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The first experiments with electron beams date from as early as 1920 in the U.S., but the first attempts to cure varnishes with electron beam curing (EBC) were only made in 1960.

The global consumption of radiation-cured coatings, inks and adhesives was 868 million lbs in 2012, worth $4,495 million, according to a recent study from Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney. The

Carton closure hot-melt packaging adhesives using ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer systems have been used for decades due to their availability, formulation latitude and performance attributes. Packaging adhesive formulations typically contain polymer, tackifier resin and wax.

Adhesive nasal strips were first created in the early 20th century not for people but for racing horses. Horse trainers found that their horses raced better with the strips in place.

Over the last 50 years, the aerospace and aircraft industries have used silicone in an ever-growing number of applications. Silicone inherently has high dielectric strength (typically ≥ 500 V/mil) and a large coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), allowing it to absorb stresses during thermal cycling.

Industries ranging from automotive and consumer electronics to building and construction are designing and manufacturing products that call for increasingly sophisticated bonding solutions.

Tiny implants to monitor bodily functions or to provide insulin or other drugs based on immediate need would be an advancement in personalized medicine. But a problem inherent in implants is the tendency of the human immune system to recognize the device as an invader and encapsulate it, preventing the device from doing its job.

For technical applications that require some form of adhesion, pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) usually offer the best value, given their affordability, ease of use and clean application, when compared to alternative bonding options like mechanical fasteners or liquid adhesives.

Industry professionals will be exposed to new trends, technologies and topical expertise at the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s (ASC) Fall Convention & Expo, which will take place next month at the Hilton Minneapolis in Minneapolis.

Most manufacturers are currently or have been involved in some form of lean process. Your company may be well down the path or just starting out, or your customers or suppliers may be going lean. The Lean Enterprise Institute characterizes lean as “creating more value for customers with fewer resources.”