The Benefits of Ordering Material From a Converter

After thoroughly searching for technical data sheets, you've finally picked out the perfect adhesive material. The battle seems won... or so you think. Now, it’s time to secure your product.

When searching for material, it’s easy to go straight to the source (A.K.A., adhesive manufacturers). However, depending on your goals, ordering material directly isn’t always the best choice.

At Strouse, we either custom-order material or use customer-supplied material, depending on the client’s needs. There are times when clients should order directly from the source and other times when it makes more sense to order on our end. 

If you’d like to explore a cost-effective method of sourcing materials for your project, then here’s how a converter can help.

Can I Buy Boxed Goods From a Converter?

First of all, YES! 

Although adhesive tape converters often purchase rolls of material (like pressure-sensitive adhesives) from manufacturers and transform them into custom goods, many converters also sell boxed goods to meet their customers' needs and provide custom sizes to fit their production processes. 

Secondly, while your average distributor simply resells material in different quantities, a converter has the expertise and capabilities to modify the material and create custom products. 

Why Purchase Material From a Converter?

Ordering materials from a converter may open up new manufacturing and prototyping opportunities, as well as grant you access to better deals that suit your project goals and order quantity. 

1. YOUR ORDER QUANTITIES ARE MORE ALIGNED

Material Order Quantity (MOQ) is the minimum amount of material you must buy to place an order. When you order straight from the source, minimum order quantities are often far higher and more costly than your project’s requirements. The misalignment between the desired quantity and MOQ is where a converter becomes valuable.

Converters who buy in bulk and sell smaller quantities at lower prices typically offer better material deals for smaller and mid-sized material orders.

2. YOU CAN RELY ON EXISTING SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS

It can be challenging to build the necessary trust to partner with suppliers and acquire material sample rolls. As a converter, our partnerships with multiple vendors provide quick access to a wide range of materials and samples. These existing relationships may contribute to discounts that significantly reduce your overall cost.

3. YOU CAN UTILIZE MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

When you buy directly from a manufacturer, you're limited to the sizes they offer. Buying from a converter broadens your customization options.

Depending on your converter’s capabilities, they may:

• • Slit rolls down into smaller, custom sizes
  • Adhesively laminate materials together
  • Switch out material liners to give you personalized combinations

Additionally, if you want to build custom designs, some converters (like Strouse) offer precision die cutting services to transform raw material into uniform products. 

Collaborating with a converter initially rather than ordering the material on its own will reduce the number of steps in your process and ultimately save you money.

4. IT GIVES YOU MORE PROTOTYPING OPTIONS

Many adhesive manufacturers offer material samples; however, converters can provide custom samples that fit your specifications. Material testing is essential to product development, and sample prototyping allows you to test your design performance further. 

Although you can test a material and assume it will fit your design, adhesives may still behave unexpectedly depending on your design and application. A converter with high-quality prototyping capabilities can help you acquire samples in custom rolls or shapes and lay those uncertainties to rest. 

Order For Your Desired Quantities

Manufacturing products at scale requires a large financial commitment, so it's essential to source according to your budget and goals. 

If you need large quantities of material for full-scale operations, an adhesive manufacturer might be your best option. Yet, for customized sizing and cut shapes, a converter will transform bulk sizes into cost-effective adhesive products. 

An experienced converter will help source and secure the materials you need and often provide additional capabilities for any necessary extra processes.