Marine Flex: Elastic Mooring System

Marine Flex, a New Zealand marine innovation company, set out to reinvent the way boats are moored. Traditional chain systems create constant stress and wear due to the oscillation caused by tides, waves, and currents. Their concept was to replace these chains with a flexible, rubber-based mooring system designed to absorb movement, protect vessels, and provide a longer-lasting, more sustainable solution.

To bring their concept to life, Marine Flex needed a specialised rubber compound capable of withstanding extreme marine environments. The material had to deliver strength, durability, and elasticity while resisting saltwater, UV exposure, and continuous mechanical stress. Achieving the perfect balance of flexibility and resilience was critical for the success of the system.

Our in-house laboratory and industrial chemists developed a custom rubber compound specifically designed for the application.

We carried out rigorous small-scale testing, including:

• Tensile strength
• Hardness
• Compression set

Once initial samples met the required performance criteria, full-scale prototypes were produced and supplied to Marine Flex. These were then tested in Marine Flex's controlled rig environment and in real-world marine field trials.

The compound was approved after extensive testing and has been in continuous production ever since. Today, Marine Flex's Elastic Mooring System is trusted worldwide, delivering safer and more reliable mooring solutions for vessels while reducing environmental impact compared to traditional chain systems.