August 4, 2025 • 17 mins
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.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lucas Adheron (00:00):
Welcome to the Deep Dive.
Today we're tackling a topicthat might seem a bit niche at
first glance, but it's actually,well, Holding our modern world
together, quite literally.
Elena Bondwell (00:12):
That's a good way to put it.
Lucas Adheron (00:13):
We're talking about adhesive dispensing
equipment.
We've got a whole stack ofmarket reports, research
snippets here.
And our mission, really, is topull out the key insights, maybe
some surprising facts, and showyou just how far this tech has
come.
It's way beyond just, you know,simple gluing these days.
Elena Bondwell (00:30):
Oh, absolutely.
It's precision engineering now.
Lucas Adheron (00:32):
Right.
So when you think about modernmanufacturing...
maybe robots assembling cars,intricate circuits.
Elena Bondwell (00:39):
Yeah, the high-tech stuff.
Lucas Adheron (00:40):
Exactly.
But have you ever reallystopped to think about the bib
that actually sticks all thosecomponents together?
This equipment, often kind ofhidden in the background, It's
indispensable.
Elena Bondwell (00:50):
It really is crucial.
We're talking about applyingadhesives, sealants, various
fluids with incredible precisionand efficiency.
It's not just about sticking Ato B.
Yeah.
No, it's fundamental foroptimizing the whole production
workflow.
And importantly, ensuring thefinal product is reliable has
integrity.
Okay.
Honestly, without this level ofprecision, a lot of the
(01:12):
complex, miniaturized things weuse every day, they just
wouldn't be manufacturable.
Not at scale, anyway.
Lucas Adheron (01:17):
And when we say foundational, this This isn't
some tiny corner of theindustrial world.
The market right now, 2024, isvalued at around 37.1 billion
U.S.
dollars.
Elena Bondwell (01:27):
Yeah, it's substantial.
Lucas Adheron (01:28):
To give you some context, that's bigger than the
entire global market for drones.
Elena Bondwell (01:33):
Yeah.
Lucas Adheron (01:33):
Just quietly holding everything together.
Your phone, airplane wings.
Elena Bondwell (01:37):
It's a silent giant, definitely.
And it's not standing still.
The growth projections arereally robust.
Lucas Adheron (01:42):
Like what?
Elena Bondwell (01:43):
Well, estimates vary a bit depending on the
analysis, but we're seeingfigures 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 (02:01):
Wow.
So multiple reports arepointing towards solid growth.
Elena Bondwell (02:04):
Exactly.
And it highlights thisfundamental shift, you know?
Manufacturers movingstrategically from manual, often
inconsistent, app towards theseprecision-controlled automated
systems.
It's become a core part ofcompeting effectively.
Lucas Adheron (02:19):
Okay, so let's unpack that.
Why the boom?
What are the actual practicalbenefits driving this expansion?
Elena Bondwell (02:26):
Well, there are quite a few compelling reasons.
I think number one has to beprecision and consistency.
Right.
Automated systems just deliveramazing accuracy.
And it's not just about makingthings slightly better.
It actually enables productsthat you physically couldn't
make reliably before.
Lucas Adheron (02:41):
Like what sort of accuracy are we talking?
Elena Bondwell (02:43):
We're talking micron level.
hitting a target the width of ahuman hair.
Lucas Adheron (02:48):
Seriously.
Elena Bondwell (02:49):
Seriously.
And that's absolutely vital inelectronics, you know, where the
tiniest blob of misplacedadhesive can cause a major
failure.
Or think about aerospace.
Automotive bond integrity isliterally a safety issue there.
Lucas Adheron (03:02):
That's incredible.
So it's not just improvingthings, it's enabling totally
new things.
Elena Bondwell (03:06):
Exactly that.
And tied very closely to thatis increased efficiency and
productivity.
Lucas Adheron (03:10):
Makes sense.
Robots are faster.
Elena Bondwell (03:11):
Much faster than manual methods, yeah.
But it's also about reduceddowntime, maximizing throughput
because these systems can oftenrun 24-7 continuously.
That feeds straight to thebottom line.
Lucas Adheron (03:23):
Higher output, more profit.
Elena Bondwell (03:25):
Precisely.
And another huge one is reducedwaste and cost savings.
Lucas Adheron (03:31):
How so?
Elena Bondwell (03:31):
Because the equipment is so precise, it
dispenses exactly the amountneeded, no more, no less.
That drastically cuts down onmaterial costs, which is a big
deal when you're usingexpensive, high-performance
adhesives.
And it ties into sustainabilitygoals, too.
Less waste is always good.
Lucas Adheron (03:51):
Yeah, that's a big driver these days.
Elena Bondwell (03:52):
Definitely.
And all of this contributes toenhanced product quality and
durability.
If the adhesive is appliedconsistently and precisely every
single time.
Lucas Adheron (04:01):
You get stronger, more reliable bonds.
Elena Bondwell (04:03):
Exactly.
Products last longer.
They meet tough qualitystandards more easily.
And you reduce the risk ofthose really costly product
recalls.
Lucas Adheron (04:10):
And are the machines themselves pretty
flexible?
Can they handle different gluesand stuff?
Elena Bondwell (04:14):
Oh, yeah.
Versatility and adaptabilityare key.
Modern kit can handle a massiverange of adhesive types.
Everything from like super thinepoxies to really thick, goopy
hot melts.
And they can do different jobstoo.
Bonding, sealing gaps, applyingprotective coatings, potting
electronics to shield them.
(04:35):
Very adaptable.
Lucas Adheron (04:37):
It sounds like there's a lot of smarts built
into like controlling theprocess.
Elena Bondwell (04:41):
Absolutely.
That's the improved processcontrol and quality assurance
aspect.
Many systems have real timemonitoring.
You can program specificparameters.
They have feedback loops.
Lucas Adheron (04:51):
So they check themselves.
Elena Bondwell (04:52):
Pretty much.
They track accuracy, the volumedispensed, where it's going,
minimizing defects proactively.
It's like having a qualityinspector built right into the
machine.
And let's not forget safety andergonomics.
Automating this stuff meansfewer people direct handling
potentially hazardous chemicals.
And it saves workers from thestrain of doing the same
repetitive motion over and overall day.
(05:14):
Big ergonomic benefit.
Lucas Adheron (05:16):
Okay.
And you mentionedminiaturization earlier.
Elena Bondwell (05:18):
Yes.
That's a critical point.
This equipment is afoundational technology enabling
miniaturization.
Lucas Adheron (05:24):
How?
Elena Bondwell (05:25):
It allows for these incredibly intricate
patterns dispensing tiny, tinydots of adhesive, sometimes as
small as 300 microns.
Lucas Adheron (05:33):
How small is 300 microns?
Elena Bondwell (05:35):
Smaller than a grain Wow.
Wow.
300 microns.
Yeah.
That's practically microscopic
Lucas Adheron (05:57):
gluing.
It really is transformative,isn't it?
Not just sticking things, butenabling entirely new designs.
It's clear these systems arecritical, driving efficiency and
precision.
But it's easy to forget howrecent some of this is.
I mean, you mentionedNeanderthals making tar.
Elena Bondwell (06:11):
Yeah, the very early days.
Lucas Adheron (06:12):
And now we're talking nanoliter precision.
How did we get from A to B?
What did that journey looklike?
Elena Bondwell (06:17):
It's quite a story.
So, yeah, the ancient origins,evidence goes back maybe 200,000
years.
Neanderthals birchbark tar fortools.
Later, Egyptians, Greeks,Romans used plant resins,
beeswax.
even compound adhesive 70,000years ago.
But the key thing was, it wasall manual.
Inherently limited inconsistency,
Lucas Adheron (06:36):
speed.
Right.
Slow and probably messy.
Elena Bondwell (06:39):
Pretty much.
Then came the IndustrialRevolution and early
mechanization.
The 20th century broughtpressure-sensitive adhesives,
think sticky notes.
Stan Avery patented aself-adhesive labeling machine
in 1935.
Paul Cope inventedthermoplastic hot melt in the
40s, but it wasn't very preciseback then.
The real game changer,arguably, was George Shultz
(07:00):
inventing the polygon in 1954The
Lucas Adheron (07:02):
first industrial glue gun?
Elena Bondwell (07:03):
Essentially, yes.
Yeah.
3M bought the tech in 73.
Around the same time, mid-60s,Nordson got into making
equipment specifically for thesenew hot melt adhesives.
Lucas Adheron (07:12):
So things started speeding up.
Elena Bondwell (07:14):
They did.
And in the late 20th century,we see the rise of automated and
semi-automated systems.
This is where pneumaticelectromechanical systems come
in.
Much more control, betterefficiency, safer.
Right.
Companies like PVA founded in92, jumped in, building XYZ
robots.
Those are robots moving inthree dimensions, X, Y, and Z
axis.
And they started sold theirfirst automated system that
year.
By 94, they had the PBA 2000for selective conformal coding.
(07:38):
That's like a tiny, preciseraincoat for circuit boards
using closed loop servo controlfor accuracy.
Lucas Adheron (07:43):
So the machines started getting smarter.
Elena Bondwell (07:45):
Definitely.
And this era also broughtrevolutionary jetting
technology, non-contactapplication.
Think 330 adhesive drops persecond.
Lucas Adheron (07:56):
Per second.
Elena Bondwell (07:56):
Per second.
And volumes as small as twonanoliters.
Lucas Adheron (07:59):
Two billionths of a liter.
That's...
That's almost nothing.
The precision just exploded.
Elena Bondwell (08:04):
It really did.
Which brings us pretty much upto date.
The 21st century and thetransition to smart automation
and industry 4.0 integration.
Lucas Adheron (08:12):
Right.
The current era.
Elena Bondwell (08:13):
Yeah.
Designed by digital tech,IoT-enabled smart systems, data
analytics, AI, things likeLoctite Pulse for real-time
monitoring.
These machines aren't justprecise anymore.
They're becoming intelligent.
Lucas Adheron (08:23):
It's incredible, that acceleration.
You're absolutely right.
This isn't just gluing.
It's serious precisionengineering.
So looking at today, right now,how has industry 4.0 really
transforming this market?
What's the cutting edge?
Elena Bondwell (08:35):
Well, the dominance of automation and
robotics is undeniable.
Semi-automatic systems arestill the workhorses.
Yeah.
Holding about 45.65% marketshare currently.
Lucas Adheron (08:44):
Oh.
Elena Bondwell (08:44):
But the trend is clear.
Fully robotic in-line systems.
They're projected for thehighest growth.
Nearly 9% CAGR through 2030.
Wow.
And we're seeing morecollaborative robots, co-bots
working alongside people.
Great for smaller batches.
Plus things like robotic tapingsystems.
Robotape is one example, savinga lot of labor and packaging.
(09:05):
And the
Lucas Adheron (09:06):
actual dispensing tech itself, what's new there?
Elena Bondwell (09:08):
Huge advancements in dispensing
technologies.
Volumetric systems using aprecise screw or pump are still
big, reliable, super precise,largest share, over 56%.
Okay.
But jetting and microdispensingare the fastest growing, over
8.5% growth, driven by thatminiaturization trend, needing
non-contact nanoliter accuracy,dispensing tiny drops without
(09:29):
touching the surface.
Lucas Adheron (09:29):
Right, like those two nanoliter drops.
Elena Bondwell (09:31):
Exactly.
Exactly.
And even more impressive,maybe, are piezojet solutions.
Nearly 10% growth there.
Systems like Nordson's VulcanJet use tiny electrical pulses.
Lucas Adheron (09:40):
Piezo, like in speakers.
Elena Bondwell (09:42):
Similar principle, yeah.
To eject adhesive incrediblyfast.
Response times like 0.8milliseconds.
Faster than blinking.
It basically eliminatesproblems like stringing or
dripping, perfect dots everytime.
Lucas Adheron (09:54):
Incredible.
Elena Bondwell (09:55):
And yeah, even older tech, like pneumatic
systems are still significant,around 40% share.
Plus other methods like timepressure, dispensing, screen
printing.
Lucas Adheron (10:03):
So it feels like the intelligence, the software
side, is becoming just asimportant as the mechanics.
Elena Bondwell (10:08):
Precisely.
That's the integration of smarttechnologies.
It's huge.
The connectivity, the data,it's as critical as the physical
precision now.
Lucas Adheron (10:16):
Like the IoT stuff you
Elena Bondwell (10:17):
mentioned.
Yeah.
IoT systems like Loctite Pulsefor remote monitoring,
vision-guided systems usingcameras for pinpoint accuracy.
Lucas Adheron (10:25):
How accurate.
Elena Bondwell (10:26):
We're seeing crazy numbers.
Unity gantry cells claimingplus or minus 0.02 million
That's insane.
That's insane.
(10:50):
That's the new battlegroundreally.
Lucas Adheron (10:55):
Makes sense.
What about sustainability?
Is that pushing innovation too?
Elena Bondwell (10:59):
Oh, big time.
Sustainability and eco-friendlysolutions are major drivers.
You've got regulatory pressurelike EU rules on producer
responsibility.
Lucas Adheron (11:07):
Right.
Elena Bondwell (11:08):
Pushing innovations like melt systems
without the big heated tanks.
Valcomelton's Melt on Demand isan example.
They claim up to 30% energysavings, 50% less adhesive use.
That really cuts the total costof ownership.
Lucas Adheron (11:20):
And using greener adhesives.
Elena Bondwell (11:22):
Yeah.
Growing demand for equipmentthat works well with
biodegradable or low VOCadhesives, reducing that
environmental footprint.
Lucas Adheron (11:29):
And are specific industries driving particular
innovations?
Elena Bondwell (11:32):
Absolutely.
Innovations driven by specificapplication needs.
Take EV battery assembly.
That needs micrometer levelaccuracy for bonding cells,
applying fireproof coatings.
Lucas Adheron (11:42):
High stakes stuff.
Elena Bondwell (11:43):
Totally.
Electronics miniaturizationpushes those jetting
technologies for nanoliterdeposits in chip packaging.
Medical devices.
They rely on super precisenanoliter to So with all this
Lucas Adheron (12:06):
dynamism, who are the key players?
Who's actually making thisequipment?
Elena Bondwell (12:10):
It's a mix of big established names and
specialized innovators.
Among the leadingmanufacturers, you've got giants
like Nordsen Corporation.
They're huge, especially in hotmelt systems like their PIO
Nexus jetting platform.
Big in packaging, automotive.
Henkel, famous for Loctiteadhesives.
They also do dispensing gear,including cobot cells now.
Ditto Peg Group are specialistsin metering and mixing,
(12:32):
especially for reactive resins.
Graco has a wide range,including dedicated EV battery
platforms.
Right.
Dymax focuses oncontaminant-free valves,
Valcomelton, strong and hotmelt, known for those tankless
systems, PVA, specializing indispensing, coding, custom
automation, their XYZ robots.
Lucas Adheron (12:50):
Lots of familiar names in manufacturing.
Elena Bondwell (12:51):
Yeah.
And you see strategic moves,too, like acquisitions to gain
specific expertise, maybe amicro-dispensing for medical
tech.
It shows consolidation, butalso this drive for deep
specialization.
Lucas Adheron (13:02):
And the industry is using this.
You've mentioned a few, but itsounds like it's everywhere.
Elena Bondwell (13:06):
Pretty much.
The industries served areincredibly diverse.
Automotive and e-mobility Okay.
Right.
Right.
Lucas Adheron (13:40):
And others.
Elena Bondwell (13:41):
Oh, yeah.
Construction, consumer goods,appliances, aerospace,
woodworking, telecoms, lighting.
The list goes on.
It's genuinely fundamentalacross manufacturing.
Lucas Adheron (13:52):
An astonishingly broad reach.
Okay, let's pull back for thebigger picture.
What's the road ahead looklike?
And are there any major bumpsin that road?
Elena Bondwell (14:01):
Well, the global market size and forecast looks
strong, as we said.
Asia-Pacific is the dominantregion, almost 40% share in
2024.
Lucas Adheron (14:09):
Driven by manufacturing growth there.
Elena Bondwell (14:10):
Exactly.
China, India.
And it's also projected to bethe fastest growing region, over
8% CAGR.
North America and Europe arestill very significant markets,
of course.
Lucas Adheron (14:21):
And the main drivers pushing that growth?
Elena Bondwell (14:23):
The key growth drivers really recap our
discussion.
It's automation advancements,the push for manufacturing
efficiency, demand forlightweight materials, the shift
to eco-friendly adhesives, andjust continuous tech innovation
in these smart systems.
Plus, growth in those keyend-use sectors, auto,
electronics, medical, just pullsthe dispensing market along
(14:44):
with it.
Lucas Adheron (14:44):
So it sounds like a clear path forward, but it
can't all be plain sailing,right?
What are the challengesmanufacturers face when adopting
or using this tech?
Elena Bondwell (14:53):
That's a really good point.
It's not without its hurdles.
A big one is the high initialcost.
Lucas Adheron (14:57):
Yeah, I bet these machines aren't cheap.
Elena Bondwell (14:59):
Not at all.
The upfront capital needed forsophisticated automated systems
can be a major barrier,especially for smaller companies
trying to upgrade.
It's the machine, the softwareintegrating it.
It adds up.
Lucas Adheron (15:11):
Okay.
What else?
Elena Bondwell (15:12):
Integration complexities.
Just dropping a new automatedsystem into an existing
production line.
It takes planning time.
You might have downtime duringsetup.
It's not always just plug andplay.
Lucas Adheron (15:24):
So even with all this automation, you still need
the people, the planning.
Elena Bondwell (15:27):
It's
Lucas Adheron (15:28):
not just set and forget.
Elena Bondwell (15:29):
Definitely not.
Which leads to the need forongoing maintenance and
training.
Operators need to know how torun and optimize these complex
systems.
And the equipment needsregular, careful upkeep.
That adds to the operationalcost.
It's like owning ahigh-performance car, amazing
capability, but needs skilledmechanics and regular tuning.
Lucas Adheron (15:49):
Good analogy.
Any other headaches?
Elena Bondwell (15:50):
Well, the adhesives themselves can cause
issues.
Variability in adhesiveproperties, different
viscosities, how they behave atdifferent temperatures.
Getting consistent results canbe tricky, especially, say, with
epoxies in cold conditions.
And just basic operationalissues can still crop up.
Leaking valves, getting airbubbles trapped in the lines,
inconsistent deposit sizes.
These things can still causefrustrating slowdowns and
(16:13):
quality problems that needconstant monitoring.
Lucas Adheron (16:16):
What an incredible journey we've taken,
though.
From ancient tar and beeswax tothese hyper-precise intelligent
systems, adhesive dispensingreally has shifted from just
sticking things to enablinggenuine precision engineering.
It underpins so much.
Elena Bondwell (16:32):
It absolutely does.
And its continuous evolutionmeans it's not just a
manufacturing tool anymore.
It's a critical enabler ofinnovation across so many
sectors.
It contributes hugely toproduct quality, operational
efficiency, and evenenvironmental goals.
And this raises an importantquestion, I think.
Go on.
Consider this.
As this technology gets evermore precise, smarter, more
integrated, it's moving beyondjust being a tool for making
(16:56):
things, towards being astrategic enabler.
So how might these expandingcapabilities fundamentally
reshape the design possibilitiesfor products of the future?
Could it allow for totally newkinds of innovation, things we
maybe can't even properlyimagine yet?
Welcome to the Deep Dive.
Today we're tackling a topicthat might seem a bit niche at
first glance, but it's actually,well, Holding our modern world
together, quite literally.
Elena Bondwell (00:12):
That's a good way to put it.
Lucas Adheron (00:13):
We're talking about adhesive dispensing
equipment.
We've got a whole stack ofmarket reports, research
snippets here.
And our mission, really, is topull out the key insights, maybe
some surprising facts, and showyou just how far this tech has
come.
It's way beyond just, you know,simple gluing these days.
Elena Bondwell (00:30):
Oh, absolutely.
It's precision engineering now.
Lucas Adheron (00:32):
Right.
So when you think about modernmanufacturing...
maybe robots assembling cars,intricate circuits.
Elena Bondwell (00:39):
Yeah, the high-tech stuff.
Lucas Adheron (00:40):
Exactly.
But have you ever reallystopped to think about the bib
that actually sticks all thosecomponents together?
This equipment, often kind ofhidden in the background, It's
indispensable.
Elena Bondwell (00:50):
It really is crucial.
We're talking about applyingadhesives, sealants, various
fluids with incredible precisionand efficiency.
It's not just about sticking Ato B.
Yeah.
No, it's fundamental foroptimizing the whole production
workflow.
And importantly, ensuring thefinal product is reliable has
integrity.
Okay.
Honestly, without this level ofprecision, a lot of the
(01:12):
complex, miniaturized things weuse every day, they just
wouldn't be manufacturable.
Not at scale, anyway.
Lucas Adheron (01:17):
And when we say foundational, this This isn't
some tiny corner of theindustrial world.
The market right now, 2024, isvalued at around 37.1 billion
U.S.
dollars.
Elena Bondwell (01:27):
Yeah, it's substantial.
Lucas Adheron (01:28):
To give you some context, that's bigger than the
entire global market for drones.
Elena Bondwell (01:33):
Yeah.
Lucas Adheron (01:33):
Just quietly holding everything together.
Your phone, airplane wings.
Elena Bondwell (01:37):
It's a silent giant, definitely.
And it's not standing still.
The growth projections arereally robust.
Lucas Adheron (01:42):
Like what?
Elena Bondwell (01:43):
Well, estimates vary a bit depending on the
analysis, but we're seeingfigures 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 (02:01):
Wow.
So multiple reports arepointing towards solid growth.
Elena Bondwell (02:04):
Exactly.
And it highlights thisfundamental shift, you know?
Manufacturers movingstrategically from manual, often
inconsistent, app towards theseprecision-controlled automated
systems.
It's become a core part ofcompeting effectively.
Lucas Adheron (02:19):
Okay, so let's unpack that.
Why the boom?
What are the actual practicalbenefits driving this expansion?
Elena Bondwell (02:26):
Well, there are quite a few compelling reasons.
I think number one has to beprecision and consistency.
Right.
Automated systems just deliveramazing accuracy.
And it's not just about makingthings slightly better.
It actually enables productsthat you physically couldn't
make reliably before.
Lucas Adheron (02:41):
Like what sort of accuracy are we talking?
Elena Bondwell (02:43):
We're talking micron level.
hitting a target the width of ahuman hair.
Lucas Adheron (02:48):
Seriously.
Elena Bondwell (02:49):
Seriously.
And that's absolutely vital inelectronics, you know, where the
tiniest blob of misplacedadhesive can cause a major
failure.
Or think about aerospace.
Automotive bond integrity isliterally a safety issue there.
Lucas Adheron (03:02):
That's incredible.
So it's not just improvingthings, it's enabling totally
new things.
Elena Bondwell (03:06):
Exactly that.
And tied very closely to thatis increased efficiency and
productivity.
Lucas Adheron (03:10):
Makes sense.
Robots are faster.
Elena Bondwell (03:11):
Much faster than manual methods, yeah.
But it's also about reduceddowntime, maximizing throughput
because these systems can oftenrun 24-7 continuously.
That feeds straight to thebottom line.
Lucas Adheron (03:23):
Higher output, more profit.
Elena Bondwell (03:25):
Precisely.
And another huge one is reducedwaste and cost savings.
Lucas Adheron (03:31):
How so?
Elena Bondwell (03:31):
Because the equipment is so precise, it
dispenses exactly the amountneeded, no more, no less.
That drastically cuts down onmaterial costs, which is a big
deal when you're usingexpensive, high-performance
adhesives.
And it ties into sustainabilitygoals, too.
Less waste is always good.
Lucas Adheron (03:51):
Yeah, that's a big driver these days.
Elena Bondwell (03:52):
Definitely.
And all of this contributes toenhanced product quality and
durability.
If the adhesive is appliedconsistently and precisely every
single time.
Lucas Adheron (04:01):
You get stronger, more reliable bonds.
Elena Bondwell (04:03):
Exactly.
Products last longer.
They meet tough qualitystandards more easily.
And you reduce the risk ofthose really costly product
recalls.
Lucas Adheron (04:10):
And are the machines themselves pretty
flexible?
Can they handle different gluesand stuff?
Elena Bondwell (04:14):
Oh, yeah.
Versatility and adaptabilityare key.
Modern kit can handle a massiverange of adhesive types.
Everything from like super thinepoxies to really thick, goopy
hot melts.
And they can do different jobstoo.
Bonding, sealing gaps, applyingprotective coatings, potting
electronics to shield them.
(04:35):
Very adaptable.
Lucas Adheron (04:37):
It sounds like there's a lot of smarts built
into like controlling theprocess.
Elena Bondwell (04:41):
Absolutely.
That's the improved processcontrol and quality assurance
aspect.
Many systems have real timemonitoring.
You can program specificparameters.
They have feedback loops.
Lucas Adheron (04:51):
So they check themselves.
Elena Bondwell (04:52):
Pretty much.
They track accuracy, the volumedispensed, where it's going,
minimizing defects proactively.
It's like having a qualityinspector built right into the
machine.
And let's not forget safety andergonomics.
Automating this stuff meansfewer people direct handling
potentially hazardous chemicals.
And it saves workers from thestrain of doing the same
repetitive motion over and overall day.
(05:14):
Big ergonomic benefit.
Lucas Adheron (05:16):
Okay.
And you mentionedminiaturization earlier.
Elena Bondwell (05:18):
Yes.
That's a critical point.
This equipment is afoundational technology enabling
miniaturization.
Lucas Adheron (05:24):
How?
Elena Bondwell (05:25):
It allows for these incredibly intricate
patterns dispensing tiny, tinydots of adhesive, sometimes as
small as 300 microns.
Lucas Adheron (05:33):
How small is 300 microns?
Elena Bondwell (05:35):
Smaller than a grain Wow.
Wow.
300 microns.
Yeah.
That's practically microscopic
Lucas Adheron (05:57):
gluing.
It really is transformative,isn't it?
Not just sticking things, butenabling entirely new designs.
It's clear these systems arecritical, driving efficiency and
precision.
But it's easy to forget howrecent some of this is.
I mean, you mentionedNeanderthals making tar.
Elena Bondwell (06:11):
Yeah, the very early days.
Lucas Adheron (06:12):
And now we're talking nanoliter precision.
How did we get from A to B?
What did that journey looklike?
Elena Bondwell (06:17):
It's quite a story.
So, yeah, the ancient origins,evidence goes back maybe 200,000
years.
Neanderthals birchbark tar fortools.
Later, Egyptians, Greeks,Romans used plant resins,
beeswax.
even compound adhesive 70,000years ago.
But the key thing was, it wasall manual.
Inherently limited inconsistency,
Lucas Adheron (06:36):
speed.
Right.
Slow and probably messy.
Elena Bondwell (06:39):
Pretty much.
Then came the IndustrialRevolution and early
mechanization.
The 20th century broughtpressure-sensitive adhesives,
think sticky notes.
Stan Avery patented aself-adhesive labeling machine
in 1935.
Paul Cope inventedthermoplastic hot melt in the
40s, but it wasn't very preciseback then.
The real game changer,arguably, was George Shultz
(07:00):
inventing the polygon in 1954The
Lucas Adheron (07:02):
first industrial glue gun?
Elena Bondwell (07:03):
Essentially, yes.
Yeah.
3M bought the tech in 73.
Around the same time, mid-60s,Nordson got into making
equipment specifically for thesenew hot melt adhesives.
Lucas Adheron (07:12):
So things started speeding up.
Elena Bondwell (07:14):
They did.
And in the late 20th century,we see the rise of automated and
semi-automated systems.
This is where pneumaticelectromechanical systems come
in.
Much more control, betterefficiency, safer.
Right.
Companies like PVA founded in92, jumped in, building XYZ
robots.
Those are robots moving inthree dimensions, X, Y, and Z
axis.
And they started sold theirfirst automated system that
year.
By 94, they had the PBA 2000for selective conformal coding.
(07:38):
That's like a tiny, preciseraincoat for circuit boards
using closed loop servo controlfor accuracy.
Lucas Adheron (07:43):
So the machines started getting smarter.
Elena Bondwell (07:45):
Definitely.
And this era also broughtrevolutionary jetting
technology, non-contactapplication.
Think 330 adhesive drops persecond.
Lucas Adheron (07:56):
Per second.
Elena Bondwell (07:56):
Per second.
And volumes as small as twonanoliters.
Lucas Adheron (07:59):
Two billionths of a liter.
That's...
That's almost nothing.
The precision just exploded.
Elena Bondwell (08:04):
It really did.
Which brings us pretty much upto date.
The 21st century and thetransition to smart automation
and industry 4.0 integration.
Lucas Adheron (08:12):
Right.
The current era.
Elena Bondwell (08:13):
Yeah.
Designed by digital tech,IoT-enabled smart systems, data
analytics, AI, things likeLoctite Pulse for real-time
monitoring.
These machines aren't justprecise anymore.
They're becoming intelligent.
Lucas Adheron (08:23):
It's incredible, that acceleration.
You're absolutely right.
This isn't just gluing.
It's serious precisionengineering.
So looking at today, right now,how has industry 4.0 really
transforming this market?
What's the cutting edge?
Elena Bondwell (08:35):
Well, the dominance of automation and
robotics is undeniable.
Semi-automatic systems arestill the workhorses.
Yeah.
Holding about 45.65% marketshare currently.
Lucas Adheron (08:44):
Oh.
Elena Bondwell (08:44):
But the trend is clear.
Fully robotic in-line systems.
They're projected for thehighest growth.
Nearly 9% CAGR through 2030.
Wow.
And we're seeing morecollaborative robots, co-bots
working alongside people.
Great for smaller batches.
Plus things like robotic tapingsystems.
Robotape is one example, savinga lot of labor and packaging.
(09:05):
And the
Lucas Adheron (09:06):
actual dispensing tech itself, what's new there?
Elena Bondwell (09:08):
Huge advancements in dispensing
technologies.
Volumetric systems using aprecise screw or pump are still
big, reliable, super precise,largest share, over 56%.
Okay.
But jetting and microdispensingare the fastest growing, over
8.5% growth, driven by thatminiaturization trend, needing
non-contact nanoliter accuracy,dispensing tiny drops without
(09:29):
touching the surface.
Lucas Adheron (09:29):
Right, like those two nanoliter drops.
Elena Bondwell (09:31):
Exactly.
Exactly.
And even more impressive,maybe, are piezojet solutions.
Nearly 10% growth there.
Systems like Nordson's VulcanJet use tiny electrical pulses.
Lucas Adheron (09:40):
Piezo, like in speakers.
Elena Bondwell (09:42):
Similar principle, yeah.
To eject adhesive incrediblyfast.
Response times like 0.8milliseconds.
Faster than blinking.
It basically eliminatesproblems like stringing or
dripping, perfect dots everytime.
Lucas Adheron (09:54):
Incredible.
Elena Bondwell (09:55):
And yeah, even older tech, like pneumatic
systems are still significant,around 40% share.
Plus other methods like timepressure, dispensing, screen
printing.
Lucas Adheron (10:03):
So it feels like the intelligence, the software
side, is becoming just asimportant as the mechanics.
Elena Bondwell (10:08):
Precisely.
That's the integration of smarttechnologies.
It's huge.
The connectivity, the data,it's as critical as the physical
precision now.
Lucas Adheron (10:16):
Like the IoT stuff you
Elena Bondwell (10:17):
mentioned.
Yeah.
IoT systems like Loctite Pulsefor remote monitoring,
vision-guided systems usingcameras for pinpoint accuracy.
Lucas Adheron (10:25):
How accurate.
Elena Bondwell (10:26):
We're seeing crazy numbers.
Unity gantry cells claimingplus or minus 0.02 million
That's insane.
That's insane.
(10:50):
That's the new battlegroundreally.
Lucas Adheron (10:55):
Makes sense.
What about sustainability?
Is that pushing innovation too?
Elena Bondwell (10:59):
Oh, big time.
Sustainability and eco-friendlysolutions are major drivers.
You've got regulatory pressurelike EU rules on producer
responsibility.
Lucas Adheron (11:07):
Right.
Elena Bondwell (11:08):
Pushing innovations like melt systems
without the big heated tanks.
Valcomelton's Melt on Demand isan example.
They claim up to 30% energysavings, 50% less adhesive use.
That really cuts the total costof ownership.
Lucas Adheron (11:20):
And using greener adhesives.
Elena Bondwell (11:22):
Yeah.
Growing demand for equipmentthat works well with
biodegradable or low VOCadhesives, reducing that
environmental footprint.
Lucas Adheron (11:29):
And are specific industries driving particular
innovations?
Elena Bondwell (11:32):
Absolutely.
Innovations driven by specificapplication needs.
Take EV battery assembly.
That needs micrometer levelaccuracy for bonding cells,
applying fireproof coatings.
Lucas Adheron (11:42):
High stakes stuff.
Elena Bondwell (11:43):
Totally.
Electronics miniaturizationpushes those jetting
technologies for nanoliterdeposits in chip packaging.
Medical devices.
They rely on super precisenanoliter to So with all this
Lucas Adheron (12:06):
dynamism, who are the key players?
Who's actually making thisequipment?
Elena Bondwell (12:10):
It's a mix of big established names and
specialized innovators.
Among the leadingmanufacturers, you've got giants
like Nordsen Corporation.
They're huge, especially in hotmelt systems like their PIO
Nexus jetting platform.
Big in packaging, automotive.
Henkel, famous for Loctiteadhesives.
They also do dispensing gear,including cobot cells now.
Ditto Peg Group are specialistsin metering and mixing,
(12:32):
especially for reactive resins.
Graco has a wide range,including dedicated EV battery
platforms.
Right.
Dymax focuses oncontaminant-free valves,
Valcomelton, strong and hotmelt, known for those tankless
systems, PVA, specializing indispensing, coding, custom
automation, their XYZ robots.
Lucas Adheron (12:50):
Lots of familiar names in manufacturing.
Elena Bondwell (12:51):
Yeah.
And you see strategic moves,too, like acquisitions to gain
specific expertise, maybe amicro-dispensing for medical
tech.
It shows consolidation, butalso this drive for deep
specialization.
Lucas Adheron (13:02):
And the industry is using this.
You've mentioned a few, but itsounds like it's everywhere.
Elena Bondwell (13:06):
Pretty much.
The industries served areincredibly diverse.
Automotive and e-mobility Okay.
Right.
Right.
Lucas Adheron (13:40):
And others.
Elena Bondwell (13:41):
Oh, yeah.
Construction, consumer goods,appliances, aerospace,
woodworking, telecoms, lighting.
The list goes on.
It's genuinely fundamentalacross manufacturing.
Lucas Adheron (13:52):
An astonishingly broad reach.
Okay, let's pull back for thebigger picture.
What's the road ahead looklike?
And are there any major bumpsin that road?
Elena Bondwell (14:01):
Well, the global market size and forecast looks
strong, as we said.
Asia-Pacific is the dominantregion, almost 40% share in
2024.
Lucas Adheron (14:09):
Driven by manufacturing growth there.
Elena Bondwell (14:10):
Exactly.
China, India.
And it's also projected to bethe fastest growing region, over
8% CAGR.
North America and Europe arestill very significant markets,
of course.
Lucas Adheron (14:21):
And the main drivers pushing that growth?
Elena Bondwell (14:23):
The key growth drivers really recap our
discussion.
It's automation advancements,the push for manufacturing
efficiency, demand forlightweight materials, the shift
to eco-friendly adhesives, andjust continuous tech innovation
in these smart systems.
Plus, growth in those keyend-use sectors, auto,
electronics, medical, just pullsthe dispensing market along
(14:44):
with it.
Lucas Adheron (14:44):
So it sounds like a clear path forward, but it
can't all be plain sailing,right?
What are the challengesmanufacturers face when adopting
or using this tech?
Elena Bondwell (14:53):
That's a really good point.
It's not without its hurdles.
A big one is the high initialcost.
Lucas Adheron (14:57):
Yeah, I bet these machines aren't cheap.
Elena Bondwell (14:59):
Not at all.
The upfront capital needed forsophisticated automated systems
can be a major barrier,especially for smaller companies
trying to upgrade.
It's the machine, the softwareintegrating it.
It adds up.
Lucas Adheron (15:11):
Okay.
What else?
Elena Bondwell (15:12):
Integration complexities.
Just dropping a new automatedsystem into an existing
production line.
It takes planning time.
You might have downtime duringsetup.
It's not always just plug andplay.
Lucas Adheron (15:24):
So even with all this automation, you still need
the people, the planning.
Elena Bondwell (15:27):
It's
Lucas Adheron (15:28):
not just set and forget.
Elena Bondwell (15:29):
Definitely not.
Which leads to the need forongoing maintenance and
training.
Operators need to know how torun and optimize these complex
systems.
And the equipment needsregular, careful upkeep.
That adds to the operationalcost.
It's like owning ahigh-performance car, amazing
capability, but needs skilledmechanics and regular tuning.
Lucas Adheron (15:49):
Good analogy.
Any other headaches?
Elena Bondwell (15:50):
Well, the adhesives themselves can cause
issues.
Variability in adhesiveproperties, different
viscosities, how they behave atdifferent temperatures.
Getting consistent results canbe tricky, especially, say, with
epoxies in cold conditions.
And just basic operationalissues can still crop up.
Leaking valves, getting airbubbles trapped in the lines,
inconsistent deposit sizes.
These things can still causefrustrating slowdowns and
(16:13):
quality problems that needconstant monitoring.
Lucas Adheron (16:16):
What an incredible journey we've taken,
though.
From ancient tar and beeswax tothese hyper-precise intelligent
systems, adhesive dispensingreally has shifted from just
sticking things to enablinggenuine precision engineering.
It underpins so much.
Elena Bondwell (16:32):
It absolutely does.
And its continuous evolutionmeans it's not just a
manufacturing tool anymore.
It's a critical enabler ofinnovation across so many
sectors.
It contributes hugely toproduct quality, operational
efficiency, and evenenvironmental goals.
And this raises an importantquestion, I think.
Go on.
Consider this.
As this technology gets evermore precise, smarter, more
integrated, it's moving beyondjust being a tool for making
(16:56):
things, towards being astrategic enabler.
So how might these expandingcapabilities fundamentally
reshape the design possibilitiesfor products of the future?
Could it allow for totally newkinds of innovation, things we
maybe can't even properlyimagine yet?
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