Quieter. Smoother. Faster.
Why adhesives tape is now
the confident choice for
door seal mounting.
Technologies
Cars are evolving. So are seals.
The automotive industry is undergoing rapid change. New powertrains. New materials. New technologies. But there's a quieter revolution that’s happening on the assembly line, too. Adhesive tapes are fast replacing clips as the way seals are mounted in vehicle doors.
Why are manufacturers making the switch? In this article, we'll look at four forces driving the change, why adhesive tapes deliver a better solution, and what that means for carmakers around the world.
Industry overview
For decades, clips have been trusted with the task of mounting door seals. They're cheap and easy to fit by hand. But clips are point-fixings. This means they only hold a seal at intervals, not along its length, resulting in inefficiencies both in application and operation.
Adhesive tapes like our tesa® ACXplus Seal Line take a different approach; one continuous bond, robotically applied, with less splice points and no gaps between the seal and surface. The result is a lower system cost, a smoother line, and a better noise, vibration, & harshness (NVH) performance.
These are differences with real-world impact for manufacturer profitability and consumer satisfaction – and they're why the industry is starting to move.
Application process comparison
| tesa ACXplus Seal Line adhesive tapes | Clips |
|---|---|
| Automated application | Manual installation |
| Continuous, gap-free bonding line | Low component cost and CAPEX |
| Improved NVH performance | Potential NVH issues |
| Lower system cost at volume | Higher assembly labor cost |
| Results in gaps between profile and door |
Better NVH performance for EVs
One of the key drivers towards adhesive tapes for mounting seals has been the rise of electric vehicles. An EV interior is very quiet in transit. Without the rumble of a combustion engine to mask things, every rattle, draught, whistle, and whine is noticeable. Clipped seals with their splices, gaps, and holes are particularly susceptible to noise. Our continuous adhesive tapes, however, reduce these disturbances. There's nothing to rattle, and no holes for the wind to find. For an EV, this is the difference between a driving experience that feels premium, and one that does not.
30%+ more recorded NVH complaints in EVs compared to ICE
5% increase in vehicle wind noise complaints year on year
Adhesive tapes and clips in focus
Discover more about the differences between these two types of door seal mounts – and why tesa® ACXplus Seal Line delivers so many commercial advantages – in our expert video.
The freedom to desgin
The ‘endless’ tape technology for seal mounting enables a greater degree of design freedom than clips allow. It’s a one-size-fits-all solution and can be applied across different car models and door shapes without reconfiguring your production line. There’s no need to redesign the doors and seals for different cars as is necessary with clips, nor do you have to puncture holes in door frames. Our adhesive tapes simply bond across many different surfaces with the same strength and ease.
This greater design freedom also extends into complex, multi-curved door geometries with weld points and reinforcements to navigate. Such designs are better suited to a bonded line than a mechanical fixing. Our PFAS-free formulations support your sustainability goals too
More efficient assembly
For seal mounting, adhesive tapes deliver an undeniable production advantage. In comparable tests, clip installation takes approximately 55 seconds per door, while our automated tape lamination runs at 18 to 25 seconds per door, depending on the seal format. This becomes a genuine commercial difference once a line is automated – as more and more OEMs are realizing.
At tesa, we not only provide the adhesive tapes but also have the expertise to support with the smooth integration of the necessary automation process and tape application. This is a one-time investment for manufacturers that soon pays for itself, enabling future cost savings and further investment.
55 seconds per door using clip installation
18 to 25 seconds per door using adhesive tape
The market mindset
The momentum is undeniable. Most German OEMs have long championed the use of adhesive tapes and now other OEMs and leading manufacturers of EVs are following suit. Of course, there are still those makers who are undecided about the initial set-up cost, but the lure of significant gains in quality and performance is proving increasingly persuasive. Without doubt, the use of adhesive tape for seal mounting is here to stay.
Openning the door for opportunity
Of course, the transition won’t be instant. Clips will remain the right choice for some models. But the direction is clear enough to start making plans now. The tesa® ACXplus Seal Line provides the performance and versatility that manufacturers demand, our global supply chains are proven, and our technical expertise and commitment to partnership is second to none. Chat to our team today, and we’ll help you bond with confidence.