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XL Pro: non-infill artificial grass from Dutch soil
Over 10 years of experience and multiple references make XL Pro a proven choice. Now that doubts have been raised about the spreading of SBR infill on artificial grass pitches, alternatives are appearing on the market. One of these alternatives is laying a non-infill pitch. Condor Grass has produced the XL Pro surface on Dutch soil since 2007, in which time it has been put into use in various Western European countries. Do potential opportunities also exist on the Dutch market?
For the sales of XL Pro, Condor Grass collaborates with Swiss company XL Turf. Although the Dutch company is able to sell the pitches directly, the deliberate choice was made to work in partnership with the Swiss company. XL Turf designed a successful system that Condor Grass manufactures using special production techniques. In the meantime, more than 80 pitches have been laid in France, Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg. And the first are ordered in the Netherlands
Optimal comfort
Infill material in an artificial pitch has a great and often positive impact on safety and playing comfort. But apart from the recurring SBR debate, infill often causes concern and irritation among players, local residents and field managers. Granules can be lost in clothing, the atmosphere or the environment and odours can be emitted in high temperatures. Infill material also entails additional costs relating to maintenance and supplementation. A logical solution is an infill-free system, which is why the XL Pro System does not involve the use of sand or infill.
An EPP under layer ensures optimal shock absorption. The upper layer consists of an artificial grass carpet, which has millions of filaments per square metre. Within the carpet, a curled so-called ‘knit-de-knit’ fibre provides stability, support and shock absorption. A flexible and sliding-friendly monofilament ensures a natural rolling of the ball and optimal playability. The underside of the carpet is strengthened with glass fibre, which ensures the system is stable and sturdy after installation without the need for sand or infill for weight.
Easy to maintain
No additional material costs are incurred during the lifecycle of XL Pro. It does not require any water softener or other cleaning products. We recommend a simply vacuum cleaner for monthly maintenance With infill systems, granules are lost around the pitch, in the atmosphere, in the changing rooms or in players’ clothing: granules that then need to be replaced on the pitch. This is not necessary with XL Pro. The surface requires no recurring costs for freeing granules that have become stuck or clumped or for deep cleaning. The lifecycle of an full size XL Pro pitch is comparable to that of an infill artificial pitch: eight to ten years.
Although the purchase cost of non-infill artificial grass systems is higher than for infill systems, due to their more complex system structure, the difference can be recouped during the product’s lifecycle. XL Turf estimates the maintenance costs of an XL Pro artificial pitch to be between 6,000 and 10,000 euros per year. At the end of the lifecycle, the weight of the XL Pro system to be removed is at least 50% lighter than an infill system. The separate system structure produces no mixing of the materials and all of this means that the removal costs are lower than those for an infill system. Even repairing or re-turfing of heavy used areas can be done easily. Just remove it, no infill issues for waste. And install fresh turf.
