On established work sites, contractors installing or servicing septic systems may need to take precautions getting heavy equipment on the job site without causing damage. A new product, Bad Ass Mats, makes this easier thanks to a ground protection mat that’s lightweight, yet durable, and easy to transport.
“The lightweight feature really talks to this group in a big, big way,” says Mike Sheridan, business development manager at BAM!, a division of Allied Plastics. “If you’ve got handholes, and it’s lighter, you can move it with one person. That’s a big advantage.”
One 4-foot-by-8-foot BAM! mat is 3/8-inch thick and weighs 56 pounds compared to the industry-standard 1/2-inch thick, 90-pound mat. Eight large glove-friendly handholes, as well as interlocking treads that nest together while stacked, allow for versatile and secure stacking options. The treads also feature a dual-side pattern that provides safe traction for both equipment and foot traffic.
Dual-sheet thermoformed HDPE material is moisture- and chemical-resistant, and can be cleaned with soapy water and reused, making it ideal for long-term use compared to plywood sheets.
Innovative features go a long way in building customer loyalty, but a disruptive marketing campaign helps too, starting with the product name. BAM! demonstration videos, set to heavy guitar riffs, show off the mats withstanding 48,000-pound trucks with no rutting and minimal curling, even during wet and muddy conditions
“We got a little edgy with that. I realized that we weren’t selling to kids or school teachers,” Sheridan says. “These are blue collar people making their living doing the dirty jobs. All our customers have seen those videos, and they identify with exactly that situation.”
Sheridan says prototypes were sent to an independent facility for pressure-testing.
“We said, ‘Get medieval on this stuff,’” and the BAM! Mats were rated at 160,000 pounds.
“We’re just getting started,” Sheridan says about the company, which has received a positive initial response, plus a modest network of dealer companies across the U.S., including ADS Pipe. Going forward, BAM! hopes to bring more companies to its distributor network, particularly within the wastewater industry.
“I believe we made a better mousetrap that speaks to these people in terms of solving a problem,” Sheridan says.
Bad Ass Mats are made out of 100% recyclable material and are available in 4-by-8 or 2-by-8-foot sizes. 888-870-8158; www.bamgroundpro.com
