A 30 mm-thick interlocking tile manufactured using recycled rubber, is designed specifically for fitness gyms and is said to provide an impact sound reduction of up to 30 decibels.

The Van Dyck PermaFlex acoustic gym tile was recently launched by radial truck tyre recyclers Mathe Group. Manufactured at the company’s Hammarsdale facility, it is aimed at both export markets and the local market.

The company says its Hammarsdale facility is one of the largest dedicated truck-tyre recycling and secondary-processing plants on the African continent, manufacturing a range of products including outdoor rubber paving and floor tiles, livestock mats, artificial grass shock pads, ballistics materials that absorb sound and vibration, rubber sole boards used in construction scaffolding and sound-absorbing acoustic treatments such as floor underlays and flooring cradles.

Mathe Group CEO Dr Mehran Zarrebini says the latest product emerged to address the acoustic challenges that arise when gyms are located in mixed-use developments near residential apartments or premium offices.

“Drawing on Mathe Group's recycled rubber manufacturing capability and Van Dyck's established expertise in flooring design and acoustic underlays, our technical team set out to develop a single-product solution combining heavy-duty shock absorption, certified acoustic performance, and full recyclability. Development took approximately eight months from concept through in-house testing and accredited third-party acoustic certification,” he explains.

He notes that the product design aimed to provide superior impact absorption, anti-slip texture, and noise reduction. The modular interlocking tile measures 500 mm x 500 mm x 30 mm and is suited to continuous flooring applications, as found in large commercial gyms, high-traffic studios and home gym installations.

“Installation is by means of an integrated interlocking system and does not require adhesive. This significantly reduces installation time, eliminates the use of solvent-based bonding agents, and allows individual tiles to be lifted, replaced or relocated as required, an important consideration for operators in leased premises,” adds Zarrebini.

Additional sustainability features of the product include: 

• 100% recycled rubber content in the structural base
• Global GreenTag certification (GreenRate Level B)
• Manufacture under an ISO 9001 Quality Management System and a certified  environmental management programme
• No adhesives, solvents or volatile organic compounds are required at installation
• Long service life and end-of-life recyclability,

Zarrebini notes that the Global GreenTag standard is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for specification in export markets and says that the circular-economy model appeals to sustainability credentials prioritised in Europe, the Middle East, and Australasia, making the locally produced product particularly attractive to the export market.