| Standing on Quality |
The prolonged standing and repetitive motion that are required for many manufacturing occupations tire the
body and often result in musculoskeletal fatigue and pain, sore feet and
ankles, swollen legs, knee-joint tenderness and chronic lower-back pain. The concrete floors that are
commonplace in the workplace further aggravate the situation. Concrete floors do nothing to help absorb the
constant impact the body sustains while walking and offers no insulation from heat or cold.
Biomechanical research shows that the stiffer the floor, the more the body must absorb some of the impact of
the footfall. Conversely, the softer the floor, the quicker the body tires.
Anti-fatigue mats placed directly over concrete floors help eliminate problems associated with hard floors, but are
not effective unless they have specific performance characteristics.
Based on surface deformation under load, anti-fatigue mats can be characterized as either point elastic,
area elastic or a combination of both.
Mats with flexible top surfaces that do not sustain lateral tensile loads are point-elastic. Point-elastic
mats give with pressure only where the mats are stepped on. They provide cushioning
and shock absorption and virtually no impact energy return. Point-elastic mats include sponge products,
coiled-vinyl loop, link mats and most drainage mats.
Mats with stiff top surfaces that sustain lateral tensile loads are area-elastic. They give by bending
slightly over a substantially larger area than the footprint. Area-elastic mats provide
energy return and little cushioning. They include solid-molded or extruded products, plywood, steel and fiberglass
platforms. The ideal anti-fatigue mat features a soft layer that provides cushioning and shock-absorption, and a stiff layer
that provides load distribution and energy return. All mats must withstand short-term overloading without
damage, withstand rolling loads and not bottom out.
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| Safety |
To help ensure safety, the degree of traction between the shoes and the mat surface needs to be high enough to
prevent slipping, but not so high as to restrict controlled foot movement when walking, turning, sliding or pivoting.
Mats that rely solely on absorbent spongy materials can trap the foot. This prevents controlled movement and
results in eventual ankle damage, decreased foot stability, and an increase in foot rollover that can cause a loss of
balance. Beveled safety edges should be used to reduce any tripping hazards. Unfortunately, falls occur, so mats
help absorb impact and minimize the problems associated with a fall on hard concrete or wood floors.
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| Technical Application Assistance |
We will be happy to help you select the best mats to provide a safer work environment consistent with OSHA
guidelines. When you specify USMats floor mats and work platforms, you can be assured you've chosen the best quality and value to meet your needs. Put our 60 years of experience to work for you.
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| USMats® — Reliable and Dependable; |
USMats has developed a series of mats that utilizes the best of point- and area-elastic properties by
combining a semi-rigid top surface and a flexible base. MBOSS® and RxMat® ensure the
ideal combination of toughness, stiffness and resilience without compromising durability. We’re proud that
all of our products are “Made in USA”.
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| Performance Characteristics |
Toughness—ability to absorb energy
Resilience—ability to return energy
Shock Absorption—ability to dissipate energy
Anti-Fatigue—overall sustained comfort level
Resistance to Indention—withstands puncture
Traction—controls the amount of slip
Pivoting and Sliding—controls foot trapping
Rolling Load—withstands rolling load
Abrasion Resistance—resists surface wear
Durability—resists failure
Surface Stability—resists foot rollover
Maintenance—overall ease of care
The performance characteristics listed in this website catalog are intentionally general in nature as they
represent a consensus based on input from many sources. The best course in selecting a mat is to seek a balance of properties
desired for an application. Information about the original mat and service conditions can help when seeking a
replacement mat for an existing product. For new products, our experience with similar applications can help
you make the best selection.
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| Material Selection — Rubber or Vinyl |
Natural Rubber and SBR are non-oil- and grease-resistant materials that are inherently elastic and resilient with good water resistance.
Nitrile (Buna N) Rubber, a synthetic rubber developed as an oil- and grease-proof substitute for natural rubber with superior puncture and abrasion resistance in addition to chemical protection.
Excellent abrasion, cut and puncture resistance
Good heat and tear resistance
Excellent flexibility and frictional surface
Good low-temperature properties
PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is an all-purpose polymer that resists acids and alcohols, but not petroleum solvents.
Good abrasion, puncture and tear resistance
Poor cut and heat resistance
Fair flexibility and frictional surface
Not good in areas where transmission fluid is used
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| Warranty |
All products in this website catalogue are guaranteed to be free of defects in material and workmanship under
normal conditions of usage, provided our recommended application, installation and maintenance instructions are followed. Any defective
material will be replaced at our expense if a claim is reported to us in writing and if our examination shows that the product has failed under the
terms of this warranty. USMats shall not be liable for damages in excess of purchase price of the product. The maximum period of responsibility is one
(1) year from the date of shipment.
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| USMats®,Inc History |
Our customers receive not only benefit from the products that we manufacture and supply, but also
our more than 60 years of experience. Our company was founded in the 1940s as Woodcraft Industries,
which manufactured a proprietary wood link anti-fatigue matting. As more matting materials became available, Woodcraft expanded its product
line to be a full-service matting manufacturer and supplier, offering a complete line of fiberglass grating products and workstation
platforms. Our philosophy is, and has always been, to find for our customer the best product that
will do the job satisfactorily at the most economical price.
IOn Jan. 1, 2003, a corporate restructuring and name change to USMats, Inc. was timed to coordinate with
the rededication of our manufacturing facilities in Algonac, Michigan. Our name change and rededication
reflect our ongoing vision to be a world-class manufacturer and supplier.
USMats designed, developed and manufactures the MBOSS® and ground-breaking RxMat® family of
mats, both of which have patents and patents pending
To ensure that our products meet your—and our—exacting standards, the entire USMats family has
adopted the following quality mission statement:
USMats®, Inc. products and services will be of the highest quality to meet the requirements of
our most exacting customers. We will provide products to
the market that meet or exceed customer specifications in quality, value and delivery. We plan to
continue our ongoing business by operating profitably to satisfy the current and future objectives
of our customers, owners and suppliers.
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