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Lubricants, sealants, and adhesives are key product categories in hardware retail, serving both industrial and DIY markets. Understanding their types, applications, and selling points helps retailers boost customer satisfaction and sales.
The essentials of Lubricants
Lubricants reduce friction and wear across tools and equipment. Key types include multi-purpose sprays, penetrating oils, greases, dry and silicone-based lubricants.
Retail Tips
Stock trusted brands, guide customers on selection, and cross-sell with degreasers or cleaning tools.
Sealants for every application
Sealants prevent air, moisture, and structural damage in varied settings. Categories include silicone, polyurethane, acrylic, hybrid, and fire-rated sealants.
Retail Tips
Offer various colours, highlight features like flexibility and cure times, and provide education on application.
The strength of Adhesives
Adhesives offer versatile bonding across materials. Types include PVA wood glue, contact adhesives, epoxies, super glues, construction adhesives, and hot glue.
Retail Tips
Stock various sizes, emphasise compatibility and bonding strength, and suggest primers and prep tools.
Maximising Retail Success
Retailers should focus on staff training, clear merchandising, product bundling, and customer education via guides, demos, and QR-linked videos to drive engagement and sales.
Supplier Contributions Overview
Trusted suppliers like Matus who distribute Herschell, MTS, Alcolin, CRC and Q-Products and Vermont Sales distributors of D-Tech and Tork Craft, offer proven products that retailers can stock with confidence to meet customer needs.
Matus Products
Matus supplies leading brands offering adhesives, sealants, and lubricants including:
MTS Range
MTS0335: Contact adhesive spray – fast-drying, multi-surface.
CMT1300: Multi-purpose silicone – flexible, weatherproof.
MTS0510: High-temp gasket maker – withstands 300°C.
Alcolin Range
Cold Glue: Versatile PVA glue for wood and porous materials.
Stick Like Sh*t: High-performance SMP adhesive for construction.
Contractor’s Sealants: Acrylic (paintable, flexible) and silicone (weatherproof, UV-resistant) options for interior/exterior use.
CRC & Q-Products
Brakleen: Heavy-duty cleaner for automotive applications.
Q-5 Lubrication: Penetrating graphite spray for rusted parts and dry lubrication.
Herschell
Maintenance Solutions
- Multi-Purpose Spray: Penetrating and corrosion protection.
- Garage Door Grease: Smooth operation for doors and gates.
- Silicone Spray: Non-staining lubricant for plastics and seals.
- Damp Cure: Aerosol for protecting surfaces from damp, mould, and frost.
Retail Strategy
Educate, merchandise effectively, bundle with related items, and use demonstrations to highlight value.
D-Tech – The Strength of Chemical Anchors
Precision, Strength, and Reliability
D-Tech is a trusted name in high-performance chemical anchoring, providing professional-grade solutions for structural applications. The Dominator Vinylester and Dynamic Polyester chemical anchors offer exceptional strength, fast curing times, and reliable bonding for demanding construction and industrial projects.
Dominator Vinylester Chemical Anchor:
Heavy-Duty Strength
- Styrene-free formula for reduced odour and environmental safety
- High mechanical strength and excellent chemical resistance for demanding applications
- Fast curing times, allowing for quicker project completion
- ETA-approved for use in cracked and non-cracked concrete, masonry, hollow walls, flooded holes, and with threaded rod and rebar.
Ideal Applications
Structural repairs, bridge construction, and industrial projects requiring superior durability and resistance to harsh conditions.
Retail Tips
Stock both types, educate customers on substrate suitability, and sell prep tools like drill bits and blow-out pumps.
Dynamic Polyester Chemical Anchor:
Versatile, Medium-Load Bonding
- Styrene-free, low-odour formulation for safer indoor use
- Strong bond strength suitable for non-cracked concrete, masonry, and hollow walls
- Versatile application: works with various substrates and can be used horizontally or vertically
- Easy-to-use 300ml cartridge compatible with standard
caulking guns - Quick curing time for efficient installations.
Ideal Applications
Perfect for handrails, fixtures, and light structural projects. Works in various substrates and can be applied in different orientations.
Retail Tips
Stock both types, educate customers on substrate suitability, and sell prep tools like drill bits and blow-out pumps.
Tork Craft Machine Fluid
The Perfect Partner for Precision Cutting
When it comes to cutting, drilling, or boring, having the right tool is only part of the equation. To truly get the best performance – and prolong tool life – users need the right lubricant. That is where Tork Craft Machine Fluid steps in.
This new addition to the Tork Craft range is designed to give professionals and DIYers the edge in every cutting task. Now conveniently packaged in a 400ml aerosol can, Machine Fluid is easy to apply and ideal for a wide variety of applications – from broaching, hacksawing, and threading, to parting, turning, reaming, milling, tapping, drilling, and boring.
Retail Benefit
High-margin upsell for tool buyers, boosts basket size, ideal for bundling with cutting tools.
Brought to you by DIY Industrial and Trade News
Read the full article in our DIY and Industrial Trade News - MAY 2025 issue.
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