From the fundamentals of adhesion, through joint qualification and process quality, to the requirements of the PN-EN 17460 standard and examples of applications in the railway, automotive and machinery sectors. From 28 to 30 September 2026, Wisła hosted the 9th edition of the International Adhesive Bonding Seminar organised by Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology. Over three days, the event brought together scientific knowledge, expert experience and industrial perspectives, demonstrating how modern adhesive bonding technologies address the quality, technological and certification requirements of contemporary manufacturing.
Adhesive Bonding Technology at the Heart of Industrial Challenges
This year’s seminar provided a platform for bringing together science, technology and industrial practice. The programme was designed to offer participants a comprehensive perspective on adhesive bonding processes – from the fundamentals of adhesion and material properties, through laboratory testing and modelling, to joint qualification, quality management, auditing and certification.
The seminar opened with a presentation by Dr. Erik Meiss from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremen, focusing on the fundamentals of adhesion. He also presented innovative technologies supporting sustainable adhesive bonding processes, highlighting current development trends and their potential applications in industry.
From Standards to Real-World Manufacturing Processes
One of the key topics of this year’s seminar was the PN-EN 17460 standard, covering the qualification and quality requirements for adhesive bonding processes. Participants had the opportunity to explore not only the formal requirements of the standard, but also the practical aspects of their implementation.
A dedicated session focused on the auditing and certification of companies. During the panel discussion, experts Krzysztof Klag from TBB Cert and Mateusz Drabik from A-Z Bond addressed participants’ questions and discussed issues related to preparing organisations for the certification process.
The combination of standard requirements with the practical experience of industry professionals was one of the important elements of this year’s event.
Industrial Experience – From Railways to Automotive
Representatives of companies using adhesive bonding technologies in real-world manufacturing processes discussed the challenges involved in designing and qualifying adhesive joints.
The programme included presentations on the qualification of Class A1 adhesive joints, illustrated by the example of a passenger railcar window, specific requirements of the railway industry, and quality management in automotive adhesive bonding processes. Their experience was shared by representatives of Solaris Bus & Coach, PESA Mińsk Mazowiecki and MAN Trucks.
The programme was complemented by presentations on Sika technologies for the transportation industry, prepreg materials, anaerobic adhesives, and the use of adhesives with enhanced fire resistance.
Research as the Basis for New Applications
Research topics also formed an important part of the seminar. Presentations covered, among other subjects, laboratory testing methods for adhesive joints in accordance with PN-EN 17460 and ISO 21368, as well as modelling the properties of adhesive joints. Dr Anna Banasiak-Bula of Bodo Möller Chemie Polska presented a methodology for failure diagnosis in adhesive-bonded structures using accelerated environmental ageing.
One of the presentations focused on the characteristics of adhesive joints made using adhesives with enhanced fire resistance. The presentation was delivered by Katarzyna Łyczkowska-Hekner, DEng, from Silesian University of Technology. The authors of the study also included Professor Janusz Adamiec from Silesian University of Technology, Beata Rams, BEng, MSc, and Dr Eng. Damian Miara, DEng, from Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology.
The structure of the programme allowed participants to view adhesive bonding not only as a specific manufacturing process, but also as a field requiring appropriate design, research, quality control and continuous development of professional competencies.
The practical value of the seminar for participants
The International Adhesive Bonding Seminar is more than a series of presentations. Above all, it is a platform for exchanging experience among professionals who design, implement, supervise and assess adhesive bonding processes on a daily basis.
Participation in the event provides an opportunity to:
- explore current technological solutions and development trends in adhesive bonding,
- compare theoretical knowledge with the practical experience of industry,
- gain a better understanding of standards and adhesive joint qualification processes,
- learn about the practical aspects of auditing and certification according to PN-EN 17460,
- exchange experience with experts representing different industrial sectors,
- establish contacts that may lead to new projects and cooperation,
- develop the competencies required for the informed and responsible implementation of adhesive bonding technologies.
At a time when modern manufacturing technologies are expected to deliver high quality, safety, durability and efficiency at the same time, expertise in adhesive bonding is becoming increasingly important. This makes platforms where research knowledge meets industrial experience particularly valuable.
Three Days of Knowledge, Practice and Exchange
The ninth edition of the International Adhesive Bonding Seminar demonstrated that the development of adhesive bonding technologies requires cooperation between multiple stakeholders – academia, industry, technology suppliers, certification bodies and professionals responsible for process quality and safety.
Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology would like to thank all speakers, experts, partners and participants for their involvement, valuable presentations and open discussions.
See you at the 10th International Adhesive Bonding Seminar.
