Governing body of soccer launches global initiative to enhance synthetic turf quality
Austin, Texas – October 2009
As participation in the world’s most popular sport grows, so do the demands for top quality playing surfaces. Since launching the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf in 2001, the world governing body for football has recognized that synthetic turf can be an alternative to the maintenance or durability limitations of natural grass pitches. In 2004, FIFA approved synthetic turf to be included in the Laws of the Game.
It has now taken the next step by launching the FIFA Preferred Producer Initiative.
ACT Global Sports was selected to join this FIFA Preferred Producer initiative to help research, develop and deliver a higher quality football turf to users throughout the world. FIFA aims to take this next step in performance and safety standards of football turf by working with selected Preferred Producers.
ACT Global has promised FIFA that we will also engage in research and development efforts to deliver similar playing conditions of top natural grass.
Chris Clapham, Director of ACT Global comments, “We fully support this initiative by FIFA. This a major step forward for our company and the football turf industry. Buyers can expect a higher quality and better performance by purchasing from a FIFA Preferred Producer. We are being held accountable to FIFA in addition to our clients and business partners. This accountability and research initiative will translate into a better surface for the users.”
In order to qualify as a FIFA Preferred Producer, ACT Global was evaluated by FIFA according to strict requirements. This included the level of quality responsibility from manufacturing, through installation and maintenance.
FIFA also reviewed the civil engineering and project management expertise, promise for research and development efforts, and a commitment to promote the principles behind the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf.
Extreme sport performance and training requires Xtreme Turf. This training session demonstrates the confidence and safety a soccer goal keeper as well as players have on the latest synthetic turf or artificial grass surface by ACT Global Sports. Filmed at the training center of professional football club La Liga.
The Herald, Published by the government of Zimbabwe, 10 July 2009
Harare — WORLD football governing body Fifa are happy with the condition of the artificial surface at Rufaro and the effort that is being put in the maintenance of the field.
Two Fifa officials were in Harare this week to inspect the artificial surface that was installed by the world football governing body.
Chris Fortuin, who is a lecturer for sport and movement and Nigel Fletcher, the manager of the artificial turf programme, assessed the maintenance work being put in at Rufaro and also heard reports from referees, players and coaches who use the surface.
“The turf is being well taken care of by the groundsmen,” said Fletcher. “It has had a positive impact on the players and coaches because the players enjoy playing there. “The football turf is different from other artificial surfaces because it was developed with football in mind and it is not affected by the weather,” he said.
Zifa technical director Nelson Matongorere was happy that they have managed to maintain the turf to the standards that have been hailed by Fifa. “We have managed to maintain the turf and the officials were impressed and they have said they are going to use it as a case study.
“Other member associations were given the turf but failed to maintain it and I can say we have done well as Zimbabwe. “They also got a lot of positive responses from the stakeholders. We have the capacity of having Fifa making more donations to the country,” said Matongorere.
The Fifa officials, who left Harare yesterday, also handed over 10 adidas footballs to community clubs in Mbare.
(New York, NY) – In response to the public’s desire for more scientific data, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Department of Health (DOH) released a new study on May 29 which validated the safety of synthetic turf fields with crumb rubber infill. The findings, available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/46856.html, concluded that “crumb rubber material used in synthetic turf fields poses no significant environmental threat to air or water quality and poses no significant health concerns.”
“This report provides compelling new scientific evidence about the safety of synthetic turf that should help answer the responsible questions being asked by parents, legislators and community activists,” said Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. “Increased playability, safety, low maintenance and significant environmental benefits have made synthetic turf an increasingly popular option.”
The New York State DEC and DOH conducted a series of studies to collect laboratory and field sampling data to “assess the potential impact to both surface and ground waters due to leaching of chemicals, assess potential public health impact from air release of chemicals and evaluate surface temperature and indicators of heat stress.” Other recent findings verifying the safety of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill include a March 2009 air quality study by the NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and a May 2008 independent review of available research commissioned by DOHMH into the potential exposures and health effects due to inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. These documents and more are available at – http://www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
In July 2008, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Staff report also concluded that ‘young children are not at risk from exposure to lead [used in certain pigments to color synthetic turf fibers] in these fields.’” To further the long-term objectives of the Environmental Protection Agency, CPSC, and Centers for Disease Control to eliminate the use of lead in all products where feasible, the Synthetic Turf Council announced in July 2008 its commitment to voluntarily reduce lead levels in accordance with the same strict standards that Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 imposes on the children’s toy industry.
Synthetic turf fields are affording millions of children and people of all ages the opportunity to be active year-round and in virtually all weather conditions. About half of all NFL teams currently play their games on synthetic turf, and it has been approved by FIFA for World Cup soccer matches. In 2008, growth in all sectors of the industry — sports fields, landscape, golf, municipal parks, and airports – also helped conserve billions of gallons of water, avoid the use of millions of pounds of pesticides and fertilizers, and recycle 25 million used tires that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Act Global Sports is a proud member of the Synthetic Turf Council.
Leading synthetic turf system by ACT Global Sports is now found in 50 countries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUSTIN, TEXAS USA
ACT Global Sports, a leader in artificial turf technology, proudly announces their sales and installations have reached 50 countries. This milestone reflects the growth of the company and the increased popularity of synthetic turf throughout the world.
More and more sports fields have made the transition from natural grass to synthetic turf. The benefits of extended playability, low maintenance and water conservation are just a few of the factors influencing this progression. As a result, synthetic turf is often used in a wide range of applications such
as soccer, football, baseball, rugby, golf, field hockey, residential lawns and a variety of recreational and landscaping areas. Leading sports organizations such as FIFA and its Quality Concept for Football Turf also help to influence the growth and the development of the synthetic turf industry.
“We are very excited to have sold our Xtreme Turf and ACTurf systems in 50 countries. Apart from our corporate success, we are more pleased to have built a reputation for doing business in these countries with the highest ethics and in a socially-conscious manner,” expressed Director Chris Clapham. ACT Global promotes greater corporate and environmental responsibility through its support of various international charities and environmental groups. Its sales are conducted from company offices in the United States, The Netherlands, Poland, Cyprus, Thailand and China and through a global network of distribution partners. ACT Global Sports manufacturers its products on three continents and performs rigorous quality, performance and environmental testing.
We are a dynamic, global synthetic turf company committed to BE MORE. We have manufacturing facilities on three continents, sales in over 90 countries and a trusted network around the world.
Our mission to “Be More” is ingrained in every facet of our business, every employee and throughout our value chain. With a foundation of innovation, integrity, and quality, Act Global strives to positively impact society and maximize land use through the use of synthetic turf.
Corporate Office: 14205 N. Mopac Expy, Suite 500, Austin, Texas 78728
Phone: (512)-953-1777
