HISTORY - MILESTONES OF A SUCCESS STORY
Testing institute certifies the first climate-neutral synthetic football turf
With the LigaTurf Cross GTzero, sports surface specialist Polytan from Burgheim, Germany has the world’s first CO2-neutral synthetic turf for football in its portfolio. It is 100% climate-neutral without compromising on playing characteristics.The CO2-neutral ecological balance of LigaTurf Cross GTzero was officially certified by Fokus Zukunft GmbH & Co.KG, an industry-independent sustainability consulting company for medium-sized companies.
50 YEARS POLYTAN
Polytan celebrates 50 years of sports history. It all began half a century ago with the production of polyurethane-bonded synthetic surfaces by the company Firl + Schretter Sportstättenbau in Neuburg an der Danube. Since then, under the Polytan brand the company has rapidly become one of the world's leading outdoor synthetic sports flooring manufacturers.
HOME OF FIFA
Polytan provides the synthetic turf for the Home of FIFA and installs the first intelligent football field at Hertha BSC in Berlin.
POLYTAN ON INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Polytan is also represented at major international sports events: the company equips the hockey field in Rio, the running track in Amsterdam Olympic Stadium for the European Athletics Championships, and the pitch edging in two European Championship stadiums in France. AstroTurf and ProGrass also become part of the corporate group, increasing its market presence in North America.
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP AND FIRST SMARTRACKS FACILITY
For the first time ever, all matches for the Women’s Football World Cup are played on synthetic turf. Polytan provides a synthetic turf system for the BC Place stadium in Vancouver, which hosted the finals in Canada. Polytan starts intensive collaboration with its partner Humotion on intelligent running tracks (SmarTracks).
Preferred Supplier
Polytan|STI becomes a licensed World Rugby Preferred Turf Producer as well as an FIH Preferred Supplier and supplies the hockey pitches for the Olympic Games in London.
POLYTAN ARTIFICIAL TURF IN INTERNATIONAL USE
Polytan lays a synthetic pitch system at the Red Bull Arena Salzburg, the first premier
league home stadium in Europe to be equipped with such technology. The stadium is equipped with the successful LigaTurf system. Further premier league clubs in Europe
soon follow suit, with pitches being laid at the Stade de Suisse in Bern and the Stadion La Maladière at FC Xamax Neuchatel.
The under-17s football world cup in Peru becomes the first tournament in footballing history to have all 31 matches played on synthetic turf. Four of the five stadiums are equipped with Polytan‘s tried-and-tested LigaTurf synthetic turf system. Turf is laid at the stadium in the capital city of Lima, as well as at the 25,000 seater arenas in Trujillo, Chiclayo and Piura – all in a recordbreaking time of just eight weeks!
The under-17s football world cup in Peru becomes the first tournament in footballing history to have all 31 matches played on synthetic turf. Four of the five stadiums are equipped with Polytan‘s tried-and-tested LigaTurf synthetic turf system. Turf is laid at the stadium in the capital city of Lima, as well as at the 25,000 seater arenas in Trujillo, Chiclayo and Piura – all in a recordbreaking time of just eight weeks!
LA PAZ, BOLIVIEN
Polytan installs its highest situated football field to date, 4,000 m above sea level. The low-oxygen climate makes laying the 9,000 m² synthetic pitch a challenge, and everything first has to be transported up in a lift.
FIFA QUALITY PROGRAMME FOR FOOTBALL TURF
2003 sees the introduction of fully vertical manufacturing for synthetic turf products at Polytan. A complete coating and extrusion plant for synthetic turf is installed in Grefrath. Polytan becomes a licensee in the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf and installs the first FIFA Recommended 2 Star certified synthetic turf pitch.
COMPLETE RENOVATION OF OLYMPIC STADIUM MUNICH
To prepare the site for the 18th European Athletics Championships, the whole of the old track is taken up and replaced with a brand new Polytan M track in brick red.
GREFRATH
Polytan expands its operations with the newly acquired production facilities for synthetic turf and polyurethane in Grefrath (North Rhine-Westphalia).
PRATER STADION WIEN
Polytan installs a synthetic surface (Rekortan M) at an international athletics stadium.
COMPANY FOUNDATION
Firl + Schretter Sportstättenbau OHG in Neuburg an der Donau is founded and starts specialising in installing polyurethane-bound synthetic surfaces for sports facilities. „Polytan“ becomes a registered trademark.
