ECOLOGICAL ARTIFICIAL GRASS SYSTEMS: DOMO® ARTIFICIAL GRASS FOR FOOTBALL WITHOUT RUBBER FILLING APPROVED ACCORDING TO THE KNVB-PLUS STANDARD

2010-07-15

The developments in artificial grass over recent years have been impressive. This evolution has now reached a new peak with the Domo® Champion Ascari. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Domo® laid the first artificial grass system for football without rubber filling that was approved according to the KNVB-PLUS standard (KNVB: Royal Dutch Football Association).

Artificial grass can be played on in all weather conditions and for up to four times longer than ordinary grass. The R&D team at Domo® added a further number of advantages to this. They created a good-playing, multifunctional, ecological and low-maintenance artificial grass system in line with the KNVB Plus Standard, the Domo® Champion Ascari.

Domo® Champion Ascari suffices with regard to the KNVB-Plus Standard as tested by ISA-Sport
Each football pitch must satisfy strict technical requirements imposed by the client. First, all characteristics of the grass mat are internally tested down to the smallest detail in the Domo® technical laboratory. Then the product is closely examined by an external accredited laboratory. This results in top quality artificial grass pitches. ISA-Sport carried out all the necessary laboratory tests for Ascari according to the KNVB-Plus Standard, and this with a very positive outcome.

“Sustainable development is our top priority” R&D manager Domo® Sports Grass, Philippe Dierkens
Domo® Sports Grass is fully aware of the importance of ecologically responsible development and production. All grass mats are produced with yarns which are entirely free of heavy metals. All football qualities suffice with regard to the ESSM standard, being the most stringent environmental standard in Europe. But Domo® Sports Grass is going even further, and busily working on new developments to make the carbon ‘footprint’ even smaller. The development of qualities not requiring any rubber filling is a very important aspect here. We will leave the discussions about any effects of SBR or TPE for what they are. Should the pitch ever have to be replaced, the costs of removal and clearing also remain limited. “A perfect solution to exercising with care” is what you get from Domo®.

Domo® Champion Ascari gives the footballer an unrivalled natural feel
Domo® Champion Ascari makes use of a new technology; Natural Resilience System. One highly characteristic aspect of the NRS system is that it was inspired by the form of a natural blade of grass, a visibly veined structure with thicker veins in the middle. This gives it a number of essential rigidity and resilience characteristics that are revealed by its excellent playing properties. The ball rolls as if it were on natural grass. The grass yarn stands up perfectly straight due to its profiling and the close construction of the grass surface. This allows for a ‘natural’ trapping technique. Bothersome protruding rubber and unpleasant odours are also banished for good.

“Playing properties are also a key aspect when choosing each new artificial grass surface” the City of Amsterdam.
“For our last new site we chose a Domo® artificial grass pitch without rubber infill” says the City of Amsterdam. “This is an absolute top quality pitch built according to the KNVB-Plus Standard. But it is also a test project for us. The construction was to be built on a very unstable surface. Being able to build a lightweight construction and the likelihood that after some three years we would have to take the mat up and lay it again helped consolidate the Domo® choice. We require the playing properties to be excellent for our players because this pitch will also be used for Dutch FA championship matches. The playing properties are obviously key, but a number of other characteristics are also important. Because no rubber filling is needed the time required for installation is a little shorter (it is predicted that the artificial grass will require less maintenance). Topping up with rubber and sweeping are no longer necessary. The pitch only needs to be brushed now and again. Furthermore this type of artificial grass has a multifunctional character, it has been developed for football but hockey can also be played on it. The ideal outcome for this new sports park.”