Inspect First - Then Refurbish
In recent years, the number of artificial pitches used to practise sports has continued to increase, largely replacing old surfaces such as ...
YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
The German company, Trofil Sportbodensysteme GmbH & Co. KG, was recently able to finalise a project of a very special kind for the German first league football club TuS Frammersbach in the Franconia Region. Around 7,000 square metres of synthetic turf were installed here which in future, will give the many different football teams of the club with a completely new playing experience. In contrast to the worn-out clay pitch, this new surface provides numerous advantages for the players. Expert advice from the Trofil-Team was made use of from the planning phase right through to the final installation work, so that the club as general contractor, profited from the know-how and innovative spirit of the company. Trofil supplies not just a professional installation, but has proven for decades that the actual manufacture of the synthetic turf with its "Made in Germany" rating, helps to achieve an optimal result. In this way, a synthetic turf surface corresponding to the absolutely latest state of art was installed at Frammersbach, not least because of the further development work put into the yarn used by the manufacturer. The club decided on Multi Turf 40, which was laid over an anatomically compatible elastic impact-absorbing layer. This turf system is convincing above all due to the combination yarn used. Nine differently shaped single monofilaments – 4 spiral and 5 smooth yarns – each with a different yarn density are included in every single stitch. Thanks to this technology, the synthetic turf has an innovation quality which can be seen clearly in the kind of rainy weather known in Germany as "Fritz Walter Wetter" after an outstanding and famous German national player of the 1940s and 1950s who preferred to play in wet conditions. The spiral-shaped yarns have a very strong springy resilience and 'standing up' behaviour which is based on their special shape and the property profile of the raw material used. This ensures more pleasurable play, especially in rainy conditions. The integrated smooth fibres also have an influence on ball rolling behaviour and the reflection of light, significantly reducing glare and reflection during play under floodlights. A further important aspect which emphasises the quality of the new pitch, is the twisted yarn used. These have higher tuft strength because the latex surface on the underside of the synthetic turf partially surrounds each individual fibre. In addition, in this way an overall surface is created where the classical tuft outline is hardly perceptible. On the whole, it could early be seen in the TuS Frammersbach project that the synthetic turf has a large volume and, therefore, fulfils all requirements for a natural-like surface. As the physical properties of the synthetic turf are based, among other things, on its temperature, Trofil makes use of this natural factor. Due to variations in temperature, the substrate is continually in movement which promotes its long working life. After filling of the pitch with environmentally compatible rubber granulates and quartz sand, the playing field could finally be inaugurated. Due to the success of this project and the special characteristics of its implementation, the TuS Frammersbach and Trofil are working on a long-term case study which will provide information on the property profile of the turf yarn as well as the influence of maintenance care on the working life of the surface. This will provide Trofil with further findings so that the production quality of this traditional company can be continually improved.
Photo: TROFIL