| Trade shows of every size represent opportunities | | | | 4. How are you bonding it now? If you are looking |
| to stay informed about developments in many areas | | | | for an improvement to an adhesive you are currently |
| of business and to connect with new supply sources. | | | | using bring along the company name and the full |
| Equally valuable is the chance to brainstorm with | | | | product name and be prepared to discuss what you |
| professionals that are willing to think outside the box | | | | like and dislike about the product. |
| in order to grow their business. | | | | 5. How many will you be manufacturing? Yes, |
| Adhesive manufacturers can be found at shows | | | | adhesive companies like most other “for |
| targeted to Manufacturing and Assembly, but they | | | | profit” business do want to know how large of a |
| can also be found at Fastener shows displaying | | | | potential customer you are but that isn’t the |
| non-mechanical alternatives to joining components. | | | | only reason for asking and shouldn’t affect the |
| Adhesives are ideally suited to custom formulation to | | | | degree of service you receive. With your answer to |
| meet the needs of niche markets and proprietary | | | | this question they are answering many unspoken |
| applications. | | | | questions such as: Will this be automated or manual |
| With hundreds of vendors competing for your | | | | dispensing?, Automated or manual assembly?, Is a 30 |
| attention and commitment to consider their products, | | | | second set time unreasonable?, Is a 24 hour cure |
| it’s not hard to experience sensory overload in a | | | | time unreasonable? For example, a cyanoacrylate |
| short period of time. A little bit of advance planning | | | | (instant adhesive) and a UV curable adhesive may |
| will maximize the return on your time spent at the | | | | both meet your adhesive needs, but likely, one of |
| show. | | | | them will be a more efficient process than the other |
| A day or so in advance of the show, check online for | | | | dependant on how many pieces you will be bonding. |
| a listing of vendors and the schedule of lectures and | | | | The challenge of finding a useful nugget at the show |
| demonstrations. Write out a separate short list of the | | | | is two-fold and begins with the ability to present your |
| ‘must see and do’ and schedule these first. | | | | product in a brief and concise manner that allows |
| If time permits, allow free time between these to | | | | professionals to suggest improvements. A specific |
| browse for out of the box solutions. | | | | problem may not currently exist but you do want to |
| Most tradeshow booths will be staffed with technical | | | | learn if there is an alternative method that both |
| personnel who will be able to answer your questions | | | | retains quality and increases profits. |
| or direct you to the correct individual within their | | | | In the case of a clear problem, you likely have an |
| company who can. In order to get the most from | | | | idea of how to approach the solution. While you seek |
| your tradeshow visit be prepared to help them help | | | | out specific vendors, also be alert to solutions |
| you. Following are a few questions that you are likely | | | | suggested by seemingly unrelated displays. |
| to be asked: | | | | Discussions about proprietary designs should be |
| 1. What are you making and what do you want it to | | | | conducted only under an agreement of confidentiality |
| do? Whenever possible it is helpful to advise the | | | | that is signed by company officers. However, it is |
| adhesive specialist the function of your assembly and | | | | often possible to define some key characteristics |
| what it is a part of. Is it part of a toaster oven, a jet | | | | required of any solution. Examples such as gap fill to 1 |
| plane or a cell phone. This immediately gives the | | | | 8” inch, room temperature cure, or resistance to |
| adhesive specialist some size and scale information as | | | | oil contamination. |
| well as environmental conditions. | | | | Some vendors will be set up for on-the-spot trials, |
| 2. What materials are you bonding? - Although metal | | | | but this is not always practical. Other companies mail |
| to metal is a valid answer, it is more helpful to the | | | | fresh samples direct from their plant to yours. |
| adhesive specialist to hear anodized aluminum to cold | | | | Depending on the product or service, there may be |
| rolled steel. Similarly plastic to plastic is vague but | | | | samples to take with you for later trials. |
| molded clear polycarbonate to molded ABS is | | | | Every vendor will have staffed their exhibit with |
| something that the adhesive specialist can use to | | | | knowledgeable people who can answer your |
| determine a good product. | | | | questions and help you to consider their product as a |
| 3. What are the environmental conditions the part will | | | | possible solution. Be willing to discuss your application |
| need to withstand? – Exposure to temperature | | | | and related processes many times during the duration |
| variations, chemicals, moisture, and stresses effect | | | | of the show, as each discussion will build on the |
| different adhesives in different ways. Knowing what | | | | previous one and bring you closer to finding effective |
| must be resisted will assist in good product | | | | new solutions. |
| recommendations. | | | | |