The brisk urbanisation in China is seeing a rapidly changing landscape in its cities.  As cities become increasingly congested, scarcity of space within most cities means most urbanites are compelled to live outside the city centre.  With the mushrooming of satellite towns and rising number of inhabitants, the importance of public transportation has grown immensely as more and more commuters are pressed to travel to-and -fro daily.  

The daily commute can be an exhausting journey; hence a safe, comfortable, and fast-moving commute are criteria that Chinese commuters look out for. Recognising this, China’s Ministry of Transport has been actively involved in redefining urban public transport to improve its quality and competitiveness.  While public transport is a cost-effective and efficient means of travel with low carbon platform, most commuters’ choice between public and private transportation modes often hinges upon comfort, reliability, speed, convenience, and cost. There is now heightened awareness of the necessity of enhancing passenger comfort to reduce fatigue and discomfort during long commutes.  

A key area to achieve this is the emphasis on seat comfort.  With the rise of an affluent society, demands for facilities in public transportation increase.  Hence manufacturers are focusing more attention on details within buses and rail transportations.  Seat profiles is a weighty area that manufacturers are also attentive to, frequently focusing on ergonomic designs to suit various body shapes as well as careful selection of materials. 

At the same time, seats and fixtures are also put through rigorous tests to ensure safety in reducing femur load.  Considerations on design and material are carefully measured for an improved travel experience.  Commuters’ perceived value of the transportation is often influenced by how they feel when travelling and an environment that is aesthetically pleasing alludes to a comfortable setting.  Studies have shown that seating comfort is an important indicator of public transport performance for the commuter.  A comfortable ride leads to greater physical and psychological satisfaction.  

Passenger demands on quality furnishings and pleasant conditions and aesthetics mean that there is a need for alternatives to exiting materials in the construction of seats and fixtures.  Utilising a variety of materials also augments the overall atmosphere within the transport.  This raises the challenge of bonding all these different materials together with adhesives and sealants that adhere well to various substrates like aluminium, stainless steel, galvanised steel a zinc, copper, brass, powdered coated metal, most metal lacquered metal surfaces, glass, PVC, painted and lacquered wood, among other substrates. Having such versatility means manufacturers are able to push design boundaries for transportation that is more ergonomically dynamic.

While the ability to fuse various materials together is a requirement, manufacturers also need to ensure that these adhesives and sealants are able to withstand extreme conditions.  Public transportation are vehicles that are continuously running on a daily basis and constantly exposed to the elements.

These requirements are the reasons why transportation manufacturers are being precise with their adhesives and sealant options.  Conventional sealants are often affected by conditions of their atmosphere such as UV exposure, extreme temperatures, and humidity, causing the surface of the sealant to crack over time.  It is therefore imperative that manufacturers use adhesives and sealants which are not adversely overwhelmed by weather conditions and are able to maintain their elasticity even when exposed to various temperatures, and resistant against the ageing effects of moisture and dirt.

While aesthetics within the transport contributes to passenger well-being, the external façade is also an area that requires attention. A frequent challenge manufacturers face is to ensure the adhesives and sealants do not yellow with age and exposure to dust and dirt in the air. Adhesives and sealants also need to be compatible with industrial paints to allow for customisation and design work to enhance the appearance of the transports. 

While aesthetics does play an important role in enhancing travel experience, passenger safety and well-being are always prime issues. Materials are chosen not only for their visual effect but also the ease it accords passengers.  Hence comfort is also a key criterion when choosing adhesives used.  Traditionally used polyurethane sealants have adverse effects on eyes, skin, and respiratory tract upon prolonged exposure due to their toxic content of isocyanates.  To alleviate these issues, alternatives that are low in total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), is solvent-, isocyanate- and PVC-free and odourless, will contribute to a comfortable traveling experience as passengers are not inhaling chemical fumes nor are they assailed with strong and unpleasant smells.  

Bostik’s philosophy of always working closely with our customers sees the company listening thoroughly and meticulously to them, hence the introduction of Simson® ISR-7003 to transportation manufacturers as it fulfils their criteria for a safe and effective adhesive and sealant. 

While transportation in China has advanced to world class standards, it is still progressing forward, with passengers constantly demanding for higher experience value.  And Bostik aims to be a reliable partner by continuously innovating and helping them that will enhance these transportation needs.

Mo LIU

Mobility APAC Business Director, GBU Durable Goods, Bostik

Mo LIU joined Bostik as Mobility Business Director of the BU Durable Goods in Feb. 2022, an Arkema company, a leading global adhesive specialist in construction, consumer and industrial markets. Prior to joining Bostik, she took different executive roles in Commercial, Market development and Business support functions in China Transportation Industry within Covestro Polymers and Asahi KASEI Plastics during her 20 years’ career in Chemical industry.

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