Our new product

440 Jim

440 Jim

Well-Known Member
Feb 11, 2021
530
Savannah Bend Marina
Boat Info
1989 440 Convertable
Twin 3208T Cats
Engines
Twin 3208T Cats
We designed this over the last year or so, had a mold made and started production 24/7 12.12.2021. First order for 250K ft sq. for a local grass runway. First mold a single cavity on a 300T injection machine, 2 dual cavitiy molds ordered for a 500T and 610T machines we are currently commisioning.

A ground stabilization product for driveways, runways, taxiways, golf cart paths, outside storage, etc.

www.runmatusa.com

We made a small order (3K ft) for a taxiway in Greer, SC. They installed two weeks ago, I visited last week amd they were jazzed.
20220331_114729_resized.jpg
20220309_163158_resized.jpg
 
We are going to the Oshkosh, Wi show this summer with a booth, missed the Fun and Sun in Fl in two weeks, it was booked.

Meeting tomorrow with a local county airport for 3 miles, 30' wide. They are expanding. We are hooked in with a major construction company heavy into gov't work, they do the install, hoping for some contracts there as well.

All after I left my "comfort career". The kids are doing good.
 
Seems kinda similar to some concrete paver systems, where they have holes for water to drain through. My office has 2 strips of reverse (concretes studs, with soil backfill) that run along the building between the parking decks. It allows grass to grow yet facilitates access for emergency and maintenance vehicles without them sinking into soft ground.

Seems like these would be way lighter and easier to install.
 
Is this something that can be installed by a homeowner?
 
Yes, I bought a vibratory plate to install some test plots. I tilled the ground up, leveled it and tamped in. Vibratory plates can be rented. Here's a pic of the first test plot start.
20220330_165404_resized.jpg

Unlike concrete or other pavers, tese have a "hook" built in the side on the bottom to lock it in the ground. The taxiway in Greer, SC was simply assembled and pushed directly into the grass with a vibratory roller. We have 12-15 more prospects in that fly-in community that are working on ordering. They all watched it being installed and loved it. Bill, who did the first patch, took his plane up and down it after a torrential rain. He said he never would have got to the runway without it. Those words meant alot to me.
20220309_163213_resized.jpg
 
How does it handle in extreme weather, meaning -20?

edit - I'm curious because of our cabin
 
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DamnifIknow Ollie, we're in the south. Do you want to do a small test plot for us?

What would the application be for you?

I can say that it is 70/30% hdpe/ldpe with a HALs UV inhibitor. The carbon black colorant and the HALs additive compliment each other in terms of UV stabiliization.

I really don't see an issue with those temps, it is locked into the ground. But I have seen the ground swell up north and that freeze could push it out, dunno.

Jlskinner@fabworksga.com if you want to talk about it. 706.819.8534 is my cell. I could probably send you some footage to try if you have something in mind.

By the way-this was not a marketing ploy- I'm really proud of the kids and thier hard work and it is a pleasure to be able to use.my experience to help them (and me) succeed. That's why I shared, they are 30ish and hard working guys.

If you want to try a small patch, I can sed you some.
 
440 Jim said:
DamnifIknow Ollie, we're in the south. Do you want to do a small test plot for us?

What would the application be for you?

I can say that it is 70/30% hdpe/ldpe with a HALs UV inhibitor. The carbon black colorant and the HALs additive compliment each other in terms of UV stabiliization.

I really don't see an issue with those temps, it is locked into the ground. But I have seen the ground swell up north and that freeze could push it out, dunno.

Jlskinner@fabworksga.com if you want to talk about it. 706.819.8534 is my cell. I could probably send you some footage to try if you have something in mind.

By the way-this was not a marketing ploy- I'm really proud of the kids and thier hard work and it is a pleasure to be able to use.my experience to help them (and me) succeed. That's why I shared, they are 30ish and hard working guys.

If you want to try a small patch, I can sed you some.
Click to expand...
I would look at using in front of a large shed we're considering building up north. Not sure about heaving but it is all sand and probably minimal. Anyway, I think its a great idea and interesting. I could see other applications like making a cleaner pathway to the fish boat cabin from our main cabin. Not the size of an aircraft runway of course.
 
Jim, My brother has a private glider port in Nor Cal with a paved runway with a grass one along side. I can see him being very interested in this system. He has always marveled at the wonderful engineered grass aerodromes in Europe and along the east coast. Water is too precious in the west to keep a grass strip green year round. I will share your link with him. Best of luck to you guys. Sounds like you are all in. That equipment is no small potatoes!
Carpe Diem
 
Carpe-have him contact me directly, website is still under construction but we felt we needed to get something out there.

Thanks for the interest folks
 
Very cool. I used to do asphalt paving and concrete years ago. The only option we had available for customers that couldn't afford concrete but had unstable soil was to dig it out, fill it in with rock and compact. Then we would put a "structural" fabric down and pave over it with asphalt. It always sounded ok in theory, but in actual application it never held up as advertised by the fabric manufacturers. This appears to be a viable alternative. Nice job by your kids with an assist from the "old man".:D
 
Well, we have two booths at the Oshkosh show next month. An outside plot placed in the ground for an airplane display- the owner of Stihl (yep, go figure) has a racing plane he want's on it, along with an alternate if he falls through. An inside booth for samples and literature.
We have been experimenting with installation techniques and got it down pat today!

The ground we are using is behind one of our shops-old hayfield with fescue, heavy root system, hard ground, georgia red clay base...


We got a 700lb vibratory plate compactor, a 3000lb vibratory dual roller and a compaction probe.


We mowed the grass as close as we could, scalped basically.

We then ran a root rake lightly over the area to breakup the surface roots.

The soil was over 700psi, we watered it and assembled a large mat. The compaction range we found to be best in this soil and grass was 170-250psi. Watering got us there.

We used the vibratory plate to get it through the roots and "hooked" into the soil, about halfway in.
Then used the roller (no vibration) to smooth and finish.
Bu using the vibratory plate to "set" the Runmat in the ground before rolling, we do not see the "bow wave" that the roller produces if starting with it just laying in place.

The "bow wave" was a big obstacle, we got it! It could be managed, but why the hassle?

We will be introducing two more, similar products at the show. Interlocking panels for temporary (reuseable) matting for venues, beach access for handicapped, concerts, etc.
If anyone is going to the show, stop by and check us out. I won't be manning anything, but I'll probably fly up for a turn and burn one of the days. I think Cam, Chris, and perhaps Austin will be manning. I'm gonna bring back some cheese if I go....or I may be at The Office...

Really proud of the kids, they have arranged everything pretty much on thier own, with me on the ground helping out where I can.

We spent alot of resources on our son's education, Hargrave Military Academy, college, initial company investments, etc. He is running hard with it and taking the whole family with him. Only folks he feels he can trust, and rightfully so.

The nephews, Danny (machinist) and Billy (biz grad), employees Chris (100T capt), Cam (10yrs Coastie and reserve now), and Austin (Hargrave alumni from JDs (son) class) are knocking it out of the park.

The two new dual cavity molds are in ship now and Danny has the machines ready for mold install and commisioning.

Plan is to be up and full production on 5 cavities 6.15.22.

We also have a major gov't contractor that has already pitched it at thier "circle of excellence" (think thats it) open house for vendors. That would be lucrative.

We'll see how this train rolls, we're all excited and confident.
 
Well, we have two booths at the Oshkosh show next month. An outside plot placed in the ground for an airplane display- the owner of Stihl (yep, go figure) has a racing plane he want's on it, along with an alternate if he falls through. An inside booth for samples and literature.
We have been experimenting with installation techniques and got it down pat today!

The ground we are using is behind one of our shops-old hayfield with fescue, heavy root system, hard ground, georgia red clay base...


We got a 700lb vibratory plate compactor, a 3000lb vibratory dual roller and a compaction probe.


We mowed the grass as close as we could, scalped basically.

We then ran a root rake lightly over the area to breakup the surface roots.

The soil was over 700psi, we watered it and assembled a large mat. The compaction range we found to be best in this soil and grass was 170-250psi. Watering got us there.

We used the vibratory plate to get it through the roots and "hooked" into the soil, about halfway in.
Then used the roller (no vibration) to smooth and finish.
Bu using the vibratory plate to "set" the Runmat in the ground before rolling, we do not see the "bow wave" that the roller produces if starting with it just laying in place.

The "bow wave" was a big obstacle, we got it! It could be managed, but why the hassle?

We will be introducing two more, similar products at the show. Interlocking panels for temporary (reuseable) matting for venues, beach access for handicapped, concerts, etc.
If anyone is going to the show, stop by and check us out. I won't be manning anything, but I'll probably fly up for a turn and burn one of the days. I think Cam, Chris, and perhaps Austin will be manning. I'm gonna bring back some cheese if I go....or I may be at The Office...

Really proud of the kids, they have arranged everything pretty much on thier own, with me on the ground helping out where I can.

We spent alot of resources on our son's education, Hargrave Military Academy, college, initial company investments, etc. He is running hard with it and taking the whole family with him. Only folks he feels he can trust, and rightfully so.

The nephews, Danny (machinist) and Billy (biz grad), employees Chris (100T capt), Cam (10yrs Coastie and reserve now), and Austin (Hargrave alumni from JDs (son) class) are knocking it out of the park.

The two new dual cavity molds are in ship now and Danny has the machines ready for mold install and commisioning.

Plan is to be up and full production on 5 cavities 6.15.22.

We also have a major gov't contractor that has already pitched it at thier "circle of excellence" (think thats it) open house for vendors. That would be lucrative.

We'll see how this train rolls, we're all excited and confident.
 
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