During the Geo-Frontiers 2011 conference and trade show in Dallas, Texas (13-16 March 2011), I had the good fortune to catch up with Mark Marienfeld. He told me about the work he’s doing now with Mattex Geosynthetics, a woven and nonwoven geotextiles producer headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and working globally. The company’s emergence is in line with news, discussions and events we’ve explored here on Geosynthetica in recent years–how the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf region is transitioning from a top role in raw materials supply to being a mature source for finished products, including geosynthetics. Mattex Geosynthetics and its American division (Mattex USA, based in Georgia) are part of that story. What follows is an introduction to the company provided to us by Mark.
– Chris Kelsey, Editor, chris@geosynthetica.net
**
AN INTRODUCTION TO MATTEX
Submitted by Mark Marienfeld, Mattex USA
As a next step in its commitment to become a world player in the geosynthetics market, Mattex is heavily investing in a state-of-the-art, vertically-integrated non-woven geotextile facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, complimenting the existing woven geotextile range.
Mattex Geosynthetics KSA: a new local manufacturer with a full range of top quality woven and non-woven geotextiles.
The Mattex group started the production of polypropylene slit film woven fabrics in 1996. The group has two state-of-the-art manufacturing sites in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1 production facility in Dubai, UAE and is currently expanding in Al Jubail, KSA. The total production area of the manufacturing sites has increased rapidly to 191,000 sq. m. The group has warehouses and representative offices in Australia/New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, China, USA and Africa.
The ingredients to the success of Mattex are:
- Unmatched quality levels, thanks to the fully vertical integration of the newest equipment, know-how and team effort.
- Leaders in the industry in terms of innovation, customer service and achieved volumes ensuring a loyal customer base.
- Continuous growth, which has taken us to one of the leading positions in the industry.
Mattex Geosynthetics has direct access to its raw materials which are manufactured next to its production sites. With total control over the properties from the development of the polymers, through the yarns/fibers extrusion, and the manufacturing of the geotextiles on the latest, state-of-the-art equipment, Mattex offers a tremendous advantage to geotextile customers. In line with the Mattex group philosophy we have a proven reputation to deliver very high quality, with roll after roll uniformity. Mattex has unparalleled tight manufacturing control which results in a very low standard deviation in the properties which offer excellent M.A.R.V. properties within the woven and nonwoven geotextiles.
Mattex started its production of geosynthetics with polypropylene woven geotextiles. These woven geotextiles are used for separation and stabilization of pavements and unpaved roads, erosion control, reinforcement of earthen structures, and for separation and support in other civil engineering applications.
This woven range is now being expanded with the production of a wide variety of non-woven, high-tenacity geotextiles, used in applications such as filtration, separation and shoreline protection.
To ensure the best possible product development and sustainability, Mattex has recruited geosynthetics experts, with up to 25 years of experience, to direct the development, manufacturing, marketing, and technical application support of our geotextiles.
The geotextiles are being produced close to the polypropylene sources which are based in the Gulf region. The unique manufacturing locations reduce the carbon footprint compared with geosynthetics which are being manufactured overseas.
Mattex’s vision is to rapidly grow the geotextiles business and to expand into the manufacture and distribution of other geosynthetics products. www.mattex.com
Contacts
Mattex Geosynthetics: Philippe Grimmelprez, Business Unit Director, +971 4 803 8111, philippe.g@mattex.com
Mattex USA: Mark Marienfeld, Geosynthetics Manager, +1 770 917-0260, mark.m@mattex.com
