Adhesive technology celebrates 30th anniversary

Three decades of this innovative adhesive technology will be celebrated on stand 46 at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition at Farnborough, 16-17 February 2011. 3M VHB Tapes are double-sided products which create a permanent bond to numerous substrates including metal, glass, PVC, acrylic, polycarbonate and polystyrene. Unlike mechanical fixings, the load is spread evenly through the entire length of the joint, while the product's flexibility makes it equally suitable for dynamic loads as well as static loads. It offers strong resistance to moisture, solvents and UV light and can cope with extremes of temperature at both ends of the range. The VHB range has been continually enhanced since its launch, reflecting 3M's constant commitment to innovation and to developing and growing its product portfolio to meet ever-changing customer requirements. Also on show will be a range of other products from the highly innovative 3M range offering proven strength, reliability and quality including Scotch-Weld Structural Adhesives and Dual Lock Fasteners. With its cohesive strength and creep resistance, Scotch-Weld Structural Adhesives can permanently bond a range of high-strength materials, with the potential to replace mechanical and fusion fastening in many applications. Dual Lock Fasteners use hundreds of mushroom-shaped stems that interlock when pushed together to create remarkable strength but allow the fasteners to be opened and closed hundreds of times while maintaining the same tensile strength.