An applicator (10, 210, 410) for dispensing adhesive, the applicator (10, 210, 410) comprising: a manifold (12, 412) having a front, a back opposite to said front, a first side, and a second side that is opposite the first side; at least one dispensing module (16, 416) coupled to said front of said manifold (12, 412); and at least one modular pump assembly (20, 220, 420) removably mounted to said manifold (12, 412), wherein each of said at least one modular pump assembly (20, 220, 420) comprising: a front surface; an outlet (54, 254) on said front surface in fluid communication with said manifold (12, 412); an inlet (52, 252) for receiving said adhesive; a gear assembly disposed within a housing assembly; and a drive motor unit (60, 260) coupled to said gear assembly and operable for pumping the adhesive from said inlet (52, 252) to said outlet (54, 254), said drive motor unit (60, 260) having: a drive shaft (66, 266) connected to said gear assembly, said drive shaft (66, 266) having an axis (A, B) that intersects said front surface; a drive motor configured to rotate said drive shaft (66, 266) about an axis (A, B) that does not intersect both of said first side and said second side of said manifold (12, 412); and a thermal isolation region (70, 270) defined by a thermal isolation plate and a gap between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate so as to thermally isolate the drive motor unit (60, 260) and the housing assembly, wherein the thermal isolation plate is coupled to the housing assembly such that the gap is defined between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate; characterised by a plurality of spacers disposed around bolts between the thermal isolation plate and the housing assembly so as to define a depth of the gap. a manifold (12, 412) having a front, a back opposite to said front, a first side, and a second side that is opposite the first side; at least one dispensing module (16, 416) coupled to said front of said manifold (12, 412); and at least one modular pump assembly (20, 220, 420) removably mounted to said manifold (12, 412), wherein each of said at least one modular pump assembly (20, 220, 420) comprising: a front surface; an outlet (54, 254) on said front surface in fluid communication with said manifold (12, 412); an inlet (52, 252) for receiving said adhesive; a gear assembly disposed within a housing assembly; and a drive motor unit (60, 260) coupled to said gear assembly and operable for pumping the adhesive from said inlet (52, 252) to said outlet (54, 254), said drive motor unit (60, 260) having: a drive shaft (66, 266) connected to said gear assembly, said drive shaft (66, 266) having an axis (A, B) that intersects said front surface; a drive motor configured to rotate said drive shaft (66, 266) about an axis (A, B) that does not intersect both of said first side and said second side of said manifold (12, 412); and a thermal isolation region (70, 270) defined by a thermal isolation plate and a gap between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate so as to thermally isolate the drive motor unit (60, 260) and the housing assembly, wherein the thermal isolation plate is coupled to the housing assembly such that the gap is defined between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate; characterised by a plurality of spacers disposed around bolts between the thermal isolation plate and the housing assembly so as to define a depth of the gap. a front surface; an outlet (54, 254) on said front surface in fluid communication with said manifold (12, 412); an inlet (52, 252) for receiving said adhesive; a gear assembly disposed within a housing assembly; and a drive motor unit (60, 260) coupled to said gear assembly and operable for pumping the adhesive from said inlet (52, 252) to said outlet (54, 254), said drive motor unit (60, 260) having: a drive shaft (66, 266) connected to said gear assembly, said drive shaft (66, 266) having an axis (A, B) that intersects said front surface; a drive motor configured to rotate said drive shaft (66, 266) about an axis (A, B) that does not intersect both of said first side and said second side of said manifold (12, 412); and a thermal isolation region (70, 270) defined by a thermal isolation plate and a gap between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate so as to thermally isolate the drive motor unit (60, 260) and the housing assembly, wherein the thermal isolation plate is coupled to the housing assembly such that the gap is defined between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate; characterised by a plurality of spacers disposed around bolts between the thermal isolation plate and the housing assembly so as to define a depth of the gap. a drive shaft (66, 266) connected to said gear assembly, said drive shaft (66, 266) having an axis (A, B) that intersects said front surface; a drive motor configured to rotate said drive shaft (66, 266) about an axis (A, B) that does not intersect both of said first side and said second side of said manifold (12, 412); and a thermal isolation region (70, 270) defined by a thermal isolation plate and a gap between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate so as to thermally isolate the drive motor unit (60, 260) and the housing assembly, wherein the thermal isolation plate is coupled to the housing assembly such that the gap is defined between the housing assembly and the thermal isolation plate; characterised by a plurality of spacers disposed around bolts between the thermal isolation plate and the housing assembly so as to define a depth of the gap.