How Energy Efficient Hot Melt Adhesives Can Help You Hit Climate Goals
Hot melt adhesives are a critical component used in various industries for efficient bonding. As energy conservation becomes increasingly important and prices rise, more people are looking for smarter ways to keep their energy costs down.
To help understand the relationship between the glue application temperature and energy use, and therefore determine what is possible in terms of energy reduction and of course savings, Alphabond conducted tests to measure the energy usage of a Nordson hot melt adhesive tank at varying operating temperatures.
The Testing:
Alphabond's research aimed to investigate the relationship between operating temperature and energy consumption in hot melt adhesive tanks. Our tech team have examined the energy usage per hour at each degree of temperature, from 98 to 180 degrees Celsius. The objective was to see the extent of the energy demand at varying temperatures.
The Results:
Alphabond's findings unveil the real savings that can be made if you use a lower application temperature glue. If you go from say 160°C to 98°C, this demonstrates your energy use going from over 0.734kwh to 0.301kwh - a 58.9% reduction! Check out the graph below to see the data we collected.
During continuous operation, the data indicates that when the hot melt adhesive tank is filled with generation 6 or 7 hot melt glues(that operate at 98°C), it consumes considerably less energy (up to almost 70%) compared to when older generations of adhesives (generation 1, 2, or 3) that operate around 160-180°C are used. We've collated the data into the below table, which shows the percentage reduction of energy use for each temperature:
Implications and Benefits:
Alphabond's research findings have profound implications for people looking to reduce energy consumption and hit CO2 reduction goals, as well as reduce operational costs by using newer generations of adhesives at lower temperatures.
The added bonus is when you run the adhesive at lower temperatures, you will also see less charring or degradation.
By upgrading to newer generations of hot melt adhesives (generation 6 or 7) and operating them at lower temperatures, industries can achieve substantial energy savings. These energy-efficient practices translate into significant cost reductions and contribute to reduced CO2 footprint.
Moreover, the reduced energy consumption aligns with sustainability goals by decreasing CO2 output of factories. By adopting newer adhesive generations and optimising temperature settings, industries can reduce their environmental impact while maintaining reliable adhesive bonding performance.
Conclusion:
Alphabond's comprehensive testing of the energy consumption of a Nordson hot melt adhesive tank at various temperature settings highlights the energy savings that can be seen by utilising newer generations of adhesives at lower temperatures. Here's a few take aways:
- Up to almost 70% reduction in energy use (based on going from 180°C to 98°C)
- Reduction in CO2 output as a result
- Reduced charring and degradation
- Even going from 120°C down to 98°C gives reduction of over 30% energy usage
If you would like to discuss whether upgrading to a generation 6 or 7 adhesive is right for you, book into our calendar for a short pre-discovery meeting below: