ATE converts 3M™ double-sided adhesives, high-performance acrylics (200MP, 100MP), ultra-high-temperature 100HT, VHB™ foam tapes, transfer adhesives and medical grades into die-cut parts made to your specifications, with tolerances below 50 µm. Delivery as kiss-cut rolls, sheets or parts on liner for automated placement, from production sites in France and Germany. As a 3M Preferred Converter, we select the adhesive family from your service environment: substrate, temperature, mechanical load.
What is 3M™ VHB™ and what is it used for?
VHB stands for “Very High Bond.” It is a family of 3M™ double-sided acrylic foam tapes that create permanent structural bonds capable of replacing screws, rivets and welds.
The viscoelastic foam spreads stress across the full bonding area, absorbs vibration and differential expansion, and joins dissimilar materials without drilling.
What is 3M™ 300LSE?
LSE stands for “Low Surface Energy.” The 300LSE is an adhesive designed to bond difficult plastics : PP, PE, TPO, powder coatings.
On these surfaces, a standard acrylic will eventually release, regardless of its rated strength.
| 3M™ family | Key characteristic | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| 200MP acrylic (467MP / 468MP) | The industrial benchmark, 149 °C continuous service | Nameplates, front panels, PC/PET-to-metal bonding |
| 100MP acrylic (F9460PC / F9469PC / F9473PC) | High holding power at temperature, peaks up to 260 °C | Thin structural bonds, engine-bay environments |
| 100HT acrylic (9077 / 9079) | Ultra-high temperature, survives lead-free reflow | Flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonding, electronics |
| VHB™ foam tapes | Structural bonding, replaces mechanical fasteners | Panels, stiffeners, vibration-exposed assemblies |
| 300LSE adhesives | Bonds low surface energy plastics | PP, PE, powder-coated paints, lightly oiled surfaces |
| Medical grades | Biocompatibility-documented, converted in an ISO Class 7 cleanroom | Wearables, diagnostic devices, skin-contact applications |
Non-exhaustive selection — over 700 raw materials in stock. Final selection is validated against your substrate/environment pairing: see our high-temperature adhesives guide (150 / 200 / 260 °C thresholds) or the die-cuttable materials comparison guide.
Transfer, Foam or Film Carrier: Which Construction?
After temperature and substrate, the adhesive’s construction drives the choice:
- Transfer adhesive (unsupported): very thin, it conforms to surfaces and suits discreet bonds and thin assemblies.
- Foam (VHB™): thick and viscoelastic, it absorbs surface irregularities, vibration and differential expansion, and delivers structural bonding.
- Film carrier: a PET or nonwoven carrier adds tear resistance and easier application over large areas.
Why Die-Cut Double-Sided Tape Instead of Rolls?
A double-sided adhesive only delivers its full potential in the exact shape of the part: calculated bonding area, controlled peel direction, pull-tabs for easy placement, and a liner matched to your process. Converting turns a consumable into an assembly component — replacing screws, rivets and liquid adhesives in a growing number of applications, with no drilling, no cure time, and uniform stress distribution.
Delivery Formats
- Kiss-cut rolls: pre-cut parts on a continuous liner, ideal for repetitive manual placement or line-side dispensing.
- Sheets: parts on sheets with pick-up ergonomics designed for your operators.
- Individual parts: single or double liner, pull-tabs on request.
- Parts on liner for automation: indexed parts compatible with robotic placement equipment.
The ATE Method
The right adhesive is not chosen from a catalogue. Our teams start from three questions : which substrate, which temperature (continuous and peak), which mechanical load, then validate with samples die-cut to your dimensions. As a 3M Preferred Converter certified to IATF 16949, we provide full traceability, die cutting to tolerances below 50 µm, 100% automated inspection and, for medical and electronics applications, ISO Class 7 cleanroom production.
Your Application Deserves the Right Adhesive. Let's Talk.
Send us your drawing, your substrate and your thermal profile: our teams will validate the right adhesive family and deliver samples cut to your dimensions. Contact ATE, 3M Preferred Converter, production in France and Germany.
Low surface energy substrates require specifically formulated adhesives, such as the 3M™ 300LSE family. A standard acrylic will eventually release from these surfaces regardless of its rated strength. The substrate is the first question to settle before temperature.
Yes, in many applications: VHB™ foam tapes create structural bonds that spread stress across the full bonding area, damp vibration and join dissimilar materials without drilling. Validation is done through bonding-area calculation and trials on your parts.
We run small, medium and large series, with samples and prototypes die-cut to your dimensions to validate the adhesive before scale-up. Send us your drawing for a quotation.
With over 700 raw materials in stock and production sites in France and Germany, most prototypes ship without material lead time. Contact us with your drawing and target material for a precise timeline.
