Simply selecting an adhesive tape from a website is how many projects fall short and lose time and money. Each application requirement has specific nuances from substrate surface energy and temperature range in use to whether the bond needs to be permanent or removable. If an uninformed decision is made, an engineering or procurement team will end up with rework, warranty claims, or a production line that grinds to a halt.
Gleicher Manufacturing has been converting adhesive products for over 75 years, and is a 3M™ Preferred Converter. We have access to a wide range of 3M™ materials, including VHB structural tapes and specialty foams, as well as VELCRO Brand products and reclosable fastening systems and products from multiple other suppliers. Our team works alongside engineering and procurement teams to identify suitable materials, convert them into custom components, and deliver parts that are production-ready.
Selecting adhesive tapes and fasteners for your application
Manufacturing sourcing success comes down to finding a reliable supplier that provides the raw materials and converted parts for your production line. For adhesive tapes and fasteners in particular, a professional supplier should be able to expertly match the material to the conditions of the target application. Essentially, when it comes to finding the right supplier for raw materials such as adhesive tapes and fasteners, it is important to work with a supplier who has technical knowledge.
For example, knowing that a double-sided tape that sticks well to uncoated aluminum won't hold under the same conditions faced by a powder-coated surface, or that a hook-and-loop fastener with a specified capacity during static testing won't survive the vibration experienced during shipping. Without this technical knowledge, manufacturing sourcing teams may run into significant problems such as rework, line stoppages and project failure.
Gleicher is more than a distributor, we are a converting partner. We work with raw adhesive and fastener materials and convert them into application-specific formats. This can include die-cut components produced to precise dimensions, slit rolls configured for automated feed equipment, or laminated assemblies built with multiple layers. Gleicher handles both sourcing and converting to streamline the process.
How we approach manufacturing sourcing
We begin with questions. We find out what substrates you are joining, what temperatures your assembly needs to withstand, and whether it is exposed to chemicals, UV or moisture.
Once we understand the application and your specific requirements, we will advise on materials.
Our material access spans 3M™ advanced adhesive technologies, VELCRO Brand products and reclosable fastening solutions, as well as many other supplier products this access allows us to find the best fit for your application.
Once a material direction is established, our converting capabilities turn it into a production-ready solution. Die-cutting can produce parts to close tolerances. Slitting is accurate to the width required for your dispensing application. Laminating allows many layers to be assembled. All of this happens within our own facility, reducing lead times and avoiding specification drift when different suppliers undertake separate steps.
Materials and capabilities
- Adhesive tapes: Pressure-sensitive, double-sided, VHB structural, specialty foam, transfer tape, and medical products. Our tapes are suitable for a broad spectrum of applications, from general-purpose applications to the most demanding environments of temperature and chemical exposure.
- Fasteners: Product range includes VELCRO Brand fasteners, industrial fasteners, and reclosable fastening products. These are finding uses in aerospace bonded panel closures, electronics packaging, and reusable mounting assemblies subject to thousands of open-close life cycles.
- Converting and fabrication: Die-cutting, precision slitting, multi-layer laminating including constructions with viscoelastic materials, and general fabrication. Where applications require it, our converting operations run in white room conditions.
Industries and applications served
Manufacturing sourcing requirements differ across sectors, as do the material performance expectations. Industries and applications we serve, include:
- Electronics: Die-cut thermal management materials, EMI shielding tapes, and display bonding solutions laid out for automated pick-and-place lines.
- Transportation: Interior trim bonding, structural tapes for composite panel assembly, and vibration-damping constructions for commercial vehicles. Our customers include those in commercial vehicles, buses, emergency vehicles, and railroad equipment.
- Aerospace: Lightweight adhesive alternatives to mechanical fasteners, VELCRO Brand access-panel closures, and tapes with flammability and outgassing requirements particular to the industry.
- Medical: Skin-contact adhesive tapes and device-assembly materials converted under controlled conditions for traceability and cleanliness.
- Packaging: Tamper-evident seals, reclosable packaging systems, and tape formats designed for high-speed automated packaging lines.
In each instance, the sourcing conversation is driven by application requirements including temperature, regulatory constraints, substrate compatibility, before any product is recommended.
Why material sourcing expertise matters
Choosing the right adhesive materials is not as straightforward as matching a datasheet to an application. A product may appear suitable through an initial review, only for bond performance issues to emerge once the material has been exposed to real operating conditions. The datasheet isn't wrong, it simply doesn't account for the specific substrate, assembly process, or thermal cycling the finished product actually encounters.
Gleicher reviews the full application, not just a material request, and presents solutions that account for site-specific demands. Sometimes that means steering away from the originally specified adhesive system and toward one better suited to the actual application. This attention to detail saves time and money.
Working with a converting partner also streamlines what could otherwise be a fragmented supply chain. Rather than ordering raw material from one vendor and then shipping it across the country for die-cutting and kitting, Gleicher handles everything from material selection through prototyping and production conversion. With this process, prototype turnaround is faster and specifications stay consistent.
Frequently asked questions
What is sourcing in manufacturing?
Sourcing in manufacturing refers to the process of identifying suppliers of raw materials, components, or services used to make a finished product. For adhesive tapes and fasteners, effective manufacturing sourcing considers actual material performance in the application rather than unit price or lead time alone.
What are the typical steps in a manufacturing sourcing process?
In general: characterize the application, evaluate candidate materials, test samples in the real environment, finalize the specification, then initiate production orders. At Gleicher, the timeline is compressed because we handle material selection and converting under one roof.
How does Gleicher support manufacturing sourcing for adhesive products?
Our knowledge and experience allow us to recommend and produce suitable tape or fastener solutions, providing customized samples through to production-ready components. We have the support of our suppliers including 3M™ and Velcro where our 3M™ Preferred Converter status gives us access to a wide range of technologies, and resources.
What industries does Gleicher support?
Electronics, transportation, aerospace, medical, and packaging among others. Each sector carries distinct material performance requirements, and our sourcing process addresses those before selecting products.
Start a manufacturing sourcing conversation
Have a bonding or fastening requirement that needs specialist guidance? We can help you evaluate the material options by reviewing your application, advising on suitable solutions, and producing samples for performance validation before any production commitment.
Request a quote or call 888-818-5798 to discuss your project.
