SNW: What about the US growth of the shale gas-based petrochemical industry? Doesn’t that also bring new opportunities for increasing feedstock and raw material choices?
SS: It does, and this is the case now, not just in North America, but in parts of Europe and other countries like South Korea and Japan. Petrochemical development, however, varies from region-to-region and there is still a lot of potential to better utilise by-product or co-product feedstocks from current heavy feeds-based ethylene crackers in emerging markets, which is leading the growth in absorbent hygiene currently.
SNW: Can you say a little more about mPO adhesives and how they differ from other products on the market?
SS: The other primary polymer technologies designed for hot melt adhesives employed in the construction of absorbent hygiene products are styrene block copolymers (SBCs) or variants based on synthetic rubber and amorphous poly-alpha-olefins (APAOs). SBCs have a wide operating window and proven performance, which traditional olefins have challenges to meet. Unlike the catalysts used in traditional APAOs meanwhile, metallocene catalysts allow fine control of chemical structure, molecular weight and all the performance characteristics affected by an adhesive’s chemical structure. Properly designed, mPO-based adhesives can provide excellent adhesion at lower total cost than either those based on SBCs or APAOs and over the last decade they have certainly shown greater price stability than them. In addition, they have an excellent odour profile, typically spray well, and their improved thermal stability cuts down char and gel, which reduces clogged filters or nozzles, reducing maintenance time on the lines.
SNW: Hasn’t the odour associated with SBC polymers also been cited as a growing concern?
SS: End consumers appear to be more sensitised to the odour of a diaper, particularly when first taken out of the pack. So, the additional benefit of olefin based technologies having an excellent odour profile, supports this growing market need. But historically, the biggest and acknowledged challenge is the availability and volatility of raw materials.
SNW: What choices are open to manufacturers to help them manage their business risks and ensure they remain competitive?
SS: For manufacturers, adhesive selection represents a commitment in terms of investment, supply chain logistics, process design and ongoing operations. As in all business decisions, total cost is a key driver, and calculating that cost can be quite challenging, since while the price is important, the impact on line performance, cost in use, supply assurance and responsive service and support can all impact on the bottom line. Of course, in terms of managing supply risk, it’s important to find an adhesive supplier with the flexibility to cover from all technology bases and the proven history in supply assurance.
SNW: How easy is it to switch to new products, or between the options?
SS: We understand switching is time consuming and takes up precious line time, so with the support we offer, the switch can be well planned and executed. We have a wealth of experience in successful and efficient change-overs to olefin based technologies – it is part of our Full-Care support package to customers. And any new product from H.B. Fuller has been through a set of rigorous testing procedures, both in our lab, via our predictive modelling capability, and on our in house coaters, to ensure the product is ready to run on the lines of customers, to avoid unnecessary downtime. Looking to the future, olefin-based technologies are likely to offer more sustainable supply, which is why we have pioneered them.
Olefin technology has moved to a new level but can be confusing due to the different types available. H.B. Fuller’s new Olefin white paper can be obtained from http://bit.ly/RequestOlefinPaper
