Act Global Brings First FIFA Certified Artificial Turf Pitch to Taiwan

Act Global Brings First FIFA Certified Artificial Turf Pitch to Taiwan

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act global, xtreme turf, artificial turf, synthetic turf, sports turf, fifa quality turf, fifa certified field, fifa two star

Taiwan’s new FIFA Two Star Recommended synthetic turf playing surface, a mark of elite level play.

The new synthetic turf field at Wu Feng University offers elite performance characteristics to serve as training base for the national football teams.

As part of a government initiative to support the growth of football in Taiwan, Wu Feng University has received the country’s first FIFA Certified synthetic turf pitch. The field was designed and built to the highest standards by Act Global and partners, to achieve a Recommended Two Star mark for elite level football.

The new playing surface is the first of many which will use artificial turf to promote football in the country. The pitch serves as the training base for the Men’s and Women’s National football teams, and has been well-received by players, the University and its affiliates. Act Global senior management recently visited to conduct site inspection, provide support and evaluate feedback.

“It has been an honor to be a part of this prestigious landmark project, and to receive such positive comments from the players, coaches, facility management and dedicated maintenance team,” said Daniel Clapham, regional manager.

The client chose Act Global due to the company’s strong local presence, FIFA Preferred Producer status, and track record of delivering excellence in the region. They selected an artificial turf product manufactured in Act Global’s ISO 9001 Certified USA facility in Georgia, a world-recognized standard for quality management. Fred Gregg, quality manager, said the production team maintains strict quality controls, including manual inspection of every artificial turf roll leaving the facility.

The pitch was built in partnership with SUS Sports International Co. Ltd, an established leader in the Taiwan sports surfacing market, and Act Global’s regionally-based UK installation crew. By pairing current international best practices with the top local sports construction management team in Taiwan, they completed a superior installation benchmarked to the highest global standards of play.

“Executing a project to this level demonstrates our approach to teamwork and service, range of technical skills, and effective collaboration with the right local partner,” said Clapham. “This combination allows us to achieve top results whilst still being able to offer a competitive price.”

Act Global has a solid partner and customer base in the region, and is continually seeing demand growth for better performing artificial sports turf. Clapham said that by selecting a higher quality product, buyers get longer lasting fields, better performance and safety, and increased playing time to maximize the value of their investment.

Act Global has been a FIFA Preferred Producer since 2009, and also supplied the first FIFA Certified pitches to Vietnam, Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil.

ABOUT ACT GLOBAL
Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf and artificial grass manufacturing. The company’s artificial Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Lawn products replicate natural grass for use in international stadiums, indoor sport centers, synthetic lawns and other synthetic grass uses. Its LiteEarth and AvTurf products add capabilities for landfills and airport applications. Act Global has four manufacturing locations in USA, Europe and Asia and installations in over 70 countries. Act Global is notable for currently being the first company in the world that is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, IRB Preferred Producer, and holds an ISO 9001 certification. Its products have undergone hundreds of independent laboratory tests for quality, durability and performance.

Act Global Brings First FIFA Certified Artificial Turf Pitch to Taiwan

Act Global Renews United Nations Global Compact Commitment

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Act Global renews UN Global Compact Commitment for seventh year.

Act Global renews UN Global Compact Commitment for seventh year

To continue promoting responsible, honest business practices, Act Global has committed to another year as a United Nations Global Compact member. This will be the company’s seventh year as dedicated participant.

The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative to encourage responsible business practices which align with ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The UN Global Compact strives to shape a collaborative, sustainable and inclusive global economy which benefits societies everywhere.

To maintain effective transparency and accountability, Global Compact participates are required each year to submit a Communication on Progress. The report details a company’s actions and strategies undertaken to fulfill the principles of the Global Compact. Act Global has successfully submitted a 2014 Communication on Progress to be accepted as a member for another year.

View the full Act Global UN Global Compact Report.

“We are proud to call ourselves members of the UN Global Compact and to be a leader in promoting responsible industry practices,” said John Baize and Chris Clapham, co-owners of Act Global. “We hope to inspire others to administer the principles of the Global Compact in their own business.”

A summary of some of the actions taken by Act Global:

  • Annual contributions to CARE, a humanitarian organization that fights global poverty in part by providing economic opportunities to women in particular
  • Support to World Vision Micro Loan Program, which helps entrepreneurs establish business in regions which have historically struggled with access to basic resources
  • Synthetic turf pitch donation to Colombian non-profit organization Tiempo de Juego to benefit at-risk youth
  • Ongoing research and development to expand green-friendly technologies, such as the LiteEarth environmental synthetic grass liner
  • Management has committed organizational resources to work towards ISO 14001 Environmental Certification
  • Donation to the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, whose mission is to increase awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying and discrimination

According to the United Nations Activity Report 2013, more than 8,000 companies and 4,000 non-business stakeholder from 150 countries have now joined the Global Compact movement. To learn more about the initiative and becoming a member, visit www.unglobalcompact.org.

Act Global Brings First FIFA Certified Artificial Turf Pitch to Taiwan

For Tortoise Troubles, Orlando Sanford Chooses Artificial Turf

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avturf, artificial turf, synthetic turf, airport turf, aviation turf, artificial airport turf

AvTurf installed at Orlando Sanford International Airport. The artificial turf enhances operational safety.

Airports deter wildlife around runway safety zones with synthetic turf. The product, called AvTurf, is manufactured by Act Global.

Austin, Texas – When hundreds of burrowing gopher tortoises made home in Orlando Sanford International’s runway grass, the unassuming reptiles created a glaring problem for airport operational safety.

The solution? Replace the natural grass with artificial turf.

“The aviation turf backing provides a barrier to burrowing wildlife, while still maintaining a clear runway path and safety zones for airport operations,” explains Daniel McSwain, AvTurf general manager.

Because gopher tortoises are a threatened species, relocating the animals and closing the burrows was a regulated process, as well as extremely time-consuming and costly for the airport. Nearly 1,200 burrows—some stretching 48 feet long and almost 10 feet deep—were documented in a survey last June by FAA Wildlife Biologist John Weller. And once removed, the tortoises typically find their way back to re-burrow.

After consulting with FAA’s Airport Division and Airport District Office, biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the state and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the airport secured grant money for a one-year study of the effectiveness of replacing natural grass with synthetic turf.

The AvTurf artificial turf was manufactured by Act Global, and installed by partner ProGrass on a 3.5 acre test plot around the perimeter of the runway’s blast pad. The plot includes 158,000 square feet of aviation turf in total with sand infill ballast.

Prior to installation, a biologist mapped approximately 120 existing burrows on the test plot, nearly 100 of which were occupied. The turtles were carefully removed, the area excavated, and the artificial turf installed. Motion activated cameras are used to monitor the area 24/7 and detect signs of wildlife or burrowing. Eight months after installation, the airport has detected no burrowing activity on the synthetic turf.

Aside from Orlando Sanford, encounters with wildlife, particularly birds, are a major concern in both the civil aviation and military environments around the world. Annually, wildlife collisions cost the U.S. aviation industry over $1.2 billion and cause aircraft downtime in excess of 94,000 hours. Because the most dangerous and frequent encounters occur during take-off and landing, efforts have been directed to ensure wildlife control on the airfield. McSwain explained that synthetic aviation turf provides a non-lethal solution to mitigate wildlife and reduce the potential for bird strikes by removing food, water, or shelter near the runways.

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ABOUT ACT GLOBAL
Act Global  is a world leader in synthetic turf and artificial grass manufacturing. The company’s artificial Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Lawn products replicate natural grass for use in international stadiums, indoor sport centers, synthetic lawns and other synthetic grass uses. Its LiteEarth and AvTurf products add capabilities for landfills and airport applications. Act Global has four manufacturing locations in USA, Europe and Asia and installations in over 70 countries. Act Global is notable for currently being the first company in the world that is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, IRB Preferred Producer, and holds an ISO 9001 certification. Its products have undergone hundreds of independent laboratory tests for quality, durability and performance.

Act Global Brings First FIFA Certified Artificial Turf Pitch to Taiwan

At Tiempo de Juego, Colombian Youth Turn from Violence to Football

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Synthetic turf donation to non-profit youth group provides at-risk children a safe, high quality playing surface to keep them off the streets and on the field. The artificial turf field was provided by Act Global, partner Psport Systems and additional suppliers.
artificial turf, synthetic turf, tiempo de juego, colombia, sports turf, football, football turf, youth sports

Children enjoying the new synthetic turf field at the Foundation Tiempo de Juego in Colombia.

 

Austin, Texas – In the particularly marginalized and violent area of Cazuca, Colombia, young people for years have turned to gangs, drugs and outlaw groups to fill their free time.

Now, thanks to non-profit Tiempo de Juego and their new synthetic turf pitch, children are finding inclusion on the football field instead of the streets.

Synthetic turf manufacturer Act Global and installation partner PSport Systems, along with several other suppliers, helped Tiempo de Juego achieve their dream project by donating the new artificial turf playing surface. The field was officially opened for use October 19.

“It is a constant satisfaction to make a social impact; this makes us fall in love with our business more and more every time,” said Pedro Sarmiento, PSport Systems. “This time we have formed a team of fantastic people and companies with the same feeling and vision to develop a project in a place where it is truly needed–to benefit a young group of kids that have what we call ‘el sueño del Pibe’, the dream to become a football player and help their families.”

Tiempo de Juego was established in 2006 following a three-year study of Cazuca youth, conducted by the Universidad de la Sabana. Researchers found that lack of education and excess free time, along with a 70 percent displaced population, were the main drivers towards drugs, violence and early pregnancies among youth. Tiempo de Juego seeks to provide children positive social alternatives to foster a better quality of life.

Using football as a tool for physical activity and value formation, combined with cultural and educational programs, Tiempo de Juego has begun to change lives. Through the game of football, the non-profit teaches principles of team work, fair play, tolerance, gender equity, and respect, while giving them a safe and positive place to play.

Further, older participants assume the role of “peer-coaches” to lead younger players in the football programs. Thus, children further develop leadership skills through coaching peers and leading by example.

“It has been an honor to be a part of this project to support Tiempo de Juego, as well as the children and families of Colombia,” said John Baize, managing director of Act Global. “We hope we’ve helped create a safe and inviting space for these children to play, learn, socialize, and ultimately, to just enjoy being kids.”

ABOUT ACT GLOBAL

Act Global is a world leader in synthetic turf and artificial grass manufacturing. The company’s artificial Xtreme Turf and Xtreme Lawn products replicate natural grass for use in international stadiums, indoor sport centers, synthetic lawns and other synthetic grass uses. Its LiteEarth and AvTurf affiliations add capabilities for landfills and airport applications. Act Global has four manufacturing locations in USA, Europe and Asia and installations in over 70 countries. Act Global is notable for currently being the first company in the world that is a FIFA Preferred Producer for Football Turf, Synthetic Turf Council Certified Manufacturer, IRB Preferred Producer, and holds an ISO 9001 certification. Its products have undergone hundreds of independent laboratory tests for quality, durability and performance.