Specialist maintenance provider Technical Surfaces was keen to evaluate the influence of its maintenance techniques on playing surfaces.

The firm commissioned the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University in the UK to investigate the role of their equipment and in particular the effects of brushing on the wear of synthetic turf.

A novel robotic device was developed to simulate brushing in order to investigate several scenarios using different pieces of equipment. Simulations were conducted on the surfaces to replicate high-intensity maintenance over a 20-year period to demonstrate a worst case scenario.

This independent research showed that the levels of wear caused by the brushes used by Technical Surfaces to maintain sports surfaces were insignificant.

Dr Paul Fleming, the lead researcher for the project, said: "The summary results clearly show a low level of wear that was observed to be caused by the brushing alone. The life of 20 years was used to represent a period of time longer than most artificial surfaces survive in practice.

“In reality, the effects of surface usage for playing the sport or training (total weekly hours at Loughborough University for example, is around 50-60 per week on the soccer/rugby surfaces) and environmental effects are considered to be the main contributors to wear."

Full details of this innovative research project can be found on the Technical Surfaces website www.technicalsurfaces.co.uk