Drop stitch fabric construction is what allows an inflatable SUP to maintain its shape when it is inflated to high pressure. Without drop-stitch, the board would bulge out in the middle like an over-inflated air mattress. Using tens of thousands of tough polyester threads, drop stitch fabric lets us build inflatables with flat surfaces that can be inflated to rock-hard rigidity. You get hard-shell performance along with the easy transportation and storage of an inflatable. Drop stitch fabric SUP boards use the toughest drop-stitch materials in the industry. Sidewalls use two PVC layers specifically manufactured for superior air holding. Unlike typical PVC tarpaulin, the specialized sidewall material features internal fibers coated in liquid PVC before incorporation with the outer PVC layer, making the layers more durable and resilient than ever before.
Double wall fabrics construction is a newly developed concept. The fabric surfaces are strongly connected to each other by the vertical pile fibers which are interwoven with the skins. Essentially it is tens of thousands of fine, evenly spaced polyester treads woven into the underside of the deck and base material ensuring that when the board is pumped up and the threads reach their maximum length, they don’t overinflate. Polyester is used throughout because it is strong, durable and has very little stretch. Therefore, this double wall fabrics can provide good skin-core debonding resistance, excellent durability and superior integrity. In addition, the interstitial space of the construction can be filled up with foams to provide synergistic support with vertical piles. Double wall fabrics are are widely used for Inflatable SUPs, boat bottom, Mattress, swimming pool, etc., featured by high strength, excellent quality stability and self-cleaning of surface, anti-aging and various weather resistance performance.
Generally speaking, there are 2 type of base fabrics for dropstitch material
Warp-knitting base fabric is the most widly used on the market that cover full range of inflatable products. This base fabric bounding structure is 1 thread on the end and 2 threads on the other end. The warp-knitting machine is low setup and running cost and high production speed, it means the lower cost for the raw material. The disadvantage is the material weight is higher.
There is increasing concerns from Europe and US regarding Phthalates. Phthalates refers to Phthalate Esters / PAEs, which are common addictive to soften plastics especially PVC in past 40 years and 80% of Phthalates are used in plastic products. It exists in others include inks, adhesives, sealant agents, paints, film coatings, glass fibers, leather, rainwear, footwear, dyestuff, perfume, softener, polish remover, lubricant, cosmetics and isolation for cables. Phthalates has toxic for reproduction. Based on the application and customer’s safety concerns, there are tests based on different Phthalates. The common testing are 3P, 6P, 7P, 15P and 16P. Our product has passed reach standard, and for higher requirement, we can make 6P. Which refers to 6 types of Phthalates below.
Standard: No more than 0.1% or 1000ppm
BBP – Benzylbutyl Phthalate
DIDP – Diisodecyl Phthalate
| Product | 5cm | 8cm | ||
| Pattern | Dot | Wave | ||
| Base Cloth | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | ||
| Space Length | cm | 5 (+/-5%) | 8 (+/-5%) | |
| Material Total Weight | g/sq.m | 2600 (+/-200) | 2620 (+/-200) | |
| Tensile Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 4100 x 2800 (+/-300) | 4100 x 2800 (+/-300) | |
| Adhesion Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | |
| Pressure | Recommended | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 15 | 15 |
| Maximum | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 30 | 30 | |
| Standard width | Metre | 2.06 | 1.55/1.68 | |
| Surface | Matt | Matt | ||
| Length (standard) | Metre | 30,100,150,250 | 30,100,150,250 | |
| Product | 10cm | 12cm | ||
| Pattern | Dot ,In-line | Dot | ||
| Base Cloth | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | ||
| Space Length | cm | 10 (+/-5%) | 12 (+/-5%) | |
| Material Total Weight | g/sq.m | 2650 (+/-200) | 2680 (+/-200) | |
| Tensile Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 4100 x 2800 (+/-300) | 4100 x 2800 (+/-300) | |
| Adhesion Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | |
| Pressure | Recommended | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 15 | 15 |
| Maximum | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 30 | 30 | |
| Standard Width | Metre | 1.68/1.85 | 1.68/1.85 | |
| Surface | Matt | Matt | ||
| Length (standard) | Metre | 30,100,150,250 | 30,100,150,250 | |
| Product | 15cm | 20cm | ||
| Pattern | Dot ,In-line | Dot | ||
| Base Cloth | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | ||
| Space Length | cm | 15 (+/-5%) | 20(+/-5%) | |
| Material Total Weight | g/sq.m | 2700 (+/-200) | 2800 (+/-200) | |
| Tensile Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 4100 x 2800 (+/-300) | 3600 x 4100 (+/-300) | |
| Adhesion Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | |
| Pressure | Recommended | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 15 | 15 |
| Maximum | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 30 | 30 | |
| Standard Width | Metre | 1.68/1.85 | 2.00 | |
| Surface | Matt | Matt | ||
| Length (standard) | Metre | 30,100,150,250 | 30,100,150,250 | |
| Product | 30cm | ||
| Pattern | Dot | ||
| Base Cloth | Polyester 500D( High tensile) | ||
| Space Length | cm | 30(+/-5%) | |
| Material Total Weight | g/sq.m | 2850 (+/-200) | |
| Tensile Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 3600 x 4100 (+/-300) | |
| Adhesion Strength (2 layers) | N/5cm | 150 x 150 (+/-20) | |
| Pressure | Recommended | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 15 |
| Maximum | PSI(lbs/inch2) | 30 | |
| Standard Width | Metre | 2.00 | |
| Surface | Matt | ||
| Length (standard) | Metre | 30,100,150,250 | |
Woven Dropstitch Material
Woven base fabric is used for luxury inflatable products that require suprior stiffness and performance, it has only one thread from top to bottom connect 2 layers of base fabric. The base fabric woven machine cost is 4-5 times more than warp-knitting machine, and products speed is slower. The biggest advantage of woven base fabric is it’s weight is 30-40% lighter that warp-knitting.
PVC dropstitch is widly used for inflatable sports equipments, however PVC composition has plasticizer, that is not enviroment friendly. So we developed TPU dropstitch material, that is smellless, softer, lighter, wearing resistant and 100% safe to direct contact with skin. TPU material is widly used for food and medical equipment. Drop-stitch fabrics with TPU film are designed for inflatable structures with high airtightness and ageing properties, along with minimum weight. They are used for performant products as inflatable floors, rescue air tracks, SUPs etc. Our range starts at 30mm height, feel free to contact us if you have specific request.
LIGHTER: 30-35% lighter than pvc dropstitch.
SOFT: Easier to fold, after deflate and roll up, 20% less space than pvc dropstitch. Does not leave any marks at the folding line.
ECO: Degradable and enviromental.
GREEN: TPU material does not include any harmful chemical to human body. Can touch skin directly. Ideal for mattress and gym mat.
TPU type: Polyester / Polyurethane (Hydrolysis Resistance )
Base fabric material: Polyester / Nylon
Base fabric structure: Warp knitting/ Woven
Type: Laminated fabric
Thickness: 3cm 5cm 8cm 10cm 15cm
Weight: 1900gsm
Width: 1.07-1.75meter
Technics: Woven
Feature: Flame Retardant, Shrink-Resistant, Waterproof,Flame Retardant,Tear-Resistant
Stripping strength: ≥120N (5cm)
Inflatable boat bottom
2. Mattress
3. Inflatable swimming pool
4. Air deck
5. Surfboard
6. Sup board
7. Air mat
8. Gymnasium mats
For the paddle board market, there are 3 types of dropstitch material that is wildy used, single layer which is the most widly used for standard paddle boards, it is low cost and light weight. But for some professional players, some luxury brands developed double layer dropstitch to improve performance of the product:
Traditional single layer dropstitch paddle boards becomes a banana when you stand on it , you can compeletly change the shape, it is not very consistant not delivering authentic paddle boarding experience, the big advantage is the weight, make it easy to carriy and transport. Single layer paddle boards, max pressure is 15-18psi.
Apply glue on top and bottom of single layer dropstitch, then laminate extra layer of pvc fabric by hand.this reinforce is very important, it has a dramtic affects on stiffness. Double layer paddle boards max pressure is 20psi. Double layer drop stitch is much stiffer and maintain shape and way more durable. However it is heavier and harder to roll, also work by hand can’t avoid cosmetic blemishes.
Machine pre-laminated double layer drop stitch is recognised as the industry’s most advanced technic. The machine laminate a layer of high-density structural PVC to single layer dropstitch under controlled conditions. It applies a one-shot lamination and glueless construction. Reduce weight and give better bonding. Avoiding the human factor involved in traditional double layer application. This whole process is done at the raw material stage by carefully calibrated machinery developed for this process. The result is a consistent high-level cosmetic finish that has the durability and strength properties of our previous double layer construction. And because this process is done at the raw material stage we are now able to benefit from torsion stiffness as the material is put under tension when the board is inflated. Machine pre-laminated double layer drop stitch paddle boards is upto 2kg ligher, stiffer, durable airtight and easier to roll.
COSMETIC FINISH: No wrinkles or blemishes. The surface look cleaner and smoother and even feel better to the touch.
LIGHTER: Up to 15% lighter than our hand made double layer dropstitch.
STIFFER: We recommend a pressure of between 16-22psi. Double layer drop stitch is much rigid and maintain shape when you stand on it.
DURABLE: The multiple-layer coating is tough and durable.
ECO: The pre-laminated process avoided the old fashion glue process. Less glue makes it more enviroment friendly and less chemical smell.
SAFER: The double layer dropstitch is way more anti-scrach and safter against impact like sharp rocks.
Material: 100% Polyester
Type: Coated fabric
Pattern: Coated, Dot, Wave, In-line
Coated type: PVC Laminated, PVC laminated
Style: Plain
Width: 0.9-2.6m up to 3.2m
Technics: Woven
Feature: Flame Retardant, Shrink-Resistant, Tear-Resistant, Waterproof, Waterproof,Flame Retardant,Tear-Resistant
Certification: