Often, when people think of industry, they think of giant workshops where all of our goods are manufactured. I, for example, imagine long assembly lines where a product must go through at least twenty people, a series of huge machines, and maybe one or two inspectors before it can finally be considered a finished product. This sort of picture may have sufficed a few decades ago. But nowadays, the idea of industry is much more complex than many of us realize. Industry doesn’t just mean the manufacturing of goods, it has broadened to include other commercial activities, such as services like hospitality, transportation, research, and agriculture. Archetypally, industry is categorized into four areas. And while all of these industries are starkly different, they all fundamentally deal with the commercialization of raw materials, physical or intellectual goods, or services. This means that every sector of industry requires manpower, as well as equipment.

What Is Industrial Floor?

An industrial floor is flooring designed for industrial settings. This includes flooring designed to bear the weight of heavy-duty equipment, withstand non-stop foot-traffic, and provide a comfortable surface to employees. Thus, although each sector is different, one thing they all share is the need for high-quality industrial flooring. Rubber, equipment floor mats are perfect for safeguarding expensive gear, and an industrial rubber floor like a corrugated rubber runner will keep employees safe in locations that see excessive moisture. Even a ribbed mat, strategically placed at the entrance of your building, office, or workstation, can provide many benefits for employees, clients, and visitors. The best way to understand the many benefits of rubberized industrial flooring is to break down its advantages in terms of location and application. We at Rubber-Cal have done that for you—continue reading to discover more.

Industrial Flooring in the Primary Sector

According to Geographic Issues of the 21^st Century (a social studies textbook), the primary sector is described as follows: “Primary industries are those that extract or produce raw materials from which useful items can be made. Extraction of raw materials includes mining activities, forestry, and fishing. Agriculture is also considered a primary industry as it produces “raw materials” that require further processing for human use.” Often, industrial flooring is made of rubber. As a material, rubber has a naturally high coefficient of friction. And rubber industrial flooring products are often made with richly textured surfaces. Thus, while the rubber product itself provides a high amount of traction, its surface texture further enhances the overall amount of grip its user is afforded. Whether you choose diamond floor pads, coin-grip rubber flooring, or ribbed floor mats, you can be assured that you’re significantly increasing the safety of your workplace. With trades like mining and forestry, large and expensive equipment will often be used in harsh, heavy-duty environments. In such cases, industrial rubber mats are a supple and supportive surface that will greatly protect your equipment.

Industrial Flooring in the Secondary Sector

According to the same textbook above, “secondary industries are those that change raw materials into usable products through processing and manufacturing. Bakeries that make flour into bread and factories that change metal and plastics into vehicles are examples of secondary industries.” In other words, the secondary sector turns materials into usable goods. Like the primary sector, manpower and machinery are both important elements to the secondary sector. Whether it’s a small bakery or a large automobile factory, a ribbed mat at the foot of a workstation can offer employees slip-resistance, while a longer, corrugated rubber runner can be placed along the length of an assembly line. The manufacturing of goods requires a certain level of attention to detail, meaning that employees should have a heightened level of awareness to ensure that products are made without fault. Rubber’s elastic, shock-absorbent nature can help workers feel more physically comfortable while on their feet all day. Otherwise, the all-too-common cold and hard concrete or tile flooring can quickly fatigue a worker, potentially increasing the rate at which errors occur.

Industrial Flooring in the Tertiary Sector

Here, the same text highlights a key difference between the tertiary sector and the former two sectors: “Tertiary industries are those that provide essential services and support to allow other levels of industry to function. Often simply called service industries, this level includes transportation, finance, utilities, education, retail, housing, medical, and other services.” Often, tertiary industries are called “spin-off” industries because they are essential to the function of the primary and secondary sectors. These “spin-off” industries are a crucial part of the commercial world because they provide the services that keep many commercial functions afloat. Although heavy-duty machinery is still commonplace in this sector, human resources are far more important. A corrugated rubber runner, corrugated rubber sheet, or diamond-plate rubber sheet in any environment considered a service location is a great way to ensure both the safety of employees as well as that of customers, clients, and visitors. A ribbed mat can even provide health benefits in these environments, scraping away unwanted debris and moisture so as to produce a cleaner workspace overall. Also, keep in mind that any position requiring an individual to be on their feet all day profits greatly from the installation of—say—studded floor tiles. With the installation of such soft and supple work station mats, your workers will surely thank you for reducing the aches and pains that they would come home with otherwise. A comfortable worker is a productive one.

Industrial Flooring in the Quaternary Sector

The final of the four sectors is described by the text in the following way: “Quaternary industries are those for the creation and transfer of information, including research and training. Often called information industries, this level has seen dramatic growth as a result of advancements in technology and electronic display and transmission of information.” Apart from the obvious benefits that a corrugated rubber runner could offer to a large corporate building—such as slip-resistance, savings on interior cleaning costs, and a durable and resilient flooring solution—rubber surfacing can be an aesthetically-pleasing option, too. Certainly, it’s not farfetched to imagine the many uses that companies within this sector would have for equipment floor mats. Protecting expensive office gear only scratches the surface of how much potential rubber, industrial flooring possesses. Even a ribbed mat is useful in quaternary-sector companies as a scraping surface for people coming in from dirty or wet conditions.

Which Flooring Is Best for Industries?

Rubber is the best flooring for industries—regardless of whether the business is in the primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary sector. When it comes to industrial applications, rubber is unmatched—it is durable, shock-absorbent, slip-resistant, and water-resistant, among other things.

Which Flooring Is Best for Commercial Use?

Rubber is the best flooring for commercial and industrial flooring. Rubber industrial flooring is a multi-purposed surfacing option that compliments most companies within the four main sectors of industry. Its versatility is truly impressive. Durable, easy to maintain, and even easier to install, rubber equipment-floor-mats, runners, and tiles will fit into nearly any space and offer superlative protection for people and equipment alike. By now, we hope you’ve learned what is industrial floor, which flooring is best for industries, and which flooring is best for commercial use. As well, you should have a comprehensive understanding of the different industrial sectors and rubber flooring’s role within each of them. For further questions, please refer to our articles, which cover topics such as this one in great detail.