- Overview
- Areas of Application
- Automotive Interiors
- Body-in-White
- Chassis and Wheels
- EV Battery and ePowertrain
- Exteriors and Glass
- Human Machine Interface (HMI)
- Manufacturing and Assembly
- Propulsion and Emissions
- Sensors and Cameras
- View All Applications
- Product Solutions
- Acoustic Insulation
- Automotive Tapes
- Boron Nitride Cooling Fillers
- Films and Sheeting
- Friction Shims
- Glass Bubbles
- Structural Adhesives
- Thermal Insulation
- Wheel Weights and Parts
- View all product solutions
- Resources
- Support
Consistent, reliable strength is just the start. When automotive design meets the road itself, it’s critical that everything holds together, works together and performs flawlessly.
3M solutions for body-in-white and chassis assemblies
As you navigate the latest industry trends in automation, EV production, advanced material use and more, adaptability while addressing ongoing challenges is key. You need to control costs and drive quality, all with increased focus on more sustainable operations.
Address key needs in body-in-white (BiW) and chassis assemblies with 3M solutions that help you do more. Improve design flexibility with multi-material bonding capabilities with structural adhesives. Enable more automated assembly processes and improve control and handling for drivers with wheel balancing solutions. You can even simplify manufacturing and help reduce emissions. Created with your needs in mind, 3M solutions allow your designs to express themselves best where it matters the most — throughout design, manufacture and on the road.
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Today’s design solutions for tomorrow’s vehicles
As industry regulations and standards continue to evolve, many automotive manufacturers are turning to a combination of advanced composites, aluminum and high-strength steels to help reduce vehicle weight. These materials often require specialized adhesives to achieve structural integrity and performance. Enable multi-material designs with strong, durable bonds with tapes and adhesives from 3M.
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Body-in-white hang-on parts
Achieve better bonding for hem flanges on hang-on parts with structural adhesives from 3M. Our two-part structural adhesives can be cured at room temperature or spot-cured by induction for faster lockup. Moving away from heat cure can reduce the chance of panel distortion and warpage while expanding the range of curing environments, such as before or after e-coat.
3M Two Part Structural Adhesives for OEM and Tier
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Bonding dissimilar metals in the chassis
Maximize design freedom. Bond to a variety of substrates to dramatically expand the range of materials and constructions usable in chassis assemblies with structural adhesives from 3M.
3M Two Part Structural Adhesives for OEM and Tier
3M™ Structural Adhesive Tape SAT1010
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Roof ditch clips
Improve design flexibility and reduce complexity of metalwork when attaching roof ditch clips to vehicle bodies. Compatible with metal and plastic clips, structural bonding tape from 3M is a heat-cured pressure-sensitive tape that cures to full strength in the OEM paint process.
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Streamline assembly with automation
At 3M, we understand that you are always looking to improve process efficiency. Automation, production speed and the ability to easily implement solutions into your current assembly process all contribute to your success.
Whether manual or fully automatic, 3M adhesives are designed to fit in your assembly process. We offer:
- Two-part structural adhesives that can easily be dispensed and applied using fully automated equipment
- Epoxy film tapes that apply cleanly without squeeze-out for more consistent adhesive thicknesses and precise bond lines
- Adhesives that expand during cure in standard e-coat ovens to provide gap filling
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Critical structure solutions: Hem flange bonding
Structural adhesives from 3M are proven reliable for hem flange bonding. You can improve hem fill and reduce hem welds. Our two-part adhesives are compatible with spot induction, so you can reduce the time and energy required for spot welding. Some of these structural adhesives cure at room temperature without washout, reducing heat-related panel distortion. We have structural adhesives and tapes designed for body-in-white compatible with various dry film, draw and lube oils.
3M Two Part Structural Adhesives for OEM and Tier
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Assembly3M helps bring automotive designs to life by enabling assembly process efficiencies and simplification. This means customizable 3M™ Friction Shims that provide up to 5x friction enhancement for critical joints, die-cuttable protection films and tapes for isolation, and more.
3M Friction Shims for OEM and Tier
3M Two Part Structural Adhesives for OEM and Tier
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AutomationFor every automotive OEM and Tier solution we develop we thoroughly examine how it fits into the latest automotive operations. Solutions like structural adhesives be packaged and delivered for immediate use to suit your specific processes and automation equipment. Provided on a levelwound roll, 3M™ Wheel Weights combine conformability with advanced 3M adhesive technology for automated or semi-automated processing in OEM or Tier assembly plants. 3M works directly with various equipment solution providers around the world to help determine process compatibility.
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Equip chassis assembly for driver comfort
Give drivers the experience they deserve. As the framework of the vehicle, the chassis is key to enhancing ride quality, handling and overall comfort. Manage unwanted road, drivetrain and engine noise in your designs, explore better wheel balancing and more with 3M.
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Improve control and handlingThe ultimate test in OEM design: incorporating performance improvement. Control movement in bolted connections and manage high force loads by incorporating friction shims from 3M. Various grades work on multiple dissimilar mating surfaces to help strengthen joints and bear the weight of large and sophisticated components. Achieve precision balance while reducing scrap with cut-to-weight, lead-free, flexible and conformable 3M™ Wheel Weights.
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Address noise, vibration and harshnessDesign the chassis for improved NVH performance. 3M Friction Shims dampen micromovements in bolted joints for a more secure and stable chassis. You can also help secure critical joints, optimize design and manage weight for added benefits.
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Explore more sustainable options for your design
As automotive manufacturers seek more sustainable solutions, finding the balance between regulatory standards, performance and cost is key. Make progress toward your goals with a range of solutions for body-in-white and chassis from 3M.
Minimize energy use
Reduce your need for energy-intensive machinery and decrease heat in manufacturing to help lower emissions with our structural adhesives. Eliminate oven curing altogether with room-temperature-curing solutions.Go lightweight
Achieve lightweight targets by incorporating glass bubbles from 3M into sheet molding composites, bulk molding composites and more.Be lead-free
An alternative to standard lead wheel weights, 3M™ Wheel Weights feature industry-leading 3M™ Attachment Tape technology, used in numerous tape-applied attachments of component parts to vehicles.
Shed weight where it matters most
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Body-in-white hang-on partsStrong. Lightweight. Sustainable.
As body-in-white manufacturing trends toward the use of sheet molding compounds/bulk molding compounds (SMCs/BMCs), our cross-industry expertise allows 3M to provide glass bubbles — microscopic, hollow glass microspheres that feature an extremely high strength-to-density ratio. They can replace heavier materials during resin production, compounding and molding without sacrificing the integrity of the panel. Reduce weight of SMCs/BMCs up to 45%, creating an ultra-lightweight composite to replace heavier steel and aluminum in body-in-white components.
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Lightweight chassis assembliesDownsize components by enabling small bolts to withstand the same or greater force loads as larger, heavier bolts with friction shims from 3M. Replace welds, nuts and bolts and other mechanical fasteners to help reduce weight and simplify manufacturing processes with structural adhesives. Reduce the density of adhesives used in automotive chassis assembly with glass bubbles.
3M Friction Shims for OEM and Tier
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Simulate 3M adhesive and tape behavior in your designs
Drive your vision forward with 3M Digital Materials Hub. Access and explore official 3M material data cards, modeling data and technical specifications.
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Streamline EV battery production. 3M offers solutions with the latest design trends like cell-to-pack in mind and assembly challenges such as the bonding of dissimilar materials and lightweighting.
Need help finding the right solution?
3M is constantly working to meet the evolving challenges of automotive OEM and Tier suppliers worldwide. If you need help finding an existing solution or would like to talk about specific ideas you’re working on, get in touch with us.
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