Assembly and occupational safety challenges resolved ‘in an instant’

Henkel’s extensive LOCTITE Instant Component Bonding range has a new best-in-class for the assembly of small components in high-speed production applications and quick on-the-go repairs.

“This new addition is LOCTITE 402, an instant, high-strength adhesive whose features and benefits set higher performance and safety standards by comparison with traditional instant adhesives,” states Henkel.

The LOCTITE Instant Component Bonding range is said to address many of the design and assembly challenges faced by manufacturers in their quest to pioneer new products that are innovative, reliable and profitable. “LOCTITE 402 builds on this foundation with even faster fixture speed, superior heat performance and a unique, patented formula with upgraded health and safety credentials.”

So, how do features of the LOCTITE 402 translate to benefits in modern manufacturing?

Productivity accelerated

“As LOCTITE 402 develops handling strength twice as fast on most substrates, by comparison with other assembly solutions (3 – 10 seconds), it provides an elevated level of performance that meets the demands of modern manufacturing,” adds Henkel.

This fast fixture speed, achieved at room temperature, helps increase throughput and reduces work-in-progress (WIP) for both manual and automated assembly. Productivity can be easily accelerated, it is also stated, with a comprehensive range of LOCTITE manual, semi-automated to fully automated dispensing equipment that is easily integrated into production lines.

LOCTITE 402 is a single-component instant adhesive that bonds most metals, plastics and elastomers, as well as hard-to-bond materials, with the use of a primer. It gives users a single solution for multiple materials and components, which reduces assembly costs, process complexity and WIP. With ever-growing demand for more feature-rich, yet smaller, components in end-markets such as urban mobility, home automation and power tools, LOCTITE 402 enables manufacturers to push the boundaries of aesthetics, performance and design, comments Henkel.

‘Three times stronger on most metals’

“Even in extreme conditions, LOCTITE 402 delivers more reliable performance, compared to traditional instant adhesives,” says Henkel. “It remains three times stronger on most metals at temperatures up to 150°C and offers sustained hot strength performance on selected metals at 135°C; a big benefit, for example, for products whose power supply and connectivity generate a lot of heat. Improved impact resistance is another feature of this adhesive, compared with traditional instant adhesives.”

New health and safety milestone

LOCTITE 402 also sets an important new health and safety milestone for instant adhesives. Its patented formula contains more globally accepted raw materials to enhance worker and workplace safety. Specifically, this new addition to Henkel’s Instant Component Bonding range is free from carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxins – commonly known as CMRs.

This health and safety breakthrough, in combination with the other technical advancements, make LOCTITE 402 a desirable alternative to other fastening methods in an even greater number of manufacturing environments. LOCTITE 402 incorporates the best properties from the industry’s top performing instant adhesives to give those involved in the design and manufacture of innovative products a significant competitive edge.