Women’s World Cup in Canada played on artificial turf produced on German Reimotec machinery
German Reimotec, a subsidiary company of Reifenhäuser is a premier league player in green sports worldwide
Is there anyone who actually has counted the grass blades on a soccer field? Indeed, somebody has, although not through a magnifying glass, but using high-tech. Detlef Kolb, Managing Director Sales at Reimotec Maschinenbau GmbH, Lampertheim, Germany, can indicate the number of “grass blades” of each artificial grass pitch used during the Women’s World Cup in Canada mathematically precisely with just 800 million. He is able to do so because his company developed the machinery and production technology for the artificial turf now also used in the Canadian stadiums during the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Although Detlef Kolb is a soccer fan, his special interest is in the basics of this sport and other kinds of sports which, in the truest sense of the word, are at the feet of the sportspersons. Due to the fact, that also in Canada it was not possible to lay natural grass in the roof-covered hall stadiums, artificial turf used there during the World Cup proved to be a particularly suitable alternative. Indeed, the feeling of playing on artificial turf may be different, especially for players who are used to “real“ grass, but the climate and weather in many countries do not allow to set up and maintain natural grass fields. Besides, the life expectancy of artificial turf, even when exposed to high stresses – is at least 7 to 15 years and thus about three times higher than that of natural lawn. In addition, it does not require any regeneration phases. By now, artificial turf fields are increasingly used for many sports also in Germany and Europe.
Subject of discussions are also the differences in the quality of artificial and natural products. However, any pros and contras have become “obsolete“ for Reimotec, is the clear statement of Detlef Kolb. “So many sports fields worldwide are currently equipped with artificial turf as never before – in Europe alone more than 4000 in 2014. Significantly rising numbers can also be recorded for Germany since many municipalities and sports clubs, including the ‘Bundesliga’, value the enormous benefits of the extruded material. For example, national coach Jogi Löw has taken a clear position on artificial turf explaining that it offers distinct advantages for technically experienced players. Moreover, it is not possible to play the upcoming big tournaments, like in Qatar, on natural grass because it cannot be used due to the climatic conditions there, or need extremely high efforts to be maintained for only a short period of time. In addition, it has to be clearly stated that it is not only the life expectancy, but also the clear cost advantages that speak in favour of artificial grass!“
Maintenance costs are immense. German Bundesliga clubs, for example, report annual costs of about 1 million per natural grass pitch, whereas the costs for setting up an artificial turf ground are only about EUR 500.000. This is not only profitable but to a large extent indicative for the future of international sports played on lawn. Beside new quantitative dimensions, the development in this area is heading to a constant improvement of the quality to produce a more “natural-like” turf. Companies like market leader Reimotec see themselves well positioned for the development of artificial turf in the future. Detlef Kolb puts it as follows: „Our technology is constantly getting better, finer and more closely matched to the experiences and expectancies of the sportspersons. We develop this technology further in a targeted way because our international partners who buy from us the machines to produce monofilaments for artificial turf, are constantly forging ahead and are facing challenging tasks. We are at the forefront of progress!“
For sure, some minor changes are needed, but it goes without saying that there would be no sports without artificial turf in many countries. The advantages are enormous. Behind them is a technological development in which Reimotec, member of the Reifenhäuser Group, plays an important role. The machines on which two US American companies produced the artificial turf for the Canadian stadiums were supplied by the filament expert from Lampertheim, Germany. The company is well positioned for the future with its monofilament lines, strapping tape lines, and outstanding winder technology. Beside the American producers of artificial turf who rely on Reimotec’s highly sophisticated technology, many other producers of artificial turf used for applications far beyond competitive sports value the benefits of Reimotec machines.
Detlef Kolb is satisfied with the result of the Women’s World Cup in Canada: „Unfortunately, our ladies only finished fourth, but everybody who watched the final match between Japan and the USA could observe that the artificial turf was the perfect choice. The 46 metre goal of Carli Lloyd was a real sensation! And everyone said it was a good, fast pitch to play on. We go into the next round!“
The Reifenhäuser Group is proud to have among its members a recognized, successful company like Reimotec with qualities of a champion.
The Reifenhäuser Group, based in Troisdorf in North Rhine-Westphalia, is the world’s leading supplier of plastic extrusion lines, machines, and components. The Group brings together one of the world’s largest intra-corporate networks of experts in extrusion technology: Seven business units, together with ten subsidiaries, bring together highly specialized expertise in the areas of design, process engineering, automation, planning, manufacturing, project management, and logistics. Together, the Group covers the most extensive range of products for extrusion technology. The company offers lines for manufacturing film, sheets, nonwovens, monofilaments, as well as the corresponding components. The CEO of the Group with its 1,400 employees is Dipl.-Volksw. Bernd Reifenhäuser.
Reimotec, a subsidiary of the Reifenhäuser Group, develops and manufactures at its Lampertheim, Germany site lines for the production of strapping tapes and monofilaments. As experts in process technology, the company offers complete engineering service and the required know-how. Thanks to a high level of automation and a high-speed monitoring system, Reimotec increases its customers’ productivity and quality. Managing Directors of the company are Dipl.-Ing. Heino Claussen-Markefka and Dipl.-Volksw. Bernd Reifenhäuser.