This guide outlines the customization options we routinely deliver, lift-handle and interlocking design considerations, and the production process for your branded mat program.
1. Custom features for rental fleets
Every mat we ship can be customized in 6-8 ways. The most common combinations:
- Embossed company logo — sintered into the surface, 5-10 mm relief, lifetime durable. Up to 600×400 mm logo area.
- Branded color — yellow, blue, red, green, black, or custom RAL. Pigment is solid through-body, doesn't fade with wear.
- Interlocking edge profile — T-pin, dovetail, or chain-link (see Section 3).
- Lift handles — nylon rope handles in molded recesses, or steel hand-grip cutouts.
- Anti-slip surface — diamond-pattern, raised studs, or knurled texture, embossed at sintering.
- Asset tag inserts — RFID chip pocket, or laser-engraved alphanumeric ID.
- Edge bevel — standard 15° bevel on all edges to prevent vehicle tire catching.
- Drainage channels — underside grooves to prevent mud lock-on and ease lifting.
2. Standard mat formats by application
Three formats cover 95% of the rental and event-production market:
| Type | Size (mm) | Thickness | Weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ground mat | 2440 × 1220 | 12.7 mm (0.5") | 27 kg | Equipment access roads, event flooring |
| Heavy crane mat | 3050 × 1220 | 25 mm | 70 kg | Crawler crane, oilfield rig moves |
| Outrigger pad | 1000 × 1000 | 50 mm | 44 kg | Mobile cranes, aerial lifts |
| Outrigger pad XL | 1500 × 1500 | 75 mm | 150 kg | 300t+ cranes |
| Walkway / event tile | 610 × 610 | 10 mm | 3.5 kg | Festival flooring, ADA compliance |
| Heli-pad mat | 3000 × 3000 | 30 mm | 260 kg | Temporary helipads, military |
3. Interlocking systems — which one for which job
Three interlocking systems dominate the market. We mill any of them into custom mats:
- T-pin (top-mounted nylon pin). Mat has paired holes top and bottom; nylon pin drops through both mats to lock. Fastest install (2 sec/joint), but pins are loose items easily lost. Best for short-duration events.
- Dovetail edge. Mats have molded male/female edges that slide and lock. No loose hardware. Stronger lateral lock, slightly slower install (5 sec/joint). Best for long-term sites.
- Chain-link. Steel chain loop molded into corner inserts; chain hooks into adjacent mat insert. Highest pull strength, used for heavy crane mats. Install: 10 sec/joint, requires no separate pin.
Many of our rental customers run two interlocking systems on different mat types in their fleet — we machine for any combination on the same PO.
4. Material grade by load class
Not every mat needs UHMWPE. Match material to load:
| Application load | Recommended material | Cost vs HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian + light vehicles (<3 t) | HDPE recycled (PE100R) | 1.0× (baseline) |
| Light equipment, JLG (<10 t) | HDPE virgin (PE100) | 1.2× |
| Standard cranes (10-100 t) | HDPE virgin reinforced | 1.5× |
| Heavy cranes (100-300 t) | UHMWPE (PE1000) | 2.5× |
| Rig moves (300 t+) | UHMWPE (PE1000) + steel insert | 3.5× |
5. Branded program: from logo file to first container
Setting up a branded mat program for a rental company typically takes 35-45 days end-to-end:
- Week 1. Sign NDA, exchange logo files (vector .ai or .svg required), specify color/size/quantity.
- Week 2. We CNC-machine a steel embossing tool (one-time tooling fee, US$1,200-3,000 depending on logo size).
- Week 3. Sample mat produced, photographed, shipped DHL for sign-off.
- Weeks 4-6. Production run, QC, packing on pallets (40 mats/pallet standard).
- Week 7. FOB Qingdao or DDP to your yard.
MOQ for branded mats: 100 mats per logo per color. Tooling fee waived on orders ≥500 mats.
6. Reinforced lift points and handle design
Two fundamental approaches:
- Molded rope-loop handles. 22 mm polyester rope, looped through molded UHMWPE pockets, sintered in. 1500 kg rated lift point each. Simple, reliable. We deliver with 2 or 4 handles per mat.
- Steel hand-grip cutouts. 200×50 mm cutout milled into mat, with bonded steel reinforcement plate underneath. Allows fork-lift tine entry, two-person hand-carry, or sling threading. Standard on heavy crane mats.
Both designs are tested to 4× working load before shipment.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can you machine to a competitor's interlocking pattern?
Yes — we routinely machine to MegaDeck, Quad, Dura-Base, and Newpark patterns so customers can mix our mats with existing fleet.
❓ What's the MOQ for unbranded mats?
20 mats. For branded (logo + custom color) MOQ is 100 mats per design.
❓ How long do mats last in continuous rental service?
HDPE virgin: 4-7 years with rotation. UHMWPE: 8-12 years. Both depend heavily on load mix and site terrain.
❓ Do you offer mat re-grinding / recycling at end of life?
We can supply recycling guidance (HDPE/UHMWPE are 100% recyclable). We don't currently take returns from overseas customers due to logistics cost.
❓ Can mats be used on solar farm construction?
Yes — widely used for solar tracker installation. We supply non-conductive UHMWPE that doesn't interfere with grounding tests.
❓ Color fastness in tropical sun?
Pigment is sintered through-body and UV-stable. Black holds best, yellow/green show some fade after 3-4 years — cosmetic only, no structural impact.
❓ Do you supply with hand-grip cutouts standard?
Standard ground mats have 4 rope-loop handles. Hand-grip cutouts are an option (+US$8/mat).
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