Sealant Manufacturers produce industrial adhesive and sealant products used in automotive, aerospace, construction and consumer applications. They offer anaerobic, silicone and polyurethane adhesives in a variety of viscosities, cure mechanisms and chemical resistances. These products are designed to bond materials together, and can be applied manually or by a dispensing system. Some manufacturers offer custom formulations and kits for specific industry needs. Other companies provide technical support, training and testing services.
The price of petrochemical raw materials, the primary ingredients used to manufacture sealants and other plastic resins, is one of the biggest factors influencing production costs for these manufacturers. As a result, the price of sealants has increased in recent months. These cost increases are mainly due to higher transportation and manufacturing costs resulting from rising fuel prices.
Other constraints on the sealant market are changing environmental and health standards. For example, a product may need to be USDA or FDA-accepted, because it will be used near food processing equipment, or must meet strict fire-resistance standards for use in housing construction. These types of restrictions often require sealants to have certain properties, such as low-outgassing or zero VOC’s.
In addition, the availability of labor and equipment also influences the manufacturing of sealants and adhesives. A labor shortage, for example, could lead to higher production costs and a reduction in the number of available jobs, which would negatively impact sales for many sealant companies.
Some companies specialize in specific industries, such as aerospace and automotive. Avery Dennison, for example, manufactures pressure-sensitive adhesives that can be used in a wide variety of applications in these sectors. Other adhesive and sealant producers focus on a wider range of industrial applications. Arkema, for example, is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals for the adhesives and sealants industry. The company produces anaerobic and cyanoacrylate adhesives as well as acrylics, MS polymers, modified epoxies and UV and polyurethane adhesives.
Other companies offer specialty or high-performance adhesives and sealants that are designed for particular uses in industries such as aviation, construction, electrical, marine, metal building and metallurgy. Examples of these products include aircraft sealants, corrosion-resistant silicone sealants, polyurethane foam sealants and elastomeric adhesives and silicone rubbers. Some of these products are designed for high-temperature environments. Others are formulated to resist vibration, harsh environment conditions or chemical exposures. They are sold in a variety of packaging options, including aerosol cans and tubes. They are also offered in a variety of cure times, temperature resistances and bond strengths. Some of these products can be used on a variety of surfaces, and some are resistant to UV exposures. These products are usually sold through distributors or OEMs. They are available from a number of manufacturers, including 3M, Amazing Goop, Alloy Products, Bostik, Bondmaster and Chem Seal. Other companies include Click Bond, EMFI/SAPO and Hutchinson Sealing Systems. The latter has 100 facilities and employs about 5,000 people. The company is a leading maker of adhesives and fasteners for the automotive, aerospace and battery industries.