Mechanical fasteners, such as screws and rivets, put stress on one spot. Welds cover larger areas, but require compatible metals in order to work. Industrial adhesives on the other hand, can distribute stress throughout the entire joint while helping protect against moisture, chemicals, and vibration. They eliminate the need for drilled holes and avoid heat-affected zones associated with welding.
Gleicher converts and supplies a wide range of 3M™ industrial adhesives, from high-performance structural grades that take the place of welds and rivets down to non-structural products made for gaskets, insulation, trim, and packaging. We die-cut, slit, laminate, and laser-cut these materials into any shape or size your assembly requires.
How Gleicher works with industrial adhesives
We have held 3M™ Preferred Converter status for more than 30 years. This means that our team knows 3M™materials including adhesive chemistries and application methods. We understand how materials behave in different environments and take that into account when helping you make a material selection for your application. If a client requires an adhesive for an aluminum panel that operates at 150°C and experiences road vibration, we can narrow the field to two or three materials in a single conversation.
At Gleicher, the process starts with your application. We understand the substrates you are joining, the loads being carried by the joint and the temperature swings. This insight shapes the adhesive suggestion and the converting approach (die-cut kiss-cut parts with pull tabs, slit rolls at a specified width, laminated multi-layer constructions, precision shapes from our flatbed and galvo laser systems) we will recommend for your project.
We do not manufacture adhesives. We convert and fabricate adhesive materials from 3M™ and other adhesive manufacturers. Our knowledge and experience allows us to suggest products and design features that are best suited for our customers' unique part and production requirements. Material samples, and pre production runs allow the customer to test and confirm suitability in their own process.
Industries we serve include: Transportation (cars, buses, trains, and other vehicles), Aerospace, Electronics, Medical, Packaging, Data Centres, CPG, Military, and Consumer.
Compare industrial adhesive types
The line between structural adhesives and non-structural adhesives is overlap shear strength, measured in psi, and the job the joint does in the finished product.
Structural adhesives
Structural adhesives deliver 1,000 psi or more in overlap shear. They join load-bearing parts: aluminum panels in a bus body, composite skins on an aircraft nacelle, glass-to-metal assemblies in electronics enclosures. In a number of these applications, the adhesive replaces a mechanical fastener, distributing stress across the joint area rather than concentrating it at bolt holes.
The substrates can be metals, wood, rubber, ceramic, composites, engineering plastics, and glass. The chemistry varies and the selection depends on the operating environment and the degree of flexibility required by the joint under load.
Explore structural adhesive solutions →
Non-structural adhesives
Non-structural adhesives sit below 1,000 psi. They handle joining tasks where conformability, environmental sealing, or repositionability matters more than raw strength such as gaskets, insulation blankets, decorative veneers, packaging closures, furniture trim, and panelling. Some hold firmly under peel and shear while others are designed to release cleanly for maintenance or rework.
The range is broad, and the application determines the chemistry. A pressure-sensitive adhesive for a foam gasket is a very different thing from a contact adhesive laminating a decorative surface.
Explore non-structural adhesive solutions →
For a wider look at adhesive joining compared to mechanical attachment, see our adhesive joining overview.
Choosing a suitable industrial adhesive for your application
Selecting the correct industrial adhesive is not as simple as comparing datasheets. A product may seem appropriate on paper, only for the testing to reveal that it is not suitable for the application. For example, the chemistry may not cure properly on a particular substrate combination or may fail after thermal cycling. Real-world manufacturing environments present additional challenges that also need to be considered.
Gleicher’s manufacturing consultative approach adds value. We learn about your application, including the substrates, loads, environment and assembly method. With this insight, we are able to suggest a suitable adhesive, structural or non-structural, based on decades of converting experience across industries.
The Gleicher experts offer technical conversations that save time and money when compared to trial-and-error sampling.
Request a quote or contact us directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is an industrial adhesive?
A chemical compound engineered to join substrates in manufacturing and assembly. Industrial formulations target specific substrate pairs, temperature ranges, and load profiles, and they are not consumer products repackaged in larger containers. The two broad categories are structural (load-bearing) and non-structural (lighter-duty attachment, sealing, cushioning).
What are the main types of industrial adhesive?
Structural adhesives (epoxies, modified acrylics, polyurethanes) rated above 1,000 psi in overlap shear, and non-structural adhesives (contact, pressure-sensitive, rubber-based) that sit below that threshold. There are dozens of formulations in both categories, each tuned to particular substrates and operating conditions.
What is the strongest industrial adhesive?
Structural formulations rated above 1,000-psi overlap shear such as epoxies and modified acrylics lead the field for rigid metal-to-metal joints. But "strongest" is application-dependent. A rigid epoxy that performs on aluminum may fracture on a substrate that flexes, where a toughened acrylic or polyurethane would survive. The operating environment is often as important as the datasheet number.
How do I choose between structural and non-structural adhesives?
Load-bearing joint that replaces a fastener or weld? Structural. Gasket, insulation, cushion, trim, or packaging closure? Non-structural in most applications. If the line is not obvious, Gleicher's team can evaluate your application and suggest a suitable product matched to your substrates and conditions.
Can Gleicher convert adhesives to custom shapes?
Yes. We die-cut, slit, laminate, and laser-cut 3M™ and other brands of adhesive materials to meet application requirements. Precision kiss-cut parts with pull tabs, slit rolls at specified widths, multi-layer laminated constructions, whatever the shape and application demands. We also distribute unconverted rolls and sheets when converting is done in house.
