plastexmatting.com

Safe Crossgrip flies high

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:17:51 PST

Crossgrip safety matting has recently been installed on the roofs of two buildings which both serve airports - The Heathrow/Windsor Marriott Hotel at Langley, near Slough, and at Manchester Airport.

At Manchester Airport, Project managers DTZ appointed contractors Weatherproofing Advisors to repair some areas of the roof of office building '4M'. It has been refurbished with Crossgrip matting to provide safe walkways used for maintenance and to provide access to the rooftop services. Here, the matting's deeply etched open grid surface provides permanent high slip resistance even in the worst weather conditions.

Big solution for small feet

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:26:32 PST

Camping de Paal, one of Europe's largest camping sites, had a problem with their large indoor pool and childrens' wet play area. The problem was that there was a large area of steel floor grating, where children play with water toys, which was very difficult to walk on and slippery. To overcome the problem, rubber tiles were laid but, within six months, these had deteriorated, and clogged the water filters, not only because of the pool's chlorine but also because of wear by the metal below.

Frontrunner XT solves a stony problem

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:27:27 PST

Frontrunner XT matting is solving a stony problem of access into Folkestone's University Centre. The Centre, a partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Greenwich, is housed in the beautifully refurbished former Glassworks.

The problem for the University Centre was how to provide safe access for students and, in particular, for those with disabilities when entering across the old cobbled courtyard. In addition, as this was the designated emergency exit, a safe and easy walkway needed to be created.

Matting gets tough on Teesside

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:13:45 PST

200sqm of tough Vynagrip matting has been laid by SABIC Petrochemicals in its UK Teesside plant. When complete, the plant will be the largest in the world for the manufacture of low density polyethylene. The Vynagrip matting, supplied by Plastex distributor Arco Teesside and in a special bespoke yellow colour, has been used for both the main workshops in the Aromatics manufacturing, as well as for all weather access on the exterior loading jetties and mooring dolphins.

Zed Chex makes standing easier

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:18:49 PST

Standing for long periods, particularly on hard floors, induces fatigue and reduces productivity. Cold and damp underfoot conditions will also increase standing discomfort. For staff dealing with aircraft wheels at British Airways' engineering/maintenance facility within Heathrow airport, this problem has been overcome by equipping each work station with a module of Zed Chex to provide anti fatigue relief and to create a resilient underfoot surface. This helps to reduce physical problems of progressive bone damage, varicose veins, poor circulation and water retention, as well as back problems.

Environmental Information

Fri, 15 May 2009 10:59:00 PST

Official environmental policy statement

All of our PVC matting products are made from plasticised polyvinyl chloride formulation.

There has been some controversy about the use of PVC, but all detailed scientific studies have concluded that it has an environmental impact similar to, or better than, other plastics.

The raw materials for PVC are salt (57%) and oil or gas (43%). Because of its relatively low oil or gas content, the production of PVC involves using less of our limited oil reserves than is necessary for most other plastics.

REACH Statement

Fri, 15 May 2009 10:47:46 PST

REACH is an EC regulation (EC 1907/2006) on chemicals. It deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemical substances. The aim of REACH is to improve the identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances. At the same time, the innovative capability of the EU chemicals industry should be enhanced. The benefits of the REACH system will come gradually, as more substances are registered.

Following the publication of Annex 1 to the above, Plastex confirm that all PVC base compounds used in the manufacture of its products do not contain Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) plasticizer.

Heronrib part of Rye Sports Centre refurbishment

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:21:15 PST

Heronrib has been installed throughout the refurbished Rye Sports Centre

Slip resistant Heronrib matting is playing a vital role in the Rye Sports Centre. This facility, one of several operated by the Freedom Leisure Group, has been refurbished with close attention paid to health and safety. The reason for installing the matting throughout the changing-rooms is to reduce any danger of slipping on the wet floor tiles.

Heronrib is the well proven solution for reducing accidents associated with slipping, particularly around swimming-pools, in changing-rooms and shower areas. The open grid format has raised profile underbars which allow water to drain away easily in all directions.

Frontrunner for new leisure centre in North Ashfield

Thu, 07 May 2009 17:44:47 PST

The Frontrunner entrance flooring system is fronting a new £15m leisure centre at North Ashfield. The leisure and sports facility comprises a 25m six-lane swimming pool, learner pool, ice rink, two squash courts, a four-court badminton hall and six-lane bowls hall, fitness suite with 90 machines, creche and car park.

A priority for Ashfield Council has been the importance of achieving the highest standards of cleanliness by ensuring that external shoe dirt and wind blown dust is prevented from entering the building. Working with design and build contractor Alfred McAlpine/Carilion, this has been solved by using the high performance Frontrunner system within automatic sliding double entrance doors. The matting was installed by Brook Flooring of Milton Keynes.

Hospitable matting gets longer

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:01:47 PST

Floorline matting in extra long rolls is now available for the hospitality industry and for other light duty applications. The cost effective benefits include increased safety and comfort underfoot coupled with reduced wastage and longer seamless walkways.

The hardwearing matting is widely used back of house in hotels, clubs, bars and restaurants. It is particularly suitable in potentially wet areas, such as behind bars or in tap rooms and in kitchens or cellars. The soft tubular grid construction will cushion falling bottles or equipment and is impervious to liquids which are dissipated through the grid. The matting is also suitable as an economical floorcovering which is comfortable to walk on and which will insulate from hard and cold floors, such as in stores, serveries and housekeeping areas.

Flexigrid improves safety underfoot

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:52:11 PST

The metal processing works of Corus Tewkesbury is one of latest industrial plants to install large areas of Flexigrid high performance slip resistant matting. According to Tony Huntbach, in charge of health and safety, the problem was one of fluid seeping from the cold rolling lines on to the floor and thereby creating a potential hazard. By using Flexigrid, a safe and slip resistant walkway has now been created. The matting is also comfortable to walk on which in turn relieves fatigue.

Flexigrid, one a number of floorcoverings from international matting manufacturer Plastic Extruders Ltd, is widely used in heavy industrial environments where dirt, production waste, oil and other spillages can create problems. The matting is extremely hard wearing, resistant to oils, chemicals and industrial fluids. It has a deep etched surface with open grid through which debris and spillages are dissipated.

Safety for wet feet

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:54:17 PST

Over many years, high performance Heronrib has proved to be the perfect solution for preventing slipping, particularly on ceramic tiles, concrete and other hard wet surfaces. In the UK and overseas, the matting is widely used to cover wet surfaces in sports clubs, leisure centres and schools, such as shower areas, walkays and changing rooms.

In hot countries, where temperatures are high, it has the additional benefit of protecting bare feet from discomfort. For example, many prestige five star hotels in the Middle East have installed Heronrib slip resistant matting around their swimming pools. It also creates a comfortable and hygienic surface for walking over uneven, cracked or sandy surfaces.

Herongripa improves working conditions

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:19:59 PST

High performance Herongripa is providing employees with healthy and safe working conditions at the DHL food and packaging distribution centre in Cannock. The matting is laid on both sides of the conveyor line used for processing and repackaging of goods. It is highly slip resistant and comfortable to stand on which makes it safe underfoot while reducing working fatigue.

Herongripa is widely used on assembly lines and in factories. Its special characteristics have particular benefits for the food and drink processing industries. For example, the open grid format is wider than normal to facilitate efficient dispersal of waste products and liquids or the retention of slippery matter on the surface. Another benefit is that it is manufactured from animal fat resistant vinyl which, with Sanitized additives, provides anti-fungal and anti-microbial protection. This makes it ideal for abattoirs or meat processing and packaging.

Frontrunner solves a problem

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:01:53 PST

Frontrunner Plus, part of the Frontrunner Entrance Flooring System, has solved a safety and cleaning problem at Selfridges award-winning store in Birmingham. The problem was generated by customers transferring rainwater and shoe dirt from an external walkway onto a potentially slippery surface. To overcome this, Selfridges required multi-tasking, easy maintenance and high performance entrance matting to reduce dirt ingress and increase safety underfoot. The matting also had to be installed quickly during the busy Christmas period with minimum interruption.

The solution was to lay low profile Frontrunner Plus cut on site to fit the significantly curving walls in the 90sqm entrance. The matting was loose laid on top of the existing ceramic tile and in large one piece transverse runs. It is constructed with integral absorbent inserts within a heel-proof vinyl grid and is designed to scrape, clean and dry all in one movement. Any remaining dirt is shed through the grid and is not transferred. The variety of different colours for the grid and inserts means that the entrance matting will complement any interior design.

Crossgrip goes to school

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:39:18 PST

Crossgrip is playing a major role at the Jack Hunt School in Peterborough. For safety and maintenance reasons, large areas of the matting have been laid on the flat roof over the school's new PFI funded sports extension.

French contractor Bouygues has cleverly anticipated any future problems on the roof by using well-proven Crossgrip. The matting has been laid to create walkways which provide maintenance and service staff with permanent and safe access in all weathers.

Healthy Frontrunner

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:16:13 PST

The Frontrunner Entrance Flooring system is helping to reduce maintenance at one of Belgium's largest hospitals.

The Jan Portaels Ziekenhuis is a very large public hospital near Brussels. Here, the problem was to find a better alternative to the existing external matting. The solution required a high performance matting to act as an effective primary barrier for scraping dirt, wet and snow from shoes. The aim was to combat this initial severe soiling in order to improve the effectiveness of the secondary entrance matting inside and thereby reduce maintenance.

The solution suggested by Plastex Belgium distributor Sanimat was Frontrunner Brush.

Health and safety for barefeet

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:25:16 PST

Skin complaints of the feet are most commonly caused in changing rooms, swimming pools and other areas because bare feet can easily be contaminated. At the same time, the Health & Safety Executive warns about the rise in accidents caused by people slipping on wet surfaces.

Good design practice dictates that wet floors should be inherently slip resistant but this is not easy with some materials. Some ceramic tiles, for example, may have a less slippery textured surface but are harder to clean which in turn makes them less hygienic.

A new flooring product which provides solutions to both these problems is Herontile. This innovative tile complements widely used roll format Heronrib matting. Both are available from international floorcovering manufacturer Plastic Extruders Ltd.

Floorline lines boats

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:51:43 PST

Floorline used on boats

Floorline matting in rolls up to 50m long x 1.2m width, thus providing 60 sqm in one piece, is now available from manufacturer Plastic Extruders Ltd. The benefits include reduced wastage when cutting to length and the opportunity to enjoy long seamless walkways. The light duty matting is widely used as a cushioned and economical floor matting on private motorboats and yachts.

Cracking static with Plastex Matting

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:32:30 PST

Two versions on anti-static matting are now available from international manufacturer Plastic Extruders Ltd. Both products are semi-conductive and give personnel low voltage protection against electro-static discharge (ESD) which is not only physically unpleasant but can affect or damage electrical components. The mattings are tested and certified as ESD products. Earthing leads are available for when the mats are used in short lengths or the flooor below is well insulated.

Heronair anti fatigue matting multi-tasks

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:26:30 PST

Heronair matting

Greater awareness of the benefits of anti fatigue floorcoverings is partly the result of Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Trades Union efforts to improve the welfare of employees. On site research of anti fatigue matting installations confirms a measurable increase in productivity, particularly in the manufacturing, retail and service industries.