Water-based adhesive from Quinn Mexico

Quinn Mexico has recognised the need to move away from hazardous chemicals and move towards water-based compounds. The pu and patent leather specialists have now developed a new generation of water-based adhesives which meet all the requirements of the tanner and footwear manufacturer. Adhesol H₂O has been trialled by Quinn Mexico at a large footwear factory in China and is a new water-based adhesive system which bonds the leather upper to the rubber sole material in the same way as traditional solvent-based products. 'Water-based adhesives have had problems with long drying times and lower physical characteristics compared with solvent-based systems in the past', Juan Carlos Solis, director, Quinn Mexico told Leather International. 'Adhesol H₂O has a drying time comparable with solvent-based adhesives and the same physical properties. Nike have already shown great interest in the product after seeing our trials in China', he added. The new adhesive can be used without changing current machinery in the shoe factories and bonds very quickly once the two components have been clamped together. Quinn have formed an alliance with the large industrial group Cytec to market the product worldwide. Cytec, who have an annual turnover of US$1.5 billion, have the commercial licence for the new water-based system. Quinn Mexico and Cytec hope to take the new product worldwide and capture 10% of the world soling market and reach the goal of using the product on 150 million pairs per year in the future. Quinn Mexico also produce a range of water-based patent systems for upgrading lower quality leathers.