TenCate Grass Group and subsidiaries partner in the first circular artificial grass processing plant in the Netherlands

/ /by

This initiative makes it possible for municipalities, sports clubs and other organisations to have end-of-life synthetic turf processed in a sustainable manner.

TenCate Grass Group invests in the establishment of GBN Artificial Grass Recycling B.V. (GBN-AGR). From the first quarter of 2020, this company will recycle artificial grass in the Westelijk Havengebied in Amsterdam into high-quality circular raw materials that can be reused in industry and in the construction of new artificial grass fields. Until then, the GBN-AGR processing company will take in end-of-life artificial grass at a temporary location.

CEO TenCate Grass Group Michael Vogel:

“TenCate Grass strives to supply the most innovative and sustainable artificial grass with the lowest possible environmental impact. We are therefore delighted to be working with GBN Group, the leading expert in the field of recycling. With this initiative we are taking responsibility for the entire artificial grass chain, from manufacturing to end-of-life processing and reuse. This is our first step in creating a fully circular artificial grass process globally.”

GBN-AGR works on 100% circular processing of artificial grass, so that BRL certification becomes possible. This certification guarantees both clients and buyers of circular raw materials a completely transparent and high-quality process. GBN-AGR will publish an annual impact report, which will indicate, among other things, how many square metres of artificial grass have been processed, into which raw materials or products and where the products have ended up.

About GBN-AGR

GBN Artificial Grass Recycling B.V. is an independent company that is fully managed by GBN Group, a leading Dutch company for the processing of raw materials and residues. GBN Groep is part of Strukton. In the value cases it develops, GBN always consciously seeks cooperation with other market parties. GBN-AGR was founded with the support of chain partners Antea Sport, Edel Grass, Ten Cate Grass Group, Greenfields, CSC Sport, Sports & Leisure Group and Domo Sport Grass.

About GBN Group

GBN Group’s mission is to make raw materials available for everyone. Now and in the future. It does this by closing the circle and enabling a 100 percent circular use of those material flows that are not renewable. In this way GBN reduces the use of primary raw materials and the world can continue to build and produce.

Cruyff Foundation, TenCate Grass, Cape Town, ESTO. synthetic turf, artificial grass

TenCate Field in a box is introduced as Cruyff Court Ajax Cape Town by the Johan Cruyff Foundation

/ /by

Based on the Field in a box concept, the Cruyff Court Ajax Cape Town was officially opened on Wednesday 29 November. The latest project delivered through the partnership between TenCate Grass and the Johan Cruyff Foundation sees the provision of a Cruyff Court for Nobantu Primary School and for Ajax Cape Town to use as a hub for their community sports projects.

The opening was carried out by Cruyff Foundation ambassador Ronald Koeman and Ajax Cape Town Head of Youth and former South African national goalkeeper, Hans Vonk. Local children also had the opportunity to play in a small tournament at the Cruyff Court, an activity which sets the stage for many more matches, tournaments and community programmes to come.

Having commenced with a partnership in 2003, TenCate Grass is the preferred artificial turf supplier for Cruyff Courts and has helped to manufacture and supply surfaces for more than 200 Cruyff Courts worldwide. Now in the fourteenth year of the partnership, TenCate Grass and the Cruyff Foundation have begun to use the Field in a box concept to deliver Cruyff Courts to areas where local provision of materials may be limited and the turnkey solution of Field in a box allows Cruyff Courts to be built at locations that may otherwise miss out.

Field in a box is a complete artificial grass system that links sport with social, educational and economic aims through the provision and installation of a unique facility within disadvantaged or isolated areas around the world. The Triple P principle of Field in a box, which considers how sustainable development is a balance between the elements of People, Planet and Prosperity, sits in harmony with the youth empowerment programme, Heroes of the Cruyff Court, and the 14 Rules of the Cruyff Courts. Field in a box therefore provides an ideal, additional resource for the Cruyff Foundation to consider when installing Cruyff Courts globally.

Michael Vogel, group director of TenCate Grass, commenting on the project opening: “I was thrilled that I was able to join the Cruyff Foundation for the opening of Cruyff Court Ajax Cape Town and that, through the long-standing partnership with the Cruyff Foundation, we at TenCate Grass can contribute to the health and wellbeing of local communities all over the world. For TenCate Grass, there is no better way than to do that through sports. The Cruyff Foundation and Field in box are the perfect combination to achieve this goal”.

Niels Meijer, director of the Johan Cruyff Foundation adds: “It is great that in this fourteenth year of our partnership with TenCate Grass, we can deliver such an innovative project in the township of Guguletu in Cape Town. The turnkey solution that TenCate Grass offers with Field in a box guarantees quality and, with the use of local labour, we stimulate the local economy through our project. Together, we were able to create this fantastic facility for the children and community in Cape Town and provide them with an opportunity to develop through sports and play. Not just the kids of today but also for the generations to come”.

TenCate Grass acquires Opsa S.A.

/ /by

TenCate Grass, developer, manufacturer and global supplier of innovative synthetic grass systems announces its acquisition of longstanding strategic Spanish partner OBRAS Y PAVIMENTOS ESPECIALES, S.A. (Opsa).

Opsa, located in Madrid, is specialised in the engineering, installation and maintenance of synthetic turf sports fields and athletics tracks. It is a long term partner of the TenCate Grass subsidiary GreenFields, who develop and supply multiple innovative tufted, woven and hybrid synthetic grass systems and is recognized as one of the leaders in its industry.

Spain is an important market for TenCate Grass as water is scarce in many parts of the country, making synthetic turf an ideal solution. There is significant business growth in artificial grass with applications in football ranging from training fields for the Primera División clubs to municipal facilities. There is also substantial demand for hockey fields and rugby is gaining popularity. Opsa covers all these segments and is also the premier installer of athletics tracks in Spain. It distinguishes itself based on innovation and the quality of its installation and maintenance activities.

Michael Vogel, CEO of TenCate Grass, commenting on the exciting announcement: “We are very pleased that Opsa, one of our strong and successful GreenFields partners, will now be forming an integral part of the TenCate Grass family. The directors of Opsa, Angel Meneses Morejon and Fernando Diaz Pena, and TenCate Grass think alike about innovation, quality and reliability. This has set them apart in the Spanish market and we are thrilled that they will continue to lead Opsa for years to come”.

Angel Meneses Morejon and Fernando Diaz Pena, directors of Opsa add: “By joining TenCate Grass, Opsa becomes part of a successful and winning team. Working with the GreenFields organisation we can combine our bespoke construction capabilities with the highest quality synthetic tufted, woven and hybrid grass systems. We are looking forward to being part of this new collaboration and the opportunities it will bring”.

Nijverdal, The Netherlands, Friday 22 September 2017

Hybrid system XtraGrass™ at the Ricoh Arena is a success

/ /by

The hybrid system from TenCate, called XtraGrass™ is proven to be a success at different stadiums in the Netherlands and the UK where the pitch is used for soccer and/or rugby. After its first season at The Ricoh Arena,  XtraGrass™ has proved a hit with both players and staff at Wasps RFC and is more than ready for another exhilarating season of sports.

We visited The Ricoh for the last match of the season and filmed Wasps V London Irish to see for ourselves how the pitch had held up with dual sports plus a number of events that have taken place on it. We were very pleased with how it looked! Due to the strength and increased durability of -XtraGrass™ it can withstand dual sports play as well as single sports providing a 100% natural grass feeling and a green looking pitch all year round!Curious to see the hybrid pitch after a rugby match? Click here to watch the video

The XtraGrass™ pitch received some fantastic comments from Wasps:

“The pitch is very durable and very flexible, it’s a good, hard playing surface” David Armstrong, Wasps Group CEO

“Its always a nice surface to play on, we can play good attacking rugby on it” Jake Cooper-Woolley, Wasps Prop

“It suits our style of play, it’s a beautiful pitch” Dan Baugh, Head of Strength & Conditioning

With – XtraGrass™ already installed at a number of high profile venues including The Ricoh Arena, The Kassam Stadium and Vitesse (Netherlands) and installations taking place currently at The Lensbury Hotel and PSV, the hybrid pitch is proving itself to be an optimum playing surface in the world of professional sports.

 

 

 

 

 

Click here

Field in a box™ ready for the Olympic Experience in Scheveningen

/ /by

With the start of the Olympics 2016 ahead of us, NOC*NSF organized an Olympic Experience for all Dutch people that would like to experience the Olympics close to home. The goal of the event is to bring people together at one location where they can experience the Olympics but also practice the different Olympic sports.

TenCate has installed a Field in a box™ at the beach with a hockey pitch in front of  the container so all visitors can come and play hockey on the pitch. No need to bring your own gear as hockey sticks and other attributes are all taken care of! Are you curious to see how the Field in a box™ container was made? How did we manage to get it on the beach? Please watch the full video here:  box? Please Click here to watch the making of Field in a box. If you would like to know more about the Field in a box concept  Please visit our website.

IMG 0210IMG 0228

IMG 0223

IMG 0282

Field in a box™ part of the Olympic Experience in Scheveningen

/ /by

During the 2016 Olympic Experience on the beach of Scheveningen, the Netherlands, Field in a box™ will be shown to the visiting public as the Box full of hopes & dreams©. A temporary mini hockey court of 20 x 40 meters is constructed for the Dutch Olympic Committee NOC*NSF, and the Royal Dutch Hockey Association KNHB. Anyone that wants to experience the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro the best but has no ability to travel to Brazil this year, is welcome on the beach of Scheveningen, near The Hague. During daytime a variety of sports can be played under the guidance of more than 20 different Dutch sports associations, such as the KNHB. In the afternoon and evening, the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil can be followed live on large screens, and can be enjoyed during media commentaries, other entertainment and the presence of former athletes and former Olympians.

The event takes place from 6 to 21 August and is intended for sports fans, families and other interested parties who want to experience the best of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro from the Netherlands. TenCate organizes four special days for selected stakeholders and TenCate relations interested in the Field in a box™ concept.

Learn more about Field in a box™ op: www.fieldinabox.com

Learn more about the 2016 Olympic Experience: http://denhaag.com/en/event/40096/olympic-experience

Cruyff court installed at the UN head office in New York

/ /by

Together with former Dutch soccer legends the UN ambassadors have played a tournament in June on the temporarily installed Cruyff Court. Even Dutch Minister Bert Koenders was there and participated during the soccer tournament.

“Sport, and especially football, brings people and communities together by emphasizing similarities and building bridges between different views, cultures and people. Football opens doors and makes things negotiable,” according to Minister Bert Koenders. The aim of the event was to raise awareness for the important role of sport in promoting peace, development, health and education. “On this day the unifying power of football symbolizes that the Netherlands is a partner for peace and development,” said Mr Koenders. The Cruyff Foundation and the KNVB WorldCoaches are joining forces to provide children from all over the world with opportunities to exercise. “That fits perfectly with the commitment of the UN to make sport part of programs for development and peace.”

TenCate Grass has been a longstanding partner of the Cruyff Foundation and produces the artificial grass fibers for the Cruyff Courts. There are now more than 200 courts worldwide constructed and this number will continue to rise in the coming months. Sport connects people and the Cruyff Foundation is aimed at inspiring young people so they can exercise together and develop themselves.

Continued Partnership for TenCate Grass and KNHB

/ /by

The Royal Dutch Hockey Association and turf producer TenCate Grass will continue their successful partnership, which began a few years ago at the World Cup Hockey in The Hague. As part of the collaboration, the artificial turf hockey pitch for the new Wagener stadium by TenCate Grass will be equipped with the latest GreenFields® TX surface. This pitch will be built in time for the 2017 European Field Hockey Championships.

The state-of-the-art GreenFields® TX artificial turf pitch, is being developed in close collaboration with elite hockey players and will focus on the optimum properties for player performanceat top international hockey level.

Leading hockey System

Ton Raaphorst, Managing Director of TenCate Grass EMEA, is enthusiastic about the ongoing collaboration: “We are delighted that our excellent relationship will be continued with the KNHB. Along with the KNHB we strive for further sustainable development of our GreenFields hockey systems , aimed at optimum playability opportunities for both elite athletes and grassroots hockey in theNetherlands.”

A renewed partnership

Erik Gerritsen, Director of the KNHB, also welcomed the continued collaboration with TenCate Grass: “The KNHB strives to build long-term relationships with its partners, sponsors and suppliers. We are proud that TenCate Grass in the coming years will remain with us. The extended collaboration also assures us a good playing field for the European Championships in 2017 in Amstelveen.”

Europe’s first Field in a box™ opened in Madrid

/ /by

The first TenCate Field in a box™ system is installed and opened in Europe. The first European Field in a box™ was opened in Madrid. The field was commissioned by UEFA. FedEx helped make the installation possible. FedEx is fully committed to social investments in the markets in which it operates. The TenCate Field in a box™ system from TenCate Grass connects sports to social, educational and economic objectives.

TenCate Field in a box™ is an integrated, easy-to-install solution based on an artificial grass system and is comprised of an artificial turf mat of 20 by 40 metres, a foundation and boarding. Materials from TenCate Grass and TenCate Geosynthetics are used as a basis for the system. The system is packaged and delivered in a container, installed on location and equipped with all the extras. The field can provide incentives for employment opportunities and increase involvement from the local population. The system also addresses the global goals of the UN for sustainable development.

Cañada Real Galiana, Madrid
The field in Madrid was provided on behalf of the football organisation UEFA and is located in Cañada Real Galiana, an underprivileged neighbourhood in the Spanish capital. Funding for the installation of the field in Madrid was provided by FedEx. The courier and logistical services company is impressed by the innovative design of TenCate Field in a box™ and in particular by its sustainability. The FedEx Trade Networks division provides international transportation services and can ship the containers all over the world.

Delivering for good
With its global ‘delivering for good’ programme, FedEx is fully committed to social investments in the markets in which it operates. It is utilising its tools and networks to connect local communities to facilities that they would otherwise have no access to. In Madrid, FedEx is working together with Red Deporte Y Cooperación. This local, non-governmental organisation is involved in education, health, integration, peace-building and sports participation. As the main sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, FedEx is working together with the UEFA Foundation for Children and streetfootballworld. That is a global, non-profit network that uses football as a tool to bring about social change and to define communities that could profit most from a sports field. Red Deporte Y Cooperación is a part of the streetfootballworld network.

‘A smart approach’
TenCate Grass has already been approached for cooperation by a variety of institutions and companies both domestically and internationally, explains Hein Heerink. Heerink is product manager at TenCate Grass and co-designer of the system. ‘It is important for us to show that we can take a smart approach to installing artificial grass fields that also have a social objective. The first fields will serve as credentials for future projects.’

FIFA Quality-certificate for stadium in Guinea-Bissau

/ /by

GreenFields will be laying a GreenFields® Evolution XQ with TenCate Accorder® sub-base system at the Guinee-Bissau national stadium. The work has been commissioned by FIFA, who supports a large number of projects set-up to improve football and sports facilities in developing countries such as Guinee-Bissau. The West-African stadium will be the first to boast a GreenFields artificial grass system pitch fitted together with the innovative TenCate Accorder®. TenCate Accorder® is a product of TenCate Grass. Its integrated base layer consists of geotextile material with various pockets which are filled with local materials. The TenCate Accorder® offers unrivalled stability, excellent sports-technical properties and a long lifespan.

Benefits of TenCate Accorder®

The TenCate Accorder® offers a number of significant advantages over ‘traditional’ surfaces. It is a complete product, meaning it can be installed instantly. This sets the TenCate Accorder® apart from traditional bases, which consist of numerous loose components. Furthermore, the product is just seven centimetres thick, compared to at least 40 centimetres thickness in traditional bases.

The fact that the TenCate Accorder® is a complete product offers multiple benefits: less transportation of materials, less (more shallow) digging and easier, quicker laying. In all, these lead to significant time and cost savings.

131st in the FIFA world rankings

Among the athletes using the stadium where the new GreenFields® Evolution XQ pitch will be installed, is the Guinee-Bissau national football team. Currently, the team stands 131st in the FIFA world rankings, though is gradually rising in the shadow is other successful African teams. In the space of ten years, the team has risen to its current position from 190th in the same rankings. The Guinee-Bissau stadium seats over 12,000 spectators.