Mascherpa at the FIAM conference with a presentation on industrial adhesives

On November 12, 2026, Mascherpa will participate in “Assembly Technologies Compared,” the conference organized by FIAM at the GHV Hotel in Creazzo, in the province of Vicenza.

From 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, the event will bring together specialists in various industrial assembly technologies to compare the characteristics, application possibilities, and integration of assembly technologies into automated processes.

Representing Mascherpa will be Stefano Grombi, who from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM will present “Adhesion: the invisible force of innovation.” A session dedicated to structural adhesives, the opportunities they offer in design, and the aspects to consider for achieving reliable bonding.

The FIAM conference compares assembly technologies

Which technology should be chosen to assemble an industrial product? The answer depends on the materials to be joined, the geometry of the components, production volumes, and quality requirements. Knowing the alternatives allows for a more informed evaluation of both new projects and processes in need of improvement.

The FIAM conference was created to foster this comparison, bringing together companies with complementary expertise. Alongside Mascherpa for industrial adhesives, participants will include:

• Mustad for screws,
• FIAM for industrial tightening,
• DAV Tech for dispensing systems,
• FAR for riveting,
• WWMolinari for plastic welding,
• Telwin for metal welding,
• Jurado Tools for clinching.

The day will be moderated by Simone Sinico, Head of Communication and Innovation at Confindustria Vicenza.

Automation will accompany the comparison between the different solutions. ABB Robotics will contribute to this theme, with the concluding presentation by Oscar Ferrato dedicated to the possibilities offered by collaborative robots in assembly. Participants will thus be able to explore different approaches and engage directly with specialists regarding their own production process needs.

The Mascherpa presentation: adhesion and design possibilities

With “Adhesion: the invisible force of innovation,” Stefano Grombi will bring a reflection to the conference on how bonding technology can contribute to the development of industrial products.

The evolution of materials and the search for lightweight and resistant structures have accompanied the development of adhesives. Today, the various available families offer mechanical, thermal, and chemical characteristics that allow for addressing different application needs.

The Mascherpa presentation will start from this context to illustrate the potential of adhesion along with the necessary requirements for its correct use, linking basic principles to design and production choices.

The presentation will offer an overview of the main adhesive families, from epoxy, acrylic/MMA, and polyurethane resins to MS polymers and silicones, highlighting their different characteristics. The in-depth analysis will be accompanied by examples and references to various solutions.

Joining different materials and distributing stress

Among the topics addressed will be the possibility of joining different materials, such as metals, plastics, and composites, expanding the combinations available to the designer.

Another aspect concerns the stress distribution on the bonded surface. The joint geometry and the use of the adhesive can help limit stress concentrations and create lightweight structures with characteristics suitable for the application.

These possibilities, however, require an evaluation of the working conditions. During the presentation, the limitations of bonding will also be considered, from peel and cleavage stresses to the time required for the joint to develop its intended strength.

Surfaces, geometry, and process: what makes bonding reliable

The choice of industrial adhesive is part of a process that also involves surface preparation, joint design, and application conditions.

Stefano Grombi will delve into the role of adhesion, which concerns the interactions between adhesive and substrate, and cohesion, related to the internal strength of the adhesive. Within this framework, surface wetting and pretreatment, necessary to remove contaminants and create favorable conditions for bonding, will be discussed.

Attention will extend to the management of the entire production process:

• procedures,
• technical documentation,
• personnel training,
• inspections all contribute to the quality of the result, which cannot be evaluated solely through a final check.

From aerospace to rail: concrete examples

To link these themes to industrial applications, the presentation will include examples from the aerospace and rail sectors.

An application related to the Boeing 787 will provide a starting point for discussing the use of composite materials and joining technologies in aeronautical structures. The focus will then shift to high-speed rail, where bonding is also applied in joining structural elements.

Among the cases presented will be the bonding of the seat anchor rail to the aluminum floor pan using the epoxy adhesive Araldite HW 4858. This example will be used to explore the relationship between material choice, adhesive thickness, and performance verification over time.

These applications will accompany Mascherpa’s contribution to the discussion promoted by FIAM, showing how the opportunities offered by structural adhesives translate into specific design and process requirements.

How to participate in the FIAM conference on November 12

The conference “Assembly Technologies Compared” will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, at the GHV Hotel, at Via Carpaneda 5 in Creazzo, in the province of Vicenza.

The session with Stefano Grombi and Mascherpa is from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM, to further explore the contribution of adhesion to design and industrial assembly.

Participation is free of charge and seats are limited.