Cordial Adhesives doubles the shelf life of industrial adhesives thanks to cleaner process water
Cordial Adhesives produces water-based industrial adhesives for the paper and cardboard industry. From its site in Winschoten, the company supplies liquid and powder adhesives to customers all over the world, ranging from cardboard tube manufacturers to producers of packaging board. The quality of these adhesives stands or falls on the quality of the water used in the production process. QA manager Jolanda Nanninga explains how Cordial switched from UV disinfection to the Watter system and what concrete benefits this brought.
No impact on product specifications
To resolve this issue, Cordial launched a trial in February 2024 using the Watter system to disinfect the process water. To ensure that this would not have a negative impact on the end product, it was first tested and analysed with a number of different types of adhesive. The result: it had absolutely no effect on the required specifications, adhesive properties, colour or odour. “Everything was examined; it had no negative impact,” said Jolanda.
The results of the trial were convincing enough to make the full switch. The UV system has now been taken completely out of service, and the Watter system is now the primary and standard method for water disinfection within Cordial’s production process.
40% fewer biocides and a more sustainable profile
As process water is better controlled, fewer preservatives need to be added to the adhesives. Jolanda estimates the reduction at around 40 per cent. This has led to fewer hazard symbols on their products, simpler safety data sheets and a safer working environment both at Cordial itself and at the customer’s premises.
The use of the Watter system has resulted in a better-controlled and more stable process water system. This has not only improved product quality but has also significantly reduced the use of biocides.
Shelf life extended from 3 to 6 months
The most noticeable result is that the shelf life of the adhesives produced has doubled: from three to six months. This is not only a great result for Cordial, but also means less time pressure, fewer rejects and fewer logistical problems for its customers.
Payback period of 2 years
For quality manager Jolanda and maintenance manager Gienus, it is clear: the switch to the Watter system has quickly proved its worth in practice. Thanks to the significant savings on preservatives (around 40 per cent), the elimination of UV maintenance costs and the drastic reduction in product rejects, the team estimates that the investment will have paid for itself within two years.
“The investment has already paid for itself. It works much better and the number of complaints and contamination incidents has fallen significantly,” says Gienus Stuut, maintenance manager at Cordial Adhesives.
Many companies only take action when there are major problems, but it is precisely with minor fluctuations that there is already a huge amount to be gained. My advice to other quality managers is therefore: give the Watter system a trial run. It is the quickest way to see, at your own site, what a consistently cleaner water system does for your end product.
Advice: start with a trial
Cordial’s story shows that the move to a new disinfection method need not be a risky one. For Jolanda and her team, a trial phase was the deciding factor.
Would you like to find out more about the possibilities of a trial setup for your process?
Request a no-obligation consultation with one of our microbiology experts.