Geomats are used to provide immediate erosion protection to vulnerable soil surfaces, whether the erosion force is from rain, stormwater run-off, hydraulic action or wind. They are designed to support the revegetation of those soil slopes by reinforcing delicate root systems as they develop. Synthetic geomats have a longer life than biodegradable mats to provide longer-term protection and root reinforcement. 

Where the forces on the mat are greater, a stronger mat is needed: the solution is the MacMat R family. These reinforced geomats are a composite where the 3D polymeric mat structure is embedded within a reinforcement grid that can be either a double twisted steel wire mesh or a synthetic geogrid. This composite offers the combined benefits of:

  • erosion control properties of a mat

  • strength, punch resistance and reinforcement properties of a synthetic or metallic geogrid reinforcement

The different types of reinforcement offer additional and specific attributes to satisfy a wide variety of multi-function tasks. For example, MacMat® R can provide the high tensile strengths and high stiffness required for soil nailing applications, or provide high shear resistance in hydraulic erosion control applications

MacMat® has an Environmental Product Declaration which provides transparent, reliable and comparable life-cycle environmental data.

Key features

  • Provides immediate erosion protection of exposed areas.

  • Spreads loads between soil-nail heads in slope stabilisation solutions.

  • Steel wire woven mesh reinforcement increases strength, puncture and shear resistance.

  • BBA-certified.

  • 120-year design life reinforcing mesh enables reduced fixing frequency.

  • Flexible and malleable geomat enables intimate contact with the surface.

  • All-in-one product for rapid and simple construction.

Vegetation establishment

MacMat® R is plant-friendly and physically protects vulnerable soil surfaces, reducing erosion and encouraging vegetation establishment. MacMat® R Green easily accepts hydroseeding and shrub planting where more rapid colonisation is required.

Low wastage

Unlike other geomats, adjacent panels of MacMat® R Green do not need to be overlapped. The integral steel mesh means panels can be ‘butt-jointed’ together using fixing rings or lacing wire.

Applications

Slope reinforcement with soil nails

MacMat® R is used extensively on soil-nailed slopes, especially within the railway and highway sectors. The nails reinforce the overall slope and the MacMat® R stabilises the slope surface.

Channel linings

Macmat® R is regularly used to line river, stream and canal channel banks from erosion by water flow. It dramatically increases the shear resistance of the channel bank, preventing erosion and facilitating vegetation re-establishment. The strength of the mesh reduces the geomat ‘lifting’ when exposed to aggressive hydraulic flows. Once installed the channel is immediately stabilised and vegetation can colonise the channel again.