September 11, 2018

Henkel at COMPAMED 2018

Henkel to feature wide range of adhesive innovations for healthcare applications

Düsseldorf, Germany – At the COMPAMED fair in Düsseldorf (November 12-15, 2018), Henkel will present its comprehensive portfolio of adhesive materials for applications in healthcare. Highlights at the company’s booth G05 in Hall 8b, will include new LED curing adhesives for flexible medical devices, a range of advanced pressure sensitive adhesives for plasters and functional patches as well as conductive inks for smart health devices.

New trends in healthcare materials and manufacturing of medical devices demand new adhesive solutions. Henkel is addressing these challenges with a wide range of innovative product solutions on display at COMPAMED.

Flexible LED cure adhesives for medical devices
Building on the company’s expertise in Loctite brand solutions for the healthcare industry, the spotlight will be on new acrylic adhesives that offer significant design and manufacturing benefits. Two of these products were specially developed for use on flexible applications made of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), two substrates increasingly specified by device manufacturers. As low-viscosity, LED curable and high-flexibility adhesives, they feature tack-free curing and combine high elongation (>200%) with outstanding bond strength also on polycarbonate, acrylic and other rigid plastics used in medical devices.

“Using LED curing saves costs, thanks to the fact that it can be switched ON/OFF instantly. Additionally, the narrow spectrum of light wavelength without infrared light emissions helps manufacturers save energy consumption and minimizes the generation of heat that must be dissipated, especially in cleanroom bonding applications,” says Andrés Bultó, Business Development & Key Account Manager Medical at Henkel. “When developing our new LED cure adhesives, our aim was to add further value by enhancing their flexibility and design freedom, while at the same time maximizing their bonding strength. Notably, the property profile includes fast LED curing in all geometries, from bondlines to open fillets.”

Next to TPE and TPU, the products also have an ideal fit in plasticized PVC applications. Whereas flexibility in adhesives normally comes at the cost of higher viscosity, Henkel’s innovative new LED cure adhesives achieve high flexibility at the lowest end of viscosity, lower than current grades available, which makes them particularly suitable for flexible joints with narrow gaps or post-assembly dispensing. In addition, they provide high fluorescence in uncured and polymerized state, enabling quick and easy quality inspection of the liquid or cured adhesive by use of black light or vision systems.

Typical applications include a wide variety of disposable medical products, e.g. tube connectors and IV sets, needle safety shields, catheters, respiratory circuits and fluid containers. The new Loctite flexible LED cure adhesives have been tested and certified according to ISO 10993 biocompatibility standards and have shown compatibility with common sterilization methods like Gamma, ETO or autoclave.

Adhesives for functional medical plasters and advanced patches
Henkel will also be presenting its new hydrocolloid hotmelt pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). This innovation targets the fast-growing market of functional medical plasters and advanced patches for use in applications such as advanced wound dressings, acne treatment and ostomy care. Apart from its outstanding balance of adhesion and peel strength, its hydrocolloid formulation delivers excellent moisture retention from the wound to the adhesive, good breathability and enhanced wearing comfort.

“This key innovation was created with consumers in mind and answers the demand for bandages and patches that minimize scarring while offering high water absorbency and protection from infection,” says Richard Wang, Business Head of Henkel’s Tapes and Labels business in Asia-Pacific. 

In addition, Henkel will present its portfolio of PSAs custom designed for a broad range of wound plasters and electrode/health patches. Certified to ISO 10993, these solvent acrylic products are characterized by good breathability and show excellent adhesion on sensitive skin with gentle and residue-free removal.

Holistic material solutions for next-gen smart health devices
Complementing its wide portfolio of adhesives for healthcare, Henkel will also showcase a number of comprehensive material sets enabling next-generation smart health devices, such as disposable moisture sensors for incontinence management and comfortable on-body health patches for real-time wireless patient monitoring using novel dry-electrode materials. The product range includes Loctite conductive sensing inks, skin-compatible PSAs, protective coatings and low-pressure molding materials, all designed for high speed, cost-efficient manufacturing processes.

Henkel’s adhesive and market specialists will be available to discuss the potential and benefits of the company’s innovative new product offering for enhanced productivity and smart functionality in healthcare at Booth G05 in Hall 8b.

Loctite is a registered trademark of Henkel and/or its affiliates in Germany and elsewhere.

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2017, Henkel reported sales of 20 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 3.5 billion euros. Combined sales of the respective top brands of the three business units – Loctite, Schwarzkopf and Persil – amounted to 6.4 billion euros. Henkel employs more than 53,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose to create sustainable value, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.

Photo material is available at www.henkel.com/press.

Contact	Kathrin Fuss	Kevin Noels
Phone	+49 211 7970	+31 164 317 011
Email		knoels@emg-pr.com

	Henkel AG & Co. KGaA	EMG

The following material is available:

Henkel’s high-elongation LED curable acrylic adhesives combine outstanding bond strength on flexible medical devices made of TPE and TPU with high flexibility and low viscosity. 

Developed especially for the fast-growing market of functional wound plasters, Henkel’s first ever hydrocolloid hotmelt pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) provides an excellent combination of adhesion and peel strength, moisture retention, breathability and wearing comfort. 

Electrodes are designed to measure electrical impulses within the body that can be used to aid in the diagnosis of a variety of medical conditions. Henkel offers a full range of pressure sensitive adhesive solutions as well as electrode technology for such applications.