Sekisui Alveo launches new version of Alveosport shock pad with a low-carbon footprint

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Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polyolefin foams, is known for innovation, also in terms of environmental performance. The latest development is the use of bio-circular base materials for making the company’s renowned Alveosport shock pad used in artificial turf systems and playground surfaces. With this new offering, Alveosport retains its proven technical performance and is now ISCC PLUS certified as well. This makes the new product an excellent way to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of athletic surfaces.

Alveosport is a physically crosslinked closed-cell polyolefin foam product designed especially for use as a resilient underlay in sports fields and playground systems. The material meets stringent quality standards including EN 15330-4 (2022), FIFA QUALITY, FIFA QUALITY PRO, FIH (hockey), IRB (rugby), and GAA (Gaelic soccer), and is thus suitable for the most demanding applications. Over the past ten years, the product has been installed in hundreds of sports fields around the world. Proven performance and durability have made Alveosport a well-known brand name – and Sekisui Alveo has just made Alveosport even better: ISCC PLUS certified Alveosport is made with mass balanced bio-circular resources which are waste and residues as a substitute for virgin fossil resources, a change that drastically reduces the carbon footprint of the material.

A step into a certified sustainable future
Professional associations like the ESTC (EMEA Synthetic Turf Council) and IAKS (International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities) advocate environmentally sustainable solutions – and Certified Alveosport fills the bill with the use of mass balanced bio-circular resources which are based on waste and residues.

ISCC PLUS certified Alveosport can significantly enhance the environmental profile of sports surfaces. Application Development Manager Sascha Paul at Sekisui Alveo calls the new product “a step into a certified sustainable future for sports fields.”

Performance remains unchanged – no re-certification required

ISCC PLUS certified Alveosport foam is identical to standard Alveosport foam in terms of performance and durability. The new foam meets all the same exacting quality and performance standards met by the original version. This is a big benefit, explains Rolf Krämer, sales manager at Sekisui Alveo: “With Alveosport made of ISCC PLUS certified raw materials, the well-known FIFA certified shock-pad performance does not change and the system does not require any re-certification.”

Bio-circular feedstock versus fossil resources

Standard foams typically use fossil-based raw materials. ISCC PLUS certified Alveosport foam is made using certified resin produced with feedstock based on the bio-circular mass balance approach as a substitute for these fossil resources. Bio-circular feedstocks are considered a waste / processing residue of biological origin that are re-used, thus significantly reducing the consumption of fossil resources. Such sustainable bio-circular feedstocks have a negative carbon footprint due to biogenic absorption during the growth phase of renewable feedstocks.

More detailed information on the Sekisui Alveo ISCC PLUS certified bio-circular mass balance approach system is available HERE.

An all-round winner

The environmental benefits of Alveosport are not limited to reduction of the carbon footprint. Alveosport is PAH free. Any leaching of substances into the environment is well below allowable limits. Artificial turf sport fields and playgrounds also have decisive advantages over natural grass surfaces. They require no watering, fertilizers, or herbicides.

Alveosport excels not only in terms of environmental performance but also in terms of technical performance, convenience, cost, and maintenance. The resilient material delivers excellent ball-bounce characteristics, and the cushioning effect reduces injuries of players using the surface for any type of sport. Artificial turf systems can be installed in any climate zone and used at any time. They allow intensive use and require comparatively little maintenance, which minimizes costs for the community or owner. Alveosport is delivered in large but easily manageable rolls, making for easy and efficient installation. With a service life of up to 25 years, the Alveosport shock-pad can typically be reused when the grass mat is replaced. For all these reasons, Alveosport has become a favourite among athletes, clubs, owners, and installation contractors.

Part of a broad commitment to sustainability

The ISCC PLUS certified version of Alveosport expands Sekisui Alveo’s line of ISCC PLUS certified products that began with Alveolit TA foams in 2020. It underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable material sourcing.

Sekisui Alveo considers its products throughout their entire lifecycle: from raw material sourcing to manufacturing and final application. The sustainability benefits realised in the initial stages of material sourcing and production are passed on to customers further down the supply chain. Additional benefits are realised in the application phase. Many of the company’s high-quality foams are used as sustainable, energy-saving solutions in a wide variety of applications due to their flexibility, softness, light weight, excellent insulating & damping qualities, and long-term performance. Typical application fields include not only sports facilities but also building construction, industrial, medical, and transportation.

How was the ISCC PLUS certification achieved?

The ISCC PLUS certification for the newly launched version of Alveosport was based on the mass balance approach, which has become widely adopted in the chemical industry. As a milestone on the journey towards a sustainable economy, this approach is designed to trace the flow of materials through a complex value chain. Since different types of feedstocks are typically blended in the manufacturing process, physical segregation of sustainable content is often practically and economically infeasible. The mass balance approach makes it possible to track the amount of sustainable content in the value chain and attribute it to products based on verifiable bookkeeping. For companies using the mass balance approach, ISCC PLUS certification verifies that the mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. Under ISCC requirements, mass balance calculations and product sustainability declarations are audited by an ISCC-recognised independent body.

 

Sekisui Alveo AG – Company profile

Sekisui Alveo AG, with head office in Adligenswil, Switzerland, develops and produces extruded and cross-linked polyolefin foams used in Adhesive Coating, Automotive, Construction including Artificial Turf, as well as Industrial and Consumer Goods. The solutions are developed in close cooperation with processing companies and manufacturers, and tested and approved in the company’s Application Service Laboratory.

Sekisui Alveo was established in 1971 and today employs 500 people. Beside the head office in Adligenswil (Switzerland) and the two production plants in Roermond (Netherlands) and Bad Sobernheim (Germany), the company has local offices throughout Europe. Sekisui Alveo is owned by Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd.

 

 

 

Sekisui Alveo introduces innovative shockpad foam for non-infill systems

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Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polyolefin foams, has expanded its well-known Alveosport product line. Alveosport NUT 3011-14 is a new foam designed especially for use as a shockpad in artificial turf systems designed without infill. The innovative material not only meets the technical and quality requirements for sports fields, it presents an alternative to the questionable rubber infill used in many artificial turf systems.

Various artificial turf systems in use today incorporate rubber infill in order to achieve the desired performance characteristics. Problem is, this ground rubber is a material of concern. It impacts both the environmental and health, and this has been a topic of discussion at the European level. Artificial turf systems designed without the infill appear to be a promising alternative.

New shockpad with enhanced performance

In artificial turf systems without infill, more of the vertical sports performance must be provided by the substructure. The shockpad beneath the artificial turf carpet must be designed for this purpose. Alveosport NUT 3011-14 is a new product specially developed to meet these technical requirements. The chemical composition, in combination with the physical design of the shockpad, results in an excellent balance of shock absorption, vertical deformation, and ball bounce – directly after installation as well as throughout the lifetime of the turf system.

Pioneering installations

Alveosport NUT 3011-14 was used in a new non-infill football turf built this year for DSV Concordia in Delft, the Netherlands. In this system, FieldTurf Ultra 360 non-infill carpet is installed over the shockpad. Rob Heusinkveld, Product Manager at FieldTurf Tarkett Benelux, explains the design: “This system is a real further development in the field of non-infill synthetic turf systems. Because there is no performance infill, most of the performance properties have to be provided by the shockpad. Alveosport is our go-to shockpad for synthetic systems because of its proven technical performance – so Alveosport NUT 3011-14, developed especially for use in non-infill systems, was an obvious choice for this turf.” In addition to this example, four non-infill synthetic turf fields based on Alveosport NUT 3011-14 were successfully installed in Norway last year.

Technical development

These pioneering installations as well as recent studies indicate that by optimizing test methods and standards, non-infill systems will be able to fully meet players’ expectations and the technical requirements of FIFA and other organisations. When this happens, non-infill systems are expected to become a high-performance alternative to football turf systems using performance infill. Sliding performance and shoe grip remain key points of attention as non-infill systems develop. As more clubs opt for non-infill systems, acceptance will grow and the system and components will be further developed. Sekisui Alveo’s leadership role in this trend towards healthier artificial turf systems is fully in line with the company’s mission of Innovation in Foam.

Alveosport: an all-round winner

In terms of installation, technical performance, and environmental impact, Alveosport is an all-round winner. Installing the shockpad is quick and easy. It can be done in one day under any weather conditions and requires neither special machinery nor skilled personnel. The cushioning significantly reduces the risk of injuries. In terms of environmental performance, Alveosport releases no harmful chemicals or gases known to pollute soil, water, or air.
Artificial turf systems without infill are even quicker to install, easier to maintain, and ultimately easier to recycle at the end of their service life.

Sound long-term investment

In many cases, the Alveosport shockpad can be reused when a field is being renovated. When the artificial turf wears out after a number of years, the owner only needs to invest in a new carpet. This saves significant costs. It also saves time, energy, and material – and minimizes the interruption so the players can return to a comfortable, healthy, high-performance field within a very short time.

Second life for Alveosport shock pad

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Reuse leads to costs savings in soccer field renovation

Adligenswil, Switzerland, September 2019 – An artificial-turf soccer field built in 2009 required refurbishment to keep state of the art performance – The existing base layer, Alveosport shock pad produced by Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polyolefin foams, could easily be reused in the new turf system – saving the owners extra investments.

The soccer field is located in Genemuiden, Netherlands and is used by the Soccer Club Genemuiden, which plays in the nation’s highest amateur league. The artificial turf system was installed in 2009, and after a decade of rugged use, the club very much wanted to receive a field again, that could meet the outstanding quality of the old one. The club wanted a new field incorporating the latest developments and technology in artificial grass soccer systems.

 

Old shock pad still in good condition after ten years

Edel Grass, the artificial turf producer from Genemuiden that installed the original pitch, was hired to conduct the rehab project. The first step of the work was to remove the old artificial turf carpet, including the infill. As expected, the Alveosport shock pad underneath appeared in good condition for subsequent use. This was confirmed by testing the shockpad by the external laboratory KIWA. The measured values show that the ten-year-old Alveosport NUT 3001 12 mm foam and all critical performance characteristics remained intact. This was no surprise, since Sekisui Alveo declares that Alveosport has a lifespan two lifetimes of artificial turf carpet and gives a 25-year warranty on the product.

 

Ready for covering in less than a day

After the accredited testing institute had confirmed that the Alveosport shock pad will outperform another 10-15 years, the old shock pad was prepared for reuse. When the artificial grass carpet and infill was being professionally removed by machinery, only some small areas of the shock pad were damaged and this was quickly and easily repaired.

 

Outstanding technical and environmental performance

Edel Grass calls the new taylor made soccer system they installed ‘Edel Future Next.’ Using a combination of specially developed yarns and infill materials, it offers outstanding technical performance and meets today’s strict environmental regulations. The reuse of the Alveosport shock pad – which is 100% recyclable – enhances the environmental profile of the overall system even further. Alveosport releases no harmful chemicals or gases known to pollute soil water or air.

 

Savings of costs

Reuse of the old shock pad also expedited the project, saving the owners both time and money. Mark van Spriel, Edel Grass project manager in charge of the Genemuiden project, says that reuse of the shock pad made the project much easier, cheaper and faster.

 

Quality is the key

Reuse and longevity of the shock pad is the key to the outstanding lifecycle cost/benefit ratio of Alveosport. The secret of the material’s longevity and stable performance properties is the quality of the installed materials, manufacturing, and design. Alveosport is made of cross-linked closed cell polyolefin foam. Use of virgin base materials ensures that the technical properties of the material can be precisely controlled. The patented product is designed specifically for use as a shock pad in artificial turf systems. The established quality system in the factory ensures the constant high quality of the product.

 

FIFA certification successful

The new field in Genemuiden, built with recyclable and reused materials, is now in use, and the players and owners are delighted with the performance. Shock absorption, energy restitution and ball rebound are excellent; performance is uniform over the entire field. The infill and water-retaining thatch yarn moderate the field temperature on hot days, keeping the field as cool as possible when irrigated. Alveosport does not freeze because it does not absorb water, so the pitch can be used all year around. The new pitch is FIFA certified. It will reliably serve SC Genemuiden as a first-rate soccer field with natural performance for more than another ten years.

Alveosport is back in production – Sekisui Alveo has restarted delivery of the innovative shock pad

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Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polymeric foams, has resumed deliveries of Alveosport, their high-performance underlay for artificial turf. After recovering from a factory fire in late 2016, the company is now delivering its highly regarded shock pad once again.

Alveosport is back after having been unavailable since a fire damaged the factory at Roermond, Netherlands in December 2016. The eagerly-awaited product is once again in serial production and available for immediate delivery.

Rebuilt factory with new state-of-the-art machinery

The factory has now been rebuilt, the damaged machinery replaced, and commissioning successfully conducted. At the heart of the Alveosport production process is a very special machine built exclusively for Sekisui Alveo. This machine represents unique technology – there is none other like it available anywhere in the world. It precisely cuts the patented groove pattern into the foam rolls.

Quality in focus

The recovery project involved a lot of people, and many hours were worked in order to expedite the rebuilding of the factory and replacement of the machinery. The successful commissioning was not only about assembling equipment parts, but also sophisticated programming of equipment controls. In addition, intensive training for operators is needed to achieve the expected high quality of the well-known Alveosport products.

First rolls of Alveosport already delivered

Customers have been placing orders for Alveosport again since Sekisui Alveo announced last October that production would be resumed in March 2018 – and now the first rolls have left the plant in Roermond. The equipment is new, but Alveosport remains the same proven product, with the same quality and the same performance that customers value and expect. One key to the consistent high quality is the material and the design. Only pure virgin base materials are used, so that the mechanical properties can be precisely controlled and matched to the type of artificial turf and the sport. The physically cross-linked closed-cell polyolefin foam material has very low water absorption. This, in conjunction with the drainage design, keeps the performance of the field constant as temperature and moisture conditions vary. This can extend the outdoor playing season by months when temperatures are low.

 

Excellent performance

Alveosport excels in terms of installation, technical performance, and environmental impact. Installing the shock pad is fast and easy. It can be done in one day under almost any weather conditions and requires neither special machinery nor skilled personnel. Sports performance is optimised. The shock pad provides excellent shock absorption, energy restitution, and ball rebound uniformly across the entire field. The cushioning significantly reduces the risk of injuries. And in terms of environmental performance, Alveosport releases no harmful chemicals or gases known to pollute soil, water, or air – and at the end of a long service life of the artificial grass component, the Alveosport shock pad can be reused.

Best long-term investment

Assurance that a field with a shock pad will still deliver the required performance after many years of use is decisive for clubs or municipalities that want to choose a high-quality field with the best life-cycle cost. Considering maintenance, replacement cost, and service life, an artificial turf field with good strong fibres and with a shock pad turns out to be the best long-term investment. Alveosport shock pad can be reused when a field is renovated. When the artificial turf wears out after a number of years, the only investment required is for a new carpet. This saves significant costs. It also saves time, energy, and material – and minimises the interruption so the players can quickly return to playing on a comfortable, healthy, high-performance field.

Alveosport shock pad is back – Sekisui Alveo relaunches proven product with new branding

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Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polymeric foams, is relaunching Alveosport, their high-performance shock pad for artificial turf. The company has re-branded the product to better reflect the dynamics and robustness that have made this shock pad a first choice across Europe.

After having been unavailable for many months, Alveosport is back. The eagerly-awaited shock pad will be available for delivery again in March 2018. Customers may place orders now.

 

New image better reflects the product qualities

Sekisui Alveo used the production pause to refresh the Alveosport logo and graphics as well as the website www.alveosport.com. The new visual style better expresses the dynamics and robustness for which Alveosport is famous. The new logo includes a graphic of the product itself, with the patented groove pattern that is central to the outstanding consistent performance of this innovative shock pad.

 

Rebuilt factory with new state-of-the-art machinery

Alveosport has been unavailable this year due to a fire in the factory at Roermond, in the Netherlands. The rebuilding is ongoing and new replacement machinery, including custom-built special machines, will be installed soon. For instance, the machine used to process Alveosport represents unique technology – there is no other machine like it available anywhere in the world.

 

Same proven product, same high quality

The factory is new, but Alveosport remains the same proven product, with the same quality and the same performance that customers trust and expect. The key to the constant high quality is the material and the design. Only pure virgin base materials are used, so that the mechanical properties can be precisely controlled and matched to the type of artificial turf and sport. The physically cross-linked closed-cell polyolefin foam material has very low water absorption. This, in conjunction with the drainage design, keeps the performance of the field constant as temperature and moisture conditions vary – and often extends the outdoor playing season by many months.

 

Excellent performance

In terms of installation, technical performance, and environmental impact, Alveosport is a winner.  Installing the shock pad is fast and easy. It can be done in one day under any weather conditions and requires neither special machinery nor skilled personnel. Sports performance is optimised. The shock pad provides excellent shock absorption, energy restitution, and ball rebound uniformly across the entire field. The cushioning significantly reduces the risk of injuries. And in terms of environmental performance, Alveosport releases no harmful chemicals or gases known to pollute soil, water, or air – and at the end of a long service life of the artificial grass component, the Alveosport shockpad can be re-used

 

Proven durability

“Artificial turf football fields installed on an Alveosport shock pad continue to meet stringent FIFA quality standards even after ten years of hard use. This was proven by a scientific study conducted last year”, explains Frenk Stoop, Sales Manager for Alveosport. The study shows that the shock absorbency and the ball-bounce characteristics of fields with an Alveosport shock pad remain high for a longer period of time than for non shockpad fields. The results were so positive that these fields will also match the standards in the coming years.

 

Best long-term investment

Assurance that a field with a shock pad will still deliver the required performance after ten years of use is decisive for clubs or municipalities that want to choose a high-quality field with the best life-cycle cost. Considering maintenance, replacement cost, and service life, an artificial turf field with good strong fibres and with a shock pad turns out to be the best long-term investment. Alveosport shock pad can be reused when a field is being renovated. When the artificial turf wears out after a number of years, one need only to invest in a new carpet. This saves significant costs. It also saves time, energy, and material – and minimizes the interruption so the players can return very soon to a comfortable, healthy, high-performance field.

 

Alveosport used as shockpad in artificial turf systems in Haiger, Hessen

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Successful start of collaboration between Sekisui Alveo and Trofil Sportbodensysteme

 

Lucerne, April 2014. Sekisui Alveo, manufacturer of polyolefin foams, and Trofil
Sportbodensysteme have completed their first joint project: The elementary
school in Haiger, Hessen now has a small football pitch and a multi-use
field with artificial turf. Trofil provided the artificial grass and the
granulate filler for the project and handled the installation, whilst Sekisui
Alveo provided the Alveosport shockpad. “We are pleased with the good start of
our collaboration and we see a successful partnership in the future”, say Frenk
Stoop, responsible Key Account Manager at Sekisui Alveo and Eike Wedell, Managing
Director of Trofil.

Both fields feature high-quality artificial turf products specially made for the sports
applications: The Trofil grass fibres on the football pitch have a pile height of
40 millimetres, which gives balls natural rebound and rolling characteristics.
A key contributor to the overall mechanical performance of the artificial turf system is underneath the
grass mat: the Alveosport shockpad made of cross-linked polyolefin foam with a closed
cell structure. Alveosport meets the standard DIN SPEC 91335 (Sport areas with
synthetic turf systems – Usage of factory made shockpads), in effect since
October 2013. Across the entire 450-square-metre football pitch, the shockpad provides
good traction and optimal impact absorption, so the playing surface is easy on
athletes’ joints. At the same time, the structure of the ten-millimetre thick base layer provides
energy return, making for excellent rolling and rebound characteristics of the
balls. A further advantage of the robust foam is very good resilience: Even
after long and hard play in any type of weather, no unevenness is caused. This
reduces the risk of injury for the athletes and reduces maintenance costs for
the operator.

The 216-square-metre multipurpose field enjoys the same benefits: Here the shorter
grass fibres (20 millimetre pile height) together with the Alveosport shockpad
provide an optimal solution for nearly all types playing and sports activities.

Because Alveosport is delivered in rolls, the shockpad is fast and easy to install. It remains
dimensionally stable under fluctuating temperatures and can be laid in one day
in nearly any type of weather. No special machines or technical specialists are
necessary. This installation system has been proven in fields around the world
and is now being used increasingly in the German market.

Overall, the patented Alveosport shock pad ensures that the mechanical properties of the playing field remain
intact for years. This in turn enhances the longevity of the other components
and thus the entire artificial turf system. It benefits the users – the
students and other athletes – as well as the school, as the operator.

“The collaboration gives us valuable synergies – we can learn much from one
another”, explains Frenk Stoop of Sekisui Alveo. Because artificial turf
functions well as a system only when the individual components are perfectly
coordinated with one another. “We are now looking forward to the next projects.”

Alveosport installed at Maracana Stadium

Alveosport at the 2014 Football World Cup

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First-choice shockpad for synthetic turf at Maracanã Stadium

Lucerne, April 2014. The list of sports fields built on Alveosport counts well over 200
and includes some of the biggest names around the world. With the installation
of Alveosport at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, another famous name
was added to the list.

Alveosport is a patented, high performance, crosslinked closed-cell polyolefin foam
shockpad designed especially for use in artificial turf sports fields. Sekisui
Alveo launched the Alveosport brand back in 2006, and many different artificial
turf systems have been developed since. A range of Alveosport products is
available, in order to perfectly match the other system components and provide
an optimal surface for any chosen type of field sport.

Alveosport meets all relevant international standards and requirements,
including those of FIFA, FIH, IRB, AFL and many other sports
organisations. Some countries or clubs have additional local requirements that
must be met. The Alveosport technical manager is our expert for dealing with
all sorts of norms, regulations, and special requirements – making it easy for
customers to get exactly the playing field they want.

Alveosport is now a recognised and highly respected brand in the
artificial turf industry recommended by many tufters. Sekisui Alveo has become
recognised as a specialist for shockpads for all sorts of artificial turf
systems. Known for Innovation in Foam, Sekisui Alveo is playing a leading role
in this market by continually developing new and improved products and
solutions.

Key challenges of a famous project

In March 2013 the Spanish/Brazilian contractor Royalverd/Greenleaf
needed to install artificial turf around the playing field of the famous
Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The contractor contacted its local
Alveosport representative for advice, seeking artificial turf with the same touch
and feel as natural grass. Two systems were recommended: Behind the goals, a 50
mm monofilament premium turf was installed on Alveosport NUT 4519 10 mm, and on
the sides, attractive landscape turf was used, also laid on NUT 4519 10 mm to
provide additional comfort for players warming up on the side lines.

Royalverd needed the shockpad right away, and Sekisui Alveo delivered. Thus the
installation was completed and the field inaugurated in April 2013. Maracanã
Stadium was built in 1950 to hold 200,000 spectators, and it is still one of
the largest stadiums in the world. It hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
and will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics and
Paralympics. Over 7,800 m² of Alveosport was installed at the stadium in
preparation for these major events. The playing field itself is natural grass,
and all the turf surrounding it is artificial – with Alveosport inside.

Benefits through innovation

Using an Alveosport shockpad elevates the performance of an artificial turf pitch and
adapts the pitch to the needed sports requirements. Alveosport ensures high performance
over a long period and reduces the risk of injuries. The material is
prefabricated in rolls and is easy to install.