The History of Sprinturf
In the 1970s, the first sand infill turf systems began replacing the old-style, carpet-like Astroturf, which had been introduced to the world back in 1966. Initially seen as an improvement to the cement-like hardness of the surface, sand-infill systems became the norm.
Sprinturf entered the synthetic turf industry in 1998 when the third generation of synthetic turf was being introduced to the market. This third generation product included a longer fiber than the first and second generation systems and incorporated a resilient infill system. This solution was designed to reduce impact on falls as well as improve drainage capabilities of the system.
By the 1980s, Sprinturf had helped to pioneer a revolutionary new type of infill. The company began mixing granulated rubber with sand, which provided a safer, more consistent and less abrasive surface. While this was a vast improvement on the sand-only infill, Sprinturf’s objective became to eliminate the use of sand altogether, due to the potential safety and surface hardness issues it created. Too much sand in an infill system can produce a hard, abrasive playing surface and potentially get into players’ eyes and cause skin irritations.
Patent #5,976,645 was issued on 11/2/99 to Sprinturf for the first 100% rubber infill system which changed the entire industry by proving that safety could be maximized while not compromising the performance of the system. By providing a surface that significantly reduced impact attenuation over sand-based fields, Sprinturf was able to now offer additional safety benefits to younger athletes which pleased high school and municipal coaches, athletic directors and of course, parents.
All-rubber systems are widely used across the nation in many of the world’s most high profile facilities. Sprinturf continues to reaffirm that the patented all-rubber system provides peak performance and maximum safety at all levels of play – from professional athletics to recreational activity.
Expanding on the success of the all rubber system, Sprinturf subsequently introduced CoolFill, a colored alternative to traditional, black SBR rubber, which helps control the surface temperature of an athletic pitch by up to 30%.
In 2008, after many years of study and testing on monofilament systems, Sprinturf once again introduced a “game changing” revolutionary system called Ultrablade MM. This two-tone, dual fiber system maximizes strength, durability and aesthetics by combining multiple monofilament fibers into one fantastic system. Eliminating the traditional challenge of the fibers laying over that we see in most monofilament systems, Ultrablade MM incorporates a curled fiber to resist infill flyout and create a multi-directional system that will not lay flat or fall over time.
Today, Sprinturf continues to lead the industry in product development and design. From the use of environmentally-friendly products to engineered systems that mimic the aesthetics of a beautiful natural grass surface, Sprinturf continues to expand and improve our product offering each year.
To find your local sales representative or learn more about Sprinturf, contact us today online or call 877-686-8873.
