Henkel launches five light cure adhesives for medical device assembly

Henkel Adhesive Technologies has launched five light cure medical device adhesives, Loctite AA 3914, AA 3915, AA 3917, AA 3937 and AA 3964, formulated to EU-MDR requirements on ED, CMR and TPO content. The new grades contain less than 0.1% by weight of CMR, ED and TPO-related content and were tested under ISO 10993-based Henkel protocols. The adhesives add improved fluorescence stability for in-line visual inspection and better strength retention in accelerated aging tests. Henkel will show the portfolio at MD&M Midwest on October 28-29, 2026, in Minneapolis, and at COMPAMED on November 16-19, 2026, in Düsseldorf.

Key facts

Market context

Light cure adhesives are UV- or visible-light-activated polymer systems that bond components within seconds, which makes them attractive for high-throughput assembly lines. In medical devices they are used to join plastic housings, catheters, tubing and fluid-path parts, where bond strength, biocompatibility and traceability matter. Demand is driven mainly by medical equipment and disposables makers, with additional pull from electronics and precision assembly. Regulatory pressure has become a major factor: the EU Medical Device Regulation pushes suppliers to limit substances of very high concern and CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic) content, and photoinitiators such as TPO have drawn scrutiny for this reason. Reformulated grades that meet these limits can shift qualification work and sourcing decisions for device manufacturers, often favoring suppliers that can document compliance and test results. Established adhesive suppliers compete on such documentation as much as on price.

Source: official release on henkel.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.