Gulf Construction Online - Mattex makes a very strong point

Geosynthetics

Mattex geotextiles ... diverse applications.

Mattex makes a very strong point

01 May 2014

MATTEX Geosynthetics, which claims to be Saudi Arabia’s first fully integrated geotextiles manufacturer, says its high-speed 6-m needlepunch production line in Jubail produces the highest strength non-woven geotextiles that are among the best in the world.

“Our GeoMatt geotextiles offer better performance per unit weight compared to some competing products that are often sold by weight only,” says Philippe Grimmelprez, director marketing, sales and business development.

Being fully vertically integrated, Mattex also produces its own high-tenacity polypropylene fibre. “The fibre extrusion plant is adjacent to the non-woven geotextiles production facility, thus giving Mattex total control over the production parameters from the fibre up to the finished product – the GeoMatt nonwoven range,” says Grimmelprez.

He adds that the geotextiles from the new needlepunch line in Jubail – which got up and running last year – can be used as separation and filtration fabrics for road, rail and shore protection and for membrane protection in landfills.

The non-woven GeoMatt range complements the woven TerraMatt range, which is manufactured in Mattex’s production facility in Dubai, UAE. “By offering both TerraMatt and GeoMatt geotextiles, Mattex is supplying the widest range of locally produced woven and non-woven geotextiles in the region,” says Grimmelprez.

Mattex Geosynthetics has invested more than $40 million in its production facilities of woven and non-woven geotextiles. This makes Mattex the biggest investor in geosynthetics in the GCC, Grimmelprez says. These vertically integrated production plants in Dubai and Jubail can also serve the demand for geotextiles across the GCC for railway, landfill, stormwater and drainage applications, he adds.

All its raw materials are sourced from top-quality polymer manufacturers in the GCC. “This makes the product 100 per cent GCC made. From the hydrocarbons to the polypropylene polymers, and fibres to the non-wovens and woven, everything is made in the GCC,” he says.

He adds that with a capacity of over 100 million sq m per year, Mattex can supply “to the entire GCC railway network needs on its own”.

GeoMatt and TerraMatt (below) ... effective solutions from Mattex.

Mattex products can also be used on very weak Sabkha soil, which is typically found on the eastern coast of the GCC and has very poor load-bearing capacities.

Mattex Geosynthetics focuses on performance and sustainability for better savings for governments and contractors.

Grimmelprez says there is increasing awareness amongst authorities, consultants and contractors about the advantages that geosynthetics can offer.

“Significant savings and quality improvements can be achieved by the use of geosynthetics, especially when there is pressure to finish a project faster,” he says.

“As geosynthetics are both sustainable and cost efficient, they are now increasingly being used across several applications. This might in the future make the GCC one of the leading regions in the world for quality geosynthetics,” he adds.

“Our wide range of quality geotextiles allows clients to select the best suitable geosynthetic for their application. Building with Mattex geosynthetics can result in significant savings versus building with conventional construction methods,” he concludes.

Mattex Geosynthetics was founded in 1996 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the production of woven technical textiles. In 2005, it expanded its woven capacity at the Mattex Dubai headquarters.

The Jubail facility was set up in 2011 for the production of high-tenacity fibres and non-woven geotextiles. The group has warehouses and representative offices in Australia/New Zealand, Europe, China, the US and Africa.