Potma develops innovative honeycomb-structured construction materials for demanding industries. An adhesive developed by Kiilto is a key component in these structures.
Potma specialises in customised honeycomb panels that provide lightness and durability for the shipbuilding, rail and construction industries.
Inspired by the beehive honeycomb, the structures developed by Potma are an excellent choice for weight-restricted applications and modular designs in particular. Potmacore honeycomb panels are widely used in ships, lifts, cleanrooms and rolling stock.
“We provided the first aluminium honeycomb structures to the shipbuilding industry in 2005. We are the only company in the Nordic countries that manufactures the entire honeycomb structure from start to finish. And we’re growing strong internationally,” says Potma managing director Matti Lassila.
Versatile aluminium honeycomb structures
The lightness and strength of Potmacore honeycomb panels make them superior to conventional materials like wood or gypsum. For example, a 10 mm thick panel is approximately 50% lighter and can bear a load of up to 2,000 kg/m². The panels can be customised, with thicknesses ranging from 4 to 100 mm.
“We cut the panels to the desired size and shape, as well as perforate or groove them based on the designs. The panels can also be coated, for instance with laminate. There is a very wide range of coating options available for honeycomb structures, whatever an architect can imagine designing,” explains Potma business director Antti Lassila.
Potmacore honeycomb structures are corrosion-resistant and meet strict fire safety standards, which makes them even more broadly applicable in industrial applications.
Kiilto developed special adhesive for Potma
In the Potmacore structure, the aluminium honeycomb is bonded between two aluminium sheets. The adhesive is a critical component that has a major impact on the structure’s properties. Potma’s and Kiilto’s cooperation for development work started in 2018.
“The adhesive took almost four years to develop so that it met all our requirements. It is strong, elastic, fire-safe, weather-resistant, easy to use and cost-effective. Kiilto is now our primary adhesive supplier,” says Lassila.
“The adhesive developed for Potma is a tailored polyurethane adhesive, with properties that were meticulously fine-tuned by our RDI department. We place great importance on giving the customer precisely what they want,” says Kiilto RDI Manager Tapani Harjunalanen.
Potma was interested in Kiilto because of the company’s closeness and reputation for quality, excellent customer service and product development. They found Kiilto’s experts highly attentive and efficient, avoiding complex processes.
“Service readiness and delivery reliability are particularly important in the shipbuilding business, where repair construction is concentrated in short docking periods. When a ship repair begins, materials must be there on time. That’s why it’s vital for our partners to deliver materials as agreed,” Lassila says. “And Kiilto has always been extremely reliable.”
Development goes on, more sustainable all the time
Aluminium Potmacore panels are fully recyclable, making them a sustainable choice. There is no need to remove adhesives or coatings, so the material is ready for recycling as is.
“Sustainability also comes from lightness. For instance, on ships, every kilogram reduced lowers energy costs. Lightweight structures save both money and the environment. Additionally, Kiilto calculates the carbon footprint for every kilogram of adhesive, which is also helpful in our own LCA calculations,” Lassila says.