USDA Food Plant Floors for Latin America & the Caribbean
PumaCRETE manufactures urethane concrete flooring, polyurethane cement mortar and antimicrobial epoxy systems for food and beverage processing plants across 23 countries in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Material ships from the Port of Miami in 20- and 40-foot containers. Project support is delivered in English and Spanish — and on-site certified training comes from PumaCRETE factory-employed technicians.
PumaCRETE fabrica pisos de hormigón uretano y sistemas epóxicos antimicrobianos para plantas de procesamiento de alimentos en todo el Caribe, Centroamérica y Sudamérica. Envío desde el Puerto de Miami. Soporte de proyecto en español y portugués.
Buy materials direct. Train your team on-site. That's the model.
PumaCRETE manufactures every system on this page and sells it direct, with no distributor markup, to food and beverage processors across Latin America and the Caribbean. For international buyers, the model is simple and predictable: we ship the material from Miami, we send a factory technician to certify your installation team on your first job, and we stand behind the floor with a 5-year written material warranty.
El modelo es directo: PumaCRETE vende materiales directamente desde el fabricante, sin intermediarios de distribución. Capacitamos a su equipo de instalación en sitio en el primer proyecto. Garantía escrita de 5 años en el material.
Buy the Materials — FOB Miami
Bulk urethane concrete, antimicrobial primers, topcoats and integral cove kits — manufactured to order and shipped FOB Port of Miami in 20- or 40-foot containers. No middle-man markup, no spec compromises. Standard production lead time is 2 to 3 weeks from confirmed order.
Train Your Crew On-Site
On-site certified installation training is delivered by PumaCRETE factory-employed trainers — typically during the first project. Your in-house maintenance team or the local independent contractor you hire learns surface prep, mixing, application, mil verification and resistance testing directly from the people who make the material.
Manufacturer Warranty Stays Intact
The 5-year written material warranty applies when documented installation procedures are followed and pre-installation moisture testing confirms substrate compliance. Bilingual installation manuals (EN/ES/PT), technical phone & email support, and remote QC review are included for the life of the floor.
For Latin America and Caribbean projects, PumaCRETE is a direct manufacturer — we sell material and we train your team to install it. We do not install floors ourselves in international markets, and we do not require buyers to source through a regional distributor. The price you pay is the manufacturer price.
Built for the climate, chemistry and audits your plant actually faces.
Latin American and Caribbean food plants face four conditions that destroy ordinary epoxy floors: year-round humidity above 80%, salt-air corrosion at coastal sites, hot wash-down cycles, and tropical microbial pressure. Urethane concrete chemistry is engineered to survive all four — from Patagonian cold chain to Amazonian humidity, from Caribbean hurricane season to Andean altitude.
Equal to Ucrete — manufactured in the United States. Ucrete® (Sika, formerly BASF) is the global benchmark for polyurethane cement food plant flooring, with more than 50 years of service in food, beverage and pharmaceutical plants worldwide. PumaCRETE 401-HF is a peer cementitious urethane system — same chemistry class, equivalent thermal-shock window, equivalent hot-CIP resistance, equivalent USDA / FDA / HACCP audit posture — manufactured in the United States and sold direct to international buyers. The chemistry is parity. The commercial difference is the model: no distributor markup, factory-employed trainers on your jobsite, and EN/ES/PT project support for the life of the floor.
Equivalente a Ucrete — fabricado en los Estados Unidos. PumaCRETE 401-HF es un sistema de hormigón uretano par a Ucrete® (Sika): la misma clase química, la misma ventana de choque térmico, la misma resistencia a CIP caliente. La diferencia es comercial — venta directa del fabricante, capacitación en sitio, y soporte de proyecto en español y portugués.
Humidity-Tolerant Chemistry
Tolerates up to 25 lbs of vapor pressure through the slab — roughly five times the limit of standard epoxy. Critical for plants where slab moisture rarely drops below 80% RH year-round.
Salt-Air & Coastal
Cementitious urethane is unaffected by airborne salt that aggressively attacks ordinary epoxy floor coating bonds in coastal facilities — from Cartagena ports to Valparaíso plants to Bahamian commissaries.
Thermal Shock
Withstands cycles from blast-freezer temperatures up to 248°F wash-downs without delaminating. One floor handles cold rooms, kill floors and hot CIP zones without compromise.
Acid & Sanitizer Resistance
Resists lactic, citric, fatty acids, salt brine, sodium hydroxide and quaternary ammonium sanitizers at process concentration. The chemistries that destroy epoxy in dairy, meat and produce plants leave urethane concrete intact.
Antimicrobial Built-In
Silver-ion or zinc-pyrithione antimicrobial additives are integral to the topcoat — not a surface treatment that wears off. Meets ASTM E2180 and JIS Z 2801 for high-risk hygiene zones.
Audit Documentation
USDA 9 CFR 416, FDA Food Code, SQF, BRC, IFS, FSSC 22000 and HACCP — plus SENASA (Argentina), MAPA (Brazil), and regional inspection frameworks. Documentation in EN/ES/PT.
PumaCRETE vs Ucrete — Side-by-Side Equal-Systems Comparison
The table below maps PumaCRETE product families directly against the equivalent Ucrete® (Sika / formerly BASF) systems. Both are trowel-applied polyurethane cement chemistries. Thicknesses, thermal windows and chemical-resistance categories are equivalent. The differentiators are commercial — sales channel, training delivery and language support — not metallurgical.
| Specification | PumaCRETE 401-HF | Ucrete® UD200 (HF) | Parity? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Class | Polyurethane cement, trowel-applied | Polyurethane cement, trowel-applied | Equal |
| Nominal Thickness | 1/4 to 3/8 in (6–9.5 mm) | 1/4 to 3/8 in (6–9.5 mm) | Equal |
| Thermal-Shock Tolerance | Up to 248°F wash-down | Up to 266°F (130°C) wash-down | Equivalent class |
| Service Temperature Range | −40°F to 248°F | −40°F to 302°F (UD200) | Equivalent class |
| USDA 9 CFR 416 / FDA Food Code | Approved chemistry | Approved chemistry | Equal |
| HACCP / SQF / BRC / FSSC 22000 | Audit-ready documentation | Audit-ready documentation | Equal |
| Slip Resistance Format | Aggregate broadcast — slip-grade option | Integral slip resistance (UD200 SR) | Equivalent class |
| Antimicrobial | Integral silver-ion or zinc-pyrithione | Integral hygienic formulation | Equivalent class |
| Track Record in Food & Beverage | 30+ years as direct manufacturer | 50+ years global service | Both established |
| Sales Channel | Direct from manufacturer — no distributor markup | Through certified contractor network & distributors | Different model |
| On-Site Training Delivery | Factory-employed trainers on your jobsite | Master-contractor program | Different model |
| Bilingual Support (EN/ES/PT) | Standard on every international project | Regional distributor-dependent | Different model |
| Material Warranty | 5-year written warranty | Manufacturer warranty per system | Both warranted |
| Country of Manufacture | United States — ships from Port of Miami | Multiple global plants | Different model |
Spec data sourced from publicly available manufacturer technical datasheets. Ucrete® is a registered trademark of Sika AG (formerly BASF Performance Flooring / Master Builders Solutions). This comparison is for informational specification purposes only.
PumaCRETE Product Families Specified for the Region
| PumaCRETE Series | Ucrete® Peer | Thickness | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PumaCRETE 200 Series Antimicrobial Epoxy |
Ucrete MF (light-duty PU cement) |
12–60 mils | Dry-process areas, packaging rooms, bakery cooling and finishing zones, light produce handling. |
| PumaCRETE 300 Series Urethane Cement |
Ucrete UD200 (medium-duty) |
1/16 to 1/4 inch | Medium-duty wet processing — fruit and vegetable washing, juice plants, beverage bottling lines. |
| PumaCRETE 401-HF Heavy-Duty Urethane Mortar |
Ucrete UD200 / UD200 SR (heavy-duty) |
1/4 to 3/8 inch | Meat & poultry kill floors, seafood processing, dairy, breweries, distilleries. Highest service-life option. |
PumaCRETE Flooring System Types
Thin Film & High Build Coatings
100 and 200 series
Best for light-duty to medium duty environments and controlled spaces.
FEATURES
- Sanitary, Seamless
- Smooth finish (or light texture)
- High abrasion resistance for heavy foot traffic, carts and wheeled loads.
- Easy to clean
- Chemical resistant
Heavy-Duty Slurry/Mortar Systems
4-8 mm (1/8 to 3/8 inch)
300 and 400 series
Used in the most demanding environments.
FEATURES
- Restores damaged concrete
- Impact resistance
- High compressive strength
- Extended lifecycle performance
- Chemical resistant
- Sanitary/Seamless
- Smooth finish (or light texture)
- High abrasion resistance for heavy traffic including forklifts, rubber and plastic wheels.
Food plant projects across 23 countries — grouped by sub-region.
PumaCRETE supplies material and on-site training to food and beverage processing plants across the entire Latin America & Caribbean region. Containers ship from the Port of Miami via regular vessel schedules. Project support is delivered in English, Spanish and Portuguese, with documentation packages tuned to each country's customs and audit framework.
The Caribbean
Major sectors include rum and spirits distilling, seafood and lobster processing, sugar refining, dairy and ice cream, banana and citrus packing, coffee processing, and beverage bottling. See the dedicated Caribbean page →
Central America
Major sectors include poultry and beef processing, shrimp aquaculture, coffee processing, sugar refining, banana and pineapple packing, palm oil refining, dairy, and beverage bottling. See the dedicated Central America page →
South America
Major sectors include beef, pork and poultry processing, seafood and salmon farming, coffee processing, wine and pisco production, dairy, sugar refining, soybean and grain processing, and beverage bottling. SENASA (Argentina) and MAPA (Brazil) audit-ready documentation included. See the dedicated South America page →
Your crew is trained on your slab — by the people who make the material.
The single biggest reason urethane concrete floors fail isn't the chemistry — it's the installation. A 200°F-rated system installed by a crew that's never mixed it is just a very expensive epoxy floor. That's why PumaCRETE provides on-site certified installation training by factory-employed trainers as a standard part of every international project. Your in-house maintenance team or the local independent contractor you've hired learns the system directly from PumaCRETE technicians — on your jobsite, in your language, while your first floor is being placed.
La capacitación es entregada por técnicos empleados directamente por PumaCRETE — en su planta, en su idioma, durante el primer proyecto. Su equipo queda certificado para reparaciones futuras y nuevas instalaciones.
Treinamento ministrado por técnicos da fábrica — na sua planta, em português, durante o primeiro projeto. Sua equipe fica certificada para reparos e novas instalações.
What the Training Curriculum Covers
Surface Preparation
Diamond grinding or shot-blasting to CSP-4 minimum, HEPA dust extraction, ASTM F2170 moisture testing, crack chase and fill, drain dam-up. The step crews most commonly skip — we don't.
Component Mixing
Two-component ratio verification, antimicrobial additive incorporation, pot-life management, temperature compensation for tropical heat or Andean altitude conditions.
Trowel Application
Gauge rake, spike roller, integral cove forming wet-in-wet at every wall and equipment plinth, slip-grade aggregate broadcast, topcoat sealing.
Mil Verification
Wet-film gauge readings during application, dry-film core-pull verification at QC sign-off, photographic record built for plant QA archive and audit defense.
Resistance Testing
ASTM C267 chemical-spot tests with sector-specific reagents — lactic acid for dairy, fatty acids for meat, ethanol for distilleries — plus wet-DCOF slip checks per ANSI A137.1.
Documentation & Handoff
Bilingual written installation manuals (EN/ES/PT), customer witness sign-off, repair and recoat protocols, plus phone and email support for the life of the floor.
PumaCRETE is a direct manufacturer. For Latin America and Caribbean projects, we sell material direct and we send factory technicians to train your team on-site. The 5-year written material warranty applies when documented procedures are followed and pre-installation moisture testing confirms the substrate meets specification.
TRAINING
PumaCRETE® can provide on site trainers, along with detailed installation instructions and videos, specialty tools, and surface prep guidelines for new installers or DIY installation. See our installation page for our application resources.
From inquiry to production-ready floor — typically 8 to 14 weeks.
Site Assessment
Plant owner shares facility drawings, sector type, audit framework and substrate condition. PumaCRETE responds with system recommendation, ballpark budget and documentation package within 5 business days.
Spec & Export Quote
Detailed system specification, square-foot pricing, container freight estimate (FOB Miami), and project schedule. Spec includes moisture test requirements, cove detailing, slope-to-drain treatment and color selection.
Material Production
Manufactured to order. Standard production lead time is 2 to 3 weeks from confirmed PO. Custom color blending adds 1 week. Antimicrobial topcoat is dosed at the factory before shipment.
Port of Miami Shipping
20-foot or 40-foot container via consolidated freight or dedicated booking. Ocean transit: 4–7 days to Puerto Rico (domestic U.S.), 7–14 days to most Caribbean ports, up to 24 days to southern South America.
Substrate Prep & Install
Customer crew (in-house maintenance or independent contractor) performs prep and application following the documented PumaCRETE specification. Factory trainer arrives for first install.
QC & Warranty Activation
Mil thickness, slip-coefficient and chemical-spot verification. Customer witness sign-off. 5-year written material warranty issued from PumaCRETE directly. Schoolar phone/email support continues for the life of the floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
International food plant flooring — your questions, answered.
Does PumaCRETE ship to Latin America and the Caribbean?
Yes. PumaCRETE ships from the Port of Miami to 23 countries across the Caribbean, Central America and South America in 20-foot and 40-foot ocean containers. Transit ranges from 4 to 7 days for Puerto Rico (domestic U.S.) up to 24 days for the southernmost South American ports.
How does PumaCRETE compare to Ucrete?
PumaCRETE and Ucrete® are equal-class urethane cement systems. Both are trowel-applied polyurethane concrete; both meet USDA 9 CFR 416, FDA Food Code, HACCP, SQF, BRC and FSSC 22000 audit requirements; both carry equivalent thermal-shock windows (≈248–266°F wash-down) and equivalent chemical-resistance categories at equivalent thicknesses (1/4″–3/8″). The chemistry is parity. The difference is commercial: PumaCRETE is sold direct from the United States manufacturer to your plant — no distributor markup — with factory-employed trainers on your jobsite and EN/ES/PT project support for the life of the floor. Ucrete® is a registered trademark of Sika AG (formerly BASF Performance Flooring).
Who installs PumaCRETE in international markets?
For Latin America and Caribbean projects, plant owners install PumaCRETE using their own in-house maintenance teams or independent contractors they source locally. PumaCRETE is a direct manufacturer — we sell materials and provide on-site training, but we do not install floors. Factory-employed trainers travel to your site to certify your crew on surface prep, mixing, application, mil verification and resistance testing.
Is PumaCRETE flooring USDA approved for export markets?
Yes. PumaCRETE urethane concrete meets USDA 9 CFR Part 416 sanitation requirements and the FDA Food Code. The same documentation supports SQF, BRC, IFS, FSSC 22000 and HACCP audits, plus SENASA (Argentina), MAPA (Brazil), and regional inspection frameworks across Latin America.
¿Ofrecen soporte de proyecto en español?
Sí. PumaCRETE ofrece gestión de proyecto, fichas técnicas, capacitación en sitio y soporte de auditoría en español para plantas de procesamiento de alimentos en todo el Caribe, Centroamérica y Sudamérica hispanohablante. La misma química de hormigón uretano y la documentación USDA respaldan auditorías en cada jurisdicción.
Vocês oferecem suporte em português para o Brasil?
Sim. PumaCRETE oferece suporte de projeto em português para plantas de processamento de alimentos no Brasil. A mesma química de concreto uretano e a documentação USDA atendem aos requisitos do MAPA e dos esquemas de auditoria SQF, BRC e FSSC 22000.
How does the on-site training program work?
PumaCRETE sends factory-employed trainers to your plant for the first installation. The training covers surface preparation, two-component mixing, trowel application, integral cove forming, mil verification and ASTM C267 resistance testing. Your crew is certified for ongoing repairs and future buildouts, with written manuals in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
What is the lead time for a Latin America project?
A typical international project runs 8 to 14 weeks from confirmed PO to production-ready floor — 2 to 3 weeks production, 7 to 24 days ocean transit, plus customer site prep, installation and cure. Puerto Rico projects can compress to 6 weeks because of domestic shipping. Hurricane-season buffers are built into Caribbean schedules from June through November.
Audit Frameworks Supported
Documentation for every regional jurisdiction.
Every PumaCRETE international shipment includes the documentation your plant QA team needs to defend the floor specification through audits in any jurisdiction. Authoritative references: USDA 9 CFR Part 416, FDA Food Code, SQF Institute, and FAO Food Safety guidance for Latin America and Caribbean regulators.
Spec the floor that survives the climate, the chemistry and the audit.
PumaCRETE sells materials direct — no distributor markup — and provides on-site certified installation training by factory-employed trainers across 23 Latin America & Caribbean countries. Written specification and export budget delivered within 5 business days. Project support in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Especificación escrita y presupuesto de exportación en 5 días hábiles. Soporte en español y portugués. Envío desde el Puerto de Miami a todos los puertos de América Latina y el Caribe.
PumaCRETE · 68 Harrison Avenue · Boston, MA 02111 · USA