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Henkel Adhesive Technologies

Henkel Adhesive Technologies

UV curable pressure sensitive adhesives 

Henkel UV curable pressure sensitive adhesives combine acrylic durability with solvent-free UV curing. The result is higher performance, lower energy use and greater circularity across labels, tapes, medical and EV applications.

Pressure Sensitive UV Coater

Benefits

Performance that lasts

Acrylic durability, UV curing

Henkel UV curable PSAs speed up manufacturing and reduce energy consumption across diverse applications.

Efficient manufacturing

Faster curing, lower energy use

Improved chemical and UV resistance, a wider operating temperature range, and enhanced plasticizer resistance.

Sustainable by design 

Solvent-free

Henkel ULTRA UV PSAs eliminate solvents and add circularity, making pressure sensitive adhesives more sustainable.

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UV curable PSAs in action

Henkel UV curable PSAs power medical wearables, durable and recyclable labels, re-closeable packaging, wire-harness tapes, construction and EV battery assembly. Discover where UV PSAs fit your product.

Attribute

Henkel UV PSA* (Henkel-sourced)

Solvent Acrylic (Industry typical)

Water-Based Acrylic (industry typical)

Rubber Hot Melt (industry typical)

Solids content

100%

40-50%

50-60%

100%

Solvent content

Solvent-free

Solvent-carried

Water-carried

Solvent-free

Drying oven / tunnel required

No

Typically yes

Typically yes

No

Single-pass coat weight

Significantly higher than solvent- or water-based systems

Limited by drying

Limited by drying

High

VOC emissions

Minimal

Associated with solvent evaporation

Associated with co-solvents if present

Minimal

Hazardous-material storage

Not required

May be required

Generally not required

Generally not required

Coating line footprint

Smaller; no drying tunnel

Larger; drying tunnel required

Larger; drying tunnel required

Smaller

UV PSAs eliminate drying tunnels, reduce line footprint, remove hazardous-material storage requirements, and enable coating line setup with significantly less capital infrastructure than solvent- or water-based systems.

*UV PSA attributes sourced from Henkel Adhesive Technologies published materials. Comparative-technology columns describe industry-typical characteristics of the respective adhesive classes and are not performance representations about any specific competing product. Converters should validate technology selection against application-specific technical data sheets and regulatory requirements.

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From labels to EV assembly, discover how Henkel UV curable PSAs boost performance and sustainability.

UV PSA and Circular Packaging

Selected Henkel UV acrylic PSAs meet TLMI RCA LRP-2 for post-consumer recycling. Solvent-free, 100% solids formulation eliminates VOCs and hazardous waste. UV curing cuts converter energy use ~90% (750 vs. 50 kWh/1,000 m²) and CO₂ emissions similarly, while enabling up to 2.5× faster line speeds and lower material transport and total cost in use.

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Picture of PSA production

Manufacturing and Technical Support

Henkel's UV-curable acrylic PSA expertise is available globally, with dedicated production and testing across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. From pilot-scale trials to full production and recyclability testing, customers get consistent UV PSA capabilities and local support wherever they operate.

FAQs

Henkel UV curable PSAs add value across any setup, whether you run hot melt, water-based or solvent-based lines or are starting fresh. UV curing removes drying ovens, cuts energy and footprint, and opens up higher-performance, higher-value applications. Henkel brings the technical support and partnership to make the switch with confidence.

For hot melt coaters, the move to UV coating needs only minimal changes to existing infrastructure, so the investment stays low. Adding UV capability expands market reach by unlocking adhesives with improved chemical and UV resistance, a wider operating temperature range, and enhanced plasticizer resistance, all at a lower total cost than today's offering. That positions your portfolio to win higher-value applications and sustain long-term growth.

UV PSA coatings simplify production at every stage. The high-solids, solvent-free formulation removes the need for dryers and ovens, cutting equipment footprint, maintenance, and energy use, while the process runs smoother with fewer interruptions and higher coat weights in a single pass. Higher-solids materials also lower shipping costs and inventory space, and UV technology improves water-whitening resistance, aging characteristics, and chemical durability. The result is better cost-in-use, more operational agility, and wider market opportunities.

Yes. Moving from solvent-based to UV coating delivers end-to-end operational advantages and frees coaters from the cost, labor, and compliance burden of handling and emitting solvent. The result is a safer, lower-emission workspace with reduced PPE, simpler training, and significantly lower VOC emissions than solvent-based lines. Henkel's ULTRA UV portfolio makes the transition straightforward, with performance that meets or exceeds modern demands, so you can move off solvent without sacrificing the high-value results your customers expect, while unlocking cost, sustainability, and operational savings.

Yes. Henkel ULTRA UV has made the coating process easy and efficient, lowering the barriers traditionally tied to starting a coating line while holding performance steady. Investing in UV capability gives you tighter control over product performance, a stronger cost structure, and more protection from the supply disruptions and price swings affecting the market today. Bringing capability in-house lets teams meet specialized customer requirements, accelerate turnaround, and prototype faster, positioning your organization as a true co-developer and technical partner.

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