Supplier comparison
Maximum Matting vs Plastex: PVC matting rolls or modular UK tiles?
Plastex is a heritage UK manufacturer of flexible PVC matting, strong in wet-area and drainage applications. Maximum Matting offers UK-made modular tiles for the same environments. Here's how they compare.
Quick comparison: Maximum Matting vs Plastex
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: Safe-Flex | Plastex |
|---|---|---|
| Where it's made | UK-made (West Midlands) | UK-made (also a US plant) |
| Company type | Specialist matting supplier — buy direct | Manufacturer |
| Primary focus | UK-made modular interlocking tiles (anti-slip, anti-fatigue, drainage, ESD, antimicrobial) for demanding industrial footprints. | Flexible PVC Extruded Matting |
| Materials | Engineered anti-fatigue, ESD and anti-slip compounds (Safe-Flex: 100% recycled PVC) | Flexible PVC (extruded), TPO (Crossgrip variants) |
| Published slip rating | Slip data supplied per product (Safe-Flex anti-slip R-rated) | Vynagrip: DIN 51130 R11, drainage V10 (ASTM E303 wet 72–88) |
| Published fire rating | Fire certificates supplied per product | Vynagrip: EN ISO 13501-1 Cfl-S1 |
| Pricing | Transparent pricing; build an M-Series basket online for review | Vynagrip from ~£458 ex VAT per 10m roll (UK distributor Parrs); sold mainly through trade distributors. |
| 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 Plastex? 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 Plastex
Plastex (trading as Plastic Extruders Ltd) is a UK manufacturer based in Wickford, Essex, making flexible PVC extruded matting since 1963 and ISO 9001 certified since 1993. It designs its own products — and even its own extrusion machinery — across a broad range for wet, hygiene and industrial areas.
Its best-known product is Vynagrip, a heavy-duty open-grid drainage and anti-fatigue PVC matting (15mm) with strong published specs: DIN 51130 R11 slip rating, V10 drainage and an EN ISO 13501-1 Cfl-S1 fire rating. Plastex matting is well regarded for wet and washdown environments and is sold largely through trade distributors.
Plastex strengths:
- ✓ UK manufacturer since 1963 (Wickford, Essex); designs own products & machinery
- ✓ ISO 9001 certified continuously since 1993
- ✓ Published, third-party-tested specs (DIN slip, EN fire ratings)
- ✓ Broad specialised range (30+ products) for wet, hygiene & industrial areas
Best-known products:
- • Vynagrip — Heavy-duty open-grid drainage/anti-fatigue PVC matting, 15mm
- • Crossgrip — Non-slip rooftop/walkway matting (PVC, TPO, 20/20)
- • Frontrunner — Entrance matting system
- • Herongripa / Heronrib — Hygiene & food-processing matting
About Maximum Matting
Plastex and Maximum Matting both manufacture in the UK and both take slip and drainage seriously — the real difference is format. Plastex excels in continuous PVC rolls; our Safe-Flex system is modular, so you can shape it around drains, conveyors and machinery and replace single tiles instead of whole runs.
For wet and washdown areas we'd point you to UK-made Safe-Flex in its anti-slip and drainage compounds, with R-rated slip data, RAMS and CAD layouts; where standing fatigue is the real issue, the European-made M-Series covers it. Free samples let you test traction on your own floor.
Maximum Matting strengths:
- ✓UK-made modular tiles you can configure around machinery
- ✓Anti-slip, drainage, ESD and antimicrobial compounds in one system
- ✓R-rated slip data, fire certificates and RAMS supplied
- ✓Replace single tiles, not whole rolls — and test with free samples
When to choose each
Choose Plastex if you need:
- •Roll-format PVC matting for walkways and wet areas
- •Open-grid drainage matting with published slip and fire ratings
- •Rooftop, hygiene or food-processing matting in continuous lengths
Choose Maximum Matting if you need:
- ✓Modular interlocking tiles you can configure around machinery
- ✓UK-made Safe-Flex in anti-slip, drainage, ESD and antimicrobial compounds
- ✓RAMS packs, CAD layouts and free samples included
- ✓Standing-comfort options (M-Series) where fatigue is the issue
Our verdict
Maximum Matting vs Plastex
Both Plastex and Maximum Matting are strong on slip resistance and drainage, and both manufacture in the UK. The difference is format: Plastex excels in continuous PVC rolls, while Safe-Flex is a modular tile system you can configure around conveyors, wet bays and machinery, swap out in sections, and supply with full RAMS and CAD support.
If your wet or washdown area suits modular tiles, Safe-Flex gives you UK-made anti-slip and drainage compounds with R-rated slip data and free samples. Where standing fatigue is the real issue, the M-Series covers it. Send photos of the area and we'll map the right layout.
FAQ
Quick answers on Maximum Matting vs Plastex.
Is Safe-Flex a good alternative to Plastex Vynagrip?
For many wet and washdown areas, yes. Safe-Flex is a UK-made modular tile system with anti-slip and drainage compounds, R-rated slip data and full RAMS and CAD support, so you can configure and reconfigure the layout around machinery. Plastex Vynagrip is a strong choice if you specifically want continuous PVC roll matting.
Tiles or rolls for a wet area?
Rolls suit long continuous runs; modular tiles suit areas with machinery, drains or changing layouts because you can shape the footprint and replace sections individually. Send us a photo of the area and we'll recommend the better format and send free samples.
Does Safe-Flex have slip and fire data?
Yes. Safe-Flex is supplied with slip-resistance and fire documentation along with a RAMS pack, so you can compare it like-for-like with any published matting spec. Request the data sheets or free samples to assess on-site.
Sources
Plastex 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.