Henkel, the maker of Loctite, has worked with an Australia manufacturer of emergency response vehicles to build a trailer without a structural weld, bolt, screw or rivet, in a bid to demonstrate the time and cost savings of adhesives over traditional fasteners.
According to the company’s business development manager, Treneau Joseph, the end result is a tougher, more reliable and better-looking trailer that cost less to build than a conventional model.
Fixing the walls of the trailer to the aluminium frame involved a 5.25-hour, three-step process. Holes were drilled into the wall panels before they were riveted into place and a plastic rail was then installed to cover the rivets.
The Loctite fast-fixturing structural acrylic that replaced the rivets and plastic rails reportedly shaved 1.25 hours off the emergency vehicle assembly process, and made the trailer more durable, according to Henkel. Without rivets, the risk of corrosion associated with mechanical fixings has been eliminated and the more even distribution of joint stress has enhanced structural integrity.
According to Henkel, the choice of adhesive was an important factor in the success of the trailer. Another emergency vehicle manufacturer was using a high VOC solvent-based cleaner in conjunction with a single part mix bonding technology to bond mild steel sheet metal panels to aluminium framework. The adhesive required substantial clamping for 24 hours and was, according to Henkel, tedious to apply and clean off.
Reviewing the production system, Henkel’s application engineers recommended Loctite ODC Free Cleaner & Degreaser that is said to rapidly clean substrates in a simple spray-on, wipe-off process. Loctite Structural Adhesive H8600 reportedly fixed the panel in just 60 minutes, saving the trailer manufacturer 22 hours.
“Selecting the right adhesive for the job can require some specialist knowledge,” says Joseph. “You’re not just buying a tube of adhesive or sealant when you choose Loctite, you’re getting added value in the form of Henkel’s technical clout – whether that’s at the design, manufacturing or overhaul stage of the product lifecycle.”
The company forms design partnerships with OEMs to streamline production processes and lower manufacturing costs with the use of adhesives and sealants.