New Products will Blow Your Mind!

Here at MattingExperts.com we realize that not all safe and dry floors can be achieved via commercial runners and mats alone.  Sometimes there are circumstances that make floors really really wet. I have personally witnessed just this sort of situation dozens of times.  Take for example winter in Chicago and my commute. I would take a train from the suburb I lived in to Union Station in downtown Chicago. So did millions and billions of other people. By the time morning and evening rush hours had ended the entire place was a sopping wet mess. Sure, they had recessed aluminum grate matting in the major vestibules and of course they had carpet-like runners in busy areas such as near escalators. Honestly, the nylon mats and runners became completely saturated. The only thing a mat like that can do once it becomes this wet is offer a small amount of traction. So what am I getting at with all of this?

We now sell heavy duty commercial air movers/blowers! The manufacturer is B-Air out of Azusa, California who has been developing and manufacturing various blower products for the last 10 years.  Although they offer blowers for gigantic inflatable bounce houses as well as pet groomer fur dryers, we are currently marketing only their janitorial/restoration blowers. We feel this line of products better suits our customers' needs but if anyone should need their other blowers we would happily take care of them as well.

The entry-level so to speak blower is called "Cub 1/4 HP" and is recommended for small or cramped area air movement and/or drying.  Say you have a leaky piece of equipment that is housed in an area that has a very small access opening. The Cub 1/4 HP model is smaller overall (approx. 10" x 10" x 8") with a small rectangular opening to accommodate tight quarters.

There is another 1/4 HP model called the "Polar". This one is different in that it has 2 speeds and a larger, 360 degree blower opening. This unit is larger and, therefore, offers a broader airflow coverage.  What is really cool about this model is that it is stackable!

Instead of going into exhaustive detail here about all the new blowers on our site...please stop by mattingexperts.com and check all our new goodies out!

Grizzly GP-1

Polar

Grizzlys Stacked for Super Wind

Loading Dock Products Now Available

Good day to all who need, have needed, or might need in the future some really awesome floor mats.  Good news! I have been adding new products to mattingexperts.com and among them are loading dock accessories.

What I have learned is that dock bumpers are a must on any loading dock.  I always thought they were just "nice to have" but no!  And now that I think more about it, it makes total sense: if a large truck backs into your building too hard or fast it could damage the integrity of the entire structure.  These just aren't the kind of things we sit around thinking about but dang!

So let me introduce you to simple dock bumpers first. These are made by one of my favorite mat manufacturers, Durable Corporation. Durable has been making things out of recycled tires since the early 1920's; way before recycling was "cool". Customers always get quiet on the phone when I confess my love of their floor mats. You think it is because they are scared or that they feel sorry that I am that into mats? Either way...

Dura-Dock Laminated Rubber Bumpers

Here is a fine example of a recycled tire dock bumper from Durable Corp.  In size 10" x 12" they cost just $51.40 a piece, plus shipping.  These stick out 4 1/2" from the dock and are affixed with heavy duty structural steel brackets. In addition, these carry a 5 year warranty.  Nice. Very nice. You could do a lot worse.

Now let's say you have a need for weather and fumes to stay out of your interior loading dock space. Well, that is where a whole other beast comes into play. The entire opening can be made into a giant seal that also performs the bumper function. Highly customizable depending on the exact needs of the particular dock situation...I give you:

Otco Foam Dock Seal LS-95

I know...it  looks confusing but we will get through this together! Have your people call my people and we will get this sorted out for you.

"Exciting" New Products Just Added!

I know, I know...matting as a blog topic can be a bit...dry. Pun intended. However, recently I have embarked upon adding some new mat-related products to our website. Or maybe they would be considered floor-related. While still "dry", they are kind of exciting.

Take a look at the Poly Curb for example.  I mean, who DOESN'T need a portable curb ramp? Say you are an avid camper and you need to load/unload things at the camp site. BOOM! Poly Curb.  Or maybe you own a food truck and it did not come fitted with a ramp for loading supplies. BOOM! Poly Curb.  See what I mean? How about if you are the guy who has a truck and everyone always asks for your help moving? Maybe you could get an extra case of beer (and have more time after the move to enjoy it!) if you broke out your handy-dandy Poly Curb ramp!

Poly Curb

And then just take a look at this cool beast! What the heck is it you ask? Well for gosh-sakes it is a glow-in-the-dark cord protector! Where do dark places and beefy cords running everywhere occur together? Concerts, stage productions, nighttime at the county fair, haunted houses, etc. These babies stay charged and glowing up to 12 hours if given enough time to charge in a bright place. And as if that weren't enough to make it your "go-to" cord protector, it is also interlocking for total customization of length. It can be rolled over by up to 10,000 lbs. per axle as well. The sloped design makes it anti-trip for foot traffic.  You want one, don't you? Knew you would....

Nite Hawk Cord Protector

More Mat Horrible-ness

Come on in to our super duper Vietnamese Grocery Store!  Watch your step, though...the rigid interlocking commercial kitchen matting we have at the entrance might break apart as you pass over it!

Yep...Friday night, out on the town for some Pho for dinner and ran across this beauty.  And you might notice upon closer inspection that there is another type of drainable anti-fatigue matting just inside the door. I give them credit for providing a non-slip mat for customers. I do not give them credit for how cheap and ugly the entrance has been made to look with these mats.

I do not speak any Vietnamese but if I could I would issue a stern, "Tsk Tsk," to the business owners here.

New Entrance Mat from NoTrax is Class Act

Evergreen Diamond Entrance Mat

Let me introduce you to the new entrance mat being offered by NoTrax called Evergreen Diamond.
Such a simple design and yet why has no other manufacturer thought of it yet? Available in Brown with black pattern and vinyl edges, Blue with black pattern and vinyl edges, Charcoal with black pattern and edges, and Gold with dark chocolate pattern and edges. Call me crazy but it reminds me of a very nice men's neck tie.

What's that you say? You wish it was environmentally kind? Oh, but it is! The carpet-like surface is made from 100% recycled nylon. (Don't ask me where they get the nylon from!)

Wish you could see another stunning photo of the mat?  Sure you can!!!

Evergreen Diamond Mat in Brown, Blue, Charcoal and Gold

Give us a call 800-858-3417 or send an email sales@mattingexperts.com.
We will happily quote any size order for you and even send out samples.

Little Known Mat Fact

Less Expensive & Less Awesome

Awesome & Expensive

Today's installment focuses on a fact not known to many people outside of the industry of matting. Specifically, why there is such a price variance among open hole drainage/anti-fatigue mats for wet areas.

We sell both of the mats pictured above because we want to serve all budgets and needs for our customers.  To look at them, there isn't a gigantic visible difference between them. To touch them and stand on them is not super different either.

So what makes the difference between a value priced kitchen mat and a more expensive version?

For one thing the more pricey mat includes an ingredient called Nitrile rubber. This additive drives the price up but makes it stronger, longer lasting and, most importantly, grease proof.  In other words, the mat will repel fats and oils that come in contact with it. 

Another factor is the higher content of all natural rubber. Less expensive mats will often have a low amount of actual rubber and utilize clay fillers to build out the bulk of the mat. For light-duty settings and situations this might be just fine for a customer application. The downside, however, is that over time and under heavy use, these clay mix mats will break down and disintegrate.

So consider the facts when deciding price versus quality...my mother always used to say, "You get what you pay for," and she was right. Of course she was...

As Promised...Horrible Entrance Mat

Although I initially was picking on the dish room mats used as business entrance mats, there are all sorts of other offenders out there.

I present Exhibit A:

Sigh...yes, it is true. I actually shopped here and spent some money on groceries.  I get the idea behind the cardboard box entrance mat as Eco-friendly and costs nothing. What I am having trouble with is how utterly pitiful and awful a first impression this casts! OMG!!! Will this mat dry off shoes? Maybe a few but won't take long if it's raining or snowing for this area to turn into a hot mess.  Will this prevent slips and falls? Um...NO! It is a bit like an ice rink in that regard.  Can you vacuum it? Duh.  Dirt, sand, rocks...come on in!  Make yourself right at home in the produce department!

People...please let me sell you a decent mat at a really decent price. We can even pick one out that is recycled material if that floats your cardboard boat. 

But, as I said...I spent some money here and will probably go back in the future for their ensalada de nopalitas...which was bomb.

Happy matting!