FEICA and Fraunhofer IFAM publish book ‘Adhesive Bonding Technology in the 21st Century'

The book ‘Adhesive Bonding Technology in the 21st Century - Synergy of Technological and Ecological Potentials’ by Prof. Dr Bernd Mayer and Prof. Dr Andreas Groß of Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen, Germany, was commissioned by FEICA on the occasion of FEICA’s 50th anniversary.   

The publication is intended for a broad audience and its objective is to provide a comprehensive view of the adhesive and sealant industry in terms of its applications, technologies, innovations and trends.

Adhesive Bonding Technology in the 21st Century presents the key advantages adhesive bonding technology has compared to that of other joining technologies and explains how adhesive bonding is a joining technology that can serve numerous functions, such as force transmission and compensation for the dynamics of the different parts that are joined.

The book also explains the economic importance of adhesives and sealants. The European adhesive and sealant industry makes a significant contribution to the European economy (17 billion euros), number of employees in the industry (more than 45,000), and market share (almost 35% of the global market). Indications are that the industry’s economic significance will continue to grow. Simultaneously, the overall trend of adhesives and sealants is toward a more energy- and material-efficient production, resulting in a lower carbon footprint and a healthier planet.

The core of the book takes a comprehensive look at adhesive bonding with respect to product safety law and overall circular economy potential. It concludes with a positive view towards the future. Prof. Dr Mayer and Prof. Dr Groß foresee adhesively bonded products serving as long as possible in a life of safe use and allowing recycling at the end of their product life.  Adhesive bonding technology should therefore be regarded as the most important joining technology of today and of the future.

Prof. Dr Andreas Groß was a keynote speaker at the 2022 FEICA European Adhesive and Sealant Conference & EXPO, set in the Grand Elysée Hotel, Hamburg, Germany, from 14-16 September 2022. In his presentation he highlighted the indisputable performance of adhesive bonding when it comes to safety and eco-balanced efficiency and explained how translating knowledge from the expert level to the public domain is imperative for the benefits of adhesive and sealant technology to become recognised.

Prof. Dr Groß stated ‘The overall trend of adhesives and sealants is toward a more energy- and material-efficient production, resulting in a lower carbon footprint. This book explains clearly how this is being achieved.’

Kristel Ons, FEICA Secretary General added ‘This amazing book gives an overview of the adhesives and sealants industry in terms of what it has accomplished so far, and what it can achieve in the next 50 years and beyond’.

View and download the book here. Read the full press release here.