Montreal-based Major Wire Industries is marking the 15^th anniversary in 2011 of its Flex-Mat^® independently vibrating wire technology, now in its third generation with Flex-Mat 3 Tensioned and Modular versions. Since its introduction in 1996, Major Wire believes that Flex-Mat technology has revolutionised the screening industry in mining and other industries like quarrying and recycling, providing solutions to common screening challenges and a way to increase product value and return on investment.

Previously, self-cleaning screen media was mostly available through European manufacturers, resulting in long lead times and high costs for North American screening operations. Jean Leblond, President and CEO of Major Wire, solved this problem when he began locally manufacturing tensioned self-cleaning screen media produced without cross wires that according to the group lasts up to three times longer than traditional woven wire. Since then, Major Wire states that it has been able to manufacture the product cost effectively with competitive lead times for screening operations throughout the world. Claimed to be unique in design, Flex-Mat technology is made of crimped wires assembled side-by-side and held together by distinctive lime-green polyurethane strips. Because each wire vibrates independently, it increases material screening action and in-spec material throughput, virtually eliminates blinding, pegging and clogging and reduces downtime spent cleaning or replacing screen media. Major Wire further advanced Flex-Mat technology by introducing 305 mm x 305 mm panels for modular screen decks in 2007 and 305 mm x 610 mm modular panels in 2011. To date, Flex-Mat vibrating wire technology has been proven in more than 20,000 aggregate, mining and recycling applications worldwide.