Profile® Products and Freudenberg Performance Materials have reached an agreement awarding Profile Products exclusive rights to distribute Freudenberg’s Turf Reinforcement Mat (TRM) and High-Performance Turf Reinforcement Mat (HP-TRM) line of products within the United States. Currently marketed as Futerra® and EnkaMat, these products are utilized to provide permanent erosion protection on challenging terrain.

“As long-time partners, this agreement is the next step toward mutual growth for Profile and Freudenberg. We’re excited to bring shared resources together to advance the industry toward newer and more sustainable practices,” said Adam Dibble, vice president of environmental solutions at Profile.

For years, Profile Products has featured the product line as a replacement for traditional hard armor solutions such as concrete or rip rap. The most effective and sustainable erosion control is natural vegetation which reduces the impact of erosion forces and allows infiltration of storm water.

“Our partnership with Profile Products will connect our best-in-class technologies with Profile’s industry leadership to better support our customers and our environment,” said Audrey Sanders, business manager at Enka Americas. “Pairing our TRM technology with Profile’s engineered growth media is the best means available to provide lasting erosion control solutions in the most challenging site conditions.”  

The unique design of Freudenberg’s thermally fused polyamide filament web is the only TRM that provides both the open space needed to establish vegetation and the strength to anchor the root systems, withstanding water velocities greater than 20 feet per second and shear stresses of 10 pounds per square foot.

Under this agreement, Profile will distribute the TRM product offerings in a variety of sizes, marketed as Futerra 7003, Futerra 7010, Futerra 7020 and Futerra R-45. 

About Freudenberg Performance Materials 
Freudenberg Performance Materials is a leading global supplier of innovative technical textiles for a broad range of markets and applications such as apparel, automotive, building interiors, building materials, healthcare, energy, filter media, shoe and leather goods as well as specialties. In 2022, the company generated sales of some €1.6 billion, had 32 production sites in 14 countries around the world and had more than 5,000 employees. Freudenberg Performance Materials attaches great importance to social and ecological responsibility as the basis for its business success. For more information, please visit Freudenberg-pm.com. 

In 2022, the Freudenberg Group employed more than 51,000 people in around 60 countries worldwide and generated sales of more than €11,7 billion. For more information, please visit Freudenberg.com. 

Profile® Products recently hired Michael Gantt as the east coast sales manager of blender accounts for the horticulture business. In this new position, Gantt is responsible for driving sales of HydraFiber®, Sunterra® Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, Florikan® controlled release fertilizer and ProfileCoir. Gantt will be accompanied by consultant Don Duggar to cultivate new relationships and partner with soil blenders to provide high-performing, cost-effective mixes for ornamental and nursery growers.  

“Michael is a wealth of knowledge and highly skilled in understanding the fluctuations of the horticulture industry,” said Wes Martin, vice president of horticulture/lawn and garden at Profile. “His extensive experience in customer service and total portfolio sales will allow Profile to better support our customers.” 

Gantt’s professional career has spanned many segments of the horticulture industry, including lawn and garden, grass seed, erosion control and turf. Prior to joining Profile, Gantt worked at Central Garden & Pet. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina. 

Profile® Products is pleased to announce the promotion of Lauren Deem, CPESC, CESSWI, to technical services manager. In this role, Deem will manage personnel of the Environmental Solutions (ES) technical services team, as well as drive innovation of unique solutions, practices and processes as the team grows. 

“Lauren had an immediate positive impact when she joined the team in 2021,” said Matt Welch, director of technical development at Profile. “She’s been key to improving our Soil Solutions Software and ensuring our customers receive the best support. We are excited to see her continue to thrive in this new position and bring her ideas and expertise to another division of the team.”

Deem began her career at Profile assisting customers with soil testing and technical support. Her extensive background in soil health has improved the prescriptive capabilities of Profile's Soil Solutions Software (PS3). As the lead of back-end administration and maintenance of PS3 and its website, Deem ensures vegetative success for thousands of customers. 

She regularly leads lunch and learn sessions for designers and specifiers on erosion control and soil improvement products. Deem was recently appointed as the Mississippi state representative for the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Southeast Chapter and has presented twice at both the 2022 and 2023 annual IECA conferences. She is slated to present at the 2024 conference as well.