main applications
Some of our main applications for hot melt adhesives are:
Hot melt adhesives
Paramelt provides a comprehensive range of EVA and EnBA hot melts, metallocene polyolefin hot melts and rubber based (pressure sensitive) hot melt adhesives providing strong and reliable bonds in 'end of line' packaging operations and technical applications.
Toll manufacturing opportunities
We work with a number of partners where our unique hot melt experience and manufacturing capabilities offer a value added contribution to their business through toll manufacturing and bespoke new product developments!
Rely on usHot melt principles
Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic materials, which are solid at room temperature and which need to be molten before use.
Kristof Andrzejewski
Business Development Manager Packaging Adhesives & Food Contact Waxes
Principle of hot melts
Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic materials, which are solid at room temperature and which need to be molten before use.
In this molten, liquid state, they are applied on one of the substrates which need to be bonded. During this liquid phase of the adhesive (open time), the two substrates need to be pressed together. It is during this pressing step that the adhesive is spread between the substrates, cools down and solidifies again. Hence the bond is created.
In this process, it is important that the pressing time is longer than the time the hot melt adhesive needs to return to its solid state (setting time). If not, the bond will not be strong enough and the substrates might release again.
Hot melt composition
Hot melt adhesives typically consist of (mainly) three components: polymers, resins and waxes.
Kristof Andrzejewski
Business Development Manager Packaging Adhesives & Food Contact Waxes
Adhesive composition
Hot melt adhesives
Hot melt adhesives typically consist of (mainly) three components: Polymers, resins and waxes.
- Polymers are the backbone of the hot melt, they provide internal strength or cohesion, but also flexibility. Polymers largely determine the viscosity of the hotmelt, and also contribute to the specific adhesion properties. In the composition of packaging hot melts, mostly EVA- and metallocene Polyolefin-polymers are used. EVA-based hot melts are typically yellow, PO-based hot melts are typically white opaque.
- Resins or tackifiers are added to the composition to boost the hot tack of the hot melt adhesive and to improve the wetting behaviour.
- Waxes (e.g. paraffins, microwaxes or Fischer-Tropsch waxes) are also an essential part of the composition as they lower the product’s viscosity and therefore determine the flow and wetting behaviour of the hot melt adhesive. The wax-component in a hot melt formulation greatly influences the setting rate and the heat resistance of the adhesive.
Pressure sensitive hot melts adhesives (PSA)
Paramelt also offers Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA’s) for various applications. These products typically remain tacky in their solid state, at room temperature, and the bond is created by simply pressing the to be bonded materials together during or after solidification of the adhesive.
PSA’s typically consist of an elastomer (SBC or OBC rubbers, for example), mostly combined with a tackifier. Typical applications are stickers, tapes, document bags, anti-slip glue dots, and so on.
Some PSA-types develop a permanent bond after a while and are therefore suitable to create structural bonds, others maintain their tacky character and are mostly used to create temporary bonds.
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Kristof Andrzejewski
Business Development Manager Packaging Adhesives & Food Contact Waxes
Toll manufacturing, viable & reliable
Do you intend to focus on your core business and outsource part of your production? On a daily basis Paramelt has proven to many well known partners that contract manufacturing is a viable and reliable alternative. Want to know more about our approach and our capabilities in processing thermoplastic products?
our dna
Paramelt is a global leader in specialty waxes, adhesives and coatings. For more than 125 years we are essentially wax formulators and are an independent, privately owned company.
Paramelt heritage
Paramelt
Dutch, since 1898
revenue 2024: €265 mln
# employees 2024: 490
owned by Ter Group
Ter Group
German, since 1908
revenue 2024: €920 mln
# employees 2024: 1105
owned by Westphal family
As the recognized wax specialists, we harbor industry experts and rank # 1 or 2 positions in our core markets. We continue to invest in process technology leadership and consolidation in these core wax markets and grow by offering ‘value for money’. Over time this position has enabled us to grow strongly in adhesives and dispersions markets. Value is our driver and custom-made products the norm.
Specialists (niche player)
Top 3 reasons to
recommend Paramelt*)
– reliable supplier
– consistent quality
– value for money
*) Customers survey Europe and USA
# active formulas
~2750
We are specialists, but are always open to complementary opportunities. We have direct decision making and short communication lines, our people throughout the organization take ownership and with a can-do attitude we make it happen. The annual re-investment rate is high and the company’s financial mass can underpin substantial investments.
With an entrepreneurial attitude
Annual re-investment rate
~10%
Technology drives our thinking. We combine long term strategic product and process research with flexible and responsive product development. We are inquisitive and challenge conventions which can result in ‘blue sky investments’. We are recognized by our knowledge leadership in core markets.
Driven by technology and innovation
# laboratory requests
> 1000 last year
# new commercial products
~ 110 last year
‘Batch-to-batch consistency is our constant goal’: this is our focus both for investment casting waxes used for aerospace parts and our food grade waxes and adhesives produced in our FSSC/ISO 22000 sites. This is why our customers rely on us.
Delivering security and consistency
Financial stability
D&B rating 1
From our 8 manufacturing sites we can address regional differences and trends and provide product equivalence with local sourcing. We have our own regional sales and technical staff and have a specialized and knowledgeable distributor network for ‘selected market niches’.
With a global reach and local service
manufacturing sites
Europe : 3
USA : 3
China : 2
customers in
87 countries
At the core of our performance lies a team of experienced and knowledgeable employees. We build long-term partnerships and are responsive, flexible, committed and loyal.
Building on people and partnership
Average employee retention
> 12 years
Paramelt = ‘knowledge & experience’
recognized by > 85% customers
(Customers survey Europe and USA)
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With 8 production facilities supplying to more than 80 countries, we truly combine a global perspective with local service.