After thoroughly searching for technical data sheets, you've finally chosen the right adhesive material. The battle seems won... or so you think. Now, it’s time to secure your product.
When searching for material, it’s easy to go straight to the source (A.K.A., adhesive manufacturers). However, depending on your goals, ordering directly isn’t always the best option.
Companies purchase materials from distributors or converters for a variety of reasons. At Strouse, we've served countless customers seeking adhesive materials.
If you want to explore a cost-effective way to source materials for your project, stick around while we explain how a converter can help.
Adhesive tape converters are known for purchasing rolls of flexible materials (such as pressure-sensitive adhesives) from manufacturers and transforming them into custom rolls or parts. Yet, many converters also sell boxed goods, depending on their customers' needs, not to mention, provide custom sizes to fit your production processes.
While an average distributor simply resells material in different quantities, a converter has the expertise and capabilities to modify the material and create custom products.
When you order adhesive materials from a converter, you’ll have access to better deals that suit your project goals and order quantity.
Material Order Quantity (MOQ) is the minimum amount of material you must buy to purchase from an adhesive manufacturer. Unfortunately, these quantities are often much higher and more costly than what your project requires. This is where a converter becomes valuable.
For smaller and mid-sized material orders, you can find better material deals by seeking out converters who buy in bulk and sell smaller quantities at lower prices.
Building the necessary trust to partner with suppliers or acquire material sample rolls can be a challenge. As a converter, our partnerships with multiple vendors provide us with access to a wide range of materials and samples.
These relationships also entail discounts that can reduce your overall cost. Adhesive materials can be quite expensive depending on the application, so a supplier relationship can make a significant difference.
When you buy directly from a manufacturer, you're limited to the sizes they offer. Buying from a converter opens up a wide range of options.
Depending on your converter’s capabilities, many will slit rolls down into smaller, custom sizes. They may also adhesively laminate materials together or switch out material liners to give you personalized combinations.
If you’re looking to build custom designs, some converters offer precision die cutting services to transform material into uniform products. Working through a converter initially rather than just ordering the material will reduce the number of steps in your process and ultimately save you money.
While an adhesive manufacturer may offer material samples, a converter can provide custom samples that fit your specifications.
Material testing is essential to product development, and sample prototyping allows you to test your design performance further. While you can test a material and assume it will fit your design, adhesives may behave unexpectedly depending on your design and application. A converter with high-quality prototyping capabilities can help you acquire samples in custom rolls or shapes.
Making a large purchase can define the start of your project process, so sourcing materials according to your budget and goals is essential.
If you need large quantities of material for full-scale operations, an adhesive manufacturer might be your best option. However, for smaller custom orders, a converter can transform bulk sizes into cost-effective adhesive products.
Experienced converters will help you source and secure the materials you need and often provide additional capabilities for any extra operations required.
Reach out today to get an estimated material quote from a converter, and we’ll help you optimize and save in your project process.