Board Members only
CEN TC Members only
Invitations for the Interest Group and Task Force meetings will be sent out separately.
ESTC members only
Welcome to Berlin - join us for drinks and networking !
Open to all Congress participants
Session 1: Welcome & Keynote Address
Stefan Diderich, Director General/ CEO, ESTC
An inspirational presentation about the fascinating developments in AI impacting business and society.The Next Step in AI:
- Major technology trends impacting our companies and business models
- Tomorrow's organization
- The future of leadership
Richard Van Hooijdonk, Trendwatcher & Futurist, Future Frontiers
Session 2: Technical & Regulatory Update
Opening Speech from the Chair - Paul Fraser
- Knowledge Pillar - Eric O'Donnell
- Networking Pillar - Luca Girelli
- Advocacy Pillar - Paul Fraser
- Communication Pillar - Tushar Bandhari
- Update of ESTC's PR activities in 2024
- Work programme for 2025
Joe Reilly/Rob Jones, WPR Agency
- Interest Group Shockpad - Jens Ulb
- Interest Group Maintenance - Alex Bobeica
- Interest Group Infill - Joana Trindade
- Interest Group End of Life - Eric O'Donnell
- Interest Group Landscape/Steering Committee Landscape Turf Producers - Manu Noppen
- Interest Group Landscape Installers & Distributors - Annemie Baeyaert
- Interest Group Water Management - André Piels
- Task Force PFAS - Jacki Stephen
- Task Force Yarn Wear - Colin Young
- Task Force PEF
Alastair Cox, Technical Director, ESTC
Session 3: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Vincent du Granrut, Ecomaison
Ecomaison is a government-approved eco-organisation responsible for the collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of household products in France
- What is the current status ?
- Why do we need EPR in the carpet industry ?
- What are the next steps to be taken to implement the concept ?
Hans-Peter Breuer, Managing Director, ECRA (European Carpet & Rug Association)
Session 4: End of Life
- Presentation of the EFRE/MWK funded project "RewitAl"
- Recycling potential of synthetic turf
- First insights into experimental results
Prof Dr-Ing Iman Taha, Aalen University
Session 5: Synthetic Turf in Landscaping & Communities
Wayne Grills, Head of BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries)
Short city tour by bus around the highlights of Berlin followed by a networking dinner at a traditional German restaurant 'Erdinger am Gendarmenmarkt'.
Session 6: General Assembly
- Financial Reporting - 2024 Financial Statement & 2025 Budget
- Membership Fee Structure & Fees
Frenk Stoop, Treasurer & Stefan Diderich, Director General/CEO
ESTC Members only
Session 7: Update from the Sports Governing Bodies
- Hockey's transition to Dry Turf surfaces
- Dual use turfs for football and hockey
- 2025 review of FIH Hockey Turf and Field Standards
Alastair Cox, FIH
Neale Lees, World Rugby
Mickael Benetti, FIFA
Session 8: Session on Innovation
- Artificial grass combines vibrant aesthetics with unmatched functionality, offering a fresh alternative to traditional EPDM
- Transforming boring safety surfaces spaces with customizable, educational and colorful designs
- Limitless customization with patterns and colors, inspiring architects to create one-of-a-kind spaces
Dror Ozeri, Color Play LDA
- PhD-Backed Innovation: L-SID stems from advanced research, integrating cutting-edge materials with innovative engineering for exceptional performance.
- Advanced Functionality: The device is designed to replicate realistic player-surface interactions, simulating the impact and sliding motion of a knee across a surface for accurate injury analysis.
- Compact Design: L-SID is lightweight and portable, making it highly adaptable for on-field and laboratory use.
Max MacFarlane, Sports Labs
- Renovation projects with an ET/ET layer as subbase (or other type of subbase) in combination with a performance shockpad
- Benefits of these renovation projects regarding time, costs and sustainability
- Reuse of captured water effluent via an efficient system
Marcel Spaan, Schmitz
- What need to be changed in the system for the extrusion of recycled LLDPE?
- Which products are focussed and which qualities can be achieved?
- Where are the challenges and impacts in efficiency?
Jens Weinhold, STC Spinnzwirn GmbH
- Why artificial landscape grass recycling matters
- Challenges and opportunities on the road to a circular System
- Shaping the future of artificial grass recycling – Together
Jaap Koppens, Royal Grass
Session 9: Sustainability - Initiatives by the Industry
Reporting on the current status of the project, challenges and targets for the future
Reporting on the research commissioned and the work done by the ESTC Task Force Yarn Wear
Martin Sheppard, Managing Director, Smart Connection Consultancy
Closing Session
Stefan Diderich, Director General/CEO, ESTC
- The circular loop of rebonded foam shockpads
- Quality of shockpads with post consumer recycled material content
- Longibility and reasons for recycling of a shockpad
Björn Hammel, Neveon