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Industry Background
The automotive industry is increasingly moving toward automated, zero-defect manufacturing, where operator-dependent variability is no longer acceptable. In this environment, any inconsistency in adhesive application translates immediately into quality risk and potential warranty exposure. As a result, adhesive application has moved from a shop-floor activity to a management-level manufacturing priority.
For locking, sealing, and retaining applications, anaerobic adhesives are widely used and demand precise volumetric control with repeatable placement. This has made automated/semi-automated adhesive dispensing a strategic requirement rather than a discretionary process choice.
Customer Introduction
The customer is a leading Tier-1 automotive supplier based in Pune, specializing in manufacturing fluid and vacuum pump assemblies for global Automotive OEMs. Their assemblies rely on Loctite 638 retaining adhesive for joining cylindrical parts.
Understanding the Problem
In the existing process, Loctite 638 retaining adhesive was applied manually by pouring it into a small container and transferring it onto cylindrical components using a brush, followed by manual spreading to achieve surface coverage. This led to variation in adhesive volume, uncertain and non-uniform coverage, material wastage, a messy work environment, and operator health and safety concerns due to direct chemical exposure.
Cylindrical Component
However, the customer recognized that eliminating manual handling alone would not address the core challenge. While drop-wise adhesive application can be controlled using semi-automatic dispensing systems, retaining applications require a fundamentally different dispensing approach. In such assemblies, uniform adhesive distribution across the entire mating surface is critical—any inconsistency can compromise joint integrity, reduce retention strength, and lead to functional failures. Achieving a successful retaining application therefore demands not only precise volumetric control, but also a dispensing method that ensures consistent, full-surface coverage.
ADoST Solution
Seeking a more controlled and reliable process, the customer partnered with the ADoST team to address the critical requirements of bonding non-threaded components. Understanding the need for precise, repeatable, and uniform adhesive deposition, ADoST recommended the PPS NXT Anaerobic Adhesive Dispenser integrated with the Rotolin Semi-automatic platform, engineered for applying adhesive on the outer diameter of cylindrical components. Its dual-action motion simultaneous rotation and linear movement ensures consistent spiral or linear patterns, delivering even coverage that maintains full joint strength upon assembly.
ADoST PPS NXT
ADoST Rotolin
Customer Experience
With the ADoST PPS NXT and Rotolin integrated into their production line, the customer achieved a step-change in adhesive process reliability. Each part now receives precise, repeatable, and uniform adhesive application, ensuring consistent joint strength and retention.
The ADOST dispensing method also eliminated challenges inherent in manual dispensing, including adhesive wastage, messy workstations, and operator health and safety risks from direct chemical exposure. Integration with the customer’s PLC made the system highly operationally friendly, allowing seamless control within existing workflows.
Operators and production teams reported improved ease of use, process predictability, ADoST delivered standardized, zero-variability dispensing, enhancing overall process reliability and giving the customer full confidence in meeting stringent quality and zero-defect manufacturing goals.
Spiral adhesive application by Rotoline ensures an even spread during assembly
Conclusion
The customer selected ADoST not just for a dispensing machine, but for complete solution critical for retaining applications. ADoST demonstrated a deep understanding of how volumetric accuracy alone is insufficient without controlled distribution on cylindrical surfaces. By combining application know-how, purpose-built equipment, and intelligent motion control, ADoST delivered a solution that converted a sensitive, failure-prone operation into a stable and production-ready process.
The ability to engineer the adhesive pattern, integrate seamlessly with the customer’s PLC, and ensure consistent outcomes at scale makes ADoST the preferred solution for automotive OEMs and Tier-1/Tier-2 suppliers committed to reliability, accountability, and zero-defect manufacturing.
