Bostik Q&A: Technical Support for Industrial Building Materials

Learn how our technical support team can help with your industrial building manufacturing adhesives and sealants to ensure high performance and efficient processes with Bostik's Technical Service Engineer, Sarah Brown.

As a building materials manufacturer, it is critical to run a seamless production to ensure you’re able to meet output demands as well as design products that are easy to install and able to withstand exposure to the outside elements over time. When you work with Bostik, our technical support team can provide adhesive and sealant recommendations based on testing and expertise and will work with you directly to help you accomplish this. We sat down with Sarah Brown, one of Bostik’s technical service engineers for industrial building materials, to learn how this assistance can help your specific needs.

Q: For manufacturers who may be learning about Bostik’s capabilities, what’s important for them to know about our portfolio for industrial building materials?

A: Our Bostik team strives to help manufacturers with as much as possible to streamline their logistics, and our large portfolio is a big factor in how we do that. Our solutions address a range of building envelope and weather-proofing applications for residential and commercial buildings, from products used to manufacture windows and doors or prefabricated panels to installation sealants, tapes, and other products used on job sites.

Q: What is the core of your responsibilities as a technical service engineer in relation to customer interactions?

A: While part of my job is to support the development of sealants and hot melt polyurethane adhesives for building construction applications, another large component is being a liaison between manufacturers and Bostik R&D. Manufacturers’ needs are often complex, requiring us to assess their current situation, equipment conditions during production and the substrates they’re using. This helps us gain an understanding of what may be causing challenges in their manufacturing or end-use performance, as well as identify specifically where the problem is occurring. In doing so, it helps me understand exactly what the manufacturer needs help with, why and how we can assist. Then, I consider possible adhesive and sealant technologies that could be suitable, and I loop in the rest of our technical support team to ensure we have the right experts involved to find the right solution.

Q: Once the team is working directly with a manufacturer, how do you start finding the right solution to recommend?

A: When a manufacturer comes to Bostik for a product recommendation, the first step for us is gathering as much information about the application, manufacturing conditions and performance requirements as possible. For moisture curing products like sealants and hot melt polyurethanes, this often includes information about needed working time, desired speed of cure and final strength and flexibility requirements. Once we understand the situation, we can look at our portfolio of products and recommend the most suitable option or design a test procedure to help answer questions or concerns prior to making a recommendation. In our Wauwatosa, WI facility, we have an extensive set of testing equipment, allowing us to customize testing to fit each particular situation. In many cases, our ability to internally test substrates from a customer allows us to provide a product recommendation.

Q: Have Bostik products been certified to any industry standards?

A: In the building and construction industry, individual components and overall assemblies have to comply with numerous standards and codes. Many of our products have received certifications from third-party laboratories for particular industry standards, ensuring that our technologies are appropriate for regulated applications. For example, we have sealants that have been tested to address AAMA 800, ASTM C920 or AAMA 714 specifications, and even some that have Miami Dade approval.

"Our relationship with a customer doesn’t end once we’ve recommended a product. We are here to answer questions and continue helping them as their needs evolve."

Q: What should a manufacturer expect when working with us to implement a product?

A: It always varies based on the manufacturer’s needs. We often test our technologies on manufacturer-supplied substrates and either recommend an option that provides the specific performance levels desired, or we can show side-by-side performance results for the manufacturer to decide what to use. Once a product has been selected, we can support the trial and manufacturing setup process by making equipment and conditions recommendations. Throughout the use of the product, we are here to answer questions, troubleshoot problems and support technical inquiries. We have an extensive analytical lab that can help us investigate any problems that arise and knowledgeable teams to guide investigations. Our relationship with a customer doesn’t end once we’ve recommended a product. We are here to answer questions and continue helping them as their needs evolve.

Q: In this industry, many may want to private label our products. How does the technical service team work with companies that are private labeling adhesives or sealants?

A: Our products can serve more people aside from manufacturers developing end-use products such as doors and windows; they can also give brand owners many options for private labeling products for use in the building envelope market. This can include:

Filling the gap in a company’s portfolio with the technologies they are not yet selling or struggling to deliver due to an unstable supply chain or unsatisfactory supplier
Supporting a full product package that can enable a company to expand their selling options to installers

When a company private labels with us, the adhesive or sealant solutions will leave our facility looking like their product. We work with the company to design the labels and package sizes (cartridge, pail and drum, for example) so that once the product is shipped out, it is completely finished. Our private labeling capabilities can help expand existing product lines or push companies into new applications.

Q: Overall, what is a key takeaway you want everyone to know about Bostik’s technical support team?

A: When someone works with Bostik, it is a partnership; it is in both of our best interests to work closely together, because it helps us better understand the evolving needs of the construction industry while helping manufacturers produce quality products or brand owners meet consumers’ needs. We don’t simply sell adhesives and sealants; we’re here to help with initial planning, testing and implementing our technologies on to production lines as well as support throughout a product’s use. Our portfolio covers a wide breadth of what the industry needs, from installation sealants to flashing tapes and liquid applied flashing, to panel lamination adhesives and beyond. This makes us a valuable total solution provider for brand owners looking to expand their offerings into new applications and technology types. Our customers know we are here whenever they need us throughout their processes, as we value building long-term relationships.

Are you looking to find answers about a problem in your construction manufacturing? Contact a Bostik expert to start the discussion and move your production processes forward.

Other Relevant Content:

Why You Need SMP Liquid Flashing in Your Commercial Construction

Why You Should Offer a Total System Approach for Building Envelopes

Bostik’s Building Envelope Solutions

All information contained herein is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication, is provided “as-is” and is subject to change without notice. To review our full U.S. Legal Disclaimer, visit: https://bostik.com/us/en_US/privacy-policy/legal-disclaimer