History
Milestones of a Success Story
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New generation of mini pitches
The PolyPlay Arena GT represents a new generation of sustainable mini playing fields and combines innovative materials with durable construction. The focus is on a resource-saving concept that meets modern requirements for environmentally conscious sports infrastructure. In collaboration with FormaTurf GmbH, Flex blocks are used for the band system.
2026
2025
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Melos' Integration into the Polytan Brand world
FSB 2025 marked the start of strategic development within the Polytan brand world: Melos was officially integrated into the Polytan portfolio as a product brand. Polytan is thus bundling its expertise in the field of plastic and EPDM granulates under one strong brand and expanding its portfolio for sports and leisure areas with high-quality material solutions. The integration combines decades of material expertise with Polytan's system competence and strengthens the range of durable, sustainable sports surfaces and leisure facilities from a single source.
Polytan HockeyRasen in Paris
The biggest sporting event of the year will take place in Paris in 2024. As was the case at the Games in Tokyo, Rio and London, among others, all the hockey matches will be played on Polytan artificial turf. With Poligras Paris GT zero, a climate-neutral artificial turf will be used for the first time in the history of the sport of hockey.
2024
2023
Markteinführung des ersten klimaneutral hergestellten Hockeykunstrasen
Wet & Dry: With the Poligras Paris GT zero, Polytan is bringing a genuine revolution in hockey to the market. Not only has it been manufactured to be 100% climate-neutral, but it can also be played on both with and without irrigation. The Poligras Paris GT zero is thus the world’s first climate-neutral hockey turf to meet both FIH categories (Irrigated and Non-Irrigated). The turf, which is also made from bio-based raw materials, will serve as the playing surface for the matches in Paris 2024.
Sustainable Track Surface: REkortan GEl GT
With Rekortan GEl GT, we bring a premium track surface made of bio-based raw materials to the European market. The innovation: Thanks to a newly developed gel layer, a completely new sandwich track system is created, which can be installed more quickly and offers particularly stable and excellent shock absorption and elasticity.
2022
2021
The Games in Tokyo take place on Polytan artificial turf
Due to the Covid pandemic, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo were postponed by one year. Nonetheless, Polytan hockey turf was used once again. With over 60% bio-based materials, the Poligras Tokyo GT at the Oi Stadium significantly contributed to the sustainability concept of the Games in Japan. By the way, the Netherlands won gold among the women, while Belgium triumphed for the first time among the men.
Polytan once again licensed as FIFA Preferred Producer
As a FIFA Preferred Provider, Polytan is an official licensee of the "FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf" licensing program, meeting a range of stringent requirements as a manufacturer of high-quality artificial turf systems for football pitches. The initiative, established in 2009 by FIFA, aims to address demands for higher quality artificial turf systems — not only in the product itself but also in the installation process.
2020
2020
Testing institute certifies the first climate-neutral football artificial turf
With LigaTurf Cross GT, Polytan, a sports surface specialist from Burgheim, introduces the world's first CO2-neutral artificial turf for football. It is manufactured to be 100% climate-neutral without compromising on playability. The climate-neutral ecological balance of LigaTurf Cross GT has been officially certified by Fokus Zukunft GmbH & Co.KG, an independent sustainability consulting company for medium-sized enterprises.
50 years of sports history with Polytan
The company's history began half a century ago with the manufacturing of polyurethane-bonded synthetic surfaces by the Firl + Schretter Sports Facility Construction company in Neuburg a. d. Donau. Since then, under the Polytan brand, the company has quickly become one of the world's leading manufacturers of synthetic outdoor sports surfaces.
2019
2017
Home of FIFA
Polytan equips the artificial turf pitches at the Home of FIFA and realises the first intelligent football pitch at Hertha BSC in Berlin.
Polytan on the international stage
Polytan equips the artificial turf pitches at the Home of FIFA and realises the first intelligent football pitch at Hertha BSC in Berlin.Polytan continues to be represented at major international sporting events: Polytan is equipping the hockey pitch in Rio, the running track in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium for the European Athletics Championships and the pitch surrounds in two stadiums for the European Football Championships in France. AstroTurf and ProGrass also become part of the Group and increase the market presence in North America.
2016
2015
Women's World Cup in Canada
For the first time, an entire Women's World Cup is being held on artificial turf. Polytan provides artificial turf system for the final stadium BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. Polytan starts an intensive collaboration with its partner Humotion for intelligent running track surfaces (SmarTracks).
Preferred Supplier
Polytan|STI becomes Preferred Producer of FIFA and Preferred Supplier of the FIH for World Rugby. Polytan also builds the hockey pitch for the Olympic Games in London.
2011/2012
2005
Polytan artificial turf in international use
With the Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Polytan is equipping one of the first European first division stadiums with an artificial turf system. Other first division clubs follow with the Stade de Suisse in Bern and the La Maladière stadium of FC Xamax Neuchatel. At the U17 World Cup in Peru, all 31 matches will be played on artificial turf for the first time in football history. With the capital city stadium in Lima and the arenas in Trujillo, Chiclayo and Piura, four of the five venues will be equipped by Polytan.
Polytan on the international stage
Polytan is installing its highest football pitch to date at around 4,000 metres above sea level. Over 9,000 m2 of artificial turf has to be laid at low oxygen altitudes and transported up by lift.
2004
2003
Testing institute certifies the first climate-neutral artificial football turf
From 2003, Polytan realises the complete vertical production of artificial turf products. Polytan participates in the FIFA Quality Programme for Footballturf as a licensee and installs the first FIFA Recommended 2 Star certified artificial turf pitch.
Complete renovation of the Olympic Stadium in Munich
On the occasion of the 18th European Athletics Championships, the old running track was completely removed and a new installation with Polytan M in brick red was carried out.
2002
1995
Grefrath
Polytan is acquiring a production facility for artificial turf and polyurethane in Grefrath (North Rhine-Westphalia).
Prater Stadion Wien
Polytan equips an international athletics stadium with a synthetic surface (Polytan M) for the first time.
1974
1969
Company foundation
Firl + Schretter Sportstättenbau OHG is founded in Neuburg an der Donau and initially focuses on the installation of polyurethane-bonded synthetic surfaces for sports facilities. “Polytan” is registered as a trade mark.