"sports sheet flooring"

When Bradford Academy needed a replacement for its sports hall floor they looked for guidance from Junckers. By going to the leading sports and dance floor systems manufacturer the academy knew that they would receive the right kind of advice and guidance to help them to steer their way through the overwhelming number of sports floor systems available on the market. Junckers worked in close partnership with the client, main contractor BAM and local Junckers’ Approved Contractor Harmony Contract Flooring to deliver the floor completed and on time. The client wanted a “sprung” floor which looked good and was easy to look after, and it needed to meet the performance standards for multi-purpose sports; EN 14904. The floor system selected meets category A4 standard, which means that the academy now has a floor which is recommended by Sport England and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA). The site constraints required a floor system with minimum construction height and Junckers’ EliteFlex 49 system, at only 49mm high was found to be ideal. The system is made from laminated foam-backed battens and 22mm timber deck with the 4mm vinyl layer bonded and welded on top. This provides a sports floor suitable for a range of activities from general education use through to elite levels of sport, dance and the like. Junckers was chosen as a supplier because over the many decades since it was founded the company has dedicated a significant amount of resource to developing the best “sprung” sports floor systems. This, and its “cradle to grave” technical and customer support and maintenance programmes sets it apart from other manufacturers, where the choice is often limited to a basic undercarriage system and various options for gluing a vinyl sheet to screed- an option which is no longer accepted by the ESFA as a suitable surface for sports. In the UK, Junckers has become a byword for high quality sports and activity floor systems, and for providing the technical and customer support needed to make every new Junckers floor one that the installer and client will be proud of. As part of continuous work to develop new products and constantly improve the ability to offer customers a broader choice of floor systems, Junckers has developed a range of vinyl sports and activity floors, based upon the established success of its undercarriage systems. One of Junckers’ main strengths is the variety of undercarriage systems it offers. Not only do these give different “sprung” performance characteristics with some suited to basketball, others for dance etc., thanks to experience and technical expertise Junckers is also able to take care of the less glamorous aspects of the installation, such as dealing with uneven sub-floors or those where there may be drying out problems. Junckers’ floors are all tested and certified to EN 14904, category A3, A4 or C3. In addition, Junckers own in-house testing and development centre assess the wider aspects of the floor’s performance such as point load bearing ability and lifespan issues such as fatigue testing. Junckers’ new vinyl floor systems are aimed at the education sector, sports halls, leisure centres and dance and fitness centres. When it comes to installation, vinyl floor customers have the same assurances that they currently have with Junckers solid hardwood floors because there is a network of fully trained Junckers Approved Installers on hand to make sure that the floor will be fitted properly.

Prior to the 2012 Olympics, UEL in partnership with Basketball England invested in a brand new sports complex that would be the training camp of the USA’s Basketball team for the duration of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With the reigning world champions coming to town there was only one company that Basketball England sought to do the job, Dynamik. The decision was made that the Helsinki system would be the best option, providing consistent and exceptional ball bounce to enhance performance whilst offering outstanding shock absorption to minimise any injury risks.

Meadowbank Sports Centre has been the home of elite sport in Edinburgh since the 1930s. The historic Meadowbank stadium was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, which it also hosted for a second time in 1986. For nearly 50 years the centre was open to both elite athletes and the local community before it closed in 2017. Designed to high standards of sustainability by Holmes Miller Architects, the new centre is part of a wider regeneration of the surrounding area in accordance with the City of Edinburgh Council’s long-term plan to cut carbon emissions and at the same time improve the health and wellbeing of the local community. Providing access to state-of-the-art sport and physical activity on their doorstep, the new centre is first and foremost a community sports facility. There is an outdoor athletics track with a 500-seat capacity stand and inside facilities include two multi-sports halls with fixed and moveable spectator seating, two squash courts, a gym floor and fitness studios all fitted with Junckers’ solid hardwood flooring. The two multi-sport halls are fitted with Junckers 22mm Maple Champion flooring providing a durable and long-lasting floor that will easily withstand high levels of usage. Installed over Junckers UnoBat 45 subfloor system, the floor offers a safe and high-performing surface with excellent shock absorption and ball bounce, fully conforming to EN 14904 class A4. Installed by Junckers’ Approved Contractor Courtcraft, the floor has a 25-year warranty which includes a regular maintenance programme to keep the floor in optimal condition. The larger sports hall houses a large-capacity retractable seating unit which can be rolled out onto the sports floor when needed and stored away when not in use. With extensive technical expertise in this area, Junckers will advise on how to strengthen the sprung batten system to allow for heavy loads whilst leaving the sprung quality of the floor unaffected. A sealed solid hardwood flooring surface is very resistant to the type of wear and tear which may occur with retractable seating systems. Seating wheels will not mark or indent the Junckers floor whereas vinyl and other synthetic floors are often impossible to use because the wheels cause permanent tracking marks and scuffs. In addition, Courtcraft installed Junckers’ SylvaSquash flooring in two squash courts, a high-performance solid beech floor left unfinished to ensure high grip-levels; and Maple Champion in the two fitness studios. Junckers’ 22mm oak flooring was also supplied for standing-only plinths the gym area, fitted by GL Floors. A sporting and social hub for Edinburgh, Meadowbank Sports Centre offer participation and accessibility at the heart of the centre, bringing physical, mental, and social benefits to the local community and beyond for generations to come. The project was a collaboration between The City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure and sportscotland.

Nike has transformed The Regal basketball court at the Black Prince Community Hub in South London, using Junckers Beech SylvaSport floor pre-finished with black oil over a New Era fully sprung sub-floor system.

The combination of a DYNAMIK sprung, high compression, comfort based undercarriage finished in a solid (non-foam backed) vinyl provides high levels of indentation resistance from tables, chairs or play equipment typically seen in Primary or Junior Schools. The feeling of comfort is achieved by the flexibility of the new DYNAMIK Sprung base and not the top playing surface as the Vinyl is solid, therefore will not indent or tear when a point or rolling load is applied. The DYNAMIK Sports Vinyl in wood effect is easy to clean, combating drink or food spillages.

Product / System:Reflex Sports Wall in Mint Green.Uplift and removal of existing vinyl, floor preparation, DPM, Reflex Gerflor sports vinyl in polished concrete effect finish, linemarking.Size: 1,278m2

Winchester Council has opened a new multi-functional sport and leisure centre to cater to activity needs of the local population. Designed as a highly sustainable building, Winchester Sport and Leisure Park is one the UK’s greenest leisure centres, achieving a BREEAM rating of excellent. The new sport and leisure park by LA Architects provides state-of-the-art facilities for the community, including a 50m eight-lane swimming pool, a 20x10m teaching pool, a large fitness suite, two exercise studios, a spin studio, an eight-court multi-use sports hall, four squash courts, a café, and a climbing area. The large sports hall and squash courts have been fitted with Junckers solid wood sports flooring systems, offering a safe, high-performing, and long-lasting floor which fully complies with EN 14904 class A4. Junckers’ approved flooring contractor Courtcraft Ltd installed Junckers 22x129mm solid Maple flooring in the sports hall over the New Era UnoBAT undercarriage system; as well as SylvaSquash Beech Champion in the four squash courts. Junckers flooring is a product with a long-standing history of caring for the environment, an important consideration for the architect in the specification process. Said Mike Lawless of LA Architects: ‘When designing to change the face of sports and leisure facilities in the UK and create a place of quality everything matters. Every detail, material, and every specification matters. It is enormously important to consider quality in every part of the building; to seek out manufacturers who can work with us to deliv- er the quality and creativity that the UK sports and leisure industry must strive for.” Junckers’ floors hold independently verified sustainability accreditations to verify its environmental credentials, including EPDs, FSC®, PEFCTM, the Danish Indoor Climate Label, and an A+ BREEAM rating. Junckers’ sports floors are made in solid hardwood, one of the most durable surfaces available and virtually unbeatable in terms of life cycle costs. The floor has a very long lifespan and can be sanded and re-finished eight to ten times during its life. With 12-year intervals between sandings, a typical lifespan of 60 years will comfortably be exceeded. And, at the end of its long life, a Junckers floor can often be re-used or re-purposed or it will degrade naturally without adding to landfill sites. All Junckers sports floors meet the design guidance provided by Sport England and SportScotland. 

The Reflex GameChanger flooring system was installed at this leisure centre.

Dairy shed in Chaumont La Ville constructed using Eternit FarmTec fibre cement profiled sheeting and fittings in Dark Green.

The designated area that would need to be re-designed and converted was a former squash court. Gerflor would be required to deliver a loose-laid solution over the existing timber floor without the need to remove it. Rec 45 from Gerflor was the specified product; an ideal solution for multi-purpose uses which is also highly recommended for light recreation activities.

Over the years, the David Lloyd Leisure brand has become synonymous with health, sports and leisure. It has played a significant role in increasing the nation’s awareness of how important fitness is to our overall health and wellbeing. Today, David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) exist to provide exceptional service and unrivalled facilities that enable their members of all ages to enjoy active, healthy, satisfying lives.

For the JD Sport store in Newcastle, the Derby Terrazzo Untamed tiles selection exemplified our commitment to merging style with sustainability. Covering an area of 245m², the flooring transformation brought an elevated aesthetic and robust functionality to the space.

Reflex removed and replaced the existing timber sports flooring. 1,600m2 Reflex Pulastic Classic was installed over underfloor heating. Bespoke logo and colours were provided.

Jonathan Wilden, Chief Executive Officer for Folio Education Trust, speaks about the successful collaboration between Basketball England and DYNAMIK: “Folio Education Trust is delighted to have worked closely with both DYNAMIK and Basketball England to provide an inspirational court for the children of Coombe Wood School and others in the local community. Together we look forward to increased participation and the opportunity to support children discovering and then reaching their personal best in basketball.” For this project DYNAMIK installed over 800m2 of their Premium Engineered Sports Oak, with line marking focused on 3 main sports, Basketball, Netball and Futsal.

Jonathan Wilden, Chief Executive Officer for Folio Education Trust, speaks about the successful collaboration between Basketball England and DYNAMIK: “Folio Education Trust is delighted to have worked closely with both DYNAMIK and Basketball England to provide an inspirational court for the children of Coombe Wood School and others in the local community. Together we look forward to increased participation and the opportunity to support children discovering and then reaching their personal best in basketball.” For this project DYNAMIK installed over 800m2 of their Premium Engineered Sports Oak, with line marking focused on 3 main sports, Basketball, Netball and Futsal.

A new sports and leisure complex designed by FaluknerBrowns Architects has set a new environmental standard in ultra-low energy consumption. With an operational energy consumption of less than 100 kWh/m2/y, Ravelin Sports Centre uses only one- tenth of the energy demand of an equivalent sports centre. This is a landmark project which Junckers is proud to have participated in, a unique collaboration between architects, manufacturers, the client and BREEAM. The new building is fossil fuel-free, rated BREEAM Outstanding with extensive use of natural and sustainable materials, natural lighting and ventilation, air source heat pumps and heat recovery, including a bio-solar roof which reduces demand from the national grid by over 20%. The centre includes a swimming pool, a fitness suite, multi-activity studios, an eight-court sports hall, squash courts, climbing and bouldering facilities, a ski simulator and teaching facilities. The large sports hall has been fitted with 1600m2 Junckers SylvaSport Premium solid beech flooring installed by Junckers’ Approved Contractor Hutchison Flooring. Well-known for its high quality, performance and user safety, Junckers’ sports flooring also meet the strict criteria for sustainability and longevity required for a building of this standard. Wood is naturally low in embodied carbon, a consideration which comes more into focus when operational carbon is reduced. Junckers’ solid wood floors are sourced from managed forests with chain of custody certification through FSC® and PEFCTM and the company holds product-specific EPDs for its flooring. “When the operational carbon in a building is lowered, selecting materials with low embodied carbon becomes increasingly important. Specifying Junckers sports flooring fulfilled many criteria – durability, longevity, recyclability, and flexibility of use, which had a positive impact on the BREEAM assessment.” Irina Korneychuk, Senior Associate at FaulknerBrowns Architects With a proven long lifespan, a solid wood floor also scores highly when comparing maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement cycles. A Junckers 22mm solid beech floor can be sanded and refinished eight to ten times without loss of performance, and with typical 12-year intervals between refurbishments, a design life of 60+ years is easily achieved. An important part of future-proofing new buildings is recognising how a large percentage of embodied carbon is emitted post-completion when finishes need to be refreshed and replaced. At the same interval when a Junckers floor can be sanded and refinished, other sports flooring surfaces normally have to be replaced. This can lead to excessive use of raw materials and energy, unnecessary carbon emissions and pressure on landfill sites, especially in relation to surfaces made from fossil fuel derived materials such as vinyl and PU floors. Flexibility is another key consideration when building for a long design life. Leisure trends come and go but a multi-use sports hall is a timeless component of any leisure centre. The ability to use the flooring surface with its sprung undercarriage system for a multitude of sports, dance, performances, and competitions is crucial. Junckers sports flooring is widely used globally for all ball and racquet sports, dance, ballet, yoga, and other exercise studio-based activities. It is even hard-wearing enough to accommodate wheelchair rugby and retractable seating systems. 

Scarborough Sports Village includes Prospec Marathon Classic range throughout, with cantilevered and double island bench seating in matching solid grade laminate. Prospec Marathon wet lockers, which include an aluminium carcass for wet areas, are a mixture of 1, 2, 3, and 4 tiers, and feature our new £1 coin return lock. Other products included within our installation would be our Marathon Classic fully framed cubicles, postformed solid grade laminate vanity units and grooming shelves, and floor to ceiling IPS (duct panel systems). This project also features our Disabled Access lockers which comply with Sport England recommendations.

Polytan will be in on the action when the world’s top athletes pit their strengths against each other at international level this summer. The turf used for the hockey matches in Rio comes from Polytan, as was the case in London and Beijing too. Blue and green versions of the new Poligras Platinum CoolPlus synthetic turf system are being installed. The very same hockey pitch has also been available to the British hockey squads at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre since last October. The pitch comes in an eye-catching colour combination: a blue playing field with a light green border. A higher stitch density and special texturing technology mean that even more accurate moves are possible when playing on Poligras Platinum CoolPlus. Sally Munday, Chief Executive of England Hockey: “We have enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Polytan for a number of years. The quality of their product is outstanding, the installation work went without a hitch and the feedback from the players has been excellent.” Kevin Burton, Head of National Centres, Sport England: “In order to ensure our Great British hockey players had the best possible chance of success in future sports competitions, Sport England took the decision to replace the hockey surface at Bisham Abbey with the exact same surface that will be installed for the international sports competition in summer 2016. We are delighted with the surface as well as Polytan’s first-class service.”

Product/System:Sports Hall: Reflex SportsDeck & PU, linemarkingFitness Suite: Reflex SportsDeck and LinoSportSpin Studio: Reflex SportsDeck & LinoSportWeights Area: Reflex Weightlayer systemStudios: Reflex MultiSport flooringSled TrackSize: 1,250m2 in total

Constructed in 2009, Cardiff International Sports Stadium is the most important athletics stadium in Wales, with capacity for 2,553 seated and 2,400 standing spectators. It serves as the headquarters of Welsh Athletics, the organisation governing Welsh athletics and which is part of UK Athletics, the national umbrella body for sport.The stadium has been given a new look in 2019, with the running track as well as the sprint sections and sector surfaces extensively renovated by Polytan. The choice for the new synthetic surface fell on the “professional among sports surfaces” – the Rekortan M from Polytan. It features in many large athletics stadiums around the world, where its outstanding acceleration and tread elasticity have proven the worth of the surface in international elite sport. For the retopping in the Cardiff International Sports Stadium, the complete renewal of the tartan top was accompanied by a change in the colour of the surface: the athletes are now training and competing on a Rekortan M in “Hertha blue”. Hertha blue is an intensive blue shade that became famous the world over when it was first used in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin in 2004. The sprint sections and the sector surfaces in Cardiff, however, remained in classic brick red, presenting a striking visual contrast with the blue running track and the blue run-up tracks in the sectors.The stadium operators decided to use the opportunity of the surface retopping to add a technical innovation, the Polytan SmarTracks time and data recording system. This is designed to enable comprehensive performance diagnostics of the athletes using timing gates embedded invisibly in the surface. The running time, speed, step length, step frequency and jump height of the users can be recorded and analysed. The system is installed not just on an inside lane but also on two sprint sections.

The “Schäl Sick” – for many years, this derogatory term was used by Cologners on the left side of the Rhine about the other side of the Rhine. The right side – or rather the “wrong” side of the Rhine – was home to Deutz, Leverkusen or even Düsseldorf. And Porz, which is now part of Cologne. On Humboldtstrasse, between the Cologne-Porz municipal secondary school and the sports club Gymnasial-Sportverein Porz e.V., is the school sports facility. In 2021/2022, a running circuit enclosing a natural grass field and a sprinting track with up to seven lanes were renovated with Polytan’s Rekortan M, allowing the facility to be used by the athletics club, the municipal sports association and school sports department at the same time. In the summer of 2023, the second part of the extensive project began. This includes a large synthetic turf football field, a soccer court, a multipurpose field for basketball and badminton, and a fitness and climbing area, as well as a sand pitch for beach volleyball and an electronic goal shooting wall.Various surfaces from Polytan were used in the design of the sports complex. The large playing field is surfaced with our LigaTurf Cross synthetic turf system, which combines straight and textured filaments. The benefits of both textile fibre types are combined in one ideal surface, with a look and feel that is barely distinguishable from real football turf and is used successfully in professional sport worldwide. Thanks to its textured filaments, LigaGrass Cross ensures low and easy maintenance, while providing greater infill stability and increased turf volume. The football pitch on Humboldtstrasse can be divided into two mini-pitches, allowing it to be used by two groups at once.The miniature playing field is laid out as a soccer court and features a digital goal shooting wall. Both areas are surfaced with LigaGrass Pro with CoolPlus function. This textured synthetic turf is the perfect solution for municipal sports, as well as school and club sports. It began its winning streak with the DFB campaign “1,000 Miniature Playing Fields for Germany”, which became one of the most popular and enduring projects after the World Cup in Germany, with the aim of enthusing young people for football. Alongside synthetic turf, Polytan’s soccer court complete system also includes goals, barriers and ball nets.The multipurpose field was realised using PolyPlay SE, our durable all-round surface, which at Humboldstrasse is used for basketball and badminton in particular. Thanks to its smooth surface and favourable ball-bouncing properties, this single-layered surface is ideal for ball sports in schools, as well as for a variety of outdoor activities. Its water-permeable surface allows the playing field to dry very quickly, so it can be used year-round in all weathers. Another benefit is its slip resistance, high wear resistance and low maintenance. The black lines on the playing field are for basketball; the light green lines, for badminton.The fitness and climbing area is surfaced with our fall protection surface PolyPlay FS GT in a special brown tone. This classic among fall protection surfaces is primarily used in various thicknesses as a shock-absorbing layer on playgrounds. The bulk-coated, water-permeable surface is extremely low-maintenance and, thanks to its cushioning effect, protects against injuries in the event of falls. Optimal resistance to weathering and decay guarantees a long lifespan and low maintenance costs.Today, the “schäl Sick” no longer has negative connotations; on the contrary, its residents are proud to live on Cologne’s “other side”. In the renovation of the sports complex in Cologne-Porz, the project clients are definitely on the right side in opting for surfaces from Polytan’s extensive product portfolio.

LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus and Rekortan M at the Havkenscheider Park sports facility, BochumACTION ON THE WESTERN FRONT“Deep in the West” sings a drone of a thousand voices at home games of the VFL Bochum. “Bochum, I belong to you” is not only the official anthem of the Ruhr Stadium, but also the unofficial anthem for the entire city. Herbert Grönemeyer’s profession of love for Bochum is more than just a song – it is a statement for the entire region, for the “old” Ruhr area, which is not only famous for transporting coal and casting steel, but also its love of sport. VFL Bochum and its position in the first Bundesliga are only the figurehead for all the city has to offer: today, its sporting activities range from sports-orientated preschools and school sports to the “Integration through Sport” programme.Unlike its name, the “Laer’sche Fußballclub 1906 e.V.” is forging new paths. For 10 years, it has had a strong women’s and girls’ division with teams ranging from U9s to seniors – and in general, the youth division in Laer is of high calibre. However, the district club in the heart of Bochum has long been dedicated to more than just football, attracting gymnasts and athletes as well. More recently, trending sports such as lacrosse and disc golf have also been added.Strong interest in lacrosse not least prompted officials in the city council and the club to renovate the stadium on Havkenschneider Strasse from the ground up, not only to adapt it to the needs of the Bochum “Isotopes” lacrosse players, but to convert it into a complete district sports facility. In only eight months, three football fields were built: one large one and two mini-pitches.In total, 10,200 square metres of synthetic turf were installed there – specifically, our LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus with sand infill. The classic among our synthetic turf systems, the LigaGrass Pro filament and its triangular cross-section ensure even greater fibre stability and give the turf more volume and structure. As a crimped Polytan artificial turf system, LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus is also characterised by a BiColour design. The two-tone fibres help achieve a natural grass appearance with their lush green colour. The integrated CoolPlus function permanently reduces overheating of the turf in direct sunlight and is extremely effective, especially in the case of the textured turf systems, thanks to the large surface area for reflecting heat radiation.Our LigaGrass Pro CoolPlus is not only suitable for football training and playing facilities, but also for miniature playing fields and multisport facilities, e.g. for lacrosse. This team sport, which is played with a special stick and a hard rubber ball, originates from the east coast of America, where it is practised by indigenous people – the Haudenosaunee – and has a deep religious and identity-forming significance. Lacrosse is the oldest team sport on the American continent, and is by no means seen as only for white people, but as an inclusive, fun activity for women and men alike. Curiously, men and women today play lacrosse by completely different rules: in the women’s game, stick and body contact is limited – similar to field hockey – which is why little protective equipment is needed. In men’s lacrosse, on the other hand, helmets, rib and shoulder protection, and gloves are worn – similar to ice hockey. World championships for men and women now take place every four years, and the first European lacrosse championships took place in 2004. In 2028, Lacrosse is provisionally set to become an Olympic sport again, although the decision is yet to be finalised.In Bochum, the lacrosse field is located on Havkenscheider Strasse and stands out for its special ball catching nets – purely because it is the only one of its kind in the city. For athletes, the new sports facility also offers a 400-metre synthetic running track and four 100-metre sprinting tracks. It features with our Rekortan M in classic brick red, the fully fledged professional among our sports surfaces. It is representative of high-performance running tracks, not only in training and school sports facilities, but for international competitions as well. The poured in-situ surface is set apart by its excellent acceleration and high tread elasticity. What’s more, it is incredibly fast and offers impressively high shock absorption, as well as excellent advantages in terms of sports medicine.The city of Bochum spent 1.8 million euros on the renovation. The result is impressive: 1,300 metres of edging stones have been laid, and 2,000 metres of drainage pipes installed. 350 square metres of water-permeable eco-plaster and 5,000 tons of gravel used in the course of the renovation work. All in all, the conversion of the old stadium into the Havkenscheider Park sports facility supports Herbert Grönemeyer’s résumé: “Deep in the west / Where the sun gets dusty / It is better / Much better than you think.”

Middlesbrough Council developed the idea for Middlesbrough Sports Village which included the construction of a 250m velodrome and a stadium to accommodate an eight lane track and field with seating for 650 people, as well as a five court racquet hall, gym, tennis courts and all-weather pitches. An attractive hard landscaping solution was needed to enhance the pedestrian areas at the new £23 million Sports Village and Tobermore helped the council achieve this with the provision of Mayfair Flags – a paving slab with a granite aggregate surface layer that produces a striking, contemporary look.

XXL Sport chose the Urban Shalestone tile for the recent refurbishment of their Sweden store.Client feedback is that the new floor is better for their staff to work on, less noise, easy to clean, good reflection of light and the Urban tiles are quick and easy to install.

A scheme designed by the award-winning Architects Guy Hollaway, The Urban Sports Park in Folkestone includes the world’s first multi-storey skatepark. The state-of-the-art facility is set on four levels and includes a skating area, climbing wall, new boxing club and café. Cordek were requested to design and supply a bespoke formwork solution to aid the construction of the integral, reinforced concrete slab soffit for the large skating bowls on the first floor.

Ayr, a port town on the Firth of Clyde in the southwest of Scotland, attracts tourists with its picturesque sandy beaches, mild climate influenced by the Gulf Stream, and a view across the water to the Isle of Arran, the home of several popular whisky distilleries.For the Scottish, Ayr is particularly significant since it is where Robert the Bruce held the first Scottish parliament in the early 14th century. Today, Ayr is one of the locations of the University of the West of Scotland, which offers one hundred graduate degree courses at a total of seven faculties. In its direct vicinity is the Riverside Sports Arena, built in 2022, which is used by students of the university and serves as the training centre for the Ayr Seaforth Athletic Club. For over 60 years, this traditional club has offered almost every classic athletics discipline, as well as special programmes for juniors, seniors and disabled people.Following an investment of £8.5 million, the state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor sports arena now includes an indoor sprinting and jumping facility, a roofed stand with 250 seats, a changing pavilion, and a rugby/football field. Specially for track-and-field athletes, there is a 400-metre running track with eight lanes, an area for jumping and throwing disciplines, and a 60-metre indoor track with six lanes. All the tracks are equipped with Polytan Rekortan M in brick red, our globally established professional sports surface, which we offer in an indoor and an outdoor version. It is loved by professionals and amateurs alike for its excellent acceleration and high tread elasticity. In addition, Rekortan M is fast and offers high cushioning and excellent sport medical properties.Due to country-specific emission limit values for indoor spaces, Rekortan M is well-suited to indoor athletics facilities. Unlike the outdoor version, the indoor version contains 100% rubber granules.With 153 World-Athletics-certified installations worldwide, Rekortan M is the world’s most certified running track system. The synthetic surface celebrated its debut at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico – ever since, Rekortan has embodied high-performance running tracks for international competitions, training facilities and school sports facilities.Moreover, our digital performance diagnostics system Polytan SMART has been installed at the Riverside Sports Arena. It is suitable for both running tracks and synthetic turf system, and can be integrated into both new and existing facilities with very little effort. Once fitted, the permanently installed timing gates are available at all times for precise time measurement – in any weather and for multiple athletes at once. Developed specially for amateur athletes who want to optimise their training, the free smartphone app Smart Run by Humotion is available to download from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. The smartphone is worn in a running belt. This allows the app to make use of the sensors in the smartphone, and measure all the relevant parameters in conjunction with the SMART timing gates. The measurements are then evaluated and analysed directly in the app. These include distance, time, number of steps and step frequency, both as interim results and absolute values.For all professional athletes who want to train with as little weight yet as much precision as possible, we have made the DX5.0 sensor – weighing only 15 grams – available. This is attached to a special belt and worn on the body while training. In conjunction with the Polytan SMART timing gates, it records all the parameters, and displays and evaluates them either on the professional SmarTracks diagnostics software on a laptop, or directly in the Smart Run by Humotion app.We have installed a total of 80 timing gates in the running track, the sprint track and the long jump at the Riverside Sports Arena. Scottish Athletics Ltd, the national umbrella association for athletics in Scotland, will use the Polytan SMART-equipped facility in Ayr for national competitions in the future. Polytan is the official partner of Scottish Athletics Ltd, which is associated with World Athletics via UK Athletics. In turn, Scottish Athletics comprises 150 athletics associations that offer people of all ages the opportunity to try out various athletics disciplines, as well as train and compete – from casual jogging, all the way through to the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

We are extremely proud to have been apart of the new Colchester Sports Hub. The complex will be home to a number of new sporting opportunities being the home now to BMX, Equestrian trails, and American football whilst retaining the rugby and football pitches. It was a pleasure working with GT3 Architects on the new indoor sports centre which boasts our Topperfo M 16/16/8. RG Carter superbly installed the Topperfo system to the walls ensuring the build-up met the acoustic and impact resistant test certificates.

The market town of Peiting has a little under 12,000 residents. Villa Rustica, a stately Roman estate, shows that settlers were attracted to the current town’s geographical situation on the banks of the Lech as long as 2,000 years ago. Today, tourists and locals alike can find almost unlimited opportunities for physical activity, such as cross country, cycling or hiking tours. In the 40 different areas of the town, there are numerous sports facilities, including an ice rink, bowling alleys, a riding arena, tennis courts, football pitches and fitness trails.At the centrally located Birkenried Sports Centre, we have now replaced the previous tartan track – after an incredible 41 years of intensive use by athletes of the athletics club, TSV Peiting. Rekortan AS GT was installed on the running circuit. In the special colour Chili Red, our water-based spray-coated surface is visually eye-catching too. In one of the sectors, lines have been painted for a small, multifunctional playing field. In the opposite sector, are facilities for long jump and high jump. Our water-permeable Rekortan AS GT fulfils all the requirements for competitive running tracks and multi-purpose facilities, and is a viable alternative to conventional pour-coated running track surfaces, not least because it is quick and easy to install. Another advantage: the innovative multisport surface is yet another environmentally product from the Polytan Green Technology portfolio.A unique highlight of the running circuit track is the installation of Polytan SMART, our high-precision system for professional performance diagnostics. It is primarily used for classic running disciplines in athletics, as well as long jump and high jump. The Polytan SMART system consists of integrated, maintenance-free, magnetic timing gates that are permanently and securely installed in the ground. It is accompanied by a sensor weighing only 15 grams and the tried-and-tested diagnostics software from our partner Humotion. Amateur athletes simply use their smartphone, worn in a running belt on their person, combined with the free Smart Run app. The measurements – such as distance, time, number of steps and step frequency – are evaluated and analysed directly in the app. In Peiting, a total of 38 timing gates have been installed in the track: 18 in the two tracks of the hundred-metre sprinting track, 12 in the running circuit, and 8 in the long jump area. Thanks to digital measurement sensors, the renovated running track in Peiting is one of the most cutting-edge in Bavaria – alongside similar tracks at Augsburg University and TU Munich. There, athletes of the TSV Peiting athletics club can train under professional conditions. The club hopes that the highly modern track will attract young people to athletics and generate enthusiasm for the sport.Directly adjacent to the running circuit is a multifunctional, all-weather pitch, equipped with our durable all-round surface, PolyPlay SE. Its smooth surface and good ball bounce make the single-layer synthetic surface ideal for ball sports and a variety of outdoor activities. Its water-permeability helps the surface dry quickly, while also making it fully slip-resistant. As a result, our synthetic surface can be used year round as an all-weather pitch. Thanks to the colour scheme in bold Chili Red, the multifunctional sports pitch matches the neighbouring running circuit – an eye-catching sight against the scenic backdrop of the nearby Alps.

International Timber recently supplied TG Escapes with high quality, Western Red Cedar cladding for the redevelopment of sports complex, Ruskin Drive

Brynteg School in Bridgend, Wales had an urgent need to refurbish their incredibly tired and dated linoleum floor in the main sports hall. The project would be a perfect ‘fit’ for international flooring specialist Gerflor who supplied their Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Performance sports flooring, together with their Taraflex® Bateco protection system.The installation of the Gerflor flooring would be the responsibility of Cardiff-based Puma Floors Ltd. Matthew Graves, Commercial Director, Puma Floors Ltd, commented, “We have previously installed both Taraflex and Bateco before, they are extremely easy products to work with. The final result and the sports hall look amazing, and the client is delighted with the final finish. We would certainly choose to specify and install Gerflor again.”The main sports hall at Brynteg School also provides sporting facilities for a host of wheelchair sports which makes Gerflor’s Taraflex® the ideal choice when it comes to comfort, safety, and performance. Taraflex® sports floorings are recognised all over the world for all types of sports. cushioned floors, with high IPI values, are key features for sitting volleyball and other sitting sports.Commenting on the Brynteg School project Tony Thorne, Gerflor Specification Manager, South Wales said, “This has been a formidable project to be involved in and hugely fulfilling to see our first-class sports surface really delivering on both performance, comfort, and safety.”Taraflex® sports flooring has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Approved by many National and International governing bodies as a world class sports surface, it is also widely installed within the education, community, leisure, health, and fitness sectors.

JD Sports Flagship Store

IssueSheffield Olympic Legacy Park Stadium was created after a collaboration of key institutions decided to deliver an Olympic legacy through the four themes of sport, community, environment and economy. The park has an ethos to achieve physical and mental health and wellbeing by providing world-class facilities for community sports, from grassroots up to elite levels.ApproachWith the need to provide inspirational interiors for aspiring Olympians, Alex Parojcic, Architect at Whittam Cox knew that a high-end design, complemented by technical performance and ease of maintenance was required for the new changing areas, showers and physiotherapy suite. “Ceramic tiles had originally been specified for the showers and changing rooms, but we switched to Altro Tegulis when we realised the installation would be quicker, give a fantastic look and feel to the areas,and provide the cleanliness and hygiene standards required for such busy areas.”Joe Richardson of Richardsons Cladding who completed the installation, added “Altro Tegulis was a quick and easy install which assisted with the contractor’s tight programme. If this had been done in the ceramic tiles it would have impacted the programme massively.”SolutionAltro Tegulis, partnered by Altro Aquarius were specified for the showers, providing safety from slips in shoes and barefoot. For the changing rooms, where traffic from football studs, sports shoe spikes and bumps/knocks from sports bags and equipment would be experienced, Altro Atlas 40 was specified. Altro Wood provided a less clinical finish in the physiotherapy suite.Altro Tegulis tile-effect wall panels offer the ideal alternative to traditional tiles for wet rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and retail spaces. With a range of tile-effect patterns offering a grout-free alternative to tiles, Altro Tegulis offers a more familiar feeling than traditional wall panel sheets.Altro Atlas is well suited to areas where the risk of a slip is high, including heavy duty industrial use and sports changing rooms. Hard wearing, stable, and resistant to mechanical damage and chemicals, Altro Atlas 40 provides long term durability and slip resistance, and is easy to clean and maintain.Altro Aquarius is a specialist solution for combined wet and dry, shoe and barefoot areas. Keeps you safe with common contaminants such as shampoo and conditioner.Altro Wood is a general purpose 2mm wood-effect vinyl safety flooring available in a range of designs with different plank sizes.

When Cardiff High school needed a high-quality multi-use sports flooring solution for their main hall, they chose international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 700m2 of their world class Taraflex® Multi-Use vinyl sports floor. Gerflor also supplied an Isolsport underlay and their ubiquitous Taraflex® Bateco moveable protective covering which would ensure that the Taraflex® sports floor would remain protected during non-sporting activities.The contracting responsibility for the sports floor would be undertaken by Cardiff-based Floor Furnishings Limited. Nick Jefferies, Company Director, Floor Furnishings Ltd commented, “Gerflor’s Taraflex sports floor was extremely easy to lay. The Isolsport underlay also supplied by Gerflor, enabled us to lay the Taraflex Multi-Use directly over the existing concrete floor, this was a real benefit as the project was on a very tight schedule, due to the hall being required for exams.”The Taraflex® Multi-Use is a P1 category sports flooring, designed for both sport and non-sport use making it ideal for multi-purpose areas. Taraflex® Multi-Use protects users with excellent shock absorption and impact protection of 25% to 35%. Yet it’s tough enough to protect itself against non-sport demands often found in many education environments such as the movement of tables, chairs, and exercise equipment.

When Colchester Academy in Essex required a new sports floor for their main hall and their dance studio, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for an Olympic pedigree solution. For this prestigious education establishment, Gerflor would supply a total of 552m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring for the sports hall, and 258m2 of their Taraflex® Combi 85 System in Evolution for their dance studio.

 Scope of Works After more than a dozen years of intensive use, the flooring of Newcastle Academy’s sports hall was showing its age. TVS addressed areas of localised damage and sanded the floor to create a better surface for bonding – all in preparation for a rapid flooring makeover. Next TVS installed a new, self-levelling and seamless polyurethane performance wear layer. It was finished with a new sports grade polyurethane topcoat in RAL 7000 ‘Squirrel Grey’ designed to give the sports hall a more updated look. Then, following discussions with the Academy, priority sports were identified and a customised line marking plan agreed for the compact sports hall. Finally, brand new, extra wide cover details were supplied and installed to ensure protection at all points of entry. The total installation took just 5 days and delivered an instant transformation. For those looking to update, replace or refurbish sports facilities after a decade or more of use, this project underlines the distinct advantages of selecting TVS polyurethane sports flooring, namely: • No necessity to fully remove the existing sports flooring, saving time and expense • No need to re-screed the subfloor or install new shock-absorbing layers Providing existing surfaces still perform to required standards, TVS can rejuvenate surfaces with a new hard-wearing polyurethane layer that transforms its appearance and provides significant time and cost savings. "This is our first time working with the team at TVS Group and its safe to say it certainly won’t be the last! From start to finish we have nothing but praise for the great level of communication, professional advice and guidance we received from the onset of this project. What we found to be particularly helpful was the number of questions and communications that took place to ensure we had the right installation for the Academy, that the specification met with Sport England criteria and, as importantly, that our students and community groups would have an exemplary sports facility available to them. Pre contract health and safety information was provided timely and without issue. The installation team worked fantastically and from a contract management perspective were excellent to work with. Post installation we were provided with the O&M manual. The installation itself is fabulous and our students and staff are amazed at the transformation of the sports facility in just a small number of days. We look forward to many years use of our fantastic new facility!" Vickie Keeling, Trust Director 

The frontage of the Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Edinburgh has received a radical makeover as part of a major investment to increase footfall by enhancing the visitor experience. The extension has been covered with STEREO-KINETIC cladding; hundreds of freely-moving stainless steel sheets suspended from grating panels. Gusts of wind, traffic, even people walking by cause the metal rectangles to ripple in an ever-changing display. The kinetic artwork has been designed in such a way as to allow the passage of natural daylight through the underlying window openings on the second floor level.