Comparative Study: Intercom Water-Based Adhesives vs. Solvent-Based & Natural Rubber Adhesives

This study evaluates the performance, cost, and efficiency of Intercom water-based adhesives (Ecostick 9015st) compared to solvent-based adhesives and natural rubber adhesives in the footwear industry.

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1) Methodology

A parallel test was conducted using 1,000 pairs of shoe uppers, with two different glue application methods:
1️⃣ Solvent-Based & Natural Rubber Adhesives:

• Applied manually using a brush and bottle.
• Yellow solvent-based NP glue & solvent-based rubber glue were used.

2️⃣ Intercom Water-Based Adhesives (Ecostick 9015st):

• Applied using an Intercom spray system.
• Ecostick 9015st water-based adhesive was used.

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2) Quantitative Analysis: Cost & Efficiency

Cost Factors	Labor Cost/hr (USD)	Solvent NP Glue Cost/kg (USD)	Solvent Rubber Glue Cost/kg (USD)	Ecostick 9015st Cost/kg (USD)
Unit Cost	2 USD	2.5 USD	1.5 USD	8 USD
Workers Required	1	2	1	1
Hours Worked	2	2	2	1
Glue Consumption (kg)	2	2	2	1
Total Labor Cost/hr	4 USD	8 USD	2 USD	2 USD
Total Glue Cost	5 USD	3 USD	8 USD	8 USD
Total Glue + Labor Cost	9 USD	11 USD	10 USD

💡 Key Findings:
✅ Ecostick 9015st reduces glue consumption by 50%, requiring only 1 kg instead of 2 kg.
✅ Spray application saves labor costs, requiring only 1 worker for a shorter duration.
✅ Total cost per application cycle is lower for water-based adhesives compared to solvent-based alternatives.

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3) Qualitative Findings

1️⃣ Product Quality

✔ Ecostick 9015st is resistant to aging & temperature changes.
✔ No yellowing or odor, maintaining the natural texture of shoe uppers even after one month of storage.
✔ No migration issues, preventing stains or defects on materials.

2️⃣ Work Efficiency & Workflow Optimization

🚀 Spray application is more efficient, reducing manpower requirements by up to 75% (1 worker vs. 4 for brush application).
🚀 No bottle refilling required, cutting down on interruptions.
🚀 Reduces the need for cleaning operations, preventing glue stains on the grain side of the leather.
🚀 Stacking & moving materials is easier – uppers do not stick together, reducing storage space and handling time.

3️⃣ Reduction in Defects & Waste

✔ Prevents staining & migration issues, saving defective pairs that would otherwise be discarded.
✔ Better QC output, increasing the percentage of accepted products in the final inspection.

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4) Hardware Costs & Return on Investment

Expense	Intercom Spray System	Manual Application (Brush & Bottles)
Hardware Cost	3,000 USD (depreciated over 10 years)	–
Annual Maintenance Cost	400 USD	–
Brushes & Pipe-Bottles (Annual Cost)	–	150 USD
Total Annual Cost	340 USD/year	150 USD/year

💰 ROI Justification:

• The Intercom spray system requires an annual investment of just 340 USD, which is easily recovered through savings on labor, material usage, and efficiency.
• Reduction in defect rates and quality improvements add an extra saving of 4,300 USD per month.

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5) Total Cost Savings & Profitability

Factor	Estimated Monthly Savings (USD)
Labor, Material, & Time Savings	10,000 USD (10 USD per 1,000 pairs, with 1,000,000 pairs/month)
Reduction in Defects & Quality Improvements	4,300 USD
Total Savings per Month	14,300 USD

🔹 By switching to Intercom water-based adhesives, a company producing 1,000,000 pairs per month can save up to 14,300 USD per month!

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6) Conclusion: Why Intercom Water-Based Adhesives Are the Best Choice

✅ 50% reduction in glue usage, cutting costs significantly.
✅ 75% lower manpower requirements, reducing labor costs.
✅ Higher product quality, preventing yellowing, migration, and defects.
✅ Improved efficiency & workflow, minimizing downtime and manual operations.
✅ Lower defect rates, reducing material waste & QC issues.
✅ Safer & environmentally friendly, eliminating VOC emissions & toxic solvents.

🎯 Intercom Ecostick 9015st + Spray System offers the best cost-efficiency, quality improvement, and productivity boost in footwear manufacturing. 🚀