Adhesives play a significant role in ensuring a product’s long-term usage and quality preservation. If their quality is compromised it immediately reflects in the final product’s performance. Knowing the value, the adhesive holds in ensuring a product’s long-term and effective usage, UK-based GTS Flexible Materials offers high-quality adhesives widely used across the automotive industry. For over 40 years, the company has delivered flexible copper-clad laminates, coverlays, and cast adhesives to PCB manufacturers. GTS is specialised in fulfilling the need for adhesive systems in the automotive sector and has come a long way in the industry owing to its focus on the electric vehicles segment. The company was the first to develop an adhesive–substrate combination based on polyester films like PEN for use in wire harness replacements and battery Cell Contacting Systems.

The team at GTS efficiently fulfils the need for high quality adhesive solutions to meet the specific needs of its clients concerning reliability, humidity resistance, and temperature stability. “We have a wide range of higher temperature adhesives that are particularly useful in harsh and more demanding environments,” adds Stephan Wittkaemper, Director - Global Sales and Marketing, GTS Flexible Materials. Besides automotive, the company’s high-performance insulation materials are also used in the Laminated Busbar market for applications such as the electrification of trains, renewable power generation, and EV charging stations.

A project that highlights the significance of GTS’s range of adhesive solutions more precisely is where the company used its HighTemp product line for an automotive client. The firm’s high-temperature products are designed to fulfil the need for electronic materials resistant to operating conditions beyond 105°C. The client’s requirement, in this case, was to have a system that can withstand the temperature of 130°C for a lighting application. Additionally, the customer had all the traditional requirements, such as flammability resistance and long shelf life. “To help the client, we started all the way from the initial design of an adhesive, looked at the components we needed to make that work and be able to meet those requirements, and then made it all into an adhesive that can be manufactured in our production unit.

The company works collaboratively with its clients to find the right adhesive or the right combination of materials for their needs

Based on the final solution, the client was able to successfully launch the application to the OEM a couple of years ago,” explains Stephan.

This is just one of the many success stories that GTS has worked on over the years. With other product lines such as GTS Ultraflex, GTS Power Line, and GTS Black Line, the company brings a lot to the table to manufacture adhesives and other flexible materials. In addition to its extensive portfolio, GTS can customise adhesives to meet clients’ specific requirements further distinguishing GTS from other companies in the market. In each of its projects, the firm works collaboratively with its clients to find the right adhesive or the right combination of materials for their needs.

GTS’s solutions have a strong automotive DNA. All the company’s quality systems can be reliably used across the automotive sector as well as other safety-sensitive markets. To further expand its horizon, the company has been consistently adding new products to its portfolio alongside focusing on expansion of its global market presence. “All of our markets require a reliable supplier that has quality systems and continuous improvement programs in place that allow the company to meet its clients’ quality expectations today and in the future. I think over the years GTS has lived up to that expectation to an extent where we are now seen as a key supplier across our customer base,” remarks Stephan.