"This is the perfect solution to creating a road system in rural Alaska," says Dennis Swarthout, chief executive officer of Compositech LLC.

The mats were first employed to replace heavy wooden planks used on the slope by BP Exploration (Alaska) for roads over the tundra, and for drill site pads.

"When we came up with this proposal to use these Dura-Base mats up on the Slope, the producers jumped at the chance to replace the heavy, expensive wood planks traditionally used," Swarthout said.

The 1,000-pound, 8x14-foot mats, produced by Dura-Base of Lafayette, La., interlock to form a strong, stable and uniform surface that has supported aircraft, tractors, loaders and tanks. The mats have been used around the world for heavy haul routes, utility pole upgrades, beach landings, tent flooring and staging areas. Dura-Basemats are being used from the Amazon to Qatar, and from Alaska's tundra to the swamps of the Gulf Coast.

Compositech, started five years ago by Swarthout and partner Craig Simon, now sells and rents the mats for use all over the state. Located in Fairbanks with 10 year-round employees, Compositech grosses an average of $3 million a year, according to Swarthout.

"This is a unique and very Alaskan-style business that offers a new product that is becoming very popular with the oil companies on the Slope," said Bart LaBon, executive vice president of commercial lending for Mt. McKinley Bank.

Compositech received its first loan for a North Slope project from Mt. McKinley Bank. Swarthout credits the bank for believing in their ability and the product they offer.

Swarthout says that because of the flexibility of the mats they are well suited for use over tundra, and wetland areas.

"The advantage to using these mats as a road surface is that they are easy to install, keep clean and cut down on dust," he said. "This is a tool for rural Alaska."

Swarthout said another benefit of the mats is that they cut down on the engineering aspects of building roads.

The mats are loaded on trucks, put on barges and can be delivered anywhere and assembled easily.

Recently Chugach Power used the mats, which float, on the tidal flats south of Anchorage.

The mats are not cheap though.

"The price of these starts at $2,000 a mat, and they rent from $8 to $20 a day," Swarthout said. Still the benefits of using the mats outweigh their price, he said.

"You can use these over and over. Pick the mats up and put them someplace else."

Compositech is the distributor for Dura-Base mats in Alaska and the Russian Far-East.

Compositech also offers a plastic spray coating in areas where there is heavy foot traffic. They also offer Thermal Spray, a coating that is applied by spraying moletn liquid alloys on a surface to provide protection.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at rob.stapleton@alaska