HOTMELTS & PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVES

Hotmelts & PSA – with detailed focus on KAISER melting & mixing reactors

Hotmelts and Pressure Sensitive Adhesives – high-performance materials with demanding process requirements

Hotmelts and Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA) are high-performance, solvent-free adhesive systems activated by heat or pressure.
They are formulated from multiple key components – waxes, oils, polymers, tackifier resins and functional additives.
Especially the polymers (such as thermoplastic elastomers or EVA systems) require precise temperature control, efficient mixing and carefully managed shear forces.

 

KAISER – the world’s only supplier of fully integrated turnkey plants for Hotmelts & PSA

For nearly 50 years, KAISER has engineered and delivered complete production plants for Hotmelts and PSA.
We remain the only equipment manufacturer worldwide offering the entire process chain – from raw material melting and polymer incorporation to final packaging.

KAISER Melting & Mixing Reactors – the heart of every Hotmelt process

KAISER reactors were developed specifically for Hotmelts and PSA, combining high thermal efficiency, gentle product handling and excellent mixing performance.

  • Capacity range: 30 L – 3,000 L

Covering:

  • laboratory and pilot applications
  • medium-scale batches
  • full industrial Hotmelt and PSA production

on one unified technology platform.

 

 

🔥 Heating jacket with oil-circulation channels – fast heat transfer, fast melting

Each reactor is equipped with a multi-zone thermal oil heating jacket featuring high-efficiency oil-circulation channels designed to:

  • maximise heat transfer coefficient
  • ensure extremely short melting times
  • deliver uniform temperature distribution
  • minimise thermal stress on sensitive components

This results in quick and controlled melting, even for complex formulations.

 

 

🌀 KAISER Double-Helix Mixer – rapid polymer dispersion, gentle mixing

The specially engineered double-helix agitator is one of KAISER’s key innovations:

  • pulls solid polymers and tackifier resins efficiently into the melt
  • creates a large exchange surface within the product
  • prevents local overheating
  • mixes homogeneously at all viscosity levels
  • provides strong but gentle shear forces

This mixer design ensures excellent incorporation of polymers – one of the most critical steps in Hotmelt and PSA production.

 

 

Processing extremely high viscosities – up to 750,000 mPas

KAISER reactors maintain stable and reproducible mixing even as viscosity increases strongly toward the end of the batch.

This makes them ideal for:

  • PSA formulations with block copolymers
  • HMPSA (Hot Melt Pressure Sensitive Adhesives)
  • highly viscous sealing compounds
  • technical specialty adhesives

 

 

Degassing – for perfect product quality

Depending on the formulation, the finished batch can be:

  • evacuated, or
  • vented

to produce an air-free, bubble-free and visually homogeneous melt – essential for high-purity PSA and optical-grade adhesives.

 

 

Transfer to downstream processing

Through heated pumps, filters and buffer tanks, the Hotmelt or PSA is delivered to the appropriate solidification or packaging unit.
All components are designed for high-viscosity, temperature-controlled operation.

 

 

Final product forms – all technologies available from a single source

🔸 For Hotmelts

  • Pastillation
  • Strip granulation
  • Underwater pelletizing

🔸 For Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA)

  • Hot filling into siliconised containers
  • Pouch filling from 250 g to 2,000 g

Each system includes cooling, weighing, sealing and packaging solutions.

 

 

KAISER turnkey plants – the complete process chain from one supplier

A fully integrated KAISER plant includes:

  • thermal oil systems (gas-fired or electrically heated)
  • multi-loop temperature control systems
  • heated transfer and process lines
  • cooling systems
  • air-drying and exhaust units
  • automation, control systems and instrumentation
  • packaging and logistics modules

This ensures seamless operation and maximum process stability.

 

 

Technology applicable far beyond Hotmelts

KAISER’s Hotmelt and PSA process expertise has also been successfully applied to:

  • wax and paraffin formulations
  • hydrocarbon resins
  • bitumen and pitch blends
  • fatty acids and fatty alcohols
  •  specialty chemical melts and additive systems

Conclusion

Producing Hotmelts and PSA requires mastery of heat transfer, mixing technology and integrated process design.

KAISER is the only equipment manufacturer worldwide that provides the full process chain – from 30-L laboratory mixers to 3,000-L production units, all the way to solidification and packaging.

For customers seeking a turnkey, reliable and product-gentle complete solution, KAISER has been the trusted global partner for nearly five decades.