At Adherex, we partner with industry-leading adhesive manufacturers to offer our customers many resources and products. One of the hallmarks of our success is the partnership we have established with 3M, a giant in the adhesive manufacturing industry. Being recognized as a preferred converter by 3M is no small feat. This status is a testament to our commitment to excellence, quality, and customer satisfaction.
3M is a world-class organization at the forefront of innovation and technology, providing unmatched technical support and product innovation for the most demanding applications in various industries.
But what exactly does this certification mean, and how do our customers benefit from this status?
How to achieve 3M Preferred Converter status
3M has high standards for designating Preferred Converter status. The Automotive Division has chosen only a handful of converters nationwide as their channel to the automotive and transportation markets.
This certificate indicates that we have met and continue to uphold the high standards set by 3M in terms of product quality, innovation, and service delivery. 3M requires conversion partners to meet several stringent criteria, including:
- Must be deeply experienced with 3M products
- Must meet specific sales numbers each year to maintain status
- Must maintain high levels of overall quality and trust from their customers and 3M
The benefits of a 3M Preferred Converter
Adhesive tape converters use raw tape stock to create specific products for precise manufacturing uses. This process is critical because it bridges designers, manufacturers, and suppliers, ensuring that the entire manufacturing process, from fabrication to the final shipping phase, is seamless and efficient.
Suppliers across tiers provide specific solutions to manufacturers to solve problems of adhesion, vibration reduction, heat masking, and many other cases. As a Preferred Converter, Adherex helps suppliers design and create those problem-solving products.
Below are just a few of the solutions provided for your automotive and transportation needs:
- 3M Dual Lock/Hook & Loop for interior trim & headliners
- 3M VHB Tape & Die-Cuts made to specification for gasketing, mounting, and sealing
- 3M interior & exterior mounting solutions for profiles, trim, headliners, mirrors, etc.
- 3M High-Performance, Pressure-Sensitive Tapes for low fogging/outgassing and low surface energy applications.
- 3M Protection Films for interior & exterior surface protection solutions.
- BSR (buzz, squeak, rattle) and NVH (noise vibration harshness) flock tapes.
Additional benefits to suppliers include:
- Innovation – Our recognized status enables us to receive the latest innovative products before the rest of the market.
- Savings – Adherex receives Preferred Converter discounts on 3M products and passes the savings to you.
- Faster turnaround – Our long-term relationship with 3M allows us to keep a reserve of best-selling tape stock on hand.
- Exclusive access to 3M specialists and labs – Our converters work closely with 3M to build specific solutions such as surface protection and rapid prototyping.
Adherex achieves Preferred Automotive Converter status
Adherex is one of the nation’s few 3M Preferred Automotive Converters, specializing in designing, fabricating, and distributing a wide range of standard and custom solutions for the automotive and transportation markets. We have a wide range of converting capabilities, such as water jet cutting, die-cutting, lamination, kiss cutting, sheeting, skiving, sawing, and more. Our value-added services include product development, rapid prototyping, private label, and stocking programs.
Throughout this process, Adherex provides our supplier partners with customized products that address various applications, including sealing, gaskets, noise reduction, and moisture resistance. These products play a pivotal role in enhancing vehicle performance and durability.
We also provide the reusable packaging solutions that glass suppliers utilize when shipping automotive glass and that automotive factories use to send glass between departments without damage.
Learn more: Custom Glass Packaging: A Vital Service
Automotive and beyond
As 3M likes to say, “You know design. We know adhesives. Converters know both.” Adherex is more than a conversion solution provider; we partner with suppliers across the entire transportation sector. Through our collaboration with 3M and many other manufacturers, we leverage various materials to create customized, assembly-line-ready solutions.
Adherex’s standards align with 3M’s as we strive for excellence through exceptional market and application knowledge, understanding customer specifications, and providing a cost-effective, optimal solution for the most demanding applications.
Adherex is ISO 9001:2015 registered and has been a 3M Preferred Automotive Converter for years. Our converting facility, approximately 85,000 square feet and located in Toledo, Ohio, is not merely a point on the map; it is a nexus of opportunity, positioned a stone’s throw away from major manufacturing centers. This proximity allows us to maintain a pulse on the industry, foster close relationships with our partners, and ensure swift and efficient logistics.
If you would like to learn more about Adherex and our converting capabilities and would like to discuss a specific application, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] or call us at
