just dropping a new automated system into an existing production line. It takes planning time. You might have downtime during setup. It's not always just plug and play.
Lucas Adheron:So even with all this automation, you still need the people, the planning.
Elena Bondwell:It's
Lucas Adheron:not just set and forget.
Elena Bondwell:Definitely not. Which leads to the need for ongoing maintenance and training. Operators need to know how to run and optimize these complex systems. And the equipment needs regular, careful upkeep. That adds to the operational cost. It's like owning a high-performance car, amazing capability, but needs skilled mechanics and regular tuning.
Lucas Adheron:Good analogy. Any other headaches?
Elena Bondwell:Well, the adhesives themselves can cause issues. Variability in adhesive properties, different viscosities, how they behave at different temperatures. Getting consistent results can be tricky, especially, say, with epoxies in cold conditions. And just basic operational issues can still crop up. Leaking valves, getting air bubbles trapped in the lines, inconsistent deposit sizes. These things can still cause frustrating slowdowns and quality problems that need constant monitoring.
Lucas Adheron:What an incredible journey we've taken, though. From ancient tar and beeswax to these hyper-precise intelligent systems, adhesive dispensing really has shifted from just sticking things to enabling genuine precision engineering. It underpins so much.
Elena Bondwell:It absolutely does. And its continuous evolution means it's not just a manufacturing tool anymore. It's a critical enabler of innovation across so many sectors. It contributes hugely to product quality, operational efficiency, and even environmental goals. And this raises an important question, I think. Go on. Consider this. As this technology gets ever more precise, smarter, more integrated, it's moving beyond just being a tool for making things, towards being a strategic enabler. So how might these expanding capabilities fundamentally reshape the design possibilities for products of the future? Could it allow for totally new kinds of innovation, things we maybe can't even properly imagine yet?
