Lenzing Grass
the better alternative to natural turf

When compared to other manufacturers yarns, LenzingGrass is an extremely soft feeling monofil yarn with excellent pile recovery properties. These features mean a surface made from LenzingGrass provides a natural looking, hardwearing turf surface.

 

The use of artificial grass surfaces has been a controversial subject amongst large sections of the population. The public perception of artificial turf tends to be of surfaces, which are full of sand, very hard and produce a high risk of injuries. The reality is that developments in synthetic turf systems in the recent past have jumped forward to such an extent that today’s generation of surface is unrecognisable from the previous generations.

The following provides some background information and the current status of the artificial turf market. The artificial turf market refer to the history of surface developments in “generations”

 

The 1st and 2nd generations showed all of the advantages of using artificial turf as a sport surface: consistent play characteristics, all weather, hard wearing and lower maintenance costs. But they also brought some problems: Higher risk of friction burns and injuries, surface hardening, restriction on footwear and the restriction of not been able to play certain sports on these surfaces.

3rd Generation surfaces still maintain all of the positive characteristics of generations 1&2 but solve the problems, which occurred in the pervious generations. The long polyethylene fibres give a soft, low slide resistant, natural feeling and looking sport surface. The sand and rubber crumb provide the natural non-compacting infill. This infill gives a shock absorb surface, allowing players to wear studded boots. The system plays, feels and looks natural. The system can also incorporate an elastic underground shock pad, which adds to play safety.

 

These pioneering improvements have been welcomed with interest by the football governing bodies around the world. FIFA and UEFA are positive that these surfaces will in time replace natural turf pitches. In a pilot project UEFA has commissioned the installation of 3rd generation pitches at 5 European upper league clubs, including the stadium pitch of SV Austria Salzburg. The purpose of this project is to test the suitability and practicality of artificial turf systems. In 2005 the result of this project will be assessed by UEFA and decisions as to whether artificial surfaces can be used in European competitions, such as Champions League fixtures will be made.

According to FIFA the major break through could be seen at the 2010 World Cup in Africa. In this extreme climate there will be no alternative but to use artificial turf systems. A further factor are financial considerations. The installation of a synthetic turf system is a large financial commitment, but long-term studies show that these systems are very good value for money. Natural turf pitches have a limited life especially when the pitch is intensively used and weather or natural growth conditions are poor.

Today’s modern football stadiums do not provide the best environment to grow natural turf, this leads to a great deal of money been required to repair or replace entire pitches. An example for this can be seen at the ultramodern AFC Ajax Arena in Amsterdam. Opened 7 years ago the entire natural playing surface has been replaced up to 30 times! The problem has been that the arena restricts the amount of light, moisture and wind the natural grass is exposed to. The grass cannot survive in this environment. The process of replacing the pitch costs up to 150,000 Euro. The newly constructed German “soccer centres” have the same problems as Ajax.

(Lenzing Plastics Report 02/2003)