Supplier comparison
Maximum Matting vs First Mats: specialist supplier or multi-brand retailer?
First Mats is a well-reviewed UK retailer carrying thousands of matting products from many brands. Maximum Matting supplies its own focused range direct. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
Quick comparison: Maximum Matting vs First Mats
Specifications below are taken from each company's own published information (sources listed at the foot of the page). Figures and ranges can change — request current spec sheets before you specify.
| Feature |
Maximum Matting Recommended: M-Series | First Mats |
|---|---|---|
| Where it's made | European-made | Mixed (multi-brand reseller) |
| Company type | Specialist matting supplier — buy direct | Reseller |
| Primary focus | European-made anti-fatigue (M1/M2) and ESD (M3/M4) matting, buildable into a basket for order review. | Online Matting & Workplace-Safety Retailer |
| Materials | Engineered anti-fatigue, ESD and anti-slip compounds (Safe-Flex: 100% recycled PVC) | Foam, Natural/nitrile rubber, Vinyl (varies by brand) |
| Published slip rating | Slip data supplied per product (Safe-Flex anti-slip R-rated) | BubbleComfort own-product rated 4/5 slip (ASTM C1028-89) |
| Published fire rating | Fire certificates supplied per product | BubbleComfort: Euroclass Efl (EN ISO 11925-2) |
| Pricing | Transparent pricing; build an M-Series basket online for review | Published anti-fatigue pricing: AtEase Standard from £0.36/cm +VAT; BubbleComfort from £40.03 +VAT (60×90cm). |
| Free samples | Yes, with spec sheets | Varies — check website |
| RAMS & CAD layouts | Included with every order | Available on request / varies |
No-obligation comparison
Already pricing up First Mats? We'll benchmark it for you.
Send us your hazards, a couple of photos and your shift lengths. We'll spec a like-for-like Maximum Matting layout — with slip, fire and ESD data, tile counts and a CAD drawing where you need them — so you can compare on equal terms. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you quickly. Free, no obligation.
- ✓Free samples dispatched within 1 working day
- ✓Like-for-like quote, typically within 24 hours
- ✓Full spec pack: slip (R / PTV), fire certificates, ESD data and RAMS
- ✓UK-made Safe-Flex & European-made M-Series — bought direct
Larger or mixed-hazard site? Book a free site visit →
About First Mats
First Mats is a Birmingham-based online retailer founded in 2016, offering more than 3,500 workplace and matting products. As a multi-brand reseller it stocks established names such as COBA and Notrax alongside its own house lines, and produces custom logo mats in-house in the UK.
It has built a strong reputation on customer service, fast dispatch and breadth of choice — useful if you want to compare many brands and categories from a single basket. Its own anti-fatigue products include the AtEase range and the natural-rubber BubbleComfort mat (14mm, 43% recycled content, slip-tested to ASTM C1028-89).
First Mats strengths:
- ✓ Broad multi-brand range (3,500+ products) from one supplier
- ✓ Strong customer reviews and fast UK dispatch
- ✓ Custom logo mats produced in-house in the UK
- ✓ Trade pricing and bulk options for procurement teams
Best-known products:
- • AtEase — Own-brand anti-fatigue mat line (Standard/Premium)
- • BubbleComfort — Own-brand natural-rubber bubble mat (14mm, 43% recycled)
- • COBA & Notrax ranges — Resold third-party brands
About Maximum Matting
Maximum Matting takes a different route to First Mats: rather than reselling many brands, we supply our own focused range direct. That means one point of contact who knows the products in depth, consistent specifications across every mat, and no third-party markup between you and the manufacturer.
For most anti-fatigue enquiries we'd point you to the European-made M-Series — M1 and M2 for standing comfort, M3 and M4 for ESD — with UK-made Safe-Flex tiles where you need to frame out an industrial floor. Every order ships with the spec sheets, RAMS pack and CAD layout included.
Maximum Matting strengths:
- ✓One specialist range, bought direct — no multi-brand markup
- ✓Consistent, published specifications across every product
- ✓Free samples and full spec sheets within one working day
- ✓RAMS packs and CAD layouts included with every order
When to choose each
Choose First Mats if you need:
- •You want to browse and compare many third-party brands in one place
- •You need a wide spread of workplace-safety products beyond matting
- •Custom in-house logo mats with fast turnaround
Choose Maximum Matting if you need:
- ✓You want one specialist range with consistent specs and support
- ✓European-made M-Series anti-fatigue and ESD matting, or UK-made Safe-Flex tiles
- ✓RAMS packs, CAD layouts and free samples included as standard
- ✓Direct technical advice from people who know the product line in depth
Our verdict
Maximum Matting vs First Mats
If your priority is choosing between many brands at once, a broad retailer like First Mats does that well. If you'd rather work with a supplier that knows one range inside-out, Maximum Matting gives you focused specification support, audit-ready documentation and free samples shipped quickly.
Tell us your hazard, shift length and footprint and we'll point you to the right product — the European-made M-Series for standing comfort and ESD, or UK-made Safe-Flex tiles for industrial floors — and build it into a basket for review.
FAQ
Quick answers on Maximum Matting vs First Mats.
Is Maximum Matting a good alternative to First Mats?
Yes, if you want a specialist supplier rather than a multi-brand retailer. Maximum Matting supplies its own European-made M-Series (anti-fatigue and ESD) and UK-made Safe-Flex modular tiles direct, with RAMS packs, CAD layouts and free samples included. First Mats is stronger if you specifically want to compare many third-party brands in one place.
Can I get free samples to compare?
Yes. Maximum Matting ships free samples with spec sheets so you can assess matting on your own floor before ordering. Request samples or book a free site visit for larger or mixed-hazard layouts.
Does Maximum Matting sell direct?
Yes. You buy direct from Maximum Matting and can build an M-Series basket online for order review, or contact us for a specified quote. There's no multi-brand markup and you deal with the people who know the range.
Sources
First Mats information is drawn from the following published sources (accessed 2026). We aim to compare fairly; if anything is out of date, please let us know.
Free site visit
Book a free site visit. We review hazards, measure the area, and specify the right matting layout.
Share floor photos or a CAD drawing and we’ll return a costed layout, product documentation, and a RAMS pack—matched to your hazard zone, footprint, and shift pattern.
UK-made Safe-Flex · European-made M-Series · Audit-ready documentation
Two origin routes. One specification process.
UK-made Safe-Flex for modular industrial zones and European-made M-Series for anti-fatigue and ESD mats.