With the world indoor tug of war championships taking place in Scotland in February 2012, Netherlands-based Dunlop Conveyor Belting are seeing an unprecedented demand for their high-grip Dunlomat.
Originally designed for heavy livestock such as cattle and horses, in recent years its outstanding strength and durability combined with excellent anti-slip properties have made it an increasingly popular choice for Tug of War competitors all over the world. The "approval rating" of Dunlomat was further endorsed by its use during last years TWIF Championships held in Italy.
"We get enquiries and orders from all over the world throughout the year but clubs and associations are clearly preparing for the championships because of the increased demand we are now seeing" says general sales manager Les Williams. "Obviously it is important that teams train using an identical surface to the one that will be used during the championships".
As with virtually all of their products, Dunlop is aware of lower-priced imitations available in the market, usually imported from South-East Asia. According to Williams, in many cases the difference in price can be significant. "I can understand the temptation to buy cheaper but the reason for these price differences lies in the quality. Raw materials represent 80% of the production cost. We only use the very best, which is why the wear resistance of our matting is more than 35% higher than international standards".
Dunlop maintains that safety is another essential consideration. "The quality and durability of the matting has to be consistent. To reduce costs, some manufacturers resort to the use of fillers such as chalk to 'bulk up' the compound but in our view that is a potentially dangerous practice" adds Williams. "Also, every chemical additive we use complies with international REACH health & safety standards so competitors should not get nasty chemical reactions when they come in contact with the rubber!".
The TWIF World Indoor Tug of War championships take place in Perth, Scotland on the 23rd to 26th February 2012.
