Our ALIMATS crane mats have been specified on projects at Heathrow, and separately at Gatwick — between them the UK's two largest airports, and two of the busiest aviation hubs in Europe. Both run as live, 24-hour operations, and both carry on a near-continuous programme of civil engineering: terminal upgrades, apron and taxiway resurfacing, drainage, cabling and the dozens of other works needed to keep an airport of that size running — most of it happening alongside normal flight operations rather than instead of them.
That combination of scale, round-the-clock running and constant background construction is exactly the ground we build our mats for, which is why we are proud to have ALIMATS working on both.
Building on a live airport
Aviation infrastructure is its own category of construction problem. Airport work often runs close to live runways and taxiways, inside aviation security constraints that most sites never encounter, while terminals keep trading and aircraft keep landing throughout — so ground protection that is slow to deploy, needs heavy plant to move, or behaves unpredictably under load simply does not fit the working day. We go into how these demands change from one type of project to another in our guide to global project types for crane mats, but the airport version comes down to speed, safety and certainty.
A modular aluminium system answers all three. Every section is handleable by two people, so a mat run can be laid, adjusted and lifted with no heavy plant needed, and we deliver across the UK, 24/7, at short notice — no waiting on an extra machine and the escort that comes with it. For load spread on a working airport, where a delivery slot and a security clearance can be worth more than a tonne of steel, that's what matters.
Specifying for a live airport site
If you are planning ground protection at Heathrow, Gatwick or a comparable airport, come to us directly with your terminal, your security constraints and your crane loads — that is a far more useful conversation than anything general we could write here, and it is the fastest way to get the right mats to the right gate on time.
Frequently asked questions
Where has ALIMATS been used at Heathrow and Gatwick?
ALIMATS has been specified on projects at both Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, the UK's two largest airports. If you are working on either site and want to talk through your own requirements, get in touch with the team directly.
What is ALIMATS?
ALIMATS is our patented, modular aluminium crane mat system, made from 6005A certified recycled extruded aluminium in configurations from 1.34m2 to 8.07m2. It carries a safe working load of up to 80 tonnes, independently verified alongside a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers, and comfortably supports cranes up to 150 tonnes. Sections are handleable by two people without plant, and mats are available to hire or buy with 24/7 UK delivery.
Why does ground protection matter so much at a live airport?
Airport construction often happens close to live runways and taxiways, inside strict aviation security constraints, while terminals and flights carry on throughout. That rewards ground protection you can deploy quickly, handle without extra plant, and rely on to perform predictably under load — which is where a lightweight, independently verified aluminium system earns its place.
Can two people really lay ALIMATS without a crane or forklift?
Yes. Each section is handleable by two people, so a mat run can be positioned, adjusted and lifted out with no heavy plant needed. On a security-controlled airport site, where every extra machine means extra escorting and extra risk, that is a genuine advantage.