TigerTurf Synthetic Grass – Controlled from Yarn Extrusion to Recycling End-of-life Products

Tiger Turf proudly manufactures synthetic turf here in New Zealand from components manufactured by their parent company TenCate Grass. This allows them to control the entire supply chain from yarn extrusion and backing cloth development, through to manufacture, installation, ongoing maintenance and end of life recycling of synthetic turf.  What this means is that Tiger Turf knows where all components of their products come from, they are backed by manufacturer’s warranties and they have the capability of recycling old turf into new sports surface components.

They are New Zealand’s only synthetic turf manufacturer and make turfs for every sport at every level. Because of the quality, performance and realistic nature of artificial grass, along with all its intrinsic benefits, synthetic turf is recommended for training and competition at the highest levels. TigerTurf uses TenCate’s artificial grass fibres in all sport surfaces to establish consistency of performance in every product.

TigerTurf is a subsidiary of TenCate Grass, a multi-national company and world market leader in the production of quality synthetic grass fibres and artificial turf components. TenCate develops and manufactures innovative synthetic grass fibre, primary backing and infill material solutions that enhance the performance of TigerTurf’s synthetic turf systems.

Faux grass was invented in the 1960s. The carpet industry and technology has taken this product to another level where companies like TenCate Grass supply artificial grass surface for sport, leisure or landscaping. Within their extensive range of components there are fibres, backings and base layers developed and manufactured specifically for various applications and aimed at enhancing the performance, look and durability of a synthetic turf system.

The synthetic grass starts with white plastic pellets that are combined with pellets that hold additives, colours and UV stabilisers. Machinery melts the plastic together and extrudes it through a perforated steel plate. It exits in long, thin strand of material that is placed in a machine and spun into a loose rope. These are then pulled, straightened and woven into yarn. The yard is then wound onto large spools and then heated to set the twisted shape.

The yarn is reeled onto tufting machines where the stitching turns it into a carpet of artificial turf. The artificial turf carpet is rolled under a dispenser that spreads a latex back to lock in the tufted yarns. Heat and air cures the latex. The turf is rolled and packaged before being shipped.

TigerTurf has the capability, at the end of life of the turf, to recycle the turf into their Ecocept shock pad performance bases.  TenCate Ecocept ™ is manufactured on site using 80 – 90% recycled end-of-life waste plastics and rubber mixed with a binder to a pre-determined ratio

This product has other benefits. It provides structural stability in a fully bound and stabilised base. It has excellent drainage performance eliminating costly below field drainage.  It can consistently provide shock absorbency (that meets FIFA / IRB impact requirements) across the entire field, reduced amount of infill and infill splash. Using TenCate Ecocept™ reduces or eliminates the need for a conventional thick layer of crushed stone. The performance base has capillary action, which drains rainwater laterally so that costly trenched drainage below the field is not needed. This product also allows the field to be irrigated with minimal water loss reducing the cost of water. An irrigated field makes for enhanced playability and cooler field temperatures on hot days.

To know more about TigerTurf’s products and services call 0800 804 134, send an email to NZinfo@tigerturf.com or visit http://tigerturf.com/nz/

For more information see https://tigerturf.com/nz/tencate-ecocept