8 April 2010 – Synthetic turf producer TenCate Grass and process certifier INTRON have entered into a cooperation agreement in order to be able to issue performance warranties at FIFA 2-Star level on synthetic turf systems. For this purpose the builders of synthetic turf systems will be certified by INTRON on quality control. This cooperation agreement was concluded following the performance warranty that TenCate Grass launched at the end of 2009. Oranjewoud Realisatie is the first company that was certified by INTRON.
All parties involved in the construction of synthetic turf football pitches–from the designer and supplier to the building contractor and maintenance company–must demonstrate that they satisfy the quality criteria certified by INTRON, before they may participate in the building of a synthetic turf sports pitch for which an insured performance warranty will be issued. This warranty will be offered on the market by TenCate under the name TenCate Performance Warranty™, in close cooperation with insurance company Allianz Global Risks Nederland.
Level of performance
FIFA 2-Star is the level of performance that the football federation FIFA has defined for premier league football. As market leader in the synthetic turf industry, TenCate Grass aims to effect constant improvement in the quality aspects that determine the durability and safety of sports pitches. This can only be achieved by means of optimum cooperation within the entire chain.
Integrated synthetic turf system
TenCate Grass produces the components that are vital for the performance of a synthetic turf pitch: the grass fibres and the backing for the grass carpet. In addition, the quality and durability of an integrated synthetic turf system are determined by the way in which all these components are assembled, installed and maintained. INTRON has developed life-cycle management systems for the synthetic turf market, focusing on the quality assurance of:
- The production of the materials
- The design stage of the synthetic turf system
- The installation of the system components (the ‘Installation of sports pitches’ process certificate was introduced in 2009 under the supervision of NOC*NSF [Dutch Olympics Committee*Dutch Sports Federation] and the KNVB [Dutch Football Association])
- Control and maintenance
Innovative developments
The TenCate Performance Warranty™ fits in seamlessly with FIFA’s global programmes to standardize the quality of synthetic turf football pitches and to promote innovative developments within the synthetic turf industry. This first insured performance warranty relating to quality and durability offers important assurances to the owners / operators of synthetic turf pitches. They will no longer have to worry about durability and performance. The TenCate Performance Warranty™ will be offered through selected business partners.
Guido Vliegen, Group Commercial Director of TenCate Grass, is enthusiastic about the collaboration with INTRON: ‘We are convinced that this performance warranty will enable TenCate to meet an important market need. After all, it gives football clubs maximum assurance that a new synthetic turf pitch will continue to satisfy major performance requirements during its agreed lifespan. Thanks to this cooperation agreement with INTRON, the chain of certified builders will also continue to direct its full attention to the durability of a FIFA 2- Star guaranteed synthetic turf system’.
For further information:
Royal Ten Cate
Frank Spaan, Director Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Tel: +31 (0)546 544 977
Mobile: +31 (0)6 129 617 24
E-mail: f.spaan@tencate.com
www.tencate.com
INTRON
Peter Kosterman, Account Manager
Tel: +31 (0)345 580733
Fax: +31 (0)345 580208
E-mail: pko@intron.nl
www.intron.nl
INTRON focuses on product development and quality assurance in the construction industry and thus contributes to the quality and durability of products and processes that will ultimately benefit the end user. INTRON is a member of the SGS organization, one of the largest companies globally in the field of certification, inspection and testing.
TenCate Grass develops and produces synthetic turf components and designs systems for top-flight sports, recreation and landscaping projects. Together with its partners TenCate Grass pursues a system approach. This provides users with security on game properties and durability. TenCate Grass has plants in Europe, Middle-East, North-America and Asia.
Royal Ten Cate (TenCate) is a multinational company that combines textile technology, chemical processes and material technology in the development and production of functional materials with distinctive characteristics. TenCate products are sold worldwide.
Systems and materials from TenCate come under four areas of application: safety and protection; space and aerospace; infrastructure and the environment; sport and recreation. TenCate occupies leading positions in safety fabrics, composites for space and aerospace, antiballistics, geosynthetics and synthetic turf. TenCate is listed on NYSE Euronext (AMX).
SOURCE: Koninklijke Ten Cate NV
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