Nordson completes tests on OptiBond Solution for package sealing, claims modulated, intermittent hot melt adhesive dispensing can reduce adhesive requirement by 30%

Wendy Lisney

DULUTH, Georgia , May 14, 2012 (press release) – Nordson has completed a series of comprehensive adhesive optimization and bond strength tests that have validated the effectiveness of modulated, intermittent hot melt adhesive dispensing for package sealing.

New testing by Nordson Corporation (Nasdaq: NDSN) validates that the company’s new OptiBond Solution for package sealing applications enables customers to reduce their adhesive requirements by up to 30 percent while maintaining the same bond strength achieved with more traditional solutions.

Specifically, Nordson has completed a series of comprehensive adhesive optimization and bond strength tests that have validated the effectiveness of modulated, intermittent hot melt adhesive dispensing for package sealing. The tests have confirmed that bond strength is greatest at the beginning and the end of each adhesive bead. Replacing longer adhesive beads with more frequent, shorter, intermittent beads increases the number of beginning and end points, therefore improving bond strength. As a result, packagers can use shorter beads and less adhesive to attain bonding equal to that of longer beads that use a greater volume of adhesive.

As part of its testing, Nordson employed commercial bond testing equipment to compare the strength of two different one-eighth inch (0.125) diameter adhesive beads. Two-inch long beads at .115 grams adhesive volume produced an average bond strength of 8.58 lbf/g (peak load). Shorter, 0.35-inch beads with 0.20-inch spaces in between, covering a two-inch area and using only 0.80 grams of adhesive produced an average of 101-percent of the bond strength of the two-inch beads (8.68 lbf/g). Total average adhesive use was reduced 29 to 30 percent using the shorter, spaced beads.

“The idea of using less adhesive while maintaining bond strength and integrity is counter-intuitive to the traditional thinking that more adhesive is better,” said Duane Fisher, marketing manager, packaging at Nordson. “Our tests have verified that by applying shorter, intermittent adhesive beads, which can be accomplished using our OptiBond solution, packagers can use less adhesive and still maintain bond strength and package integrity.”

The OptiBond solution employs patented Nordson MiniBlue® II pneumatic dispensing guns, Nordson Saturn® Platinum (SP) solenoid valves and a pattern control device to replace longer, continuous adhesive beads with shorter, intermittent beads.

MiniBlue II guns provide the longest life of any pneumatic applicator available to the packaging industry. Long life is critical as increasing the number of adhesive beads requires increased on/off cycling that causes other adhesive applicators to wear out and be replaced frequently, increasing downtime, labor and parts costs. MiniBlue II guns also feature patented hydraulic seal technology that produces service life capability of over 100 million cycles with consistent, no-drift/variation at speeds as fast as two milliseconds.

Saturn Platinum (SP) solenoid valves also deliver long life. Unlike competitive products, the SP solenoid valves do not require the additional cost and wear-and-tear of an electrical spike driver to achieve modulated, intermittent bead, dispensing speeds.

A new OptiBond white paper discusses how new technology contributes extending the mileage of adhesive and details results from recent adhesive use and bond strength tests.

The OptiBond Solutions video compares standard adhesive bead dispensing to modulated, intermittent bead dispensing.

For more information about Nordson OptiBond Solutions, contact Nordson toll-free at (800) 683-2314, fax toll-free (866) 667-3329 or visit http://www.nordson.com/hotmelt.

Nordson Corporation delivers precision technology solutions that help customers increase speed, productivity and up-time, enable new products and features, and decrease material usage. The company engineers, manufactures and markets differentiated products and systems used for dispensing adhesives, coatings, sealants, biomaterials and other materials, fluid management, testing and inspection, and UV curing and surface plasma treatment, all supported by application expertise and direct global sales and service. Nordson serves a wide variety of consumer non-durable, durable and technology end markets including packaging, nonwovens, electronics, medical, appliances, energy, transportation, building and construction, and general product assembly and finishing. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, the company has operations and support offices in more than 30 countries. Visit Nordson at http://www.nordson.com, twitter.com/Nordson_Corp, or Facebook.com/Nordson.

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