FEA TURE — EST O SPECIAL
“
For producers of elastic layers it is very difficult to receive the recognition they actually deserve as it is very difficult to link the successful performance of a field to the existence of an elastic layer. But we were invited by FIFA to make a presentation which was well received...
— Piet Tytgat, Head of the Shockpad Working Group.
”
e-layers, as well as e-layers that make use of foam, air, and even the flexibility of plas- tic to contribute to the performance and safety of a field. The problem is; once the e-layer is covered by the artificial turf car- pet and infill material it is no longer possi- ble to see, making it difficult to assess its contribution or indeed blame its failure when a field does not perform to its best. It takes considerable understanding of
an artificial grass system to pinpoint a problem and it is incredibly difficult to project performance characteristics. To meet this challenge head on, several shockpad suppliers from within ESTO (the European Synthetic Turf Organisation) have created a Working Group to discuss technical synergies and benefits. Their aim is to inform and educate the market, as well as to establish some rules and guide- lines that will contribute to the accurate measuring and identification of specific qualities of e-layers to ensure the same quality across the board.
Spreading the Word According to Recticel’s Piet Tytgat, who
heads the Shockpad Working Group, the
industry has identified a few concerns. “For producers of elastic layers it is very difficult to receive the recognition they actually deserve as it is very difficult to link the successful performance of a field to the existence of an elastic layer. There are many people currently studying elastic layers and its performance. But we asked ourselves how good the know-how actu- ally is and whether we all know enough that warrants a conclusion. We also had our doubts about whether there is a suffi- cient base to compare the various solu- tions with one and another. And even if this is so; are the studies and results being communicated correctly, and are they being used professionally?” As with any other component in an
artificial grass system, the market for shock-pads and e-layers has expanded rapidly in recent years. “We have witnessed a growing number of systems entering the market, more companies trying to get a slice of the cake and a growing number of functionalities and ‘added values’ attribut- ed to this particular layer. All without being substantiated enough,” added Tytgat, while referring to claims that e-layers have an
impact on pitch heating or drainage, amongst many others. Representatives of Schmitz Foam, Sek-
isui Alveo, Recticel, and Trocellen want to change all of that. “We have established two working groups. The first committee is tasked with creating awareness and com- munication. They will focus on communi- cating the ‘why’ and functionalities of e-layers. A second committee is tasked with drafting a technical document, which will act as a kind of ‘passport’ for the e-lay- er. It should not be considered as a techni- cal spec to protect the market against other companies entering the industry but more to assist tufters. This document will provide the means to compare the various systems and should allow tufters to devel- op and improve their carpets. When they are able to determine the impact of every component of an artificial grass system, they will be able to decide what the pile- length and subsequently the infill height should be. It will also define the minimum requirements one should be able to expect from an e-layer,” advised Tytgat. Luca Girelli of Trocellen added: “The
e-layer can give flexibility to the overall ➲
Once covered, it is very hard to attribute the field’s performance to an e-layer without the facts, the Shockpad Working Group's study will set the record straight.
20 th AN N I V ER S AR Y P AR T II/ S U M M ER 1 2 P AN S T AD I A 11 5
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