Built to perform, Engineered to last James Croll investigates how the installation of playing surfaces is just as critical as the choice of the surface itself when it comes to ensuring high quality playing performance and safety
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n 2009 following a surge in demand for higher quality playing surfaces, world football governing body FIFA launched its FIFA Preferred Provider (FPP) initiative. The objectives of the initiative were twofold. In the first instance, it was launched to address the need for higher quality surfaces, not just in the product itself but in the installation process. It also however aimed to protect the interests of the consumers when Tuff Turf installation at Nicolls School.
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purchasing pitches to ensure they met ambitious standards when it came to performance and safety. The initiative was well received by venues across all levels, from community through to elite level, due to the growing demand among consumers for the best possible surfaces. One of the first turf suppliers to become FPP accredited was CCGrass. Based in Vietnam, the company owns the largest synthetic turf factory in the world and has been providing artificial grass for both sports and landscape purposes for more than 20 years. It produces more football fields than any other global artificial grass manufacturer. In fact, its daily production equals four full-size artificial football turf fields. Since it became FPP accredited the company has seen its reputation grow significantly with its surfaces being adopted by the likes of Chelsea FC, Olympiacos CFP, and by a number of international tournaments, such as the FIFA U-15 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup, 2015 Summer Universiade (Gwangju), 2017 Summer Universiade (Taipei), and the Homeless World Cup. The company is one of only a select number of manufacturers worldwide that is a preferred producer for all FIFA surfaces and for that matter FIH and IRB surfaces.
