Adhesive Melters Defined

The deposition of thermoplastic (hot-melt) adhesives is the preferred method for carton sealing, case sealing, tray forming, pallet stabilization and a host of other packaging applications.

Typically, hot-melt adhesives are manually fed (automated systems are available for higher volume operations) into the tank or hopper of an adhesive melter. As the adhesive is heated and melted, it is pumped through hoses from the tank to a dispensing gun where it is applied to the package.

Beyond basic functionality, packagers should consider specific requirements that will impact their choice of melter, including the following.

  • Adhesive type
  • Packaging application
  • Line speed requirements
  • Overall production environment

A variety of melters with a choice of system controls, melt styles, tank capacities, pump types and output connections are readily available to today's packagers. This article describes the benefits of each style and option in order to assist packagers in choosing the melter best suited to their operation.

At-a-glance graphic interface.

System Controls

System control systems have advanced dramatically since the introduction of hot-melt dispensing systems in the mid-1960s. Today's melters are available with control packages ranging from simple on/off switches to programmable systems that monitor and control multiple temperature zones, production speeds, and communication interfaces.

Touch-screen controls.
Complementing these technological advances, packagers can benefit from selecting melters that feature:
  • At-a-glance graphic interfaces
  • Touch-screen controls
  • Intuitive controls that allow operators to monitor, ready, fault, service and temperature status for the melter tank, hose and gun, with minimal training and language ability


Intuitive control panel.
Programming and communication features allow packagers to choose options ranging from one operator controlling a single melter to Fieldbus connectivity (EtherNet/IP, PROFIBUS-DP, DeviceNet), where programming and monitoring of multiple melters on multiple production lines in different geographic locations can be accomplished from a central production control room.

Three-sided access allows for easier filling and cleaner operation.

Adhesive Melting Methods

There are three basic ways to melt adhesives. Choosing the right one for your application can increase efficiency and reduce overall operating costs.

Tank-style melters typically use cast-in heaters that heat all tank surfaces. Heaters located in the bottom of tanks, begin melting adhesive at the tank floor. Heat is conducted up the sides of the tanks, which helps to maintain consistent adhesive temperature. Tank-style melters are characterized by an open design that supports the widest variety of adhesive shapes and sizes. Tank designs now feature shapes that minimize corners where adhesive can become trapped and degrade, as well as non-stick surfaces for easier cleaning. Three-sided accessibility to the tank is an important consideration, allowing easy tank filling while minimizing spillage and adhesive waste.

Grid and reservoir melter.
Grid and reservoir melters incorporate a heated grid and reservoir at the bottom of a hopper. A grid and reservoir melter accommodates higher melt rate demands than tank melters. Gravity feeding of adhesive, larger heated surface areas and higher wattage heaters allow increased throughput. These melters support a range of materials, including high-performance adhesives. Adhesive placed in the hopper heats on the grid; as molten adhesive passes down into the reservoir, solid adhesive moves down from the hopper onto the grid and begins heating.

Curved shape minimizes trapped adhesive.
Non-stick surfaces and larger hopper openings have increased the maintenance efficiency of grid and reservoir melters in recent years. In applications where plastic boxes or cartons are made, packagers can choose bulk, pail or drum melters. These melters use round, heated platens that fit into bulk adhesive containers from 5-gal/20-liter pails up to 55-gal/200-liter drums. Melted material is forced from the center of the platen into a pump. Platen surfaces are non-stick but vary by surface type. Smooth-surface platens are ideal for reactive (PUR) adhesives, providing an uninterrupted flow and preventing stagnation and premature curing of reactive adhesives. An axially finned surface design on the platen provides increased melt surface area and higher melt rates.

Bulk melter.

Tank/Hopper Capacities

Packaging operations and applications ranging from agricultural manual packing to high-speed, high-volume beverage packaging can require adhesive melters with tank capacities as small as a few ounces (hand held) or as great as 200 lbs. Tank capacity requirements are primarily determined by the amount of adhesive that must be melted and pumped in a given period of time (throughput rate).

Smooth platen.
Operations with high throughput rates require melters with larger tanks in order to decrease the frequency of filling. Inadequate melter tank size in a high-throughput operation will require frequent filling and can result in poor bonding performance due to thermal shock (insufficient time for the adhesive in the tank to reach optimal processing temperature). In addition, labor costs can rise as operators spend more time filling melter tanks.

Axial finned platen.
If too large a melter tank is chosen for the required throughput of the packaging operation, the adhesive can experience numerous cycles of heating and cooling, negatively impacting adhesive integrity and reducing bond strength. Adhesive that is heated too long before being pumped also creates "char" that can cause nozzle clogging and additional maintenance problems downstream from the melter.

Spur gear pump.

Pump Types

The level of precision required in your packaging operation best determines the pump style of your adhesive melter. Choosing the right melter and pump style can have a positive impact on the output capabilities and efficiency of your adhesive dispensing.

Selection of pump type is contingent upon operational requirements including:

  • Continuous or intermittent adhesive output
  • Adhesive type
  • Adhesive viscosity ranges
  • Output precision required
  • Amount of filler in the adhesive
  • User preferences

Additionally, pump sizes can be specified for various outputs. In some instances, multiple pumps are used to meet high output requirements or to provide a variety of output rates from a single melter.

Piston pumps use an air piston to move a hydraulic plunger, and can be either single- or dual-action. They provide constant pressure with variable flow and are widely used for intermittent dispensing applications, making them ideal for most packaging operations. The piston pump is also conducive for use with corrosive and abrasive materials as it allows more adhesive to pass through. Choosing a melter with automatic pressure discharge (APD) will allow pressure to be discharged into the tank in seconds, providing superior safety for operators.

Spur gear pumps employ counter-rotating gears to deliver variable pressure and constant adhesive flow. The gears create positive displacement for precise metering of material. Spur gear pumps accommodate a range of material viscosities and are ideally suited for applications that require high-speed output, like beverage packaging. Spur gear pumps are commonly coupled with variable-speed drives to provide flexibility and synchronization of output to production line speeds when necessary.

Geroter pump melter with manual dispensing gun.
Gerotor pumps also use positive displacement to move materials but are less expensive and less precise than spur gear types. Additional clearance between the gerotor gears, as compared to spur gears, allows more adhesive to pass through, making gerotor pumps ideal for continuous output and the handling of abrasive adhesives. Gerotor pumps are not hydraulic and do not require factory air, making them ideal for many agricultural, lower-volume, and manual packaging operations. Gerotor pumps typically use constant-speed drives to provide steady, consistent output pressures.

Additional Options

Melters can be customized with a variety of options to increase operating efficiency or meet specific manufacturing requirements. Options can be as simple as adding casters (for increased mobility) or a light tower (for more visible system monitoring), to more complex, such as specialized communication systems that integrate with parent machinery. Today's melter designs and technology make it possible to equip the simplest manual applicators or the most complex of machines with a variety of interface and operational capabilities.

Looking to the Future

While almost any adhesive melter will melt and pump adhesive safely, choosing the correct melter for your packaging application can boost the productivity of a packaging line/operation, reduce adhesive costs and waste, minimize maintenance and downtime, provide better bonding and sealing of packages, and provide the flexibility to meet multiple packing application requirements.

For more information, contact Nordson Corp., 11475 Lakefield Drive, Duluth, GA 30097; phone (800) 683-2314; or visit http://www.nordson.com .

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