The future of bonding in the automotive industry: Sustainability and innovation with Wakol adhesives

The automotive industry is undergoing constant change, and with it the requirements for materials and manufacturing processes. Spectra, in cooperation with leading German manufacturer Wakol, is bringing innovative solutions to the Czech market in the field of polyurethane (PUR) bonding in the automotive industry, which meet the highest standards of environmental friendliness and performance.

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Why Wakol water-based adhesives? The path to sustainable production.

Traditional solvent-based adhesives are facing increasing pressure due to VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions and stricter health and environmental standards. Water-based adhesives are the answer to these challenges and represent the clear future in the automotive industry. Our Wakol water-based adhesives, which are certified (e.g., TÜV Rheinland, ECO-Passport), guarantee you:

• Significant reduction in VOC emissions: Contributes to a cleaner environment and helps meet strict environmental regulations.
• Improved working conditions: Minimizes worker exposure to harmful substances, creating a healthier and safer environment.
• High thermal resistance and joint stability: They ensure long-term reliability and durability of bonded PUR components even in harsh vehicle interior conditions (e.g., seats, headrests, headliners).
• Compatibility with recycled materials: They are ideal for bonding parts made from recycled plastics, which supports the circular economy in the automotive industry and complies with the ELV (End-of-Life Vehicles) Directive.
• Efficient application: Despite the initially higher price of water-based adhesives, the higher adhesive content reduces overall consumption and operating costs.

Our portfolio for the automotive industry includes:

Intercoll D 3460: Ideal for contact bonding of foam materials to each other, to fabric, imitation leather, or leather. It is characterized by stability up to 66 °C and can be applied by roller bonding, spray gun from a pressure vessel, or free flow/gravity container.

Intercoll D 3468: Suitable for bonding PUR with leather, wood, fleece, and other absorbent materials. The key advantages are a self-extinguishing adhesive film, high initial strength, and heat resistance up to 100 °C. It is approved for use in the automotive and aerospace industries for the manufacture of seats, headrests, and ceiling panels. We also offer a complete range of solvent adhesives and cleaners.

Comprehensive solutions with Walther-Pilot

To ensure maximum application efficiency, we also offer state-of-the-art application systems from German manufacturer Walther-Pilot, which has more than a century of tradition. Their spray guns with seamless stainless steel material channels guarantee reliability and easy processing of dispersion adhesives. We offer manual and automatic spray guns, pressure vessels, and custom systems. Wakol and Spectra: Partnership for your production Wakol is a global leader in polyurethane adhesives, with an annual production of over 29,000 tons and a significant volume of water-based adhesives (over 10,000 tons). We have been a reliable partner for dozens of customers on the Czech market since 2014.

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