When choosing an aluminum hinged mat for your business, there are three main steps to consider before purchasing the right toe rack for yourself. There are four different insert options to choose from, depending on what you want the mat to do; absorb, wipe or scrape. You can choose from a nylon mat, a polypropylene brush, a Diamond Peak vinyl, or a vinyl abrasive. An insert is the part of the aluminum mat that runs perpendicular to the flow of traffic, and it is the inserts that do the actual “work” of the mat. It’s also the part of that foot rack that gives the mat its pop of color and dimension. Each insert option comes with a variety of color options, made to complement any interior / exterior design.
First, let’s look at the carpet-based inserts. Nylon Carpet inserts are available in 13 different colors. Color options include; black cherry, black, blue, reddish brown, charcoal, chrome, espresso, hunter, java, mauve, midnight, sandy, and fir. Carpet inserts are best for indoor use because they won’t last as long as an outdoor mat. Since this type of insert is designed to clean and absorb much of the moisture before entering a facility, it is good to clean these mats regularly to ensure that they are operating at their maximum capacity. Next, we have a polypropylene brush, which comes in three different colors. The color options for this insert are; gray, black and brown. Polypropylene inserts are primarily used as indoor floor mats or outdoor floor mats where they will not be as exposed to the elements of winter. These inserts are designed as small toothbrush bristles mixed with carpets that help scrape and absorb moisture or debris that may enter the building. Keeping them clean is important if you want them to perform to their best potential.
The Diamond Peak vinyl insert comes in five different colors. Color options for this insert include; black, blue, beige, brown and gray. These mats are used for heavy duty indoor or outdoor scraping action. They are a great mat for areas where clay, thick dirt, or gravel are a problem for incoming foot traffic. This insert is lined with tiny spikes that almost resemble a zig-zag pattern when viewed from a side angle. Giving it that superior scraping action it was designed for. Maintenance of diamond tip inserts is almost straightforward and not as demanding as carpet based inserts. The only downside to the diamond spike insert is that it tends to wear slightly faster than the other insert options, especially if you have frequent cart or wheel traffic that can rip or tear the vinyl ribbed surface structure. The last insert to address is the vinyl abrasive option. This insert comes in four different colors, including; black, brown, gray and red. Abrasive vinyl inserts are designed for indoor or outdoor use, where a high coefficient of friction is desired. This insert is made for scratching, but it is not as strong as diamond spike vinyl. Abrasive vinyl inserts have a surface structure similar to that of sandpaper.
Once the insert type is selected, there are only a few more steps in the process to consider. The 3/8 “Hinged Aluminum Roller Mat offers eight different aluminum finishes. When choosing an aluminum finish or color, keep in mind that this decision indicates how long the mat will take to produce. Mill finish, or color standard silver, takes 1-2 weeks to complete. When an anodized finish is chosen, this can extend the production period to approximately 2-4 weeks. Lastly, you will want to decide if you will need a frame for your mat. 3/8 “aluminum hinge can be a surface mat or a recessed mat. If it is necessary to embed the mat, the depth of the well cannot exceed 3/8 “, the thickness of the mat must match the depth of the well. There are three different types of recessed frames. The first frame is a 540, which is used when pouring wet concrete. There is also an adjustable concrete anchor, which adds stability to the frame. The next frame is a 551, which is used when the hole is already formed. The last frame is a 548, which is a standard frame. This frame is used when the well is already formed.
The maintenance and cleaning procedures for each of these mats are quite simple. For moisture-retaining inserts, or carpet-based options, all you’ll want to do is vacuum or sweep the carpet inserts daily to get rid of accumulated debris and allow the mat to dry to prevent mold build-up. . For more layered surface structures, you will want to hose down or sweep the surfaces to release any hardened residue that remains. Roll up and remove the mat, vacuum or sweep away debris from underneath, and then put the mat back in place. That is all!