3M released a study on April 12 in response to concerns among veterinarians and horse owners about the stress their animals endure every time they are transported. The study showed that horse trailers made with VHB Tape from 3M are up to 41% quieter at highway speeds, and vibration was reduced up to 30% compared to trailers made with traditional mechanical fasteners. 

3M commissioned Skip Hartman, an independent acoustics and vibration expert from MachineryWatch.com, to do a comparison of noise and vibration–testing a horse trailer made with VHB Tape against a similar style trailer made with conventional rivets. The study was conducted in response to discussion at the International Workshop on Equine Transport that cited the number of behavioral and physiological adverse effects that long distance travel can induce in horses. The workshop concluded that additional stress is placed on a horse during shipping due in part to noise and vibration of a moving vehicle.

According to the company, 3M VHB Tape has been widely recognized in the transportation industry as a key component in producing high-quality, smooth-sided trailers for more than 20 years. It has been used for decades in the production of semi-trailers, ambulances, and recreational vehicles because of its high strength and excellent weather-sealing properties. Because 3M VHB Tape creates a continuous bond between the posts and the panels, moisture and dust are blocked out, unlike with traditional fasteners. VHB tape has been used in the production of horse trailers for several years.

3M VHB Tape is used to hold the skin to the frame. In response to questions from The Horse about the safety and durability of the tape vs. standard fasteners, the company stated that the tape has been subjected to years of testing and has been successfully used for decades in the transportation industry. "With proper application, it is more likely that the metal panels will fail under stress before the tape’s bond does," noted the company