Gulf Construction Online - Mattex is a global player in soft flooring materials

Made in Saudi

Mattex has transformed several plain fields in schools into functional football pitches using its customised turf products.

Made in Saudi

Mattex is a global player in soft flooring materials

01 September 2024

Mattex, a leading Saudi manufacturer of polymer-based synthetic materials with a strong foundation in the kingdom, has evolved into a global player, thanks to its focus on quality and innovation, and is currently exporting more than 80 per cent of its production around the globe.

Established in 1996, Mattex initially started operations with the production of woven fabrics for carpet backings, at its first manufacturing facility in Jeddah. Today, it has expanded its capacities manifold and its product range now encompasses grass yarns, turf, and geotextiles, as well as fabrics, all of which are produced across six state-of-the-art facilities.

Over the past 28 years, the company has expanded regionally and globally, with sales operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

“Our journey from a regional player to a world leader in soft flooring materials, like primary and secondary backing systems, has been challenging yet amazing,” Fayez Ali Al Malki, Mattex CEO, tells Gulf Construction in an exclusive interview. “A relentless focus on quality and innovation has been instrumental in our success.”

Al Malki ... suppliers of choice.

“Our growth has been tremendous in grass yarns, making us one of the suppliers of choice for turf industry players. At the same time, Mattex has created a great impact in the regional infrastructure projects with its premium turf and geotextile solutions and has set new quality benchmarks.

“Mattex has grown many folds over past two decades. We are proud to contribute to the region’s growth by offering high-end solutions that add value. Mattex is well-positioned to capitalise on the booming construction market in Saudi Arabia and beyond,” Al Malki adds.

Mattex’s diverse product portfolio caters to a wide range of sectors. Its primary and secondary backings are used in manufacturing tufted carpets while its grass yarns are used in sports and leisure applications by turf manufacturers across the globe.

Besides these B2B product categories, Mattex also manufactures and supplies turf and geotextiles for the Saudi and Middle East markets, where it has gained a reputation for its quality. The company has been a key supplier to high-profile Saudi projects such as the Neom (The Line and Oxagon), Aramco, Qiddiya, Amaala (Triple Bay), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Transportation and Ma’aden.

Al Malki counts its contribution to the Ministry of Education projects among its most striking successes.

He elaborates: “Mattex is a regular turf supplier for the education sector in Saudi Arabia. This gives us an opportunity to transform several plain fields in schools into functional football pitches using our customised turf products that are specially designed for those projects. We give priority to the safety of children on school football fields while delivering an unmatched playing experience on those fields supplied with Mattex Turf.

Its sports turf and geotextiles are created to withstand the Middle East’s climatic conditions and guarantee exceptional strength in infrastructure projects throughout the region, he points out.

Innovations

Mattex keeps a close eye on trends in infrastructure projects and spearheads the growth of its turf and geotextiles business by introducing new products that add value not only to its portfolio but also give advantages to the industry, Al Malki points out.

One such recent innovation is the “fit to field” padel turf, which earned Mattex the distinction of becoming the first manufacturer in Saudi Arabia to introduce this “ready to install” padel turf that does not need cutting at the installation site, he claims.

Mattex’s production facilities ... advanced.

Over the past year, Mattex has introduced new geotextile products that are resistant to fire and degradation caused by exposure to oxygen, which are significant improvements for public construction projects because they enhance safety and durability. By being fire-resistant and able to withstand the damaging effects of humidity, these geotextiles last longer, thus reducing the need for frequent replacements and contributing to a safer and more sustainable construction environment.

Mattex has also introduced mono-polymer solutions to the soft flooring industry which have given industry players the possibility of better recycling of post-industrial and post-consumer waste back into the supply chain, in a way that is both environmentally friendly and practical.

In the artificial turf business, Mattex provides 100 per cent customised football fields – made to size which helps reduce installation wastage.

“This has been a rare solution as common industry practice is to supply standard rolls which result in a lot of wastage during installation,” Al Malki says.

He adds that Mattex uses high-quality raw materials to produce its turf.

“We are the only fully-integrated turf producer in the Middle East that makes its own primary backing and grass yarns,” he says.

To differentiate itself in a competitive market, Mattex focuses on quality and performance. Its products are designed to withstand the region’s harsh climate and meet the specific needs of various construction projects. The company is also focused on sustainability.

Commenting on the company’s focus on the environment, Al Malki says no harmful substances are used throughout the production process. This apart, its high-quality turf is longer lasting, thus reducing the need of frequent turf replacement which helps to avoid landfills. This artificial turf also helps conserve water.

“In addition, Mattex complies with all local environmental regulations, from California to Australia. The company holds certifications like ISO, SASO, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Local Content that ensures the quality of our systems and quality and safety of our products for end-users and contributes to the initiatives of using local content in the manufacturing process,” he adds.

Looking ahead, Mattex plans to strengthen its market position through strategic partnerships in the US, Europe and Middle East and continued investment in research and development. By combining its deep understanding of the local market with a global outlook, the company aims to drive growth and create value for its stakeholders.

With a strong track record, a diversified product portfolio, and a commitment to innovation, Mattex is poised to be a major player in the global synthetic materials market.