Sport & Leisure
Many sport and leisure activities require specific accessories. Expanded polypropylene (EPP) or its recycled alternative, RELOOPP®, can be used to manufacture safe products and equipment to optimise the customer’s sporting performance, whether professional or amateur.
More and more manufacturers of sports leisure accessories and major racing brands are incorporating these materials into their designs. At Knauf Industries we have been supporting sports & leisure gear manufacturers in the creation of solutions manufactured from expanded materials.
Sports products requirements?
Recreational leisure equipment should meet the expectations of the athlete. These are the 6 essential points to consider when manufacturing sporting goods:
Safety
There are high-risk sports, such as canyoning or mountain biking, where an accident can be life-threatening. In gym activities there is no risk to life, but there is a risk of injury. Incorporating materials that provide security is the first step to stand out from the competition.
Improved sporting performance
Every athlete wants to be at his or her best every time he or she trains or competes. Before you buy, evaluate, and compare all available products. The same assessment applies when choosing a gymnasium. Make your product stand out by incorporating materials that enhance its aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and ergonomic properties.
Lightness
Weight affects both safety and sporting performance. Lightweight equipment is easily transported. In addition, it does not condition movements, nor does it generate forces that can decompensate the athlete.
Resistant materials
Many of these accessories cushion potentially fatal shocks. The most obvious example is protective helmets for cycling or canyoning. In other cases, impact resistance translates into durability.
Inert materials
Sweating is unavoidable when training. But sweat brings moisture and micro-organisms, two risk factors for gym hygiene. Hence the advantage of using inert materials that can be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
A good price
Some sports, such as caving or triathlon, are expensive. No matter how ambitious the athlete, his purchases are on a budget. Offering safe but affordable material increases the chances of sales.
EPP and RELOOP®, Design for Champions
EPP is an easy-to-mould, lightweight expanded foam with high dynamic strength. That is why it is one of the essential materials in the manufacture of certain sports accessories.
As a result of our commitment to sustainability, Knauf Industries has developed RELOOPP®, with the same properties as EPP, but made from recycled plastic material. Both allow the production of mono-material and 100% recyclable products.
EPP and RELOOP®, Design for Champions
The properties of EPP and RELOOPP® successfully meet the trends of the sports leisure industry, but also the high demands of competitive sport.
Discover success stories where these materials meet the needs of manufacturers in a wide range of disciplines. Our experts offer full design and production support for sports & leisure equipment manufacturers to make the most of foam materials.
Water sports equipment
Surfboards, windsurfing, paddle surfing (SUP) and bodyboarding have 4 requirements: buoyancy, lightness, strength, and hydrodynamic design.
- Buoyancy. It is achieved with low density materials.
- Lightweight. It makes it easier to handle out of the water and reduces the cost of fuel to the navigation area.
- Resilience. To impacts with rough waves and corrosion by saltpetre.
- Hydrodynamic design. Although they look similar, the board silhouette for each discipline is different, depending on whether you are looking for stability, speed, or ease of turning. EPP offers ease of moulding and mass production.
Fitness equipment design
Five needs stand out in sports facility management: durability, impact resistance, hygiene, injury prevention and noise reduction. That is why EPP is the ideal material for making plyometric jumping boxes, gymnasium floors and yoga cues.
- Durability. Opening a fitness centre requires a high investment that pays off with a high turnover of customers. That’s why any innovation in gym equipment must withstand many uses.
- Impact resistance. The floor where the dumbbells are placed or the plyometric box, essential in any CrossFit box, must withstand high pressures without deforming.
- Hygiene. For years the floors and drawers were made of wood. EPP offers the advantage of being easy to disinfect and does not accumulate moisture.
- Injury prevention. Because of their ability to absorb kinetic energy, EPP boxes relieve pressure on the joints with every jump. The lightness of the yoga blocks prevents muscle pulls and makes them perfect for older people.
- Soundproofing. Many users drop athletic performance equipment abruptly. This generates noise and vibrations, which are very annoying for the rest of the users and can lead to conflicts with other users of the building. EPP flooring for sports centres eliminates this problem due to its noise absorption capacity.
Helmets for hazardous sports
Some outdoor leisure products require extensive safety measures to protect the life of the athlete. This is the case for cycling, climbing, caving and canyoning helmets. The light weight and shock absorption capacity of EPP is ideal for this equipment hence our long-standing cooperation with helmet producers.
- Lightness. At high speeds, an extra gram in the helmet can affect the athlete’s trajectory, whether on a downhill bike ride or a dynamic climb.
- Shock absorption. A blow in a fall or against a rock ledge can be fatal. The internal protections of EPP helmets offer a very high level of safety against head injuries.
Boosting the future of sport with EPP
Citizens are increasingly taking up physical activity because of its positive impact on health. In the coming years, the demand for supplies for leisure activities related to fitness and other sporting activities is expected to increase.
This momentum also benefits from the SHARE and SHARE 2.0 initiatives, through which the EU allocates funds for the construction and improvement of sport facilities. Projects with sustainability criteria are approved.
Incorporating EPP or RELOOPP® guarantees high quality, safe equipment, and installations with a lower environmental impact.
If you are searching for an innovative foam solution for your sports & leisure products, contact our experts for a personalized offer!