March 25 – In front of numerous engineers, a seemingly impossible scene became reality: a 4.2-ton van was steadily hoisted 10 meters into the air and remained suspended for an extended period, held aloft solely by adhesive bonds. No welding sparks, no penetrating bolts. Supporting this immense weight was a newly validated connection technology from KLEBER, and with this demonstration, KLEBER officially launched its new brand to the industry: ColdJoin.

The Weight-Lift Test: Born from a Fundamental Question

As automotive manufacturing races toward higher integration and lighter weight, a fundamental challenge confronts engineers: how to join different materials (such as steel, aluminum, composites) firmly, efficiently, and without damage?

Traditional welding often struggles with dissimilar materials, and the heat-affected zone can compromise material properties. Mechanical fastening (riveting, bolting) adds weight, can create stress concentrations, and impacts design integrity. Could there be a technology that, like "building with LEGO," quickly and securely "bonds" different components into a high-strength whole at room temperature? This vision is at the core of the "Unboxed Process" – a concept for a future model of automotive manufacturing.

To answer this question, KLEBER needed irrefutable proof. Thus, this seemingly extreme public test was scheduled. We chose an intuitive, unequivocal metric: the load-bearing capacity of a weight-lift test.

The "Invisible Skeleton" Supporting 4.2 Tons: KLEBER ColdJoin EA6098

The core material behind this test is a mature product from KLEBER's technological arsenal – the KLEBER ColdJoin EA6098 two-component epoxy structural adhesive. For the test, this adhesive was used to bond specially designed metal connectors under room temperature conditions. Its performance parameters perfectly meet the stringent demands for "high strength, high reliability, impact resistance, and easy integration":

• Exceptional Bonding Strength & Structural Enhancement: EA6098 exhibits excellent bonding strength to various automotive steel and aluminum sheets. It not only achieves a strong bond but also significantly enhances the structural rigidity, impact resistance, and anti-deformation capability of the joint area.

• Superior Durability & Environmental Resistance: Possesses excellent corrosion resistance and long-term stability, capable of withstanding complex vehicle operating conditions, ensuring long-term joint reliability.

• Process Compatibility & Open Time: Compatible with mainstream body joining processes, facilitating integration into existing production and repair workflows. Offers ample open time for precise part alignment and meets various curing schedule requirements.

• High Toughness & Impact Resistance: The adhesive layer it forms is not a brittle "glue" but a "structural component" that combines strength with toughness, effectively absorbing and dispersing impact energy.

ColdJoin: KLEBER's Full-Portfolio Adhesive Brand for NEV Lightweighting

ColdJoin is a brand under KLEBER, developed based on years of technological expertise. It is a one-stop structural bonding solution brand dedicated to body lightweighting for new energy vehicles (NEVs). For all core bonding scenarios across the entire vehicle body, ColdJoin offers mature, tailored product solutions.

From front-end closures to the interior cabin, from structural components to sealing joints, ColdJoin has established a complete product matrix covering various chemistries and all vehicle body areas, meeting the connection needs of different processes and substrates.

Cold symbolizes the core process advantage of room-temperature curing, representing a commitment to production-friendliness and energy/consumption reduction.

Join defines our essence – connection. Connecting dissimilar materials, connecting innovative design with engineering manufacturing, connecting today's challenges with tomorrow's solutions.

The ColdJoin EA6098 used in this ultimate test is just one example within the ColdJoin portfolio, a snapshot of high-performance structural bonding. Our goals are clear and focused:

• Deep Dive into Scenarios: Focus on the full chain of requirements for weight reduction, safety, and multi-material joining in NEVs, providing mature, matched full-link solutions.

• Carry the Vision: Support the realization of the future "Unboxed" manufacturing model. This weight-lift demonstration is a microcosm and declaration of the ColdJoin brand's technical capability.

Lifting a vehicle is just the beginning. It symbolizes our use of a vivid method to drive a solid wedge for the feasibility of "replacing welding with adhesive" and multi-material joining. The message it aims to convey is: regarding connection methods in automotive manufacturing, we now have a better, more flexible, and more powerful choice.