The industrialized carpet industry enjoys annual sales in the double digit billions with a steady growth of 20% annually, driven, in part, by the increases seen in the do-it-yourself markets.*

Of that incredible number, synthetic grass and artificial turf only represent 5% of the total finished goods delivered to market, yet synthetic grass and artificial turf is the fastest growing segment of the carpet industry today.

* www.carpet.org

Artificial Turf Market Surges Forward for 5th Year!

AMI, Bristol, March 11, 2008 – Around the world demand for artificial turf is growing at 20% p.a. according to a recently published study by leading industry consultants, Applied Market Information Ltd (AMI). http://www.amiplastics.com

The report's author John Nash says that ‘Soccer and residential landscaping applications were the hot spots in 2007, but strong demand was enjoyed in most regions of the world and in most applications for artificial grass'.

While many will remember the pitches they played on as kids and think artificial turf is a niche market, today's reality is quite different. Gone are the hard surfaces that caused friction burns and impact injuries, and in their place are controlled slide and defined energy restitution. Changing product design has brought synthetic turf into the mainstream of surfaces used for both sports and landscaping applications. The industry now accounts for over 600,000 tonnes of product ranging from the polymers used for the grass carpet through the elastomeric rubber infill to the underlay.

The market value of the grass carpet alone is estimated at €1,250m in 2007. The grass yarns are made from PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) and PA (polyamide or nylon), and they are fast developing both in terms of the performance of the polymer, but also the shape of the yarns and their bonding into the backing tape, whether by SB (styrene butadiene) latex or PU (polyurethane).

The infill that has become predominant is SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) sourced from grinding up and recycling car tyres, but new TPEs (thermoplastic elastomers) are being offered which address specific requirements. A more recent focus for development is the underlay, or shock pad, which is becoming increasingly important to the performance of the system as a whole.

Not only is there a lot of technical development underway but, as predicted by AMI in its 2005 report, there is also substantial M&A activity as participants use mergers and acquisitions to build and reshape their businesses. The last eighteen months have seen major acquisitions involving [several North American and European companies.]

Supply and demand in the market needs to be seen in a geographically global context partly because of the trade flows in the various components, but also because participation strategies are increasingly global in their implementation.

Global Market Usage:

Europe - 48%
NAFTA - 26%
Far East - 12%
Near East - 8%
South America - 3%
Oceania - 3%

‘The Global Artificial Grass Market 2007' is a detailed multi-client research report
published in February 2008.

For further information please contact John Nash at AMI:
jsn@amiplastics.com or +44 117 924 9442

 

Specifically Synthetic

Use of synthetic grass and artificial turf for landscape and leisure sports uses for residential and commercial property projects represent approximately 5-10% of total materials produced.

Landscape and leisure sports uses are the fastest growing segment of the synthetic grass and artificial turf market, blossoming at 30 to 35% annually.**

The largest "user" of synthetic grass and artificial turf in the US is the New York City Parks and Recreation Department; responsible for the planning, construction and maintenance of hundreds of city park properties.

Many asphalt play areas are now complimented by soft, green surface materials that decrease injuries and increase the look and feel of the area.

Though driven by the sales of a hundred million square feet of sports turf annually, the synthetic grass and artificial turf market is becoming very popular for use as another surface materials for a broader range of applications in landscape and leisure sports for the residential and commercial property market.

Decreasing the use of chemicals and water while increasing the use and appeal of a landscape area drives consumer demand. Bottom line - in the hands of professionals - it delivers.

For US Licensing Boards and
Other Related Links go to:
[ state and federal links ]

** 2007 Global Study of the
Artificial Grass Market

For More Information or a Copy of the
2007 - Global Artificial Grass Market
Report - please contact ....
AMI Research

mk@.researchami.com
or www.researchami.com

2008
US Construction
Market Growth
Trends Steady
however that means

Construction Fraud
Is Still THE #1
Consumer Crime

As a whole, the construction industry is made up of a wide variety of great companies that help tens of thousands of people annually - without issue.

And then there's the exception to the norm.

Research your installer at the local builder exchange, state licensing board or contact the BBB Office go to: www.bbb.org

Unfortunately, construction is one of the most likely
businesses where consumer fraud occurs, regularly.

Please do your part to stamp out consumer fraud in the construction industry by following local laws and ordinances and hiring only licensed contractors (where required).

You can verify the background of your Solutions Provider/installer by searching by company name and by personnel or owners name on the following links.

No state allows a license to be "shared" by companies that are not "associated" with the licensee; by partnership, corporation, etc.

Your rights are SEVERELY COMPRIMISED when using unlicensed operators!!!! You will be liable for any worker's comp issues, damage and loss on the property in the event it occurs.

Using unlicensed operators perpetuates the message that consumer fraud is OK.

Please, FOR YOUR Own Protection ... take the extra few minutes to ask for valid copies of licenses, insurance and referrals and then check them out BEFORE you sign any contracts!

For US Licensing Boards and
Other Related Resources - go to:

[ state and federal index pages ]

In the US, the Better Business Bureau is the place to seek further background information on your firm - if you find the Solutions Provider has had a mis-step and a complaint lodged against them at the BBB - you wil lfind a history on record of steps the Solutions Provider has taken to rectify the situation, or not.

Consumers can file complaints on anyone with the BBB.

Complaints and compliments are listed about companies as reported at the BBB, whether they are members or not.

To find your local BBB Office go to:

www.bbb.org

 

Copyright (c) 2008. All Rights Reserved. AGi, Inc. - Terms of USE

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