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H.B. Fuller COVID-19 global pandemic.

Adhesives Plays a Crucial Role in the Global Supply Chain

Posted 04/02/2020 by Kimberlee Sinclair, Director, Global Communications

The Global Supply Chain Needs Adhesives, Now More Than Ever 

Now, more than ever, the world needs us to continue to connect the world with adhesives that fuel the global supply chain to provide goods that are critical in these challenging times.

Paper Goods

There has been a rush on paper goods amid word of the Coronavirus spreading around the world. While the fundamentals of our toilet paper pipeline remain strong, the issue at the forefront of this surge puts emphasis on the necessity of supplying the world with these essential goods. 

There are numerous touchpoints of adhesives in a roll of toilet paper including the cardboard roll, the attachment of the cardboard to the paper, holding the end of the paper attached to start the roll, the plastic package the toilet paper comes in and to close the cardboard case the packages arrive in. 

It’s proven adhesive performance that enables strong penetration through multiple layers of tissue, delivering fewer loose tails, reduced waste, increased productivity and reduction of ply mismatch, resulting in reduced customer complaints.

E-commerce and Online Shopping

The demand on e-commerce is higher in many parts of the world, which is increasing the need for functional, fit-for-purpose packaging, corrugated packaging and thermal labels. 

Our e-commerce solutions keep products safe through the demanding global supply chain journey. 

  • Our Sesame® Solutions reinforce packages and provide secure re-closing. 

  • The Advantra® line of hot melts closes shipping boxes at a high speed

  • Flextra™ flexible packaging adhesives reduce packaging waste, resist the threat of tears and punctures

  • Our FullVision™ data analytics service helps ensure that each box is using the right amount of glue 

  • Thermal labels protect packaging artwork with removable and repositionable pick and pack labels that utilize microsphere adhesive

Hygiene Products

Experts recommend stocking up on extra baby food, formula and diapers during the pandemic. The need for hygiene and nonwoven adhesives increases as the demand for baby diapers, feminine protection, adult incontinence products, and hospital bed pads increases.

Despite the fact that adhesives are only a small part of the total materials used in disposable absorbent products, they play a fundamental role in delivering the enhanced functionality for the evolving hygiene market. 

Filtration

Clean air and clean water aren’t anything anyone should take for granted. Our adhesives are used to assemble elements used in biopharma applications, such as:

  • Blood oxygenation;

  • Cell harvesting and clarification;

  • Bacteria whole cell removal;

  • Diafiltration of vaccines.

These are a few examples of the applications where elements assembled with our adhesives help extend life, promote development of new vaccines, and enhance existing treatments.

Selecting the right adhesive for your membrane separation application takes knowledge and experience. How these materials interact with different types of membranes, the manufacturing processes used to assemble the element, and the material properties of the adhesive itself are all critical to the quality and final product performance. That is why we dedicate a team of technical and sales experts to this specific market segment who are here to help you.

Food Packaging and Labeling 

We are connecting what matters with our adhesives to ensure a steady food supply chain. Adhesives are a crucial part of food packaging, including frozen foods, box and bag closures, fresh consumable labeling and packaging, handle reinforcement, and retail-ready display packaging. 

Medical Devices

As hospitals and clinics around the world prepare to address all possible scenarios this global health crisis might cause, they are stocking up on medical devices, personal protective equipment (PPE) and general supplies, including skin protection (face masks) and ventilators.  

Our quality management system is certified to ISO 13485 to ensure that your medical adhesive is consistently made the same way–every time. We are among only a few medical grade adhesive manufacturers in the world to be certified to this standard.

Medical adhesives applications vary widely but usually involve the bonding of plastics and metals. Though bond strength requirements are typically within reach for many medical adhesives from H.B. Fuller’s standard line, medical devices present a variety of unique challenges beyond strength. In addition to bonding parts together successfully, medical adhesives must also be compatible with direct or indirect contact with the body (depending on the application), and may be required to withstand sterilization through a variety of potential methods. Furthermore, certain substrates may necessitate the use of primers or other surface preparations in order to achieve satisfactory adhesion.

Protecting What Matters

Nursing homes, gyms, factories, schools, hospitals and the transportation industry are all faced with the challenge of keeping their patrons safe by disinfecting from viruses. 

H.B. Fuller’s Foster® 40-80 First Defense® Disinfectant has demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), on hard, non-porous surfaces, and therefore, can be used to kill COVID-19 when used in accordance with the directions for use against Norovirus on hard, non-porous surfaces. Refer to the CDC website for additional information.

We are right there with you, every step of the way. We look forward to working alongside you to ensure that your business remains successful during this unprecedented time. Contact us to see how we can help.

H.B. Fuller adhesive solutions are essential to our world.

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