Adhesives & Sealants/Joining and Fastening
Report Highlights
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The global market for adhesives and sealants increased from $35.6 billion in 2006 to an estimated $36.9 billion in 2007. It should reach $46.4 billion by 2012, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%.
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The Far East represents the highest growth region. China, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam especially are expected to see significant growth.
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Products expected to see the most growth include electronics adhesives for printed wiring boards, hot melt systems and automotive applications.
INTRODUCTION
Adhesives and sealants are two groups of formulated products that are chemically similar but functionally different. They are made from blends of plastic resins and synthetic rubber elastomers with certain additives used to enhance their characteristics. Adhesive products are used to create a bond between two different or similar materials, whereas sealants are used to create an impenetrable barrier to gas or moisture. Various industries use adhesives and sealants, including construction, consumer products, assembly, packaging, labeling and transportation.
Along with the transition from conventional materials like glass, stone, wood, and metal to lighter and more economical petroleum-based plastics, the adhesives and sealants industry has made much progress since these non-conventional materials need new methods of assembly and suitable bonding components. Major factors influencing the growth of adhesives and sealants industry include the stability of many secondary industries using its products, the availability of raw materials, and environmental concerns.
General purpose adhesives include formaldehyde resins, starch and dextrin adhesives, styrene-butadiene latex binders, natural rubber latex, hotmelts, solvent based adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, and inorganic adhesives. Specialty adhesives, which are formulated for specific applications, include polyurethane, reactive hotmelt polyurethane, epoxies, cyanoacrylate, anaerobics, reactive acrylics, and radiation cured adhesives. Applications for adhesives vary widely, from the use of plant starch in box manufacturing to the use of specialty, high value adhesives in electronics.
The important types of sealants include silicones, polyurethanes, latex, polysulfide, and polyvinyl. Construction is the main application. Silicones and polyurethanes are increasingly being specified because of their ease of application, high performance, and durability.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The report takes a look at the global market as well as regional markets now and over the last few years, with the objective of locating newer markets and expanding the present market position for various types of adhesives and sealants. A realistic forecast has been made for the future market for various types of adhesives and sealants.
The report goes into the various technologies involved in the manufacture of different types of adhesives and sealants. It quantifies the volume of such products produced globally, as well as in different regions, over the last three years. Forecasts are also presented for the next five years. The applications for each type of adhesive and sealant is looked into, in detail, with a view to establish the global as well as regional usage of different types of adhesives and sealants in various applications and the future forecast is made for such applications.
The report studies the various types of new adhesives and sealants recently developed like nanoglues, which are becoming more popular in various applications. The report takes a broad look at the increasing utilization of adhesives—in place of various types of fasteners and different methods of joining—in an ever increasing number of applications and the impact of these newer methods on the economy as a whole. The environmental impact of utilization of various types of adhesives and sealants is also studied in detail.
The report reviews the raw material requirements for global as well as regional production of adhesives and sealants and the effect of raw material supply over the production, pricing, and distribution of these products. A study has also been made about various types of new raw materials that are being used with ever increasing newer applications. The report also looks into the various manufacturers of different raw materials needed for production of adhesives and sealants and the market share of these manufacturers and suppliers.
The report also looks into the product and technology life cycles of various types of adhesives and sealants and the methods employed by various manufacturers and users in maintaining ecological balance.
Finally, a detailed examination of has been made of the various major manufacturers and suppliers of adhesives and sealants, including their share of the market, their performance over the past few years, and a realistic forecast about their future performance. The various acquisitions and mergers that have become part of every economy also have been presented.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
For any company to succeed in a competitive market, product opportunities must be identified from the viewpoint of a company’s strengths. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the predicted growth rate of any opportunity as well as the competitive atmosphere in which the company exists. This report presents the ideal medium to understand the various exciting and growing opportunities in the field of adhesives and sealants and will help any prospective manufacturer, distributor, or even a user to succeed in this growing field.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This report is intended to help:
- Marketing managers to identify newer market opportunities and develop targeted promotion plans for adhesives and sealants.
- Research and development professionals to stay on top of competitor initiatives and explore demand for adhesives and sealants and to develop new products for newer applications.
- Advertising agencies working with clients in the adhesive and sealants industry to understand the products and to develop messages and images that will influence consumers to purchase these products.
- Business development executives to understand the dynamics of the market and identify possible new markets.
- Information and research center librarians to provide market researchers, brand and product managers with the information they need to do their jobs more effectively.
SCOPE OF REPORT
The report has been prepared in a simple format which can be easily understood with number of tables and charts/figures. The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of adhesives and sealants with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.
INFORMATION SOURCES
The primary information sources include manufacturers and suppliers of adhesives and sealants around the world, raw material suppliers for manufacture of these products, major users of these products, research organizations, governmental agencies, trade associations and various equipment suppliers. Additional secondary research of sources like databases, trade literature, specialized journals and government statistics have been researched while compiling this report.
Analyst’s Credentials
The author is an engineer with over 40 years of varied experience in design, production, service and administration of manufacturing units, involved in the manufacture of weighing machines, volumetric filling machines, dynamic balancing machines and vibration measuring and monitoring equipment. The author has experimented and used various types of adhesives and sealants in the production units especially in the manufacture and sealing of loadcells used in various weighing machines and different types of balancing machines.