Adhesives For Packaging
High-performance hot melt adhesives for food packaging, corrugated cartons & folding cartons. Stable open time, strong bonding for high-speed packaging lines.
Introduction
Our packaging hot melt adhesive range covers EVA hot melt pellets, reactive PUR hot melt glue, hot melt glue sticks and pressure-sensitive adhesives. These solvent-free bonding materials are widely used in carton sealing, case sealing, labeling, gift box assembly and flexible packaging processes. Formulations can be customized to match different substrates, production line speeds and operating temperature requirements, and free samples are available for on-site verification testing.
Common Types of Packaging Adhesive
Hot Melt Adhesive
Features: This solid packaging hot melt adhesive is heated and melted before application, then rapidly solidifies on cooling. It is non-toxic, solvent-free and delivers stable bonding performance. Viscosity, softening point and open time can be adjusted to match different production demands.
Applicable scenarios:
- Case sealing of corrugated cartons and courier boxes on automatic sealing lines
- Bonding of paperboard, grey board and common packaging paper materials
- Continuous high-speed automated packaging production lines (up to 350 m/min)
Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive
Features: No heating or solvent required. Bonding is achieved under light pressure with instant tack and no curing wait. Peel strength can be customized for removable or permanent bonding.
Applicable scenarios:
- Production of various adhesive tapes, including BOPP tape and kraft paper tape
- Back adhesive coating for self-adhesive shipping labels and decorative stickers
- Surface protective film manufacturing for packaging materials
Hot Melt Glue Sticks
Features: Easy-to-operate stick-style hot melt adhesive, matched with portable hot melt glue guns. Low equipment investment, available in multiple diameters for different manual packaging needs. Solvent-free and clean to use.
Applicable scenarios:
- Manual assembly of small-batch gift boxes and handmade packaging
- Fixing built-in accessories inside packaging containers
- Temporary reinforcement for cartons and irregular packaging work
PUR Hot Melt Adhesive
Features: A high-performance moisture-curing hot melt adhesive. Applied at 120–160 °C with a fixture time of 8–25 s, it continues crosslinking with moisture in the air after cooling and reaches full bond strength within 24 h. It performs reliably from −30 to +120 °C and shows excellent resistance to low temperature, humidity and temperature fluctuation.
Applicable scenarios:
- Assembly of luxury cosmetic boxes, wine boxes and high-grade laminated gift boxes
- Lamination of PET film, aluminum foil and multi-layer composite packaging materials
- Cold chain packaging and finished goods requiring long-term anti-delamination performance
Packaging Applications and Recommended Adhesive Grades
Choose your adhesive grade by packaging process. The table below maps each packaging application to the recommended hot melt adhesive type, key processing parameters and suitable substrates.
| Application | Recommended Grade | Key Parameters | Compatible Substrates | Equipment and Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carton Sealing (case erecting, bottom and top sealing, tray forming, wrap-around) | EVA hot melt pellets (standard); low-odor EVA for food packaging; fast-setting EVA for high-speed lines | Open time 1–5 s; set time 1–6 s; softening point 75–95 °C; viscosity 800–3,000 mPa·s at 180 °C | Corrugated board (B, C, E flute), kraft liner; coated surfaces need a dedicated grade | Automatic case sealers with wheel applicator or nozzle; spray guns for tray forming; line speed up to 350 m/min |
| Labeling (roll-fed, cut-stack label application) | EVA hot melt for labeling (high initial tack, short open time); PSA for self-adhesive label backing | Open time 1–3 s; high tack for instant grab | Coated paper labels, PP and PET film, glass and plastic containers | Roll-fed labelers with wheel applicator; 200–400 m/min |
| Paper and Flexible Packaging (bag making, window patching, folding carton gluing, lamination) | EVA hot melt for bag making and folder-gluers; reactive PUR for film and foil lamination, cold-chain packaging | EVA open time 2–6 s; PUR fixture time 8–25 s, service temperature −30 to +120 °C | Kraft paper, PE film, PET film, aluminum foil, multi-layer composites | Bag-making machines, folder-gluers, laminators; PUR needs pressure until initial fixture |
| Gift Box Assembly (luxury and laminated boxes) | PUR hot melt for film-laminated boards; EVA for plain paperboard | PUR moisture-cures after cooling, full strength in 24 h | Grey board, coated art paper, PET-laminated board | Manual and semi-automatic box assembly lines |
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Adhesives for Packaging
Selecting suitable adhesives for packaging directly affects finished product yield, production efficiency and long-term storage effect. Before confirming your packaging hot melt adhesive type, evaluate these core indicators:
Base Materials
Different substrates including corrugated cardboard, coated art paper, grey board, PET film, aluminum foil and BOPP require matched adhesives. For example, EVA hot melt suits corrugated board and grey board, while PUR handles PET film and aluminum foil.
Production equipment & Line speed
Fully automatic continuous production lines, semi-automatic equipment and manual workflows each require a matching form of packaging adhesive. For example, high-speed case sealers run EVA hot melt pellets applied by wheel or nozzle, while manual jobs use hot melt glue sticks.
Working & Storage Environment
If finished packaging will experience cold chain transport or dramatic temperature changes, temperature resistance becomes a critical evaluation standard for adhesives for packaging. For cold-chain applications, reactive PUR hot melt (service temperature −30 to +120 °C) or low-temperature EVA grades are recommended.
Bonding Target
Different substrates including corrugated cardboard, coated art paper, grey board, PET film, aluminum foil and BOPP require matched adhesives. The material composition determines which adhesives for packaging can deliver stable bonding.
Packaging Adhesive Substrate Compatibility
Find your substrate and check which adhesive family is recommended for it. “Recommended” is the most reliable choice for typical packaging bonding, “Conditional” means the substrate needs surface treatment or a dedicated grade, and “Limited” means the adhesive is rarely used on this substrate. See the application table above for grade-level recommendations.
| Substrate | EVA Hot Melt | PUR Hot Melt | PSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugated board (kraft liner) | Recommended | Recommended | Tape and label use |
| Coated art paper | Needs a dedicated grade | Recommended | Recommended |
| Grey board | Recommended | Recommended | Limited |
| PET film | Needs corona treatment | Recommended | Recommended |
| Aluminum foil | Limited | Recommended | Limited |
| BOPP film | Limited | Limited | Recommended |
Other Packaging Applications We Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Advantages as Adhesives for Packaging Supplier
When you source adhesives for packaging from Great Adhesive, you get more than standard products:
- Full product portfolio: EVA hot melt pellets, reactive PUR hot melt glue, hot melt glue sticks and pressure-sensitive adhesives for packaging.
- Custom formulation service: tune softening point, viscosity, open time and temperature resistance to match your production line and substrate.
- Rigorous raw material testing ensures stable batch consistency, reducing line downtime on repeat orders.
- Free trial samples for on-site production verification before bulk ordering.
- Technical support including application temperature, wheel speed and compression time guidance.
- Flexible order options for trial batches and large-volume orders.