STC certification another recognition of quality and reputation
Austin, Texas – December 2009
With synthetic turf providing numerous advantages for sports and landscaping users, the industry has grown heavily in recent years. As the demand increases, so have the number of synthetic turf manufacturers. This makes innovation, quality and integrity a key point in choosing the right producer.
ACT Global Sports was awarded the Synthetic Turf Council (STC) Certification as a Material Manufacturer and Supplier, reinforcing its place as a top manufacturer of artificial turf.
The STC’s certification program was established for customers to have assurance that the product they are receiving will exceed the STC’s quality guidelines, and that the company’s representatives will follow the STC’s code of professional and ethical code. This certification process included a due diligence review and reference check by the Synthetic Turf Council.
This recognition comes on the heels of FIFA selecting ACT Global Sports as a FIFA Preferred Producer for football turf. Additionally, the company conducts extensive sports performance research, durability and environmental testing, and follows ISO 9001 Quality methods.
John Baize, Director of ACT Global comments, “We are proud to have earned this recognition from the STC. This reflects the significant investments we make in quality and developing turf systems that go far beyond meeting carpet specifications. Our global business approach is simple – take natural grass benchmarks, develop a synthetic turf system to meet those requirements, conduct extensive UV and durability tests, and then partner with the best installation and distribution companies to deliver this quality to their clients. The users do not always see the tremendous amount of detail we put into each field, but they enjoy the quality benefits. We appreciate the STC and invite others to join this tremendous industry organization.”
ACT Global Sports is headquartered in Austin, Texas with additional tufting locations in Calhoun, Georgia, Asia and Europe. It services its international clients through offices in The Netherlands, Cyprus, China, Poland, Thailand, UK and France. Local sales and support is offered through an expanding partner network of leading sport field contractors in over 50 countries.
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.
Considered the leading global trade fair for sports facilities, the 2009 FSB took place once more on October 28th – November 30th in Cologne, Germany. The three day event was full of networking, promotion, and social activities. The trade show’s industry focus was towards amenity areas, sports and pool facilities. The worldwide synthetic turf producer, ACT Global Sports attended the event once more to showcase their line of artificial turf products and sports field equipment.
ACT Global Sports welcomed their partners, dealers and attendees from all over the world including Thailand, Australia, Brazil and Europe during the event. Directors Wil Ditzel, Chris Clapham, and John Baize were very pleased with the number of attendees. Recently accepted by FIFA as a FIFA Preferred Producer, ACT Global Sports proudly showcased their new logo along with a new lines of synthetic turf including the new ‘S’ series (spine fiber).
This is the third time ACT Global Sports participated during the FSB. Each time, the synthetic turf producer increased their presence among their fellow exhibitors. Their booth was visually appealing and was considered a great success, fulfilling its purpose to draw in new customers and potential partners. Throughout the space you could see ACT Global Sports’ new marketing efforts to “Be More.” Attendees were eager to hear the advantages Xtreme Turf offered for indoor and outdoors sport fields. Along with sports turf, the extensive landscape range was showcased.
After the event ACT Global Sports hosted a dinner at the Restorante Le Vita, to honor their global dealers. Fine Italian cuisine was served along with an array of red and white wines. Directors Wil Ditzel, Chris Clapham, and John Baize made speeches, announcing their gratitude for their dealers hard work and support. Hurrah’s and clinks of the glass were made to embrace a successful event.
For more information on the FSB please contact ACT Global Sports at info@actglobalsports.com or visit their website at www.ActGlobalSports.com.
/PRNewswire/ — Representing the latest convincing data on the safety of synthetic turf, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency, released a report last week dated July 2009 which indicated there is a negligible human health risk from inhaling the air above synthetic turf. The OEHHA summary also stated “it is unlikely that the new generation of artificial turf is itself a source of MRSA.”
OEHHA searched the available literature related to the safety of new generation artificial turf fields, those which contained crumb rubber infill. They analyzed whether these fields emitted levels of chemicals or particulates into the air that are a health risk when inhaled, and also any potential risk factors for MRSA infection. Based on the data from two 2009 New York studies and a 2006 report of indoor fields, they found that “Both reports concluded that these fields did not constitute a serious public health concern, since cancer or non-cancer health effects were unlikely to result from these low-level exposures.” Other key findings included:
— Analyzing the chemicals detected above the fields in New York, OEHHA noted that “many of these occurred at similar concentrations in the air sampled upwind of the fields” – which suggests that the source of these chemicals was not from the turf fields.
— Cancer risks are negligible, lower than many common human activities. OEHHA created a test scenario to determine the exposure and health risks of an athlete playing on an artificial turf field from age five until age 55 for nearly 100 chemicals. The results showed an exposure to five chemicals with a lifetime cancer risk above one in one million, which is considered a negligible risk. As OEHHA explains “these estimated risks are low compared to many common human activities.” To give context, their website states that the cancer risk of breathing California air (in 2000) due to diesel particles was 540 in one million.
— Synthetic turf is not a source of MRSA. OEHHA stated that “It seems unlikely that the new generation of artificial turf is itself a source of MRSA, since MRSA has not been detected in any artificial turf field.” That conclusion is consistent with the findings of the Penn State January 2009 study conducted on the lifespan of staph on grass and synthetic turf, which was sponsored by the STC and the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council.
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.
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:
4201 W Parmer Ln Suite B175, Austin, TX 78727.
Phone: (512) 733-5300
