Source: Keiser UniversityFt. Lauderdale, Florida, August 22, 2013-Four industry professionals who work in different aspects of the pool/spa industry in the United States and Singapore received the first university degree specific to the pool and spa industry. Keiser University eCampus conferred the Associate of Science in Aquatic Engineering Degree on Wendy Purser, Cynthia Burdett, Martha Galan and Terence Lei this summer. The graduation was held at the Ft. Lauderdale Performing Arts Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. "We missed Terence, who was unable to travel from Singapore, but he was with us in spirit, and via texting and social media," said Department Chair and Professor, Connie Gibson Centrella. August 22, 2013
Source; Brock International Houston, Texas (August 26, 2013) - Determined to maximize the safety and performance of team members, the Houston Texans installed Brock PowerBase underneath its new synthetic turf practice field. As the industry's leading shock pad and drainage layer, Brock PowerBase has been proven to reduce G-max, the peak force of impact, which may decrease the risk and severity of concussions and other injuries. "With escalating concerns about player safety, innovative teams like the Houston Texans are using the latest technological developments in areas such as shock pads to build state-of-the-art synthetic turf fields that mimic not only the footing of natural grass, but also the safest surface to practice on," noted Dan Sawyer, CEO of Brock International. "Brock PowerBase helps prevent injuries while enhancing athletic performance." A spokesperson for the Houston Texans said, "the Texans ultimate goal is to maximize player safety by optimizing the performance of the playing surface. After extensive consideration, the Houston Texans selected a UBU Sports synthetic turf system and incorporated the Brock PowerBase to meet our unique needs." Brock PowerBase was installed underneath the new UBU Sports synthetic turf field at the Houston Texans' indoor practice facility, a 17-acre complex including illuminated fields and tracks. With players spending significantly more time on the practice field than game day stadiums, the team is taking a proactive approach to injury prevention while enhancing athletic performance. Brock PowerBase is currently installed for the San Francisco 49ers, at Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL's New England Patriots, the Arizona Cardinals and at numerous universities and schools such as the University of Maryland, Boston College, Boise State, UCLA, Georgia Tech and Stanford. "UBU Sports, specializing in ground gear for athletes, is proud to have completed this installation for the Houston Texans utilizing Brock Power Base, " said UBU President and CEO Mark Nicholls. "As an industry leader, UBU Sports often has the opportunity to work with high profile clients and professional sports franchises that demand optimum performance and maximum player safety from their synthetic turf system. Utilizing the Brock Power Base allowed UBU Sports to fulfill the unique needs of this prestigious NFL team." Recognizing that athletes tend to experience brain injuries in one of four impact areas - head-to-head, head-to-body, head-to-ball and head-to-surface, Brock tries to reduce concussions by focusing on safer playing surfaces. Research firm BioMechanica, LLC studied the estimated risk of head injury on synthetic turf surfaces with Brock underlayment and found the product reduces G-max, which the lab tests indicated should reduce the risk and severity of concussion; provides the same playability as a pristine natural grass field and mitigates field hardening over time. In evaluating Head Injury Criteria (HIC), also known as critical fall height, Sports Labs LLC found that Brock PowerBase offered significant improvement in HIC when compared to a turf field that featured a stone base. Based in Houston, Texas, the Texans are a member of the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Texans joined the NFL in 2002 as an expansion team after Houston's previous franchise, the Houston Oilers, moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The Texans emerged as champions of the AFC South in 2011 and 2012. UBU Sports is a leading brand of synthetic turf surfaces for use in a variety of sporting events, including football, baseball, field hockey, soccer, rugby and lacrosse. UBU's fields are currently employed by teams ranging from professional franchises (e.g. New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, New York Giants and New York Jets), collegiate and major indoor arena leagues to local high schools and municipalities. UBU Sports incorporates science and technology into each surface they provide, creating the ultimate ground gear for athletes. About Brock InternationalBrock International is the leader in performance base systems for synthetic turf. With over 25 million square feet of Brock Performance Base in play underneath athletic fields worldwide, the company engineers the best, safest and most sustainable playing surfaces in the world for athletes at all levels. Brock is an Official Education Partner of The Sports Legacy Institute, a Boston-based non-profit organization founded to advance the study, treatment, and prevention of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. In October 2011, Brock became the first company in the industry to have a Cradle to Cradle Certification CM for its combined drainage and shock pad product. Visit www.brock-international.com to learn more. August 10, 2013
Source: Playworld Systems LEWISBURG, PA (August 8, 2013) - Playworld Systems, a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground and fitness equipment, today introduced five collections of stylish site furnishings that combine distinctive design and practical functionality. All five collections include concealed hardware, which puts the focus on the beauty of the design, not on vandalism or maintenance concerns. The collections - Lewisburg, Heritage, Maclyn, Capital and Mod - are versatile and adaptable for many types of settings including parks, schools, transit hubs, municipal spaces, amusement parks and malls, among others. "Our new line of site furnishings blends form and function in an unprecedented way, offering a sense of style and design excellence not often seen in outdoor settings," said Matthew Miller, CEO of Playworld Systems. "The diverse options complement any historical period or architectural style to enhance the ambiance of a range of spaces."Inspired by interior design styles from the past several decades, the collections create comfortable and attractive spaces for conversation, leisure time, meet-and-greets and watching kids play. Each piece is constructed from quality, long-lasting materials such as cast aluminum and steel, with durable finishes to withstand heavy use. Like all Playworld Systems products, the site furnishings are PVC-free and use the company's Eco-Armor® coating designed to withstand the elements and daily wear. August 8, 2013
