Source: DSM Dyneema
Iconic venues Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium among those choosing Promats Athletics’ netting made with Black Dyneema® in response to MLB recommendations
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Source: DSM Dyneema
Iconic venues Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium among those choosing Promats Athletics’ netting made with Black Dyneema® in response to MLB recommendations
Stanley, N.C. (April 1, 2016) – As the first pitches of the 2016 Major League Baseball regular season approach, more fans seated close to the action will be protected by screens extending further down the foul lines than in past seasons. Fans in 10 MLB ballparks, however, might not readily notice the change thanks to barely visible systems developed and installed by Promats Athletics, using netting manufactured by NET Systems made with Black Dyneema® material.
Widespread adoption of the product, commonly referred to in the industry as “invisible netting,” comes after Major League Baseball at the 2015 Winter Meetings in Nashville announced recommendations for extended screens to protect fans from batted or thrown balls and other hazards inherent with game play. Hailed by baseball officials as a positive change to keep spectators safe, some fans and groups initially voiced concern that installing additional screening would have a negative impact on the viewing experience.
“For fans, the biggest appeal is that Ultra Cross netting, made with Black Dyneema®, is barely noticeable” said Wayne Oliver, president, Promats Athletics. “Manufacturing safety netting with what’s considered “the world’s strongest fiber,” allows us to preserve the ballpark experience, while offering state-of-the-art protection for spectators.”
Dyneema® fiber has long been utilized by sports protective netting specialty companies due to its superior strength, light weight, and durability — even with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, rain and other elements. Promats Athletics’ solution uses the unique Ultra Cross system manufactured by NET Systems with Black Dyneema® fiber. Ultra Cross is a knotless braided net. Other systems use twisted fibers rather than braided, and are joined with knots. This results in a thicker, more obstructive screen. Also, knots are the most common failure points identified via third party testing procedures.
Alternative systems also require application of a coating to provide the black color preferred by most sports venues. With Black Dyneema® material DSM Dyneema developed a process to integrate the color into the fiber itself. Thus, the black coloration of Promats’ system will neither wear away when exposed to natural elements nor abrade should protective screens be repeatedly struck by batted or thrown balls.
“The Ultra Cross product made with Black Dyneema® we supply to Promats is the ideal solution to the two most common issues with netting expected to be in place for prolonged periods outdoors,” said Dan Oliver, president, NET Systems. “By using Ultra Cross product the performance and the look will remain unaffected regardless of the natural elements. We’re confident based on the material’s composition, and our experience working with Dyneema® in such extreme applications as protection of aquaculture operations from sharks, that stadium operators will realize a return on investment due to the product’s superior performance.”
Promats Athletics has exclusive access to NET Systems’ Ultra Cross knotless netting made with Black Dyneema® for the baseball stadium market in the U.S.
“We’re pleased to see our customers utilize our novel Black Dyneema® fiber to develop the ideal solution to the challenges faced by baseball facilities seeking to operate with fans’ best interests in mind,” said Edwin Grootendorst, global segment director, DSM Dyneema. “Delivering products that lead to applications such as this demonstrates why our organization continues to make innovation a hallmark of our culture.”
About Promats Athletics
Promats Athletics is a direct manufacturer of protective Wall Padding, Windscreen, Digital Graphics, Tension Netting Systems and athletic equipment located in Salisbury, North Carolina. For over thirty years, Promats has designed, manufactured and installed custom protective padding and products for thousands of gyms, schools, recreational facilities, major stadiums and arenas throughout the world. Currently we have serviced over four hundred colleges and professional venues worldwide.
About NET Systems
Nor'Eastern Trawl Systems, known as NET Systems, is located on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, U.S.A. NET Systems was founded in 1978 on the principle of providing a complete fishing system to the customer. With this in mind, NET Systems has been an innovative leader in the design and production of trawl nets, trawl doors, codends, and manufactured Offshore Aqua Culture products, as well as a manufacturer of Ultra Cross Knotless netting. The Introduction of Ultra Cross Knotless netting technology by NETS in the 1980’s to the fishing industry was revolutionary and has moved into other markets such as Aquaculture, Arena netting, Defense, Entertainment and Industrial applications. Ultra Cross Knotless netting is a highly advanced four-strand braided, continuous multifilament netting. Ultra Cross Netting has been called the “Strongest Netting in the world” because it has no loss of strength due to knots and no slippage under tension. More information on Ultra Cross and other products is available at www.net-sys.com
About DSM Dyneema
DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) fiber branded as Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® fiber floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel. Furthermore the new generation Dyneema® Fabrics offer next level innovations in denim, apparel, footwear, sports equipment and lightweight outdoor products and accessories.
UHMWPE products from DSM Dyneema are produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands), Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.) and Mesa, Arizona (U.S.A). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available atwww.dyneema.com.
DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about €10 billion with approximately 25,000 employees. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.
