Bostik
France
EU
Bostik is the adhesive solutions business of the French specialty chemicals group Arkema, a French group. The company traces its history back more than 130 years and says on its website that...
European Adhesive Brands
Loctite
Germany
EU
Loctite is Henkel's biggest adhesive brand and a global name for threadlockers, instant adhesives and sealants. Henkel, headquartered in Düsseldorf, acquired the Loctite Corporation in 1997, and the brand is now part...
Pattex
Germany
EU
Pattex is the DIY adhesive brand of the German consumer goods group Henkel, headquartered in Düsseldorf. It belongs to Henkel's adhesive technologies business, which also stands behind brands such as Loctite and...
Pritt
Germany
EU
Pritt is the glue stick brand of the German group Henkel. Henkel launched the first Pritt glue stick in 1969. Since then the brand has become a household name for school, craft...
Soudal
Belgium
EU
Soudal is a Belgian manufacturer of sealants, adhesives and polyurethane foams based in Turnhout. Vic Swerts founded the company on 19 September 1966 as a one-man business. Soudal describes itself as the...
tesa
Germany
EU
tesa is a German manufacturer of self-adhesive tapes and system solutions, headquartered in Norderstedt near Hamburg and a Beiersdorf company. The story begins with the pharmacist Paul C. Beiersdorf's work on an...
UHU
Germany
EU
UHU is a German adhesive brand known for its yellow tube with the black lettering. In 1905 the pharmacist August Fischer bought a small chemical factory in Bühl, Baden, that had been...
Did we miss one? Feel free to submit a suggestion!
Submit SuggestionGlue, tape and sealants are an area where Europe has several global leaders. Germany alone is home to tesa, UHU and the Henkel brands Pattex, Pritt and Loctite, while Bostik comes from France and Soudal from Belgium. This page lists European adhesive brands and explains which one fits which job.
Which brand for which job
For paper, school and craft work, Pritt glue sticks and UHU all-purpose adhesive are the classics. Everyday repairs and mounting are the field of Pattex, which sorts its range into repair, assembly, contact and instant adhesives. Loctite is the standard name for threadlockers and instant adhesives in workshops. For tape, tesa offers everything from tesafilm to mounting strips. Bostik and Soudal concentrate on construction: sealants, PU foam and assembly adhesives for bathrooms, windows and floors.
Comparison
| Brand | Country | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| tesa | Germany | Adhesive tapes and mounting strips |
| UHU | Germany | All-purpose adhesive, hobby and craft |
| Pattex | Germany | Repair, assembly and contact adhesives |
| Pritt | Germany | Glue sticks for paper and school |
| Loctite | Germany | Threadlockers and instant adhesives |
| Bostik | France | Construction adhesives and sealants |
| Soudal | Belgium | Sealants, PU foam and assembly adhesive |
Ownership notes
Pattex, Pritt and Loctite all belong to Henkel in Düsseldorf. UHU is a trademark of Bolton Adhesives, part of the Italian family-owned Bolton Group, and Bostik is part of the French Arkema group. Loctite and Bostik started as US companies and have had European owners for years, which is why they are listed here.
What Europe does not offer as one brand
Some product names are US brands that have no direct European twin, for example Gorilla Glue and the Scotch lines of 3M. The brands above cover the same jobs, but they are sold under different product names and sometimes in different pack sizes. See also our page European alternatives to Gorilla Glue. Always check that an adhesive is suitable for the material, because no single glue bonds every plastic, metal and wood equally well.