Three PU-cement systems dominate the heavy industrial floor specification in 2026: Sikafloor PurCem HM-20 (Sika), Ucrete UD200 (Master Builders Solutions, now a Sika sub-brand), and Flowcrete Flowfresh HF (Tremco CPG / Mapei). On paper they look almost identical: 6–9 mm trowelled PU-cement screed, R11–R13 slip, HACCP food-safe, thermal-shock resistant. The differences that matter are buried two pages into each TDS — and they are decisive.
What PU-cement actually is
PU-cement (sometimes "urethane cement" or "polyurethane concrete") is a three-component system: polyol component A, isocyanate component B, and a cementitious powder C. Mixed on site, trowelled at 6–9 mm, fully cured in 3–7 days. The cement provides dimensional stability and chemical resistance; the polyurethane provides flexibility, abrasion resistance, and thermal-shock tolerance. The combination delivers what no single resin can: a floor that holds at 9 mm under steam-cleaning at 95°C and survives cryogenic spills from refrigeration plant. It is the technology of choice for food production, brewery, pharmaceutical, and cold-store floors.
All three brands below build on the same chemistry. What separates them is formulation depth and one strategic differentiator each owns.
Side-by-side specification
| Parameter | Sikafloor PurCem HM-20 | Ucrete UD200 | Flowfresh HF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Switzerland (Sika) | Germany / UK (MBS, ex-BASF) | UK (Flowcrete, Tremco CPG) |
| Thickness | 6–9 mm | 6–9 mm (UD200 standard) | 6–9 mm (HF heavy-duty) |
| Compressive strength | ~55 N/mm² @ 28 d | ~58 N/mm² @ 28 d | ~54 N/mm² @ 28 d |
| Slip resistance | R11–R13 with broadcast | R11–R13 with broadcast | R11–R13 (SR variant up to R13) |
| Cure: foot traffic | 24 h | 12 h | 24 h |
| Cure: full chemical | 48 h vehicle / 7 d full | 48 h vehicle / 7 d full | 24 h foot / 7 d full |
| Thermal range | Steam cleanable at 9 mm (95°C) | Cryogenic to 200°C peak | Steam cleanable, –40°C to 120°C |
| Antimicrobial | No (add-on biocide topcoat) | No | Yes — Polygiene Ag+ in matrix |
| HACCP / food | Yes | Yes | Yes (HACCP International) |
| Decorative range | Limited (4 standard tones) | Limited (6 standard tones) | Wider (10+ tones, flake option) |
| IL distributor | Gilar Ltd (exclusive) | Through Sika channel post-acquisition | Through Mapei IL / specialty importers |
| Price premium vs Sika | Baseline | ~+5–15% [verify] | ~±10% [verify] |
| Standard reference | EN 13813 SR-B2.0 | EN 13813 SR-B2.0 | EN 13813 SR-B2.0 |
Sources: Sikafloor PurCem HM-20 TDS, MBS Ucrete UD200 product page, Flowcrete Flowfresh MF TDS (Flowfresh HF is the heavy-duty variant on the same chemistry).
The differentiator each owns
Sikafloor PurCem — the safe spec
Sika is the safe default because of distribution, technical support, and warranty depth. In IL, Sika's exclusive distributor Gilar Ltd has carried the brand for decades; technical sales engineers visit site; documentation in Hebrew is available for tender purposes. The PurCem range covers nine SKUs with overlap, so any specialised need (low-temperature install, decorative finish, anti-static) has a Sika SKU. The trade-off is a 20–40% price premium vs Mapei or Master Builders at equivalent spec and longer lead times for non-stocked SKUs.
Ucrete UD200 — the gold standard
Ucrete is the floor that other PU-cements are measured against. The 200°C peak thermal tolerance at 9 mm is unmatched: it holds under direct contact with hot vessels in food production lines where alternatives soften. The 12-hour foot traffic cure is the fastest in the category, which matters when a shutdown costs ₪20,000 per hour. The trade-off after the 2023 MBCC acquisition by Sika is uncertain channel: some IL projects now receive Ucrete via the Sika distribution while specifying Sika PurCem in parallel — the engineer must specify by SKU name, not by claim.
Flowfresh HF — the antimicrobial floor
Flowfresh's single most distinctive claim is Polygiene silver-ion antimicrobial locked into the matrix, not as a topcoat. The Ag+ ions are released slowly across the floor's service life and inhibit bacterial colonisation at the surface. Independent testing has shown over 99.9% reduction of E.coli and S.aureus colonies on Flowfresh vs uncoated PU-cement. For dairy, meat-processing, and pharmaceutical sites where the floor is itself a contamination vector, this is real spec value — and it is the only PU-cement at this depth that publishes the claim. References include Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Müller production sites.
Where each one is wrong
Sikafloor PurCem fails when…
- The build needs sub-12-hour cure to reopen production. Ucrete is faster.
- The owner mandates active antimicrobial in the floor matrix (e.g. infant-formula plant). Flowfresh owns this.
- The budget will not absorb a 20–40% premium over Mapei equivalent. Mapefloor CPU/HD competes head-to-head at lower price.
Ucrete fails when…
- The IL distribution channel is ambiguous post-MBCC acquisition and the specifier needs a guaranteed local technical contact for site visits. Default to Sika or Mapei.
- Decorative finish range matters — Ucrete has six standard tones, Flowfresh has more.
- Antimicrobial is a hard requirement.
Flowfresh fails when…
- The thermal-shock spec exceeds Flowfresh's tested range (–40°C to 120°C continuous; peaks lower than Ucrete's 200°C). Cryogenic / hot-vessel zones default to Ucrete.
- The local channel cannot deliver. Flowcrete's IL distribution is thinner than Sika's; verify before tender close.
- The fastest foot traffic return matters more than antimicrobial. Ucrete wins.
The selection sequence
- Confirm the floor must be PU-cement. If the project is dry, ambient-temperature manufacturing, an epoxy SL system (Sikafloor 263 SL, Mapefloor I 302 SL) is half the price and adequate. PU-cement is for wet, thermally-cycled, chemically-aggressive floors.
- Map the thermal envelope. Continuous > 120°C contact, cryogenic spills, or steam-clean over 95°C narrows the field to Ucrete UD200. Otherwise all three compete.
- Check the antimicrobial requirement. Food production with explicit HACCP antimicrobial requirement, dairy, infant formula, pharma. If yes → Flowfresh HF default.
- Verify IL local channel. Phone calls to Gilar (Sika), Mapei IL, and Flowcrete's local importer. Confirm stock, lead time, applicator availability. Often this step closes the spec faster than the technical comparison.
- Trade price against differentiator. Sika premium is real; cheaper Mapefloor CPU/HD or Stonhard Stonclad UT compete at this spec; weigh the differentiator value (antimicrobial, thermal range, cure speed) against the line-item premium.
What the warranty says (read it before spec)
All three publish 5-year material defect warranties subject to: substrate moisture verified (ASTM F2170 ≤ 75% RH), surface profile verified (ICRI CSP 5–6), installed by approved applicator, sealed substrate joints respected at the finish surface. Most claims are denied at the substrate-moisture step — neither Sika nor Mapei pays out where F2170 was not run before install. Run it. Document it. Photograph the probe and the reading. Without that file the warranty is unenforceable regardless of brand.
Final read
If the project is unspecified beyond "heavy industrial PU-cement," default to Sikafloor PurCem HM-20 — channel safety, documentation depth, warranty enforcement infrastructure. If the project has a specific differentiator demand — antimicrobial → Flowfresh HF; thermal extreme → Ucrete UD200; cost-sensitive equivalent spec → Mapefloor CPU/HD (one tier below in this comparison but a credible alternative). These three are not interchangeable; they own different parameter envelopes and the spec should name the one that owns the envelope you need.
Related: Ucrete brand profile · Flowcrete brand profile · PU-cement system encyclopedia · ICRI CSP requirements.
Sources
- Sikafloor PurCem HM-20 TDS
- Master Builders Solutions — Ucrete range
- Flowcrete Flowfresh MF TDS
- Flowcrete polyurethane screed range
- Gilar Ltd — Sika IL distributor
- EN 13813 — Screed material and floor screeds: properties and requirements.
- FeRFA Type 6 (resin screed 4–6 mm) and Type 8 (heavy-duty trowelled mortar 6–9 mm) classifications.
- HACCP International — flooring product certification register.