The next time you’re in a car, take a close look at the many different materials inside and outside that are bonded together.

The concept of using helical threaded fastening dates back many centuries. Nearly as old is the consequential search for a means of keeping these same fasteners secure until removal is required.

The global automotive coatings, adhesives, and sealants market is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.59% from 2013 to 2018, according to “The Global Automotive Coatings, Adhesives, and Sealants Market 2014-2018,” a recent report from TechNavio.

Researchers have identified a number of global trends that will have an impact on the adhesive business. One major trend is to use energy more efficiently—both to protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions and from a basic cost-of-energy standpoint.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) recently released the “2014 Fuel Economy Guide.”

2013 can only be characterized as the first year in the recent past where all was quiet on the front lines of the adhesives and sealants industry—especially as compared to the significant volatility the industry has been experiencing since the beginning of the 2008 recession.

Adhesive bonding can be used to assemble identical materials or materials of different types; the purpose of such an assembly is to transfer mechanical loads in a given environment.