The importance of hot melt in product packaging is twofold: it helps to keep the contents safe and secure, and it provides an attractive product for the consumer. The packaging process is one of the most important stages of product manufacturing and distribution. With decades of experience as a packaging adhesive manufacturer, Technical Adhesives Ltd welcomes the chance to share its expertise with its customers.

In the flexible packaging industry, speed is a priority and hot melts are the technology of choice. The high production speed, however, can sometimes introduce a potential side problem called stringing. Stringing occurs when the extruded bead of hot melt adhesive does not completely detach from the nozzle tip which results in a fine string of adhesive that will interfere with the sealing process down the assembly line. These fine filaments can accumulate on the application equipment and give the appearance of what is described by users as stringing cob webbing, or angel hair.

The main reasons for stringing are:

• The application temperature at the extrusion tip is too low.
• The adhesive is too thick.
• The application tip is too far from the surface of the substrate.
• The nozzle shut off is malfunctioning
• The excessive airflow near the extrusion process.

The simplest adjustment to make is to raise the hose and nozzle temperatures slightly – increments of 5°F at a time. The next adjustment would be to bring the tip of the nozzle closer to the surface of the target substrate. If possible, adjust the solenoid pressure for the applicator tip but if that doesn’t help, the nozzle should be cleaned or replaced to get clean cut off. Finally, redirecting the airflow of fans or HVAC circulation away from the application area is recommended.

Eliminating stringing will reduce the downtime for cleanup, the number of defects, and the avoidable waste. This can be done by selecting the proper adhesives for the packaging industry, optimizing the application equipment set-up, and controlling the workplace environment.

When choosing packaging adhesive manufacturers, it is important to choose a company that specializes in hot melt adhesives that meet or exceed industry standards. Technical Adhesives develops and manufactures packaging adhesives and solutions used by companies of all sizes throughout North America. We know that efficiency is tied directly to being competitive in today’s market, and our custom commercial adhesives and solutions help you do both. Technical Adhesives is a leading packaging adhesives manufacturer and supplier that also provides custom laminating adhesives for flexible packaging.