Foam experts introduce product development

Schmitz Foam Products is a global supplier of high-quality ProPlay Shockpads for artificial turf pitches. On 1st January 2024, the company will launch its latest product, the ProPlay-Sport23D/170.

The development of ProPlay-Sport23D/170 came about partly due to a continuous internal focus on product innovation and ecologically sustainable solutions – the latter also being advocated by professional associations such as the EMEA Synthetic Turf Council (ESTC). In addition, the popularity of the ProPlay-Sport23D runner was the basis for the product innovation, illustrating how the greatest impact can be achieved through further development of a widely sold product. The new product variant replaces its predecessor and can boast an improved eco-balance while offering the same performance.

Innovation and environmental performance go hand in hand

Testing with a new and balanced mix of raw materials resulted in an even better end product. The new ProPlay-Sport23D/170 is 10% lighter than its predecessor and has a lower density. As a result, Schmitz Foam Products has improved the carbon footprint of its most successful product. The technical properties remain virtually the same and the long product life span is still guaranteed. The latest shock pad perfectly meets the stricter performance and durability requirements specified by the new standard EN 15330-4. Like its predecessor, ProPlay-Sport23D/170 also qualifies for the highest drainage classification according to EN 15330-4 and is therefore very well equipped to drain sports fields when extreme precipitation is occurring ever more frequent. The lighter shock pad is also easier to work with, allowing artificial turf systems to be installed faster and even more efficiently. This makes ProPlay-Sport23D/170 a good example of sustainable product optimisation: Innovation and improved environmental performance go hand in hand.

Life cycle analysis

To accurately assess a product's environmental impact, its entire life cycle must be considered, from raw material extraction and transportation to production, (re)use, and waste processing. To ensure consistent environmental performance evaluation, the European Commission has established a method for calculating the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). Additionally, product Category Rules (PEFCRs) guide the calculation of specific product groups' ecological footprints.

This methodology has been widely adopted in areas like housing construction and is now gaining traction in the sports sector. Traditionally, sports field construction decisions have been based solely on sports-technical quality and athletic performance. However, the PEF value will increasingly influence tendering processes and sports field design.

The Netherlands has been using an environmental cost indicator (MKI), a precursor to the European Commission's PEF, to evaluate products' environmental impact holistically. All environmental aspects of a product are incorporated into the MKI score in a simple and controllable way. For this approach, we commissioned a life cycle assessment (LCA) of ProPlay-Sport23D/170, which shows that it has a significantly more favorable PEF than most prefab shock pads currently available.

25-year warranty

Schmitz Foam Products has been producing shock pads for more than 25 years and is now seen as an authority in the industry. The ProPlay shock pads are of high quality and deliver proven performance. They meet all the requirements of the artificial turf industry and are the perfect base for high-quality artificial grass systems. Because Schmitz Foam Products is synonymous with outstanding product quality – both now and in the future – there is a 25-year warranty on ProPlay shock pads. This covers the shock-absorbing properties, vertical deformation and energy restitution of the shock pad for a period of 25 years. The warranty can be requested by the owner of the artificial grass field. (STADIAWORLD, 07.12.2023)

Homepage: Schmitz Foam Products B.V.