Polymers put through their paces

An International Trade Shows Link product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 17, 2004

A special presentation during K 2004 will illustrate the contribution of polymers to sporting excellence.

Whether the aim is elasticity in sporting accessories, weight reduction in equipment or extreme load-bearing capacity in materials for stadium and arena building, plastics undoubtedly play a vital role in sport and recreation.

The special presentation "Plastics - first choice for winners", to be shown during K 2004, the international trade fair for plastics and rubber held from 20th to 27th October at the Messe Centre in Dusseldorf, will illustrate the contribution of polymers to sporting excellence.

Innovative materials and processes will be highlighted in numerous presentations, discussion sessions and film features.

Topical questions and potential developments will also be under the spotlight.

Specialists from the global plastics and rubber industry will have their curiosity aroused by the special presentation, which aims to recreate the electric atmosphere of a cutting-edge sports arena over more than 500m2 of space in Hall 6.

A grandstand fitted with around 140 original plastic seats will provide the audience with a good view during presentations and discussions, and in addition, the technical construction of the seats will also be revealed.

Within the "stadium" itself, the sectors of athletics, watersports, wintersports and ball sports will be explored at activity islands.

The focus is geared towards the development of sports equipment, technical accessories and sports wear as well as various options offered to the disabled.

But the presentation will not just be theoretical.

Sporting legends, among them athletes from the Athens Olympic Games, will give live demonstrations of what competitive sport owes to polymers.

One of the highlights will be the high diving tower, where members of the German Olympic high diving team will perform training dives from two 3m boards into a basin filled with foam-rubber bales.

However, this is not a circus act to draw the crowds, but is used in real life as an effective modern training method.

K 2004 visitors will also have a chance to test their mettle on a rowing machine, a virtual world cup slalom run, a golf putting green and at breaking a record on a treadmill.

The FIFA 2006 World Cup will definitely not be neglected at this special presentation.

The leading cutting-edge German stadiums hosting the World Cup matches will be on display as models.

Discussions with internationally renowned sports facility architect Professor Roland Burgard will offer insights into the status quo in sports facility construction and architectonic visions.

The plastic roof construction covering the entire special presentation will highlight functional aesthetics.

Even with all these achievements as part of the K special presentation, cost efficiency will not be forgotten - particularly as harnessing state-of-the-art technologies for recreational sport is not just a source of potential new applications, but also of attractive business propositions.

Well known companies and associations have given the go-ahead to actively participate in the special presentation.

Among these are Adidas, Berleburger Schaumstoffwerk, Empacher and Uvex, the Institute for Research and Development of Sporting Equipment of Berlin (FES), the German Canoeing Association, the German Swimming Association and the German Sailing Association.

Active sportsmen and women, including Sydney Olympic medallist Roland Gaebler (sailing), Katrin Boron (rowing) as well as Thomas Schmidt and Andreas Dittmer (canoeing), will also lend their support to the event.

The special presentation will be organised by the German plastics industry, spearheaded by the Association of the Plastics Producing Industry (VKE) and Messe Dusseldorf.