A corresponding measurement was performed by the Accident Insurance Institution at the hhs solution-center at the company's headquarters in Krefeld in early September 2012. To be precise: the XBM-02 bag melter and a suitable hot melt gun were tested by means of measurements based on the Principles for Testing and Certification of PUR Adhesive Emissions (document GS-DP-03). An adhesive with a medium content of monomeric isocyanates was used for this purpose. The certificate is valid for all adhesives that are equivalent in terms of the monomer content.

"Our customers' health and safety was an important goal when developing the XBM bag melters. Our design engineers even succeeded in achieving values well below the valid limits. We're delighted that the Accident Insurance Institution has confirmed the success of our commitment by issuing its certificate," says Andreas Brandt, Business Development Manager at Baumer hhs in Krefeld.

Isocyanates are highly reactive chemical compounds. It can be a substantial health hazard if the statutory limits are exceeded at the workplace. Under certain circumstances, for example, even very low isocyanate concentrations can cause diseases of the airways or the lungs. Exposure to isocyanates occurs when PUR adhesives are heated to temperatures above roughly 100 °C in folding-carton gluing machines. The human body largely absorbs isocyanates via the airways, but also by dermal (skin) contact. In contrast, cured adhesive films do not constitute a health hazard.

In close cooperation with customers, the hhs solution-center works to further improve the productivity, safety and reliability of applications with the help of test set-ups. Be it in adhesive tests from cold glue to PUR hot melt, be it adhesive application by spray gun or coating-head, be it for folding cartons or inliners – the application experts from Baumer hhs at the hhs solution-center put their knowledge to work day after day to develop new business ideas, new technologies, adhesives or machine integration concepts.

The DGUV is the umbrella association of the accident insurance institutions for the industrial and public sectors.