APT Asia Pacific offers green surfacing solutions at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

February 11, 2020

This year’s Tokyo Games will be the fifth Olympics where a Poligras hockey surface is to be used for hockey events.

Developed by APT (Advanced Polymer Technology), the company feels that the new Poligras® Tokyo GT® product is one of the “most sustainable and technologically advanced surfaces” it has developed.

Developed in conjunction with Polytan Asia Pacific and FIH (International Hockey Federation) to align with Tokyo 2020’s progressive sustainability policies, Poligras® Tokyo GT® is a world first synthetic hockey turf which features filaments made from over 60% regrowable raw materials, specifically sugar cane.

Using BioBased PE, a sustainable dimension has now been added to the outstanding playing properties of the tried-and-tested polyethylene monofilament fibres.

Other sustainable features include a shock pad that sits underneath the surface which uses fully recycled rubber and a binder that has been produced with CO2. This world-first component called cardyon® - a polyol containing CO2, reduces the amount of crude oil required in the binder by 20%, and is a huge advancement in making the chemical and plastics manufacturing industries greener.

Aside from Green Technology used to develop Poligras® Tokyo GT®, it also offers first-class playability and performance for hockey players, and has been tested and certified by FIH. By incorporating APT’s proprietary COOLplus® yarn technology, which reflects infrared rays, studies have shown that the surface temperatures are consistently 10-20% lower than competitive systems. This means better player comfort and a reduced need for irrigation. Ball speeds have also increased by 15% on the new Poligras® Tokyo GT® hockey surface compared with Poligras Platinum which was used at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Click here to contact APT Asia Pacific Pty Ltd via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images: Poligras® Tokyo GT® installed for the 2020 Games (top) and the Olympic hockey centre from the air (below). Images courtesy of APT/Getty Images.

10th February 2020 - Polytan launches cleaning and maintenance services for Australian athletics tracks

13th December 2019 - Sport Group backs new World Athletics brand

19th November 2019 - Construction completed at Tokyo’s new Olympic Stadium

6th September 2019 - Tokyo 2020 summer Olympics looks to snow machines for event cooling

19th August 2019 - Polytan passes 50 year operational landmark

25th July 2019 - IOC ‘very satisfied’ with preparations for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

11th December 2018 - Polytan transforms Kalinga Stadium India for 2018 Mens Hockey World Cup

29th June 2018 - Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers look to showcase green technology

26th October 2016 - Sport Group acquires ProGrass from Rockwell

21st September 2016 - APT expands with Astroturf and Sportgrass acquisitions

8th April 2016 - Polytan to supply World Cup and Olympic hockey turf

22nd January 2016 - FIH announces seven official suppliers as part of global turf quality program

12th July 2014 - Polytan owner the Sport Group acquires Team Sports

30th March 2011 - True Blue (and Pink) Surface for London 2012 Olympic Hockey

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