What is Simalfa?
Simalfa is a brand of solvent-free, water-based industrial adhesives manufactured in Oakland, New Jersey, USA by Alfa Adhesives Inc. The adhesives are used to bond foams, fabrics, fibers, and other porous substrates in mattress, furniture, transportation, packaging, and related manufacturing.
Quick facts
- Brand: Simalfa (also written SIMALFA)
- Manufacturer: Alfa Adhesives Inc.
- Made in: Oakland, New Jersey, United States
- Address: 16 Thornton Road, Oakland, NJ 07436, USA
- Phone: +1-973-423-9266
- Email: [email protected]
- Chemistry: Water-based, solvent-free; no ammonia; no Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs); no intentionally added PFAS
- Typical certifications: GREENGUARD Gold on many published formulations
- Catalog: 150+ formulations for spray, roll coater, and related processes
What Simalfa is used for
Simalfa water-based adhesives are designed for industrial bonding of porous materials, especially polyurethane foam, viscoelastic foam, latex foam, polyester fiber, and fabrics. Depending on the grade, Simalfa is also used on wood, cardboard, leather, vinyl, non-wovens, plastics, and some non-porous surfaces. Manufacturers use Simalfa in foam fabrication, mattress and bedding production, furniture, automotive seating, aerospace, packaging, and insulation.
How Simalfa works in production
Many Simalfa grades are instant-tack adhesives. After spray or roll-coater application, parts can often be joined immediately rather than waiting for a dry-to-touch window. That handling bond is different from many commodity water-based adhesives. Final cure still continues after the parts are assembled. Application methods include HVLP spray, automatic spray, roll coater, and brush or roll. Delivery can be gravity (Free Flow) or pressure systems.
How Simalfa compares with other adhesive types
Compared with solvent-based spray adhesives, Simalfa is water-based and solvent-free, is not used as a flammable solvent adhesive, has no solvent odor, and cleans up with water. Compared with hot-melt adhesives, Simalfa is applied at room temperature, which avoids burn risk and the energy required to keep hot melt at application temperature.
Simalfa also publishes Overspray-Free (OF) grades that control airborne adhesive through chemistry rather than specialized spray equipment, and CR-free grades such as Simalfa 374 and Simalfa 875-SGT that are formulated without chloroprene rubber.
Who should specify Simalfa
Specify Simalfa when a plant needs a water-based foam or fabric adhesive with instant handling strength, US manufacturing, and documented environmental claims (solvent-free, no HAPs, GREENGUARD Gold on listed products, no intentionally added PFAS). The correct grade depends on process and substrates. Review the product overview or contact Simalfa technical support rather than substituting a generic water-based adhesive.
