Automotive: A future with people who can do bonding

When people talk about the future of the automotive industry, the focus is often on technology. Batteries, new materials, automated manufacturing and digital development methods dominate the discussion. Yet one crucial question is often overlooked: who actually successfully implements adhesive bonding technology, from product development through production and quality assurance right through to maintenance?

The answer is: people – in combination with the technology used in each case.

In adhesive bonding technology in particular, it is clear that technological solutions alone are not enough. The real challenge lies in translating technological possibilities, experience and knowledge into reliable processes and successful applications. As a result, the training of skilled workers is increasingly becoming a decisive competitive factor.

Modern adhesive bonding technology is a systems-based technology

The role of adhesive technology has changed fundamentally in recent years. Whereas the focus used to be primarily on the simple function of joining parts, adhesive bonds now fulfil numerous additional functions. They seal, conduct heat, provide electrical insulation, compensate for stresses and enable the bonding of a wide variety of materials. This has changed little in terms of the actual processes, but it has altered how we understand – or need to understand – bonding today.

In the automotive industry in particular, this development means that adhesive bonding technology must increasingly be understood as a systems technology. And this system requires people who can master it and apply it efficiently. Throughout the entire adhesive bonding process, qualified specialists therefore ensure today that this system can function effectively. In their absence, the picture is often quite different.

The future lies not only in technological advancement

In discussions with companies, I repeatedly come across the same observation: the necessary technologies are often in place. However, the knowledge required for their safe and cost-effective application is not always available. This is not just a matter of individual specialists. Modern adhesive bonding processes affect specialists in design, production, quality management, maintenance and management in equal measure. Each of these functions influences the subsequent performance of a bonded joint.

In our training programmes, we see on a daily basis that adhesive bonding technology rarely fails because of the technology itself. Challenges usually arise where interrelationships are not sufficiently understood or where processes are not consistently implemented.

That is why it is not enough simply to further develop the technology. At the same time, skills must be built up, updated and continuously maintained. The necessary, internationally recognised training and further education structures are in place.

Germany is a pioneer

We have a particular strength when compared internationally. Over many years, a system has developed here that closely links research, standardisation, industrial application and professional qualification. Standards such as DIN 2304 and the international ISO 21368 have helped to establish adhesive technology as a controllable, quality-assured and auditable process.

In parallel, the training pathways leading to the qualifications of European Adhesive Bonder (EAB), European Adhesive Specialist (EAS) and European Adhesive Engineer (EAE) have established standards that are now recognised worldwide and serve as a model in many countries. This development has created a decisive advantage: more and more people not only know how to bond materials, but also why certain processes are necessary. The growing number of qualified EAB, EAS and EAE graduates is therefore a genuine locational advantage for Germany.

Batteries, multi-material construction and sustainability require expertise

Current developments in automotive engineering highlight the challenges facing the industry. Battery systems, cell-to-pack concepts and the increasing use of multi-material construction mean that more and more functions are being combined into a single joint. At the same time, demands on safety, quality and long-term durability are rising. However, such systems cannot be mastered solely through new materials and modern production technology. They require people and companies who understand that skills development is a strategic prerequisite for innovation and competitiveness. This is what today’s standardised workforce training programmes achieve, even if they are sometimes perceived as too time-consuming. Standardisation ensures that bonding can still be carried out successfully in the future, even as materials and production processes change. This is because training and further education programmes – depending on the qualification level – impart a solid basic understanding of the technology and its interrelationships.

The future belongs to those who put knowledge into practice

Adhesive bonding technology fundamentally holds enormous potential for transforming the automotive industry. It enables new combinations of materials, supports sustainable concepts and helps to implement complex systems efficiently. However, whether this potential is actually realised is not decided in development departments or research institutions. The future is shaped throughout the entire process – that is, when people across the value chain understand technologies, master processes and successfully put knowledge into practice.

That is why I am convinced that the future of adhesive bonding technology will not be determined solely by new materials or new processes. It will also be shaped by the people who recognise these opportunities and apply them successfully. Their expertise in adhesive technology is therefore not merely a supporting measure in this transformation. It plays a decisive role in determining whether technological possibilities become industrial reality.