Sports surfaces specialist SIS Pitches has made a multi-million-pound investment into a fleet of 16 new hybrid pitch stitching machines.
Developed to meet growing demand for faster installations and greater configurability, the new machines feature patented technologies that increase the rate and efficiency of fiber injection on grass-based sports surfaces. Once installed, the fibers accelerate recovery times and reinforce a playing surface by promoting healthier root systems.
The investment will allow SIS Pitches to ease operational pressure on multi-use stadia, whose narrowing timeframes to install hybrid grass pitches between matches and non-sporting events represents a major challenge. This need for speed and flexibility – without compromising in quality - has been driven by clubs and franchises around the world seeking to maximize stadium revenue by hosting concerts, exhibitions and fixtures spanning multiple sports.
In response, SIS Pitches’ new fleet can now complete a full hybrid pitch installation in a much shorter timeframe than before. This is possible because of a more compact design that allows two units to be transported in a single shipping container. Working together, the machines are able to reduce the typical installation period of a full-sized football pitch from an industry average of around 10 days to just over three.
The benefits have already been seen first-hand at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, where ahead of the Club World Cup a fresh turf stitched pitch was recently completed in just three and a half days.
Two different models have been developed as part of the investment. The first, named Pro-X, is designed to cover larger pitches, such as those already completed at Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic Park and the Racecourse Ground, home to Wrexham Football Club. The second model, Spin-X, is the first hybrid machine made specifically for cricket pitches, with a lower weight and unique made-to-measure wicket option.
Each new machine features a patented drum mechanism that allows for faster stitching by enabling forward movement in larger increments than comparable machines. Meanwhile, the combination of a new cutting device and an innovative needle clamp system ensures precision and consistency in every stitch. Both of these features have been recently patented.
Due to a fully customizable stitching configuration, the new machines can stitch to any depth from 45mm to 180mm. This marks a major step forward from competing technologies of this type, which are generally limited to only two set depths. SIS Grass Hybrid machines can also offer the widest range of spacing options available on the market, from 15x20, 20x20 and 30x20. This allows grounds managers to specify an installation with the right level of reinforcement for their athletes and climate, while also accommodating the needs of a stadium, pitch profile or budget.
One of the configurations made possible by the new machines is SIS Pitches’ pioneering shallow stitch concept – GameReady Hybrid – with fibres pre-stitched into turf/sod rolls at 45mm depths.
This is a fully tested and data-backed innovation that offers an industry first: the installation of a pre-stitched turf that can be harvested, transported and laid as a ready-to-play reinforced hybrid surface in a matter of days. Three stadiums in the United States have already made use of the unique GameReady system: MetLife in New York, Camping World in Orlando and the Bank of America in North Carolina.
“The development of our new hybrid pitch stitching machines is a major step forward for us as a business, and demonstrates our continued commitment to innovation and providing the very best playing surfaces,” CEO Ivo Lamot said. “Further, the new machines have immediately raised the bar for stadium owners and operators seeking the quick and customizable installation of a new playing surface.
“Throughout our R&D process, we’ve been conscious that grounds staff working in stadia around the world now typically have much narrower windows in which they are expected to change their pitch. Through a combination of patented technology and stadium-oriented design, we’ve created a solution that meets the evolving needs of customers around the world. Plans are already in place for us to apply this concept to world renowned stadia looking for the fastest ever turnaround between a concert and competitive fixture.
“As a business, our purpose is to power more play. By increasing both the speed and quality of a typical hybrid pitch installation, we’re making stitched hybrid technology more accessible than ever before, ensuring multi-use stadia can host more sporting events and generate more revenue than ever before.”
The fleet of new machines will be deployed throughout July. There will be sets located in Europe, USA, Canada, South America, the Middle East, and also a set that can be moved around as required.
