4 reasons for an automatic adhesive filling system

23. February 2023 7 min.

Birgit Herrscher-Lingua, Marketing Editor

The automatic filling system for adhesive granules is not a must-have for every production facility with an adhesive application system. But when is it worth investing in the GlueFill granulate container and RobaFeed 3 granulate feeder when buying an adhesive application system? Or to retrofit an existing application system?

Automatic adhesive filling system

These four reasons speak for the automatic adhesive filling system

Cleanliness
Safety
Cost savings
Complete integration

Reason #1: Cleanliness

Is the adhesive application system to be located in a production facility that must be spotlessly clean, such as in the food or pharmaceutical industries? Without an automatic filling system, you risk inconveniences such as a dirty tank opening on the melter, an overfilled melting tank, or granules scattered across the floor.

Although the tank opening is large enough for convenient manual filling, adhesive granules may well spill once in a while. This can happen due to carelessness or if the melter is installed in the system in such a way that it is not easily accessible. An extreme example that came to my attention during my research for this blog post: A melter had been installed 1.5 meters above the ground. The operators had no view of the tank opening despite a ladder. One can only hope that not too much granulate was spilled.

Melter with correct filling quantity of adhesive granules

A much more unpleasant result can occur if the operating personnel fill the melting tank with too much granulate. This can be well-intentioned or happen in a stressful situation. However, the effects in terms of cleanliness can be serious. Granules stick to the tank cap and rim, melt and burn. Tank cap and rim are glued together. Not a pretty sight when hygiene is the top priority in production. The melted granules flow down the outside of the tank and gradually fill the interior of the melter. The result is a time-consuming additional task during the next equipment service.

Improper filling of a melter Dirty melter: A case for an all-inclusive service.

Reason #2: Safety

If safety regulations are high to protect operating personnel, then an automatic filling system is a must. Despite protective devices on the tank, such as a tank gasket or CoolTouch insulation, if you are careless there is still a risk of getting burned on the hot tank cap or the already melted adhesive in the tank.

Another safety argument is vapors that are generated when hot melt adhesive melts. They could be inhaled during manual refilling. Although hot melt adhesives are generally not toxic, contact with vapors should still be avoided.

Save and remote filling of a Robatech melter with adhesive granulate Safety first with filling granulate

Reason #3: Cost savings

The procurement costs for the RobaFeed 3 granulate feeder with GlueFill granulate container are in the four-digit range (in euros). The question: Where can you save costs? The answer: Less time spent on maintenance and a more cost-effective melter.

With the automatic filling system, you can choose a melter with a tightly dimensioned melting capacity. This is less expensive to purchase than a melter with a large tank. In addition, the melter consumes less energy. Only the amount of granulate that is actually needed in the process is fed into the tank and melted. In addition, you avoid contamination on and around the melting tank.

Automatic filling system with small GlueFill granulate container

Reason #4: Complete integration

Are you a machine builder? Do you integrate the adhesive application system into your machine? For manual filling, the operating personnel would have to enter the safety area. This would result in a production standstill. In this case, there is no reason to hesitate: The automatic filling system is simply part of the hot melt system.

Automatic adhesive filling system: Compatibility and retrofitting

One of the four reasons has convinced you? When purchasing a new adhesive application system, your Robatech sales team will check with you before the purchase whether an automatic filling system makes sense for your system. But what about retrofitting? Just ask your local representative. The automatic adhesive filling system is compatible with Concept, Vision, and JumboFlex melters and also with similar third-party equipment. Retrofitting is done quickly. After just half a day, you can enjoy greater cleanliness, safety, and efficiency. The electronic connections are already installed on our melters by default.

You already have an automatic filling system?

Write us what reason made you decide to buy! You can find more information about the automatic filling system here.

Birgit Herrscher-Lingua, Marketing Editor

Birgit Herrscher-Lingua is Marketing Editor at Robatech’s headquarters in Muri/Switzerland. She writes texts about adhesive application systems and Robatech, which appear online or in print format. In the Robatech blog, she likes to put on customer glasses and brings forward insider knowledge from Robatech colleagues for this purpose.