UHMWPE and HDPE
Also called Plastic outrigger pad, Polyethylene mat, Nylon pad
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are engineering plastics used to manufacture lightweight ground protection mats and outrigger pads. They resist wear and moisture and do not absorb water or rot the way timber can, though their load capacity and stiffness differ from aluminium or timber alternatives and depend on the specific grade and thickness used.
From our specifications
Not every plastic pad is a polyethylene one, and the distinction is worth making because the trade uses “plastic pad” for all of them. The NYLACAST Big Foot® pads we hire are moulded from an impact-modified PA6/PA12 nylon blend rather than from polyethylene, which is what gives them their resistance to shock loading and their toughness at low temperatures. They are non-conductive, weather-resistant and available in square and round formats.
Source: NYLACAST Big Foot® published product specification
Where it matters on site
Grade and thickness govern, not the material family, so a capacity quoted for “UHMWPE” with nothing else attached is not a specification. The practical selection question is size: below roughly a square metre, a moulded pad handled by one person is usually the right answer for an outrigger foot, and above it the case moves to an engineered mat. Non-conductivity is a real consideration for work near live services or overhead lines.