Smart fasteners are not just nuts and bolts

In auto sector adhesive tapes used for attaching components in unique ways allow carmakers to experiment with designs, since they are no longer bound by linear needs of traditional metallic fasteners

They have been holding up machines, structures and sundry objects for centuries. Without nuts and bolts our world would fall apart. In the smart new age, a new range of fasteners is keeping it together for a range of sectors from health care to automotive, to construction. 

Adhesive tapes of various kinds are now the nuts and bolts of products, devices and vehicles. Non-metallic fasteners like tapes have proved to be especially useful for joining non-symmetric surfaces. Additionally, such adhesives and tapes are significantly lighter and help reduce the overall weight of various products. 

“The demand for adhesive tapes has increased in the healthcare, electrical & electronics, automotive industries. In the healthcare industry, adhesive tapes are applied to surgical containers, monitoring electrodes, and other medical devices. Currently, these tapes are used in hospitals to cover wounds, for fixing cover shields during surgeries, and for cleaning purposes in antiseptic rooms,” says a report by MarketsandMarkets, a market research and consulting firm.

In the automotive sector adhesive tapes are used for attaching components in unique ways. Such tapes have allowed carmakers to experiment with designs, since they are no longer bound by the linear needs of traditional metallic fasteners. “These tapes do away with the challenges of traditional fastening systems and help enhance the lifespan of the product. Tapes also help eliminate rust & corrosion; reduce noise & vibration, manufacturing & assembly time; and enhance product design. These are proven to increase efficiency and performance while lowering production and material costs,” according to MarketsandMarkets.

It further projects a sharp rise in demand. The global adhesive tapes market size was $59.2 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $83.8 billion by 2026, at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.8 per cent between 2021 and 2026. Asia Pacific and countries such as India are expected to be drivers of this growth owing to rise in economic activity. 

As adhesive tapes take a stronger position in the industry to be preferred fasteners, the focus on sustainability is deepening. 

Such tapes are proving to be indispensable in the assembly of electronic components. Sustainability is built into some of the adhesive tapes. The adhesives are made of chemicals which allow for easy separation of the components in electronic products, enabling their reuse and recycling. Wearable devices for health care, billions of new personal electronic devices and

IoT-connected machines are creating mountains of e-waste.

The best way to manage such waste is to disassemble the devices after their life cycle for recycling and reuse of parts. Here the use of non-traditional fasteners plays a huge role. Adhesives made from easily solvable chemicals which are eco-friendly helps reduce waste and increase the reuse of components. 

The packaging industry benefits, too. The rise in e-commerce in India has led to millions of packages being shipped every day. Sustainable chemicals and adhesive tapes reduce the reliance on plastic packaging. A new wave of paper-based adhesive tapes has been pioneered by material science researchers. Paper-based adhesive tape is now a preferred choice in markets with stringent environmental regulations. 

Often unnoticed, fasteners are evolving rapidly with deep scientific research and technological advancements. The manufacture and use of adhesive tapes is an invisible but smart disruption taking place in the industrial world. Investment in such products is rising across the world and is expected to accelerate in India, too.

Global material science giants along with domestic companies are increasing their investment in new-age fasteners in India. Material science companies are also innovating for emerging sectors like renewable energy and semiconductors in India.