Henkel is expanding: The innovation center is to be completed by the end of 2020. © Henkel
The 1-K-PUR adhesives for structural engineered wood emerged from the Swiss company Purbond in 2011. The global activities in the area of Henkel’s engineered wood adhesive solutions are still coordinated by the competence center in Sempach Station in central Switzerland. Part of the continuous further development of the product lines is done in the research and development center in Dusseldorf. Here, Henkel also focuses on innovation and will build a new adhesive innovation center for 130 million € by the end of 2020. “Users can rely on excellent product quality, supply security and the contact partners they trust even when the global economy is booming”, informs us Dr. med. Christian Lehringer, Head of the department Engineered Wood Europe.
In addition to the worldwide patented and certified adhesive systems, which make it possible to apply efficient quantities, the company’s experienced employees contribute with their know-how to the continuation of the global adhesive manufacturer’s success story. Henkel continuously expanded its team for the current global expansion of business in the field of adhesive solutions for structural timber components. In close cooperation with their more experienced colleagues, young and highly motivated employees continue to successfully further develop the adhesive technology under the umbrella of the global corporation and rise to new challenges.
Pioneering innovations
As the first manufacturer of structural 1-K-PUR adhesives, Henkel meets all the performance requirements defined in PRG 320:2018 in North America with its Loctite HB X Purbond line for use in load-bearing glued timber constructions. “This proves that the development and certification of adhesives, which meet the requirements of extremely demanding markets, do not pose a challenge for Henkel”, explains Lehringer. Shorter process cycles save a great deal of time. The established Loctite HB S Purbond line makes it possible to choose open times of two to 70 minutes. At the same time, these adhesives are characterized by an extremely favorable pressing time - open time ratio, which offers users a maximum in safety.
Under controlled and stable production conditions, Henkel sees further potential in improving the press time ratio and can thus increase the efficiency of CLT and glulam production sites in the future as well.
Adhesives in the timber construction sector
25 King in Brisbane: Loctite Purbond adhesives were used for the load-bearing elements of the wooden building © Tom Roe/25 King, Brisbane/Australia
An impressive example of the current developments in timber engineering is Australia's tallest wooden office building. Since fall 2018, the ten-story building on King Street in Brisbane has been completed and handed over to its intended purpose. Nine floors rise on top of the partially recessed ground floor and are supported by a row of V-posts made of glulam. The load-bearing structure of the ten-story building consists of glulam pillars and beams in combination with cross-laminated timber walls and ceilings. The latter are glued with Loctite Purbond adhesives to form highly load-bearing structural elements.
