Adhesive and sealant use within the automobile industry, though already quite pervasive, is on the rise, according to industry estimates. As auto manufacturers continue look to suppliers to help meet goals such as increased fuel efficiency and driver comfort, new opportunities continue to arise, driving growth and innovation. Auto makers are pursuing more aggressive designs to maximize space/structure with less weight and cost. This is resulting in the increased use of dissimilar materials, including materials that are lighter in weight than steel. Viewed on a global scale, and including equipment and service, the auto market for adhesives and sealants is estimated by experts to generate between 2 to 2,5 billion dollars in revenues, annually. Another key reason for expanding adhesive and sealant revenues in the automobile sector has been the strong overall performance of the industry itself. Some industry experts, however, do not expect to see this trend continue. Luckily, growth projections for adhesives and sealants do not hinge solely on a strong sales performance by automakers. Automotive adhesive growth is expected to exceed that of automobile production because the average number of pounds of adhesive per vehicle will steadily increase as automotive manufacturers turn toward light-weighting cars with plastic. These weight-reduction efforts have brought more composite materials into automobile construction, driving a need for alternatives to mechanical fasteners. According to observers, the environmental focus of auto manufacturers goes beyond fuel efficiency, and is contributing to the trend towards eliminating solvent-based adhesives in favor of waterborne and 100-percent solids technology. One of the top uses of adhesives in automotive manufacturing is in the glass bonding area. In some areas of automobile manufacturing, adhesives are not necessary replacing mechanical fasteners, but complementing them. Other key areas of growth cited by industry experts include the use of structural foam adhesives within body cavities to absorb the energy of an impact, as well as increased efforts to reduce noise, vibration and harshness in order to provide more comfort in the cockpit. The cost control, along with the highly specialized requirements for adhesives products in this market, experts say, increases the focus on a team-orientated relationship between suppliers and customers.


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    Title :

    The road more traveled


    Additional title:

    Die Anzahl der Fahrzeuge auf den Straßen nimmt zu


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Adhesives Age ; 46 , 2 ; 12-13


    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    2 Seiten, 3 Bilder



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English





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