Profile: Nordson Corporation (NDSN.O)

Nordson Corporation is engaged in manufacturing of equipment used for precision material dispensing, testing and inspection, surface preparation and curing. The technology-based systems are found in the production facilities globally. It serves the markets, including the appliance, automotive, bookbinding, container, converting, electronics, food and beverage, furniture, life sciences, medical, metal finishing, nonwoven, packaging, semiconductor and solar energy industries. The equipment ranges from manual, stand-alone units for low-volume operations to microprocessor-based automated systems for high-speed, high-volume production lines. The Company operates in three business segments: Adhesive Dispensing Systems, Advanced Technology Systems and Industrial Coating Systems.

On October 1, 2008, the Company acquired assets of Wachter Paul & Co., Dosier-Klebetechnik, a Swiss distributor of the EFD product line. On August 1, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of MLT Systems Holdings (Pty) Ltd. and its subsidiary, MLT Application Systems (Pty) Ltd. On May 26, 2008, the Company acquired the remaining 51% interest in the South Korea joint venture.

Adhesive Dispensing Systems

The segment delivers the precision dispensing technology to diverse markets for applications that commonly reduce material consumption, improve line efficiency and improve product strength, durability, brand and appearance. It includes nonwovens, packaging, paper and paperboard converting, product assembly, and Web coating.

Nonwovens are equipment for applying adhesives, lotions, liquids and fibers to disposable products. The markets include adult incontinence products, baby diapers and child-training pants, feminine hygiene products and surgical drapes, gowns, shoe covers and face masks.

Packaging includes automated adhesive dispensing systems used in the food and beverage and packaged goods industries. The markets include bag and sack manufacturing, bookbinding, envelope manufacturing and folding carton manufacturing.

Paper and paperboard converting are hot melt and cold glue adhesive dispensing systems for the paper and paperboard converting industries. The markets include bag and sack manufacturing, bookbinding, envelope manufacturing and folding carton manufacturing.

Product Assembly includes adhesive and sealant dispensing systems for bonding or sealing plastic, metal and wood products. The markets include bag and sack manufacturing, bookbinding, envelope manufacturing and folding carton manufacturing.

Web Coating include laminating and coating systems used to manufacture continuous-roll goods in the nonwovens, textile, paper and flexible-packaging industries. The markets include carpet, labels, tapes and textiles.

Advanced Technology Systems

The segment integrates the product technologies found in the stages of a customer’s production process, such as surface preparation, controlled dispensing of material onto the surface, curing of dispensed material, bond testing and X-ray inspection to ensure quality. This segment primarily serves the specific needs of electronic and related high-tech industries. The segment includes surface preparation, dispensing systems, curing and drying systems, and bond testing and inspection systems.

Surface preparation includes automated gas plasma treatment systems used to clean and condition surfaces for the semiconductor, medical and printed circuit board industries. The markets include contact lenses, electronics, medical instruments and devices, printed circuit boards and semiconductors.

Dispensing systems include controlled manual and automated systems for applying materials in customer processes requiring extreme precision and material conservation. These systems include piezoelectric and motionless two-component mixing dispensing systems. The markets include aerospace, electronics, including cell phones, liquid crystal displays, micro hard drives, microprocessors, printed circuit boards, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs), general industrial, life sciences (dental and medical devices, including pacemakers and stents, light emitting diodes (LED) and solar energy.

The curing and drying systems include ultraviolet equipment used primarily in curing and drying operations for specialty inks, coatings, semiconductor materials and paints. The markets include electronics, graphic arts, plastic containers, printed-paper and packaging, semiconductor equipment and wood and medium-density fibreboard (MDF).

The bond testing and inspection systems include testing and automated optical and x-ray inspection systems used in the semiconductor and printed circuit board industries. The markets include electronics (digital music players and cell phones), printed circuit board assemblies and semiconductor packages.

Industrial Coating Systems

The Industrial Coating Systems, formerly Industrial Coating and Automotive Systems segment provides equipment used primarily for applying coatings, paint, finishes, sealants and other materials. The segment primarily serves the consumer durables market. It includes automotive, container coating and curing, liquid finishing, and powder coating.

Automotive includes automated and manual dispensing systems used to apply materials in the automotive, heavy truck and recreational vehicle manufacturing industries. It includes powertrain components, body assembly and final trim applications.

Container coating and curing segment includes automated and manual dispensing systems used to apply liquid paints and coatings to consumer and industrial products. The markets include automotive components, construction, metal shelving and drums.

Liquid Finishing includes automated and manual dispensing systems used to apply liquid paints and coatings to consumer and industrial products. The markets include automotive components, construction, metal shelving and drums.

Powder Coating include automated and manual dispensing systems used to apply powder paints and coatings to a range of metal, plastic and wood products. The markets include agriculture and construction equipment, appliances, automotive components, home and office furniture, lawn and garden equipment and wood and metal shelving.