faux grass synthetic artificial lawn and golf putting green leader.
The US carpet industry goes back hundreds of years, yet there are only
a handful of skilled tufting companies that focus on manufacturing
artificial turf materials; many are located here in the North America.
Manufacturing plants, in the US, are currently located in Texas,
Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
Artificial turf construction for sports fields, golf applications and
landscape projects is a steadily growing industry. Volumes may exceed
140 million square feet this year, up a cumulative 40% over 2005
volumes. (est. 2007)
Confidence in continued market expansion is evident as a major fiber
and backing manufacturer, TenCate [Thiolon Grass], recently announced
the allocation of $12 million in renovation and expansion to their US
based yarn and fiber operation in Tennessee and several key players in
tufting mills in Georgia, Alabama and Texas; producing work for major
brands Fieldturf, Sportexe, Sprinturf, Astoturf, among others; have
recently expanded manufacturing and warehouse capacity or opened new
facilities.
After an explosion in the sports field market 5-6 years ago, nearly
doubling sales figures overnight, industry wide numbers are climbing
at a healthy pace of 15-20% annually.
According to a study, published in 2006 by AMI Research the artificial
turf market expansion, which includes a 30 to 40% growth factor in the
fledgling landscape and leisure sports market, has been steady for
over 4 years.
According to a spokesperson from Dow Chemical, manufacturers of
artificial turf components, backing materials, infill and finished
goods; sales of artificial turf materials account for approximately 5%
of annual US carpet volume.
Dramatic growth outside the familiar sports market metaphor and
consumer demands for a wider variety of choices for landscape and
leisure sports has expanded the vision and development of new product
lines.
Complimenting and enhancing known fiber manufacturing and texturing
processes used in the carpet industry for eons; yarns and fibers for
artificial turf are manufactured to provide realistic feel and natural
colors; extreme UV protection, anti-static, anti-microbial, flame and
slip-resistance. Take a photo tour of how yarn and fibers are
manufactured at ASGi
Like so many industries today; artificial turf is manufactured by a
few companies, repackaged, enhanced and sold under different brand
names and delivered to local and regional markets through dedicated
solutions providers, dealers, and distributors in a complex network of
market partnerships where competitors one day are providing each other
support the next.
While mills develop their own line of artificial turf styles, based
largely upon the type of looms and finishing equipment they have,
systems integrators engineer creative ways in which to deliver natural
looking, durable goods to niche markets.
Responsible for over 90% of all artificial turf installed on the
planet, sports field builders and systems integrators have driven the
designs and engineered specifications for the artificial turf market
since the beginning in the mid-1960s. Their customers' ideas and needs
have set the tone of the styles, colors and textures of turf
available.
These systems are branded and brought to market under a variety of
nationally recognized names and are generally sold through
experienced, professional, artificial turf installers; licensed
builders and value added dealers and brokers.
Some brands only market online or through landscape materials and
building supply centers. A few system integrators have structured
their offerings as franchise partnerships and others as protected
dealer or distributor territories.
Until just a few years ago, business development outside of the
lucrative and dependable sports field market was almost non-existent.
One sees little product awareness, identity or corporate branding
campaigns in the residential and commercial (B2B) market space. Even
today, investments in channel development; co-op, rebate, terms or
flooring programs are just being explored by most to include a plan
that will incorporate landscape and leisure sports uses as a viable
growth market; along with several others such as uses in airport,
public works construction projects and public and private daycare
facilities.
Credit for the substantial investments made in product and engineering
research, development and increases in capacity must go to the
pioneers of artificial turf fibers, backing and tufting, along with
the systems integrators and their sports field builders.
Acknowledgement must be given for building momentum and global
adoption of landscape and leisure sports projects into residential and
commercial property markets to the grass-roots efforts of the dealers
and installers on the local and regional level.
It has been the long hours, goodwill and dollars invested in niche
marketing efforts that has captured the attention of consumers and
delivered the goods to neighborhood markets which have built the
strong foundation for the continuing horizontal growth we are enjoying
today. Keeping on track with today's growth, landscape and leisure
sports market share will double in less than three years, providing
increased opportunities for existing and new market partners.
No market is recession proof - however, double-digit growth during a
construction slump speaks of the value of artificial turf as seen by
consumers with funds to invest in high-value, professionally
installed, home improvements.
About the Article Source:
Published by member professionals at ASGI (the Association of
Synthetic Grass Installers), articles and information come to you from
experienced installers, designers and other professionals, dedicated
to sharing best-business-practices, enhancing public awareness and
building confidence in our market and product integrity.
ASGI Invites YOU to pick up YOUR copy of the Standard Installation
Guidelines for installing synthetic grass as lawn or landscape
applications at http://www.asgi.us at NO Charge! Browse our library of
real-world installations, great information and join our newsletter
list while you are there