Automotive adhesive tapes are lighter than mechanical fasteners such as screws and fasteners and simplify the automobile manufacturing process. The global automotive adhesive tapes market was valued at $8.7 billion in 2020 and is expected to account for $13.8 billion by 2028.

In collaboration with ChileGlobal Ventures, the venture capital arm of Fundación Chile, Henkel Chile has launched the global Seal the Cycle initiative to find technological solutions for plastic waste. The goal of the initiative is innovation in separating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from silicone waste to enable the recycling of cartridges that cannot currently be reprocessed.

ViscoTec recently introduced cartridge applicators featuring Festo pneumatic control modules for the exact and clean feeding of adhesives, pastes, and silicones of different viscosities. 

Room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicones are well-known for their extreme durability. They are convenient one-component sealants that cure by reaction with moisture from the atmosphere.

The Research Council of Norway has granted Elkem NOK 16 (approximately $1.8 million) to develop a new concept for silicon production where all direct carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are eliminated. 

Wacker Chemie AG recently presented its new sustainable development goals to investors and analysts at an online Capital Market Day that took place December 16, 2021. 

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) offer easy application and secure bonding, including adhering wound care dressings to skin. Skin is a variable substrate, however, and consideration must be given to various skin types to ensure dressings can be securely attached and easily removed without skin damage. 

When someone mentions medical adhesives, the first thought that often comes to mind is skin adhesion. It’s understandable, since nearly everyone has worn some type of medical adhesive product—from a simple bandage to an electrode, athletic tape, IV cover, and so on. However, an entire world of medical adhesives goes unnoticed by many: diagnostics.

Is your company experiencing similar challenges? How are you addressing them? Please reach out to me at suttons@bnpmedia.com to share your thoughts.