PVC Fabric Lab

The foundation of every inflatable SUP

We do not rely solely on supplier data sheets. Every batch of PVC and drop-stitch core fabric that enters our workshop is independently tested in-house. This guarantees that the material specification we publish is the material performance you receive — lot after lot, year after year.

Standardised testing equipment

Our fabric lab is equipped with industrial-grade instruments that conform to ISO, ASTM, and EN test methods:

* All equipment is calibrated annually by third-party accredited laboratories.

From data to decision: a typical test workflow

When a new fabric candidate arrives, it follows a standardised seven-step qualification process:

1. Receipt inspection — visual check for surface defects, pinholes, and dimensional compliance.
2. Thickness mapping — 20-point measurement across the roll; CV < 3% is required for acceptance.
3. Tensile testing — 5 specimens in warp and weft directions. Minimum 3500 N/50 mm for 1100 dtex PVC.
4. UV conditioning — 1000 h exposure in xenon-arc chamber; minimum 80 % strength retention required.
5. Cold crack — 4 h at -35 °C, then 180° bend over a 25 mm mandrel. No visible cracking.
6. Abrasion resistance — 1000 cycles, weight loss ≤ 0.05 g.
7. Approval sign-off — only after all seven gates are passed is the fabric released for production.

Our professional team

The lab is staffed by two full-time material engineers, each holding a degree in polymer science or textile engineering with a minimum of six years of industry experience. They are supported by three technicians who perform day-to-day testing and data logging. The team regularly participates in inter-laboratory round-robin trials organised by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to validate the accuracy of our test methods.

Solving your toughest material challenges

Every paddling environment is different. A board operating in the tropics faces vastly different UV and temperature conditions than one on a Nordic lake or a desert reservoir. Our Fabric Lab helps you select — or develop — a fabric specification that is optimised for your operating profile.

Recent custom solutions include:

• A high-abrasion PVC blend for a rental fleet whose boards regularly touch sandy beaches and concrete launch ramps (+40 % abrasion life).
• A low-temperature formulation for a Canadian winter-storage dealer programme, tested to -50 °C without embrittlement.
• A colour-stabilised orange deck for a search-and-rescue training fleet, maintaining visibility after 3 years of tropical sun exposure.

We do not sell "off-the-shelf" fabrics and hope they work. We test, validate, and recommend — or create — a tailored solution for your specific mission profile. That is the {SITE.name} difference.

How we serve you

When you bring a material challenge to us, here is what you can expect:

1. Consultation — we discuss your operating environment, performance targets, and budget.
2. Proposal — a test plan is drafted with clear pass/fail criteria and a timeline.
3. Execution — our lab runs the tests and produces a detailed report with raw data and comparative analysis.
4. Recommendation — we present a fabric specification, including alternative options if multiple materials meet your requirements.
5. Follow-up — after delivery, we remain available to support any in-service material questions.

Our goal is not simply to sell you a board. It is to ensure that the board you receive performs reliably in the conditions you operate in — and that starts with the fabric.