An instant classic

We are pleased to announce a significant new range of professional grade cyanoacrylate “instant” adhesives - superior quality, high purity single part adhesives which have numerous applications in all aspects of high technology, high performance assembly. Curing at room temperature in seconds, they provide excellent bond strength on a wide range of similar and dissimilar substrates including rubber, plastics, metal, wood, leather, ceramics, ferrites, stone, cork, glass, composites and paper. The range includes surface-insensitive, fast cure and low odour, low blooming formulations. Cyanoacrylate adhesives (CA’s) are known generically as “superglues” or “instant adhesives” and are extensively used in all manner of industrial applications, but often little understood and may be of extremely variable quality.

Our adhere cyanoacrylate single component systems are fast and easy to use, requiring no mixing or heating, and parts being bonded do not need clamping. They are solvent free. They achieve high tensile and shear strengths. Their high quality formulation and manufacture ensures excellent manufacturing repeatability and high stability – facilitating long shelf life for highly efficient production line use. The range includes a rubber toughened “flexible formulation”, an activator for even faster cures, and a primer which facilitates bonding of difficult to bond plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene or silicone rubber – even PTFE.

While cyanoacrylates are ubiquitous adhesives we believe they are often taken for granted. It is our aim to raise-the-game of instant adhesives in manufacturing processes. To this end we are also strongly focused on dispensing technologies, whether through 20 or 50 gram integral pin cap HDPE bottles or 500 gram bottles for pressure pot and automated application. We score by offering a complementary complete range of compatible automatic, semi-automatic and manual dispensing systems in-house.

Clock this!

World renowned clocks have been made in Derby since the mid-1700's, when clockmaker John Whithurst entertained his friends Benjamin Franklin and Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles Darwin) at his house in Queen Street. So, when the Finesse Collection of hotels were planning the reception area of their new boutique hotel in the town it was natural that they seek out the present day flag carriers of the Whithurst brand. Smith of Derby worked closely with James Blick, the Hotelier, to derive a contemporary design in keeping with the modern refurbishment of their traditional building.

The spectacular design by Kevin Litchfield did however call for some very specialist work. Explains Kevin, “We needed to fit a glass map of the world into a fine stainless steel frame. The two-part adhesive we were using gave us problems so we called the team at INTERTRONICS to discuss a UV cure alternative. Paul Whitehead arrived two hours later and basically did the job there and then.”

Our solution was to use DYMAX 429, which allowed plenty of time to accurately position the one-off and highly expensive components before rapid curing initiated with an IUV 250 UV Curing Flood Lamp. Paul described the situation, “They were having problems getting the joint bubble free using a two-part epoxy – whereas the DYMAX 429 completely eliminated this problem and gave a virtually invisible bond in a matter of minutes.”

Reaction to the finished clock has been extremely positive with its unusual two-part electromechanical construction showing local time in one quadrant and global time in the other. The two elements are actually two separate clocks. One shows local time, indicative to the quarter of an hour. From 12am to 12pm (and vice versa) the hand travels through the quadrant, there are hour and quarter hour markings. As an example, if it is 11:59, the hand would be positioned at the bottom of the quadrant pointing downwards. At 12:00 the hand would travel back through the quadrant.

The second clock depicts world times through 24 zones – or the 24 countries mentioned on the clock itself. The reference point for clock is the UK, and then countries were selected that were an hour apart from the previous one. When looking at the clock the world map travels around and the time can be taken from the dial that surrounds the globe.

This was clearly a unique one-off situation with very expensive components where no mistake could be allowed for – but it was also a valuable learning experience and we understand that Smith of Derby already have another commission with similar requirements and already know the solution – DYMAX 429 UV Curing Glass Adhesive.