When it comes to indoor tug of war competitions, the quality of the matting surface can make or break an event. Slippery or poorly constructed mats not only compromise athlete performance but also create serious safety risks. For South American tug of war clubs, federations, and event organizers seeking reliable, competition-grade matting, understanding proper mat construction is essential.
Indoor tug of war mats are specialized rubber surfaces designed to provide maximum grip and durability under extreme pulling forces. The only matting officially recommended by the Tug of War International Federation (TWIF) is Dunlomat, a premium rubber matting originally developed by Dunlop Conveyor Belting in the Netherlands .
For official competition use, the mat must meet these exact specifications :
The construction of a proper indoor tug of war mat involves several critical elements:
Material Composition: The mat features an extremely strong yet flexible inner carcass of polyester nylon, protected by high-quality Dunlop “Rufftop” super-grip rubber covers on the upper surface. The underside has a smoother “fabric print” surface specifically designed to make gluing easy and secure .
Assembly Method: For competition use, the 36-meter mat is typically cut into 2-meter sections and bonded to a solid plywood base. The assembly process includes :
Many manufacturers produce general-purpose rubber matting, but the vast majority—over 95%—is mass-produced, low-grade material that lacks the durability and grip required for competition use . At a European championship, three of five mats in use were not genuine Dunlomat, and competitors complained they were too slippery—the event could only continue using the two genuine mats .
Annilte is a leading Chinese conveyor belt manufacturer with over 15 years of experience, ISO quality certification, and SGS Gold Product Manufacturer status . Our expertise in rubber manufacturing positions us to supply the high-quality rubber matting that South American tug of war organizations need.
Annilte has already established a strong presence in South America, particularly in Brazil’s agricultural sector . We understand the specific needs and quality expectations of South American customers and are ready to provide the premium rubber matting solutions that indoor tug of war competitions demand.