{"id":187,"date":"2024-10-25T16:38:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T21:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/?p=187"},"modified":"2024-10-25T16:38:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T21:38:34","slug":"mattracks-a-sketching-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/articles\/mattracks-a-sketching-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattracks: A Sketching Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve ever witnessed tracks at work on any ATV, UTV or other 4\u00d74 vehicle, then you\u2019ve caught a small glimpse of the ingenuity and capabilities that\u00a0Mattracks<\/a>\u00a0has provided to the off-road industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattracks is the inventor and manufacturer of the original rubber track conversion system, designed, patented and released to the public in 1994 by Glen Brazier, with a great deal of inspiration from his then 11-year old son, Matt Brazier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three decades ago, no type of rubber track conversion system existed on the market. Matt made a drawing in school of a large truck with tracks in place of tires, and asked his dad, \u201cCan we make something like this?\u201d Glen, who was widely known and respected in the transmission business then, put his mind to work. And the rest is history. The drawing, conversation and ingenuity present in both father and son laid the foundation for what Mattracks would soon become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After rigorous testing and refinement, Glen secured a patent for the world\u2019s first rubber track conversion system. The original Mattracks model (the Model 86) was specifically designed for full-sized pickups, transforming them into versatile machines with unprecedented tank-like features. One of the key advantages of the company\u2019s groundbreaking track design continues to be the conversion aspect, which allows the user to seamlessly switch from tires to tracks or vice-versa in under an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As word of the track system spread, Mattracks quickly gained a reputation for quality, dependability and performance. Mattracks soon caught the eye of numerous media outlets seeking to cover the innovation, which opened the floodgates to the world and a strong presence in the international market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With the success of their initial product, the company embarked on an ambitious journey of expansion. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the introduction of many new models, each designed to cater to the specific needs of individual vehicle classes and industries. Mattracks continually improved its technology, incorporating advanced materials and engineering techniques to enhance performance and durability. Mattracks received its first of many contracts with the U.S. military in 1996.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the company\u2019s milestones is the development of the Track-Tor-Assist series, which hit the market in 1997. This innovative solution allowed agricultural vehicles to benefit from the advantages of tracks, significantly improving their traction and reducing ground pressure. Mattracks remains heavily focused on agriculture to this day. In 2022, the company released the\u00a0Mattracks 9000-LM-1010<\/a>, featuring a 9.6-inch-wide rubber track that provides the industry\u2019s narrowest profile for row crop application and the flotation to effectively avoid leaving behind deep ruts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The millennium also brought other notable advancements to fruition, including Mattracks\u2019 introduction of the world\u2019s first ATV rubber track conversion system in 2000. Mattracks continued its focus on its Litefoot lineup to introduce the first ever UTV-compatible rubber track conversion system a year later, in 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, tracks seen on ATVs and UTVs are a glimpse of what people might believe rubber track conversions are. That\u2019s just how popular tracks in the off-road\/recreation industry have become. Many don\u2019t realize that Mattracks started it all with the release of its Litefoot line. When it comes to the types of vehicles that they make track conversion systems for, ATVs and UTVs are just a splash in the bucket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovation has been at the core of Mattracks\u2019 success since day one. The company continually invests its resources in research and development to improve track design, durability and compatibility with different vehicle types. For instance, most Mattracks models feature an internal shape-changing suspension system placed within the track\u2019s frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This innovative feature allows the track system to contour with the terrain while the vehicle is in motion, providing a much smoother ride and better traction than a straight-frame type system. It\u2019s important to note that Mattracks is the only track manufacturer that offers suspension of any kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Today, Mattracks is widely recognized for being the first rubber track conversion manufacturer and for its exceptional product quality, safety and service. In 30 years, Mattracks has experienced zero injuries, fatalities, accidents or lawsuits through its rubber track conversion products. Headquartered in Karlstad, Minn., Mattracks has many satisfied customers across 150 countries and all seven continents. The company officially shipped out its 100,000th track system in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattracks\u2019 reputation extends far into the operation of the track systems themselves; proven dependability, smooth riding and minimal maintenance (self-cleaning) are all highlights that Mattracks customers associate with their product experience. This positive reputation has resulted in a strong resale value and market. Mattracks allows its customers to purchase their products directly from the factory. Customers can also call the parts department and speak with personnel regarding any questions or product requests. Mattracks\u2019 rubber track conversion systems are engineered and manufactured in the\u00a0U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their product line has seen significant growth and continuous innovation, with more than 170 models and more in development. In 2023, Mattracks introduced the\u00a0RT125 TC<\/a>, a skid steer compatible, 4-track conversion option that also accommodates the Bobcat Toolcat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattracks rubber track conversion systems are currently produced for\u00a0almost any multi-axle vehicle<\/a>\u00a0including ATVs, UTVs, SUVs, trucks, heavy-duty agricultural and construction equipment, snow groomers and military operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company\u2019s products are used globally across various industries such as recreation, agriculture, construction, search and rescue, snow and ice management, snow grooming, research, exploration, disaster relief, the motion picture industry and any other industry requiring added traction and flotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three decades later, Mattracks continued to strive to push the boundaries of what is achievable in off-road mobility. Glen and Matt\u2019s vision transformed how the industry perceives mobility, proving that even the toughest challenges can be conquered with ingenuity and determination. As a result of their mindset, an entire industry was born. Any tracking system equipped to a vehicle today is either Mattracks or has roots in Mattracks\u2019 heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the company looks to the future, it remains committed to pioneering new technologies and expanding the capabilities of track-driven vehicles, ensuring that the legacy of Mattracks\u2019 innovation continues for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Source: https:\/\/www.snowopsmag.com\/article\/profile\/mattracks-a-sketching-success\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever witnessed tracks at work on any ATV, UTV or other 4\u00d74 vehicle, then you\u2019ve caught a small glimpse of the ingenuity and capabilities that\u00a0Mattracks\u00a0has provided to the off-road industry. Mattracks is the inventor and manufacturer of the original rubber track conversion system, designed, patented and released to the public in 1994 by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":191,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mattracks.co\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}