Before we consider the change in PUR glue formulas or innovations to glue pots we need to understand what has driven the changes.  Interior designers are creative and love to present possibilities and concepts to consumers.  Consumer demand ultimately determines which concepts become trends, but it’s clear, there can only be a demand for a style if the style is presented.   NuTek Machinery technicians recently went to the Ott Edgebander factory in Lambach Austria for factory training followed by tours of several large companies in Germany and Austria.  It was just as much of a priority for us to view the showrooms at these cabinet companies as it was to view the machinery.  We don’t want to offer a machine when working with customers, we want to offer solutions to the challenges they face or will face.  Understanding the materials shops work with and the expectations of consumers is key to offering the best possible solution to achieve the desired results.  There were of course the standard white, black, and gray cabinets but there were just as many displays with veneer, structured board, and high gloss cabinets.  It obvious to me as I install and repair machinery in numerous companies that these product styles are rising in popularity in North America as well.  These materials present a challenge to manufacturers as consumers demand better quality for less money.   The days of using white glue with white boards and black glue with black boards are coming to an end as consumers are presented with invisible glue line panels.  The majority of machinery used in our industry comes from Europe and machinery manufacturers such as Ott have adapted and developed solutions to the challenges faced by cabinet and display companies in their home countries that improve the aesthetics of edgebanded panels while increasing efficiency and profit.  These trends them make their way to North America as the machinery to efficiently process the challenging materials is perfected.  I started in the woodworking industry 30 years ago in 1990 at large volume producer Merillat Industries.  I was told then that the U.S. market trends followed European trends by several years.  That isn't to say that European trends will replace the standard cabinet we see on the market today but there are certainly quite a few customers that desire the new styles they see.  We may not lag several years behind the European designs for much longer.  There are multiple large European cabinet manufacturers currently opening production facilities in the U.S.  I’m currently working with one of these larger manufacturers on their dust collection project.  They are already in negotiations for their second facility in the U.S. of over a million square feet.  American manufacturers are going to need to respond to the consumer demand for the designs these companies bring by improving methods and upgrading machinery to be competitive.  Textured, high gloss, and veneer panels require invisible glue lines, and this is one of the driving forces for PUR glue and better processing methods.  Don’t panic, much of what you may know about PUR is outdated information.  Even a small shop can take advantage of invisible or at the very least, minimized glue lines dependent on the edgebander you choose.   Even if your customer base doesn't demand the European style cabinets being introduced, you can still benefit from the innovative machine designs to better process the panels your currently do with the ability to process a wider selection of panels that you may struggle to process now.   Not all edgebanders are manufactured equal and the quality of the panel finish, most notably the glue line, attests to this.  While some companies argue the necessity of laser or hot air systems for invisible glue lines, we recognize PUR as the best and most versatile option to achieve this.  PUR can be used with veneers, HPL, and solid wood edges as well as all the edges laser and hot air can process.   PUR is more versatile and can produce invisible glue lines if your pay attention to key features on your edgebander that will allow you to process and achieve this.

• PUR is melted and applied at a much lower temperature then EVA glue.  Just like EVA, there are several formulas of PUR glues, each with characteristics that determine the application temperature.   PUR glues used in straight line edgebanders often operate at temperatures between 120-140 degrees Celsius.  In comparison EVA glues often operate in temperature ranges of 180-220 degrees Celsius.  If you’ve ever burnt your hands on a hot pot full of EVA glue you will immediately appreciate the temperatures PUR glues are applied at.   The lower temperatures also benefit edgebanding tapes that are temperature sensitive that can melt and distort at higher temperatures.