Federal Eco Foam’s Tatamis Approved by World Champion Matthias Casse

In late September, the city of Lommel held a grand opening for its new dojo facility at the Sportpark De Soeverein. The City selected Federal Eco Foam to supply the tatamis and wall pads for its new facility, a testament to the quality and reputation of the company’s sports products.

The 2 floors of the new dojo are equipped with Federal Eco Foam’s tatamis both measuring an impressive 18 by 16 meters. In addition to the tatamis, Federal Eco Foam also provided acoustical wall pads in harmony with the floor to absorb sound and impacts, creating a pleasant and safe environment for athletes and onlookers alike.

The new dojo at Sportpark De Soeverein with Federal Eco Foam’s tatamis. From left to right: Roy Cremers, father of Belgian judoka Kenzo Cremers; Koen Sijsmans, FEF’s Commercial Director; Belgian Olympian, European and world champion Matthias Casse; Ines Gielen, FEF’s Operations Director; Jean-Jacques Melotte, inspirer of Judo Team Agglorex; Peter Lanoye, FEF’s Sales Director; and Belgian bronze European Cadet medalist Kenzo Cremers.

Sustainable Design, World-Champion Tested

Several key sports and government representatives, along with members of the Federal Eco Foam team, attended the official opening celebration. At the opening, attendees watched Matthias Casse, Belgium’s own Olympian and world champion judoka, test out and approve the new facility and its equipment, with a special focus on the tatamis.

Matthias Casse tests out the new facility and equipment with a Koshi-waza throw.

Casse also accepted an invitation to visit Federal Eco Foam’s manufacturing operations to see first-hand the daily commitment required to maintain our position as a world leader in the sports mats world. He had a profound interest in our sports mats production, particularly how and where in the production process we clearly distinguish our mats from judo mats of lesser quality. With a degree in process technology, Casse connected his professional experience and successful performances on the tatami together to acknowledge the high-end properties, namely safety and comfort, that set premium competition mats like ours, apart from others.

Olympian, European and world champion judoka Matthias Casse visits Federal Eco Foam’s manufacturing operations in Lommel.

“I was amazed to see the many points of attention in Federal Eco Foam’s production process, starting with the selective choice of raw materials, precision in handling during the operations, and then passing through quality control,” Casse says. “After visiting their operations and testing out the new tatamis, I personally experienced the world-class quality of the company’s products. This is critical for allowing athletes to perform at their peak, whether they are world champions or young people just discovering martial arts.”

Casse noted how oftentimes in tournaments judokas do not get to try out competition mats before their first fight, therefore they must put their faith in the mats’ reliability in terms of speed, pivots, antiskid and balance. This faith starts at a young age, namely when a young athlete will be thrown to the ground for the very first time.

“If the fall is not comfortable and injuries occur early on, there is a greater risk that young athletes will not continue practicing and competing,” Casse says. “The tatami follows the development of a future champion from childhood until the highest stage at the world championships. This is why quality is so important, something that Federal Eco Foam truly embodies with their mats and overall business approach.”

To commemorate his visit, the Federal Eco Foam production team gave Matthias his own personalized tatami, which he gladly accepted.

Federal Eco Foam presents Matthias Casse with a piece of a tatami mat to commemorate his visit. From left to right: Jean-Jacques Melotte, inspirer of Judo Team Agglorex; Jo Theys, Team Lead of FEF’s Sports Mats Production; Tommy Dewingaerden of FEF; and Matthias Casse.

Putting Lommel on the World Map of Sports Matting

The city of Lommel is a place Federal Eco Foam has called home for 50+ years. Throughout the company’s entire existence, ownership has remained steadfast in their commitment to its employees and Lommel. With Federal Eco Foam’s sports mats reaching across five continents and being present in countless international competitions such as the Olympics, European, Panamerican and World Championships, the company has brought global exposure to the city.

The dedication and knowledge of the hundreds of employees in and around Lommel who have walked through the company’s doors is the reason why Federal Eco Foam’s rebond foams, and specifically, its sports mats products, are widely acknowledged to be the best in the world.

“Federal Eco Foam sincerely thanks the city of Lommel for selecting our products for their new dojo,” says Peter Lanoye, Sales Director at Federal Eco Foam. “We are proud to support our city’s growth in sports and keep Lommel at the top in Europe in organizing international events with such exceptional infrastructure, especially in martial arts.”

Lommel as the Future for Rebond Foam & Sports Mats Manufacturing

The use of and demand for recycled materials is noticeably increasing, whether that’s in sports or other industries such as furniture, construction, automotive or bedding. Companies like Federal Eco Foam are playing a leading role with eco-friendly materials that make products more sustainable and extend their end of life. Over the next few years, the company will continue investing in people and equipment to promote environmentally friendly production practices in efforts to reduce emissions associated with producing its product.

“Lommel is our home, we look forward to recruiting more great people to our team and maintaining our market-leading position in this city,” Lanoye says.

To learn more about our tatamis and sports products, click here.

To see more coverage on Federal Eco Foam and the official opening event, visit:

• New Dojos Opened in the Presence of Matthias Casse
• New Martial Arts Halls at Sportpark De Soeverein Opened in Presence of Judo Champion Matthias Casse: Cost of the Project 17M
• New Martial Arts Halls at Sportpark De Soeverein Opened
• New Martial Arts Halls at Sportpark De Soeverein Opened – City of Lommel