ADHESIVES


STEP ASIDE TESTING TIMES, ADHESIVES ARE ON THE RISE


While there have been ongoing challenges in the construction industry, some organisations are seeing more consistency return following the upheaval of the prior two years. Adrian Buttress, managing director at PermaRoof, part of PermaGroup, looks at innovation, sustainability and new product development.


P tunnel.


The distributor of building products has reported a record year for sales, rather than record individual months, which it says indicates market stability.


Buttress says: “One of the product ranges that has remained steady throughout is roofing adhesives. With the popularity of EPDM products, it’s no surprise adhesives are equally in demand. These products make installation of an EPDM roofing system seamless thanks to the bonding qualities and ability to adhere to a range of surfaces. “I expect that no matter what the changes in the market we’ll continue to see these products thrive above others.”


He continues: “While adhesives have been a favourite among our customers, the cost- of-living crisis has forced contractors and merchants to look at alternatives, often buying on price alone. The obvious challenge is that while all adhesives may look the same, they certainly don’t perform the same and knowing how to separate the reliable, tested products from those unregulated ones is essential. “We’ve seen a sharp increase in the number


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ermaroof has managed to navigating these turbulent last few years, with Brexit and Covid, and is now beginning to see the light at the end of the


of projects that have installed these inferior products that adhere fine on the day but just don’t stand up to the test of time as they breakdown far quicker than their quality counterparts.


“Our biggest challenge in this is educating our customers, whether that’s direct customers or via our merchants and stockists. We’ve dedicated our time this year to sharing the long-term risks of these products in an accessible way via our platforms to ensure people aren’t getting caught out and making a costly mistake in the long run.” Sustainability is key across all business in every industry, and if you aren’t focusing on it right now you will probably be forced to in the coming years by Government regulations. Buttress explains: “We’ve been working with our suppliers to ensure that our packaging is as low waste as possible while maintaining quality. It’s a fine balance ensuring various elements are considered but we’re proud to be working collaboratively across the supply chain, from manufacturing through to sales, to improve our sustainability.


“Whenever we work with new stockists, merchants, contractors, manufacturers – any new partners – we’re always asking how they manage their sustainability, what is the waste management of the product, and


how is it transported? While having our own sustainability policies is important, making sure we’re working with partners that reflect that in their own work is essential to making sustainable steps industry wide.”


Something that everyone is doing is; praying for a brighter future, whether that be through a new government or incentives thrown down by the current government – what is clear is that everyone is curious as to what happens next.


Buttress says: “Looking ahead to 2024, we have some exciting developments in the pipeline. Consistent communication with our customers and taking on their feedback allows us to invest in innovations that respond to their needs - they’re the ones using the products day in day out after all. We also have some innovative digital plans to make our online offering seamless, as well as upgrading the CMS for improved operations. “We’re also looking at our product range and in the new year, we’ll be launching a game-changing self-adhering EPDM. This product sets the bar for speed of application, quality of product and sustainability – no unnecessary waste packaging and recyclable where needed. We can’t wait to share more and improve our offering to benefit our customers – watch this space.” BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net December 2023


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