Synthetic Turf Council’s Spring Membership Meeting Breaks Attendance Records
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
ATLANTA, GA – Held from March 5-7, the Synthetic Turf Council’s Spring
Membership Meeting in Las Vegas attracted a record attendance of 226 individuals
representing companies located throughout the world and of all types in the
synthetic turf industry, including manufacturers, suppliers, installers, landscape
architects and engineers, testing labs, and maintenance equipment and service
companies. The theme of the conference was "Quality: Live it, Breathe it,
Achieve it.”
Enhancing the performance of synthetic turf sports fields
was a major focus of the educational program. A session called "STC Guidelines
for Synthetic Turf Performance” detailed the STC’s new performance guidelines
and applicable test protocols for multi-purpose sports fields. Moderated by
John Baize of ACT Global Sports, the panel included Erle Miles of Testing
Services, Inc., Rusty Abell of ISA-Sport and Eric O’Donnell of Sports Labs. Grove
Teates of Alpine Services discussed "Specifying and Constructing Stable and
Lasting Bases Under Synthetic Turf Sports Fields,” and Rich Dunn of Hunter
Industries presented on the "Benefits of Irrigation for Synthetic Turf Sports
Fields.”
Officials from FIFA, the international governing body for
soccer, delivered several updates on the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf
(synthetic turf). Johannes Holzmüller
and Nicolas Evans applauded the STC for creating performance guidelines and
test protocols for multi-purpose sports fields, and described the importance of
these guidelines and regular maintenance to assure consistent performance
throughout a sports field’s useful life.
Dr. Eric Harrison highlighted the exhaustive research that FIFA has
conducted that has validated the safety of synthetic turf. FIFA has designated synthetic turf as the best
alternative to natural grass in areas where grass cannot grow, withstand heavy
usage or be easily maintained.
Environmental responsibility was another key focus of the
meeting. David Nardone of Stantec Sport addressed the topic of "Sustainable
Athletic Fields – A Case Study,” highlighting its design of the most
sustainable playing fields in the country at Battery Park City in New York. Dr. Davis Lee of the InnovaNet Group moderated
the "End-of-Life Disposal, Recycling and Repurposing Options for Synthetic Turf
and Its Components and Applicable EPA Regulations” panel, whose participants
included Mark Heinlein of Turf Reclamation Services, LLC, Mark Mitchell of
FieldAway USA and Russ Neuman of Textile Rubber and Chemical. Other highlights of the meeting included an Exhibitor
Showcase, and a special report on the STC’s growth and significant impact from
STC Board Chairman, John B. Giraud of Target Technologies International, Inc. The STC’s Annual Membership Meeting will be
held in Dallas, Texas from October 1 – 3, 2012.
About the Synthetic Turf Council
Based
in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the
industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and
maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks,
airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is
also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety
and environmental impact of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders,
landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers,
suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty
service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.
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