Environmental Molding Concepts (EMC) of San Bernadino, Calif., was created in 1997 with one idea in mind: to make a terrific product using recycled rubber supplied by its parent company, BAS Recycling, Inc. In 1997, the eight-year-old tire-recycling company was producing quality, contaminate-free crumb rubber from whole tires–their focus being rubberized asphalt. When the market for rubberized asphalt died in the states, BAS was left with a large amount of crumb rubber, waiting for a destination. In the spirit of entrepreneurship, EMC was born.
EMC is the producer of Kid Kushion Playground Tile. Kid Kushion safety surfacing tiles are all 24-inch by 24-inch squares and are designed to provide impact attenuation while providing drainage during inclement weather. Kid Kushion Tiles can be produced with a UL Class A or Class B fire rating if required. Transition pieces, or ramps, are also available in different thicknesses, along with specifically molded inside and outside corner pieces.
Because the Kid Kushion Playground Tile system provides a level and resilient surface, it also provides wheel-chair accessibility with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliant Ramp that has a 1:12 slope exceeding the ADA minimum of 1:10. The preferred sub-surface for a Kid Kushion surface is concrete or asphalt, but it is acceptable to install it on top of compacted crushed rock.
Kid Kushion products are free from hazardous materials because EMC searches for raw materials that are lead-free. They even go one step further by requiring their suppliers to be environmentally friendly—meaning minimal waste and minimal impact on the earth. And in addition to being environmentally friendly, the products are safe as well. They meet the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Standard for Impact Attenuation (ASTM F1292-04) and the International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA). As one of the first surfacing manufacturers to become IPEMA members, EMC is actively involved in the development of playground safety.
EMC’s complete process of manufacturing takes place in the same facility as BAS Recycling. That means it is guaranteed a steady flow of available recycled rubber, made from scrap tires collected in the state of California.
EMC products also include Paver Tiles, SportPlay Mats, and Tumbled Turf.
Paver Tiles
Paver Tiles are a resilient alternative to traditional commercial flooring materials: they are made from California recycled rubber, which means they are exceptionally durable, provide high traction, absorb shock, require little maintenance, and are incredibly comfortable underfoot.
The Paver Tile is attractive in that it takes the place of concrete or hard brick surfaces used around a home. It is much easier on the feet and softer for a child to fall on. It turns a sterile, plain area into a warm and inviting space. Because it endures outdoor elements as well as indoors—being water-permeable and a fast-drying surface that cleans easily—it can be used in public walkways.
SportPlay Mat
The SportPlay Mat is a one-inch thick indoor/outdoor tile that provides a skid-resistant surface, used primarily to soften an existing surface whether for a play area or walkway.
Fitness facilities use this mat in free-weight areas and convert hard floor spaces into aerobic areas. Daycare facilities use the mats to cover areas where children are constantly running and falling. The SportPlay Mat has a two-foot fall rating, which is ideal for small play structures. Retirement homes and homes for the elderly see it as an efficient method to prevent falls from slick surfaces.
Tumbled Turf
EMC’s Tumbled Turf colored loose fill rubber is an attractive, non-toxic, long-lasting, low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood mulch products. Tumbled Turf loose fill rubber does not compact or decompose over time, greatly reducing the need for replacement. Tumbled Turf is used wherever wood mulch products are typically used. Tumbled Turf’s bright, attractive colors make it a great decorative landscaping product.
All EMC tiles come in the standard six colors: black, blue, gray, green, and terra cotta (red). In addition to the standard colors, the Kid Kushion 2.5-inch and thicker tiles are available in several color mixtures: Confetti, Green Fields, Purple Mountain, Starburst, and Tutti-Frutti. The three-quarter-inch and one-inch Paver Tiles can also be ordered in the Brick-Top pattern or a Solid-Top pattern.
EMC is proud to announce that it will soon begin offering poured-in-place surfacing under the Kid Kushion brand and tile installations, taking recycling technology where it is destined to go in the 21st Century.