Flock adhesives are used to join a flock to a substrate. The correct selection of flock adhesive ensures the quality of the finishes substrate. The selection of flock adhesive depends on the material and the desired characteristics of the substrate. The desired characteristics include flame retardance, solvent resistance, flexibility or rigidity, and pigmentation Flock adhesives are used for binding different types of flock such as polyester, polystyrene, polyamide, and nylon or rayon flock to a variety of substrates, including ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Brushing, dipping, spraying, and silk-screen are some of the methods used for applying adhesives to a substrate.

The global flock adhesives market is valued at USD 2.35 Billion in 2017. Applications of flock adhesives are increasing due to the increasing requirement for bonding dissimilar materials, substituting traditional materials with synthetic substrates, and increasing focus on reducing VOC emissions. From an engineering and design perspective, adhesives are valued because of their ability to bond dissimilar substrates, resist vibration, and distribute stresses over a wide area. Factors driving the growing use of flock adhesives in end-use industries include the improved quality of products and increased demand for durable products. The flock adhesives market has been segmented on the basis of resin type, application, and region. Among resin types, the acrylics segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in the flock adhesives market during the forecast period. This is due to their increasing use in metal and plastic substrates, mainly in automotive applications. Acrylic-based adhesives provide a durable and water-resistant film when bonded to substrates such as plastics, metals, fabrics, carpet, ceramics, concrete, and wood composites. Acrylic-based adhesives are also used due to their adaptability to different substrates. These adhesives can also be used for sealing the edges of wood composite boards before water-based coatings or paints are applied. On the basis of application, the flock adhesives market has been segmented into automotive, textiles, paper & packaging, and others. The automotive segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in the flock adhesives market during the forecast period. Flocks are extensively used in automobiles, especially in vehicle interiors. They are used to provide decorative finishes on head linings, coin and glove boxes, door trim, and several other parts in automobiles. Flocks are also used on window rubbers to provide a non-abrasive running surface to prevent from freezing in winters. Flock adhesives are used to bind different substrates such as rubber, plastic, and metals. Acrylic and polyurethane flock adhesives are the most commonly used flock adhesives in automobiles. The Asia Pacific, Europe, and North American regions are the major markets for flock adhesives. The Asia Pacific flock adhesives market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Many flock adhesives manufacturers are setting up or expanding their manufacturing bases in Asia Pacific to capitalize on the low manufacturing costs. Asia Pacific has emerged as the leading customer of flock adhesives owing to the increasing demand from various applications in the region, increasing disposable income, and easy access to resources. Asia Pacific has many growth opportunities for flock adhesive manufacturers in spite of the overall slowdown in the global economy. Volatility in raw material costs poses a risk for flock adhesives manufacturers and is expected to bring down the profit margins. The flock adhesives market is also affected by the high transport costs driven by the rising fuel prices and high manufacturing costs resulting from the increasing energy costs.

Flock Adhesives Market vendors are placed into 4 categories based on their performance and reviews in each criterion: “visionary leaders,” “innovators,” “dynamic differentiators,” and “emerging companies".

Visionary leaders are the leading market players in terms of new developments such as product launches, innovative technologies, and the adoption of growth strategies. These players have a broad product offering that caters to most of the regions globally. Visionary leaders primarily focus on acquiring the leading market position through their strong financial capabilities and their well-established brand equity.

Dynamic Differentiators are established players with very strong business strategies. However, they have a weaker product portfolio compared to the visionary leaders. They generally focus only on a specific type of technology related to the product.

Innovators in the competitive leadership mapping are vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. The companies have focused on product portfolios. However, they do not have very strong growth strategies for their overall business, when compared with the visionary leaders.

Emerging companies have niche product and service offerings. Their business strategies are not as strong as that of the established vendors. The emerging vendors include the new entrants in the market, emerging in terms of product portfolio and geographic reach, and require time to gain significant traction in the market.