Floor Protection and Anti‑Skid Pads

Urethane Floor Protection and Anti‑Skid Pads

Rugged pads for floor protection and grip

Universal Urethane’s floor‑protection pads are designed to sit under heavy machines, storage racks, and workpieces to protect the floor and provide a non‑slip surface. The company’s experience in urethane manufacturing stretches back more than half a century: it has designed, formulated, molded, and inspected parts under one roof for 50 years. These pads are molded from the same performance‑grade ester‑ or ether‑based polyurethanes used in the company’s other industrial products, giving them exceptional durability, load‑bearing strength, and resistance to abrasion and chemicals. The result is a floor pad that cushions equipment, damps vibration, and prevents sliding — the ideal alternative to wooden blocks or rubber mats.

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Urethane Floor Protection

Why urethane for floor protection?

Polyurethane elastomers offer unique advantages over rubber, wood, or metal pads:

  • High load capacity and impact resistance. Urethane’s toughness allows it to handle heavy static and dynamic loads without cracking or permanently deforming. The company notes that its urethane products have superior impact, abrasion, cut, and tear resistance and often outperform rubber and even mild steel.
  • Excellent abrasion and chemical resistance. Urethane’s abrasion resistance and chemical stability mean the pads can tolerate oil spills and harsh industrial environments. Universal Urethane’s technical data notes that polyurethanes offer good resistance to solvents, petroleum products, and other chemicals and perform reliably from –30 °C to more than 100 °C.
  • Non‑marking and vibration dampening. The material’s resilience and elastic memory prevent it from chunking and allow it to absorb vibration. Floor pads produced from this material will not mar delicate surfaces and can help keep floors clean of oil when supplied with integral oil‑collection reservoirs.
  • Secure, non‑slip support. Universal Urethane’s coil pads and saddles are designed to prevent movement and to provide non‑marking support for metal coils. The same materials and designs can be adapted into floor pads that prevent equipment from sliding or creeping during operation.

Choosing the right durometer

Polyurethane hardness (durometer) affects pad grip, cushioning, and durability. Universal Urethane casts urethane across a wide hardness range, from Shore A 20 to Shore D 70, and explains that softer durometers absorb energy and cushion repeated impacts, while harder durometers maximize stiffness and load‑bearing capacity.

Durometer range (Shore A)

Typical use on floor pads

50 A – 70 A

Soft to medium hardness provides high grip and cushioning. Pads in this range absorb vibration and reduce equipment walking, ideal under machines or racks where both floor protection and anti‑slip performance are required. Universal Urethane notes that softer durometers absorb energy and reduce stress on equipment.

70 A – 85 A

Medium‑to‑firm hardness creates a durable anti‑skid surface for heavy equipment and palletized loads. Harder durometers maximize stiffness and load‑bearing capacity and maintain dimensional stability under extreme loads. Pads in this range provide long‑lasting non‑slip protection in high‑traffic areas.

When specifying a durometer, consider both the weight of the equipment and the desired amount of cushioning. Universal Urethane can formulate pads across the full hardness spectrum to suit your application.

Stock shapes and thickness guidance

Universal Urethane produces pads from sheet stock. Its standard cast urethane sheets are abrasion‑ and chemical‑resistant and available in sizes up to 24 × 24 inches. Thickness options include 0.125 inch (1/8 inch), 0.188 inch (3/16 inch), 0.25 inch (1/4 inch), 0.375 inch (3/8 inch), and 0.5 inch (1/2 inch). Pads for floor‑protection applications are typically cut from sheet stock in thicknesses between 1/8 inch and 1/2 inch, balancing flexibility, cushioning, and durability.

The company can supply sheet stock in a range of colors, including yellow, red, black, natural, and orange, to improve visibility. Coil pads used for floor storage are also offered in orange, red, yellow, grey, and black. Custom colors are available upon request.

Thickness recommendations

  • 1/8 inch (3 mm). Provides a thin protective layer and light vibration dampening beneath smaller machines or tables.
  • 1/4 inch (6 mm) to 3/8 inch (9 mm). Suitable for most industrial floor pads; gives a good balance between cushioning and load capacity.
  • 1/2 inch (12 mm). Recommended for heavy equipment where maximum durability and anti‑skid performance are required.

Requesting a Quote: What to Specify

To ensure your urethane floor pads meet your needs, be prepared to provide the following information when requesting a quote:

  1. Pad dimensions: length and width of each pad or the footprint of the equipment. Universal Urethane’s sheet stock can be cut to the exact size required.
  2. Thickness: choose from the available thicknesses (⅛ in to ½ in typical) based on load and cushioning requirements.
  3. Durometer (hardness): specify the desired Shore A hardness. Softer durometers (50 A–70 A) provide high grip and vibration damping, while harder durometers (70 A–85 A) offer firmer anti‑skid performance.
  4. Quantity: number of pads or total area required.
  5. Special features: if oil‑collection reservoirs, countersunk bolt holes, or specific color coding are needed, mention these requirements. Universal Urethane’s coil pads can include oil reservoirs and can be produced in several colors for visibility.

Benefits of Universal Urethane floor pads

  • Virtually indestructible and non‑marking. Unlike wooden saddles, urethane floor pads are “virtually indestructible” and will not mark the outer layers of stored materials. They protect surfaces and reduce scrap and waste.
  • Easy to lay and organize. Polyurethane pads can be laid end‑to‑end to organize storage and keep floors clean of oil. Pads are available in high‑visibility colors to assist crane operators and material‑handlers.
  • Long service life. Polyurethane formulations deliver excellent impact, abrasion, and tear resistance, extended wear and resilience, and the ability to absorb vibration and sound. This leads to longer service intervals and lower replacement costs.
  • Customizable designs. Universal Urethane offers in‑house design and engineering capabilities and can provide custom pads in flat, ribbed, or grooved profiles or with dual‑durometer construction. One‑source responsibility means every component is designed, molded, and inspected under one roof, ensuring consistent quality.

Additional applications

While primarily used for floor protection under industrial equipment, urethane pads can also act as machine leveling feet, vibration isolators, non‑slip supports on pallet racks, and material‑handling bumpers. Because polyurethane can be formulated to achieve different coefficients of friction and has excellent abrasion resistance, it is a versatile material for any application where floor protection, traction, and damping are important.

Learn more

Universal Urethane manufactures a comprehensive range of urethane products. To explore related items, see our sheet stock category for raw material options and our impact pads page for heavy‑duty shock‑absorption solutions. For tailored advice or to request a quote, visit our quote center. Our team will work with you to engineer a polyurethane anti‑skid pad or non‑slip urethane pad that protects your floors and equipment, improves safety, and stands up to the demands of industrial environments.

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