Selecting rubber mats for production areas

Production areas place high demands on materials, surfaces and safety. Rubber mats perform several functions at once: they protect floors and machines from wear, increase safety in everyday work and improve ergonomics at workplaces. In industrial environments, mechanical load, media contact and temperature act on the materials used in parallel. A precise selection ensures stable processes, reduces maintenance effort and extends the service life of systems and floor surfaces.

A structured selection process is advisable right from the start: define the area of application, assess the load, take media into account and then determine the material, structure and thickness.

How to choose the right rubber mat

A clear selection process speeds up the decision and reduces mispurchases:

1. Define the area of application (machine, workplace, warehouse, outdoors)
2. Determine the load (traffic, point load, continuous load)
3. Check media (oil, grease, water, cleaning agents)
4. Define the safety requirement (slip resistance, ergonomics)
5. Combine and check material, structure and thickness

Direct route to implementation: Rubber mats cut to size and Rubber sheets

Understanding requirements in production areas

Every production area brings specific loads with it. These arise from machines, transport movements, work processes and ambient conditions.

Typical influencing factors:

• Continuous mechanical load
• Contact with oil, chemicals or water
• Temperature and ambient conditions
• Requirements for safety and ergonomics

The more clearly these factors are defined, the more targeted the selection.

Materials in comparison: NBR, EPDM, SBR

The choice of material determines the performance of the rubber mat in everyday use.

SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber)

• High abrasion resistance
• Economical for dry production areas
• Typical for warehouses and general industrial floors

NBR (nitrile-butadiene rubber)

• Resistant to oil and grease
• Ideal for machine areas and metalworking
• Frequently used in the direct vicinity of systems

EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber)

• Resistant to weather and UV
• Temperature-stable
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor areas

In depth: NBR rubber, EPDM rubber, SBR rubber

Selection matrix for production areas

Area of application	Load	Media contact	Recommended material	Structure	Thickness
Machine area	high	oil, grease	NBR	studded	8–15 mm
Assembly workplace	medium	low	SBR	studded	6–10 mm
Food production	medium	water, cleaning	EPDM	smooth	6–8 mm
Warehouse / logistics	high	low	SBR	smooth	8–12 mm
Outdoor area	medium	weather	EPDM	ribbed	6–10 mm

Assessing mechanical load and abrasion correctly

Production floors are permanently exposed to high loads. Forklift traffic, machines and localised compressive forces lead to continuous wear. What is decisive is the abrasion resistance of the material and its behaviour under continuous load.

Rubber mats must absorb pressure and then return to a stable shape. At the same time, the material thickness directly influences the service life. Suitable dimensioning ensures even load distribution and significantly reduces material fatigue.

Taking chemicals, oils and temperature into account

Many production environments involve direct contact with media such as oils, greases or cleaning agents. These attack material structures and change their properties. In addition, temperature differences affect elasticity and stability. The selection is therefore made along the real conditions in the operation. Materials such as NBR offer advantages in oil-containing environments, while EPDM performs well with weather and temperature.

Optimising slip resistance and occupational safety

Slip resistance directly influences safety in everyday production. Moisture, oil or dust significantly increase the risk of accidents. The surface structure of the rubber mat controls the grip and the footing of employees. Studded or profiled variants increase grip, while ribbed structures drain liquids. The right combination of material and surface ensures stable working conditions and reduces downtime.

Hygienic requirements and cleaning

In sensitive areas, cleanability plays a central role. Closed surfaces allow quick cleaning and reduce deposits. Materials must remain stable against cleaning agents and at the same time meet hygienic standards.

Construction and structure of rubber mats

Structure	Area of application	Advantage
Smooth	Clean production floors	Easy cleaning
Studded	Workplaces	High slip resistance
Ribbed	Wet areas	Liquid drainage

Choosing thickness, hardness and damping

The combination of material thickness and Shore hardness determines the behaviour of the mat.

• 60 Shore: soft, high damping
• 70 Shore: standard for industry
• 80 Shore: high load capacity

Typical thicknesses:

• 4–6 mm: light load
• 6–10 mm: workplaces
• 10–20 mm: machine areas

Typical practical examples

CNC machining Cooling lubricants require oil-resistant materials such as NBR. High load demands greater material thicknesses.

Food production Cleaning and hygiene are the focus. EPDM with a smooth surface offers advantages.

Welding workplaces High temperature load and mechanical impact require robust materials with a stable structure.

Typical areas of application in industry

• Machine environments
• Assembly workplaces
• Warehouse and logistics
• Conveyor technology

Suitable solutions: rubber mats cut to size, rubber sheets

Typical wrong decisions from practice

In practice, problems often arise from a selection that is too coarse or too general. Too low a material thickness means that the mat permanently deforms under load. The result is unstable work surfaces, increased wear and a significantly shortened replacement cycle. An incorrect choice of material with media contact is equally critical. Oils, greases or cleaning agents directly attack unsuitable elastomers, causing the surface to become brittle or lose its structure.

Another common mistake lies in the wrong surface structure. Smooth mats in areas with moisture or oil considerably increase the risk of slipping and have a direct effect on occupational safety. At the same time, ergonomic aspects are often underestimated. Materials that are too hard without sufficient damping lead in the long term to higher strain for employees at standing workplaces.

These wrong decisions usually arise from a lack of coordination between area of application, material and load. A systematic selection along real conditions prevents these effects and ensures significantly more stable results in ongoing operation.

Avoiding mistakes in selection

• Unsuitable material with media contact
• Too low a material thickness
• Wrong surface structure

In conclusion

The selection of rubber mats for production areas requires precise coordination of all relevant influencing factors. Material, structure, thickness and hardness interact and determine how reliably a solution works in everyday use. A well-founded selection reduces unplanned failures, increases safety in the working environment and at the same time improves ergonomics for employees.

Companies that systematically take these factors into account benefit from significantly more stable processes and predictable service lives. At the same time, maintenance effort and replacement cycles fall noticeably, since the materials used are precisely matched to the actual requirements.

A well-considered decision at this point has a direct effect on productivity, safety and cost structure and thus forms a central basis for smooth production operation.

Frequently asked questions

Which rubber mat is suitable for oil-containing production areas?

For oil-containing production areas, rubber mats made of NBR are suitable in many cases, since this material has a high resistance to oil and grease. As a result, the mat remains dimensionally stable and functional even under continuous load.

What thickness should a rubber mat have in a production area?

The suitable thickness depends on the mechanical load. For light applications, 4 to 6 mm is often sufficient, for workplaces 6 to 10 mm is often sensible and for machine areas or high point loads, 10 to 20 mm usually comes into question.

Which surface increases safety in everyday work?

Studded or profiled surfaces significantly improve slip resistance. In areas with moisture, dust or oil, they provide more grip and thus support occupational safety in ongoing operation.

Which rubber mats are suitable for hygienically sensitive production areas?

For hygienically sensitive areas, smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces are suitable. Depending on the application environment, materials come into question that remain stable against water, cleaning agents and temperature fluctuations.

How long do rubber mats last in production areas?

The service life depends on material, load, media contact and care. With a suitable selection, rubber mats can be used reliably over a long period, while unsuitable materials show wear much earlier.

Which Shore hardness is sensible for industrial applications?

For many industrial applications, a Shore hardness of around 70 is considered a practical standard. Softer variants offer more damping, harder versions are suitable for higher mechanical loads.

When is a thicker rubber mat sensible?

A thicker rubber mat is sensible when high point loads, strong mechanical stress or vibrations occur. This applies, for example, to machine areas, heavy workstations or heavily frequented production zones.

Which rubber mat is suitable for wet production areas?

For wet areas, surfaces with ribs or structures that drain liquids and improve sure-footedness are suitable. The specific choice of material should additionally be matched to water, cleaning agents and temperature.

Our rubber sheets

For industry and trade, we offer a wide range of rubber sheets.

SBR rubber sheet

Our high-quality SBR rubber sheet (styrene-butadiene rubber) is the solution for numerous industrial and commercial applications. This rubber sheet is manufactured from first-class styrene-butadiene rubber and stands out for its excellent physical properties.

EPDM rubber sheet

Discover the versatility and reliability of our EPDM rubber sheet, which is made from ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM). This high-quality elastomer solution has been specially developed to meet the most demanding industrial and commercial applications.

NBR rubber sheet

The NBR rubber sheet is a high-quality industrial product that has been specially developed for applications where excellent resistance to oils, greases and various chemicals is required.

Viton rubber sheet

The Viton rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is used for a wide range of industrial applications. Made from fluoro rubber (FKM), it offers outstanding properties that make it the ideal choice for extreme conditions.

FKM rubber sheet

The FKM rubber sheet is a high-quality technical product that is ideal for use in demanding industrial applications. Made from fluoro rubber (FKM), it stands out for a wide range of outstanding properties that make it the optimum choice for extreme operating conditions.

Silicone rubber sheet

The silicone rubber sheet is a first-class technical product that has been specially developed for applications that place high demands on temperature resistance and flexibility.

PUR rubber sheet

The PUR rubber sheet, made from high-quality polyurethane, is a technically advanced product that has been developed for applications that place the highest demands on abrasion resistance and mechanical load capacity.

Neoprene rubber sheet

The neoprene rubber sheet, made from high-quality chloroprene rubber (CR), is a versatile technical product that is ideal for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.