Hybrid Adhesives & Sealants: They’re The Game-Changer
They’re the game-changer that’s been taking over building sites across Ireland and the UK.
Let’s face it – no one’s got time to mess around with three different tubes when one will do the job. That’s where Hybrid Adhesives & Sealants come in.
They’re the game-changer that’s been taking over building sites across Ireland and the UK.
What’s the story with these Hybrids?
They aren’t your average adhesives or sealants. Hybrids mix the best bits of silicones, acrylics, PUs, and epoxies – giving you serious bonding power, flexibility, durability, and chemical resistance all in one!
You can use them to stick, seal, fill, repair and get the job done – no swapping products, no messing about.
Why the Trade Is All In
In the last five years, hybrids have exploded onto the scene. Across Ireland, tradespeople are sealing windows, bonding floors, fixing roofs and much much more – all with one product.
Hybrids are
– Tough as nails – hold strong in any conditions
– Flexible – ideal for movement joints
– Weatherproof and UV-resistant
– Time-saving – one tube, multiple jobs
– Clean and easy to use – less waste, less hassle
Bottom line: they work, and that’s why the demand’s gone through the roof.
Boom in Builders Merchants
Merchants love them too. Less shelf clutter, easier to recommend and great value. According to GFK research, hybrids are the fastest growing segment in adhesives and sealants in the Builders Merchant market – doubling in size since 2019.
And it’s not slowing down
Why? Because tradespeople demand stuff that works, and hybrids deliver every time.
The New Name to Know: OB1®
Now there’s a new player in town – OB1® Multi-Surface Construction Sealant & Adhesive. One of the fastest-growing hybrid in the UK, now hitting the Irish market hard. What makes it different?
– Sticks to just about anything – even underwater
– Works on lead, PVC, glass, mirrors, fibreglass, timber – you name it
– No smell, no shrink, no cracking
– Paintable and food-safe
– UV, fungal and bacteria resistant
– Withstands temps from -40°C to +120°C
OB1 offers the ultimate bonding and sealing experience
Every saving counts, whether you’re quoting for a big job or trying to stay profitable on smaller projects. OB1 lets you cut your costs without cutting corners – and in today’s market, that’s gold. You’ll find OB1 in most good builder and DIY merchants.
– Hybrids Are Here to Stay
– Hybrids are only going one way – UP.
– Builders Merchants are loving them, and tradespeople are saving time and money every day.
If you’re not stocking or using hybrids yet – it’s time to get on board.
Find out more at www.ob1original.com
Make The Switch To Hippo Pro3 Today
Are your customers still buying multiple products to complete one job? Hippo Pro 3 gives them a better solution and gives you smarter product to stock.
Tembe`s flagship 3-in-1 hybrid formula works as an adhesive, sealant and filler, meaning one product can replace several lines on the shelf. For merchants that means simplified stock management, better shelf efficiency, and a product that solves multiple trade needs.
Along with helping tradespeople save time, money and van space, Hippo Pro 3 delivers outstanding performance across all three applications, making it a product your customers will keep coming back for.
Here’s why Hippo Pro 3 deserves a place on your shelves…
– Amazing adhesive grab strength – securely bond heavy items
– Stick virtually anything to anything
– Will not stain or corrode materials
– Fast drying time – touch dry from just 12 minutes
– Resistant to weather, extreme temperatures, mould & chemicals
– Can be painted
– Does not contain solvents, isocyanates or phthalates
– CE certified & tested
– Vailable in a wide range of colours
Hippo Pro 3 is also available with a free metal display unit (subject to order value), giving merchants a ready-made solution to help drive in-store sales.
Designed specifically for trade counter environments, the durable metal stand presents the product clearly and professionally, maximising shelf impact and improving visibility where it matters most. The optimised layout helps customers quickly understand the 3-in-1 adhesive, sealant and filler proposition, encouraging impulse purchases and increasing product engagement. It’s a simple way to enhance your display, attract attention at the trade counter and help Pro 3 sell itself.
In stock and available from their Dublin warehouse for delivery within 72 hours, make the switch to Pro3 today.
For all enquiries, contact Ireland Sales Director Tony White – tony.white@tembediy.co.uk.
Tec7 Announce the Launch of New Silicone Sealant
For many years, tradespeople have asked Tec7 for a silicone sealant to be added to the range – and for many years, Tec7 have held back. As the MS polymer specialist, the brand built its reputation on hybrid technology that reshaped how professionals mount, bond and seal. Over their 24 years in the Irish market, Tec7 MS Polymers have transformed the sealant and adhesive sections of merchant stores. Despite this, some tradespeople still retain a personal preference for silicone technology for certain applications. Tec7 were aware of this demand, but until very recently silicone technology could not support a product that met Tec7’s strict standards on health, environmental impact, breadth of use and, perhaps most importantly, performance.
The problem was not finding uses for silicone but avoiding compromise. Some silicones are sold as “multi-purpose”, yet in reality they often fall short of the technical standards required across different applications, especially when you look closely at their approvals. XealPro changes that. After years of development by Tec7’s specialist chemists and R&D team, working to push alkoxy technology to a new level, they have created a 4th-generation neutral-cure alkoxy silicone engineered as a genuinely universal product that can replace almost every conventional silicone on the shelf. Crucially, it carries all four key CE classifications – facade, glazing, sanitary and pedestrian walkways – so one cartridge can follow the job from façade detail to bathroom finish and movement joint.
This universality is matched by serious attention to hygiene. In wet rooms and high-use sanitary spaces, ordinary silicones can discolour, harbour mould and lose their clean appearance. XealPro is formula ted by Tec7’s R&D experts to achieve the highest class of resistance to mould and bacterial growth, making it particularly suited to bathrooms, showers, commercial kitchens, changing areas and other hygiene-critical spaces. On top of this, XealPro is ISEGA food safe certified, a level of approval rarely seen among silicones on the market, further underlining its suitability for areas where cleanliness and hygiene are non negotiable. This combination of approvals helps joints stay cleaner for longer, even under constant moisture, regular cleaning and occasional food contact.
In day-to-day use, XealPro delivers no-odour, MEKO – and oxime-free curing with no shrinkage and long term durability on site. The neutral cure system ensures strong adhesion on most building materials, including sensitive surfaces such as natural stone, mirrors, sanitaryware and kitchen worktops. A focused professional colour range – transparent, white, anthracite, concrete grey and light grey – covers the majority of typical installations.
With XealPro, a market leader in hybrid sealants and adhesives now brings a truly universal, top-tier silicone to the market – completing the range so every end-user has a Tec7 solution for every sealing job.
If you are interested in stocking XealPro contact Contech Building Products or your local Contech Technical Sales Representative. Email info@contechbuildings.ie or call (01) 629 2963.
Soudal Airtightness & Sustainable Home Upgrades
Airtightness is becoming one of the most important elements in modern home retrofits, especially as homeowners look for ways to reduce energy consumption, improve comfort, and increase the overall efficiency of their homes. While insulation and window upgrades are often the first steps, the real performance gains happen when the building envelope is properly sealed. Soudal’s Airtightness range plays a key role in this process, offering professional-grade solutions that support long-term sustainability and energy savings.
Soudafoam Window & Door SWS
The Core of a Perfect Seal
Every high-performance window or door installation starts with a reliable foam. Soudafoam Window & Door SWS is specifically developed for sealing window and door frames, delivering strong adhesion, excellent thermal insulation, and long-lasting flexibility. It fills gaps around frames with precision, preventing heat loss and eliminating drafts, an essential step for maximising the performance of upgraded windows and doors, including those installed under available home energy grants.
SWS Inside & Outside Extra Tapes
Airtight Inside, Weatherproof Outside
To complete the installation, SWS Inside & Outside Extra Tapes provide a professional dual-layer seal. The internal tape controls vapour diffusion, while the external tape offers robust weather protection. Together, they create a durable, movement-tolerant seal that keeps the building envelope performing at its best. These tapes help ensure that window and door upgrades deliver their full energy efficiency potential.
Soudatight LQ & Soudatight SP
Seamless Airtightness for Complex Areas
For larger surfaces, junctions, or irregular shapes, Soudal’s liquid membranes offer a fast and reliable solution. Soudatight LQ and Soudatight SP form seamless, elastic airtight layers that adapt to any substrate. The system is Passive House certified, reinforcing its suitability for high-efficiency, lowenergy homes and supporting homeowners aiming for more sustainable building standards.
Airtightness as a Key Part of Sustainable Retrofits
Energy efficiency upgrades, such as insulation, window replacements, and door improvements, perform significantly better when paired with proper airtightness treatment. By integrating Soudal’s Airtightness range into retrofit projects, homeowners can reduce heat loss, improve comfort, and maximise the benefits of available grants for windows, doors, and energy-saving measures.
Soudal’s complete airtightness system ensures that every upgrade, whether grant-supported or part of a broader renovation, performs to its full potential delivering long-term energy savings and contributing to a more sustainable, efficient home.
For further information visit www.soudal.ie
