70 2016 Rivetless Rossetti strikes a partnership with 3M and develops a van that is glued together. The company says it will be launched in 2016 In February 2015, Rossetti Equipamentos Rodoviários contacted 3M with a proposal that, while not 100% innovative, was a breakthrough in highway implement production in Brazil. The challenge was to make an aluminum van of up to six meters in length using only glued, recalls Peter Oliveira, head of marketing at Rossetti. The idea came from the engineering department at Rossetti. Oliveira says that roofs are already glued to vans, but the company wanted more, not thinking only about the financial aspect but mainly the advantages it would offer end clients. 3M accepted the challenge and became a partner in the project. “The joining of forces was essential to getting the product off the drawing board. The understanding between Rossetti and 3M was sensational,” Oliveira. The result was that just over a year after the first meeting the prototype was ready. Oliveira says the van is glued with 3M VHB (double-sided) tape. This eliminates 700 rivets. Among the benefits he says are a 60% decrease in production time and a reduction in noise levels on the assembly line. “Gluing instead of riveting produces a much better working environment for those who are directly linked to production, taking into account the noise generated in making a product, as the rivets are put in one by one,” he says. Another advantage is in the finished product, which is also enjoyed by the user: the bonding system makes a complete seal between the plates, preventing infiltration which is common when made the traditional way. The van’s flooring is coated with a checkered aluminum sheet, fixtures to secure cargo and a roll up door which, says Oliveira, adds a modern touch and helps in unloading in urban environments. The metal sheets are pre-painted, providing a perfect finish for adhesives because there are no seams and it also prevents rattling, says Oliveira. As this issue went to print the van was in the final testing phase. Rossetti had not yet announced prices, but it expects to bring it to market in late 2016. About the tape The 3M™ product was launched 36 years ago and is frequently used in other countries Rossetti uses 3M™ VHB™ double-sided acrylic tape. Launched in the United States in 1980, it replaces rivets, nuts, bolts and welds. Production started in Brazil in 1988. It has a range of applications. “It can be used in various products, from home appliances, commercial storefronts, even on mounting plates for car bodies and buses, for attachments, bonding, and sealing,” says Renata Perina, Transport and Appliance Market Manager. It can be applied to metal, plastic and glass. Rafael Perez, VHB™ Tape Product Manager says it offers several benefits when used in highway implements, including weight reduction, faster production time, and reduced labor problems due to noise in the workplace caused by fixing rivets. 3M™ says the product does not require any maintenance when used properly, according to the instructions and recommendations made by its technical. Tecnologia Technology
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