Lecol, part of Maiburg

Lecol is a Dutch manufacturer that originally manufactured shoe leathers and shoe adhesives. In fact, the ‘Le’ in the name Lecol refers to the rich history of the lasts factory. From 1969, the business evolved and the Dutch manufacturer entered the floor adhesives market, focusing on adhesives for parquet floors. Since 1998, Lecol has been part of the Maiburg group. ‘Within the Maiburg group, the products of the various brands are very complementary,’ says Pieter Pruyn, Product Manager at Lecol. ‘What I get a lot of satisfaction from? Developing products, testing them and putting them on the market. It's a process that never gets boring and through which we deliver concrete added value to our customers."

Lecol operates from its headquarters in Waalwijk, the Netherlands, and has over 100 employees. The company serves both small projects such as living rooms to large projects of several thousand square metres. Lecol's products are available through wholesalers and parquet shops in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Important place for levelling agents

The segments in which Lecol operates cannot be counted on one hand. The manufacturer is traditionally best known for parquet adhesives, but offers a whole range of solutions for the flooring market: pre-treatment products, levelling compounds, flooring adhesives, PVC adhesives, sealants, wood lacquers, wood oils, as well as machines, application equipment and intermediate flooring.

‘The levelling agents segment is experiencing strong growth and accounts for about one-third of our turnover,’ Pieter clarifies. Lecol's Product Manager sees three reasons why levelling agents, and by extension primers, are on a successful rise. ‘In recent years, PVC has been booming, especially designer PVC. Such applications require well-developed primers and levelling compounds. In addition, there is growing awareness around the importance of subfloors. Fortunately, at Lecol, we have a lot of expertise around subfloors and we are happy to share this knowledge with our customers. Finally, speed during installation is more than ever a decisive factor. After all, for the installer, time is money. So products with a shorter drying time always have an edge." The Dutch firm's products include WAKOL MS330 Silane primer, a moisture barrier with a drying time of barely 40-50 minutes.

Lecol's products can be used for just about all types of indoor flooring, including wood, PVC, cork and laminate. The levelling compounds can level up to 30 millimetres. Among levelling compounds, Lecol has also recently launched an updated recipe. The levelling compound WAKOL Z610 has been renewed and now flows even better. ‘The product is low-dust and low-emission. The advantage of this is that hardly any dust is produced during mixing, which contributes to the installer's comfort,’ Pieter clarifies.

‘Levelling and PVC bonding’ course

Pieter is clear: levelling is not ‘rocket science’, but it is a profession in its own right. ‘The installer must know very well what he or she is doing and follow a step-by-step plan down to the last detail. When levelling, the details are also important. One example is the correct use of a mixing tub, a small detail at first sight, but one that is decisive for the final result. Poorly mixed levelling compounds eventually lead to damage to the floor or subfloor."

At Lecol, they notice that the flooring market has more and more questions about the correct use of primers and levelling compounds. These include doubts around adhesion to the subfloor, for example, or what steps to take in the event of damage such as moisture or cracks. In response to the various questions, Lecol has launched the ‘levelling and PVC bonding’ course in 2024.

During this course, participants receive alternating practical and theoretical explanations. Pieter clarifies the course: ‘We always start with the basics, i.e. the most important points to consider when laying a subfloor. We give the participants tips to recognise the material of the subfloor and to measure factors such as humidity level and firmness. For this, we have developed a special form in-house. Then we move on to the plan of action. Which materials do I choose? Which primer do I use in which situations? How do I level differently before installing a wooden floor compared to a PVC floor? These are some of the questions that will be addressed. Finally, we go deeper into gluing PVC, both during a bit of theory and a practical exercise."

Practical information about the course

The ‘levelling and gluing PVC’ course takes place several times a year, over one day from 9am to 3pm in the afternoon, at its headquarters in Waalwijk, the Netherlands. Upon request, Lecol can also organise the course on location. Participants of the course will receive a certificate of participation. ‘A conscious decision is made to work in small groups of about five participants. That way, we can respond to individual questions and needs." To ensure the quality of the course, Lecol charges a fee for participation.

‘This course we launched at Lecol in 2024 is fully in line with our desire to share our knowledge with installers, among others. As a company, we offer well-thought-out and progressive products, but expertise on how to use those products is equally important. It is only logical that we also share that expertise with our target audience, Lecol customers or not. In fact, our course also attracts sales and commercial profiles who benefit just as much from the knowledge and skills around levelling,’ concludes Pieter.

Website: www.lecol.nl