How important is the adhesive you use in packaging or the coating for surface protection? From our perspective, it’s probably one of the MOST important (and probably, the most overlooked) aspects in a production scheme. Think about it. A well-designed label can’t adhere without the right formula or material composition – an entire package would fall apart, or a metal frame could rust!
Product integrity hinges heavily on adhesive and coating choices and Sonoco has an entire department dedicated to this service and substrate – not just for our own packaging needs either. Industrial service providers, paper converters and other industry-leading manufacturers outside Sonoco purchase our proprietary formulas for their own bonding applications and here’s what really sticks out to them:
1. We Know Our Stuff
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As a world class packaging leader for a variety of segments – consumer packaging, industrial packaging and protective packaging solutions – we understand the exact need and know a thing or two about applying the right formula to the right application. A material like uncoated or unsized paper, for instance, absorbs water from the liquid adhesives faster and makes the glue interface dry quicker. Glues that dry too fast won’t suit this application. We’ve tested it time and again in our exclusive, world-class adhesives and coating Research and Innovation centers across the globe and at our world class lab at Sonoco’s Hartsville, South Carolina headquarters.
The specialized equipment we use can evaluate a variety of indigenous application methods using respective substrates against a variety of materials and validate their real-world performance. We’ve assessed wood with metal, plastic with paper, metal foil, and so on. Similar equipment at plant production facilities across the globe can perform these test runs on a smaller scale for clients in need of on-the-spot assessments.
Because of our technical expertise and decades-long experience in chemical science, and our collaboration with leading universities and laboratories, we don’t just have one product type for your converting needs. Sonoco will custom formulate to match your specific application and desired machine speeds. Here’s a quick overview of what’s readily available:
- SonoBond®: Our liquid, dry blend and hot melt-based innovative compositions designed specifically for angle board, tubes and cores, case and carton seals and lamination for food and industrial display packaging applications.
- SonoCoat®: Our new generation LEED compliant low VOC water-based formulas with high moisture barrier (ICC NTA certified for ASTM E-96) for gypsum board and metal coating for modular homes, manufactured homes or vehicle metal frames.
- SonoGrip®: Our innovative (liquid and hot-melt) chemistry-based formulas provide a strong and durable bond with wood, wood products, high-pressure laminates, metal-to-wood/wood products and wood-to-polymeric film applications for home, offices and industries as well as RV/mobile homes.
At the end of the day, if you don’t see your product or application type listed, our researchers and engineers can create a CUSTOM solution for you! Whether you're in the homebuilding industry, paper converting or something else entirely, our experts can tailor-make what you need as we’ve done many times before!
Our research and innovation teams actively look for new, energy-efficient equipment to provide you with the most sustainable solutions in the industry. Every solution we design fits seamlessly into your machinery as well, often resulting in faster outputs and fewer operational hiccups. We test just about every worst-case scenario – so that you don’t have to deal with this in the middle of timely (and costly!) production cycles. Further, we understand that adhesive packaging and coating type is important to each operation. That’s why we ship adhesives in small quantities, such as 5-gallon pails, and in bulk, up to 5,000 gallons in a tanker for larger volume operations.
2. We Have Global Reach
With Sonoco, you’re not just working with us from our headquarters region. As a customer, you have access to over 320 facilities in more than 85 nations within four continents (the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia). Meaning, any materials and/or special component(s) you need can come from anywhere across the globe, providing a wider audience, competitive pricing and advantageous business cycles.
This procurement strategy proved successful in 2020-2022 when the world faced acute and uncertain supply and demand shortages globally brought on by COVID-19. Companies simply couldn’t keep up with the ongoing supply disruptions, forcing producers to delay or even halt production and take a big hit on their bottom lines. During this time, however, Sonoco’s global supply chain team sourced various key and even scarce, raw materials from different places across Asia and Europe, which allowed us to keep our customers’ operations moving while maintaining a high level of quality for their customers.
The global supply disruptions of 2020 may sound extreme, but unforeseen events happen all the time. Storms and natural disasters in one part of the world can unexpectedly cut off access to a much-needed material or substance like polymer or something else. If you’re not working with a diversified distributor, your business could feel the effects. A global supplier with a slew of manufacturing contacts can be just the ticket or ‘glue’ that holds everything together in the best and worst of times.
FREE Consult!
If you’re feeling stuck figuring out the right adhesive or coating solution for your product and business needs – or if you need help picking out a packaging option altogether – we’re here to help with either! Schedule your FREE, no obligation consultation and get started today!
Let’s face it – most people don’t really look at glue; they notice when it stops working. Get a WORKING hassle-free solution you won’t regret and keep your adhesives cohesive, along with everything else.