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Koninklijke TenCate NV (PINKSHEETS:KNKCF) 'Mileage counter' measures hours of play, impact on pitch and the state of pitch maintenance
Heracles' new synthetic turf system in the Polman Stadium in Almelo, the Netherlands, latest (r)evolution in synthetic turf systems for football. This is an evolution because of its exceptional characteristics and the combination of all the components of the synthetic turf system, and a revolution due to its unique measurability, through the use of sensors. Heracles Almelo now has the very first 'smart synthetic turf system' in the world. The pitch satisfies the highest standards set by FIFA and UEFA, which is a requirement for top-flight football.
Evolution in synthetic grass systems Thanks to the system approach of TenCate, the main sponsor, and its design partners Edel Grass, Sekisui Alveo and Oranjewoud, a balanced system of components has been achieved. Developments in many areas have taken place over the past few months that have been incorporated in the new synthetic turf system. These include developments relating to the shock pad, the composition of the fibre, the infill and the method of tufting the top layer. The creation of the synthetic turf system was the result of a joint endeavour by Edel Grass and Oranjewoud in collaboration with TenCate and standards institutes.
The development of the system and the mutual interrelatedness of the components determine the unique playing characteristics of the synthetic turf pitch. This gives the players and technical staff of Heracles Almelo - and its opponents - the confidence that they seek of being able to practise football at the highest level. The playing characteristics of the pitch were developed in close cooperation with the technical staff and players of Heracles Almelo.
The special combination of two synthetic turf fibres - the soft, resilient TenCate Monoslide(TM)Pro fibre and the TenCate Tapeslide(TM)XT fibre, which among other things encases the infill - and the fact that the synthetic turf has fifty per cent higher density will ensure the desired rolling and rebound characteristics of the ball for a long time. The other system components too - such as the infill, which was specially developed for this pitch, the backing and the geotextile from TenCate, together with the shock pad from Sekisui Alveo and the stable sub-base structure - all contribute to the characteristics and qualities of this new synthetic turf system. Resilience, the stability of the pitch and low sliding resistance are thus safeguarded for many years.
The new synthetic turf pitch very closely resembles natural grass, thanks to its playing characteristics and the look and feel of the pitch. This is not only of importance for the perception of the pitch during matches, but also for its appearance during competition matches on television. The pitch looks natural both in daylight and under artificial light.
Revolution in measurability Through the use of special sensors, Heracles Almelo now has a 'mileage counter' that measures various activities on the pitch. These include the number of hours played, impact on the pitch at different locations and the physical condition of the pitch; even the frequency and intensity of maintenance is measured. Main sponsor TenCate together with its design partners Edel Grass, Sekisui Alveo and Oranjewoud have thus brought about a revolution in measurability.
Thanks to this 'Grass Sensor System' the Polman Stadium in Almelo can now boast the first 'smart synthetic turf system' for football. Using the measuring data and analyses, advice will regularly be given to the technical staff of Heracles Almelo. At the same time these measuring data will also provide input for new developments and innovations in synthetic turf.
Heracles Almelo's new synthetic turf system bears the name Two Dimension Pro and will be marketed exclusively by Edel Grass from Genemuiden, the Netherlands.
Royal Ten Cate Edel Grass Sekisui Alveo Oranjewoud N.V.
Almelo, The Netherlands, Thursday 17 July 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further information: Royal Ten Cate Jaap de Carpentier Wolf Head of corporate communication Tel: +31 546 544 306 Mobile: +31 6 233 173 52 e-mail: media@tencate.com
For more information and digital images: www.tencate.com/media TenCate TenCate is the global market leader in the field of synthetic turf fibres. The company has been at the forefront of research and development since the earliest years of synthetic turf, backing and infill. TenCate has a product portfolio of fibres specially developed for various sports and for landscaping. TenCate synthetic turf fibres are exceptional due to their specific performance characteristics, such as low sliding resistance, resilience and durability. Together with its partners in the industry, TenCate aims to pursue a system approach. This gives users confidence in playing characteristics and lifespan. www.tencate.com
EdelGrass is a leading supplier of synthetic turf systems, especially for hockey, tennis and football. From the very early years of the development of synthetic turf the company has been involved in these markets. Edel Grass concentrates mainly on the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Germany, England, Eastern Europe and Africa. Edel Grass has the exclusive right to market the new high-quality Edel Grass Two Dimension Pro synthetic turf system. Heracles Almelo's Polman Stadium is the first stadium where this synthetic turf system has been installed. www.edelgrass.nl
Sekisui Alveo is the market leader in the development, production and sale of high-quality cross-linked polyolefin foam products for various applications. These foam products have been used for more than 25 years as a high-quality sub-base for sports pitches, among other applications. The Sekisui Sports Layer was developed after extensive research in collaboration with various parties concerned, ranging from suppliers of raw materials to sportsmen and women. The high point of the new approach was the installation of the Sekisui Sports Layer in FIFA's Two-Star synthetic turf pitch at the new FIFA home in Zurich, Switzerland. www.SekisuiAlveo.com
Oranjewoud Realisatie b.v. - a part of Oranjewoud N.V. - specializes in the development of attractive environments in which we can play sports, live and work. Its core tasks include the designing, planning, building and managing of high-quality public facilities. Oranjewoud is one of the leading players when it comes to the development and construction of sports accommodation. The company pursues a concept approach, in which advice, engineering, construction and management can be provided right from the initial stage. www.oranjewoud.nl
