Schmitz Foam Products launches redesigned ProPlay shock pad with reduced footprint.
As of 1 January 2024, we will introduce our latest product: ProPlay-Sport23D/170. The improved variant replaces the successful product ProPlay-Sport23D and can be manufactured with a more optimal mix of raw materials. The performance and stability of ProPlay-Sport23D/170 remain the same as its predecessor’s, but with an improved footprint.
The development of ProPlay-Sport23D/170 came about partly due to a continuous internal focus on product innovation and ecologically sustainable solutions – the latter also being advocated by professional associations such as the ESTC (EMEA Synthetic Turf Council). In addition, the enormous popularity of the ProPlay-Sport23D runner was the basis for the product innovation, illustrating how the greatest impact can be achieved through further development of a widely sold product.
Innovation and environmental performance go hand in hand
Testing with a new and balanced mix of raw materials resulted in an even better end product. The new ProPlay-Sport23D/170 is 10% lighter than its predecessor and has a lower density. As a result, we improved the carbon footprint of our most successful product. The technical properties remain virtually the same and the long product life span is still guaranteed. The latest shock pad perfectly meets the stricter performance and durability requirements specified by the new standard EN 15330-4. Like its predecessor, ProPlay-Sport23D/170 also qualifies for the highest drainage classification according to EN 15330-4 and is therefore very well equipped to drain sports fields when extreme precipitation is occuring ever more frequent. The lighter shock pad is also easier to work with, allowing artificial turf systems to be installed faster and even more efficiently. This makes ProPlay-Sport23D/170 the ultimate example of sustainable product optimisation: innovation and improved environmental performance go hand in hand.
Life-cycle assesment (LCA)
To accurately assess a product's environmental impact, its entire life cycle must be considered, from raw material extraction and transportation to production, (re)use, and waste processing. To ensure consistent environmental performance evaluation, the European Commission has established a method for calculating the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). Additionally, product Category Rules (PEFCRs) guide the calculation of specific product groups' ecological footprints.
This methodology has been widely adopted in areas like housing construction and is now gaining traction in the sports sector. Traditionally, sports field construction decisions have been based solely on sports-technical quality and athletic performance. However, the PEF value will increasingly influence tendering processes and sports field design.
The Netherlands has been using an environmental cost indicator (MKI), a precursor to the European Commission's PEF, to evaluate products' environmental impact holistically. All environmental aspects of a product are incorporated into the MKI score in a simple and controllable way. For this approach, we commissioned a life cycle assessment (LCA) of ProPlay-Sport23D/170, which shows that it has a significantly more favorable PEF than most prefab shock pads currently available.
25-year warranty
We have been producing shock pads for more than 25 years and are seen as an authority in the industry. ProPlay shock pads are of high quality and deliver proven performance. They meet all the requirements of the artificial turf industry and are the perfect base for high-quality artificial turf systems. Because we stand for outstanding product quality – now and in the future – there is a 25-year warranty on ProPlay-Sport shock pads. The warranty covers the shock-absorbing properties, vertical deformation and energy restitution of the shock pad for a period of 25 years and can be requested by the field owner.
More information on ProPlay-Sport23D/170 is available in the product datasheet.
