Robert Else founded Terraplas over 20 years ago, having recognised the potential for a turf “protection” system as opposed to a turf “cover”. The aim was to enable quick turn-around from sporting to non-sporting events and back again, thus allowing Stadiums to be truly multi-functional and generate much needed additional revenue With over two years of research and development, in conjunction with the professionals who were responsible for the “hallowed” turf at Wembley Stadium in London, Robert Else was able to discern exactly what the requirements were for a system that would actually protect the turf. From this he conceived the patented aspects of the original Terraplas product, which have been maintained throughout the whole Terraplas product range.
Of course, the market doesn’t stand still and nor did Terraplas. During the years since the original Terraplas product was conceived Robert Else has used his considerable, and expanding, knowledge to develop other products to address specific aspects of the industry. This has resulted in a range of the highest quality turf protection systems, temporary roadway products and ice conversion covers available today. The original terraplas® product was designed to protect natural grass at the old Wembley Stadium in London, but today, no matter what the event or where it is being held, Terraplas products are universally acknowledged as the only answer to protecting grass from hordes of people. Just as the old Wembley was in its heyday, the new Wembley is one of the busiest concert stadiums anywhere in the World, hosting multiple events above and beyond its annual aggressive sports calendar and protecting its turf is a major concern when dealing with 80,000 spectators on many occasions.
Today’s Stadiums & Sports facilities are faced with a unique problem, on the one hand they are expected to maintain the highest quality playing surface, adhering to the most rigorous standards. On the other hand they are expected to draw in sell-out crowds for non-sporting events that can jeopardise the quality of their turf. There is no question that, the potential income from a non-sporting event can often be double that of a sporting occasion. However, there is no point in gaining revenue from an event only to have to spend that revenue on repairing or replacing the playing surface. Therefore, if a stadium decides to opt for the non-sporting event route, it must very carefully consider which product to purchase for their turf protection.
Terraplas plc has been in the turf protection business for over twenty years, and has been hugely successful in designing and manufacturing the most widely used protection products around the World – so much so that that it proudly uses the slogan ‘World’s No.1 Turf Protection Company’. There are products on the market that are considerably cheaper in their initial purchase than Terraplas products, however, be warned - this is one area where you ‘only get what you pay for’, and Terraplas products are proven to outperform all others – by miles! When you purchase a Terraplas product you can be confident that you have the best product available to reduce or eliminate turf repairs or replacement, and a product with a very long lifespan – making it the most cost effective purchase. Proof of this is in the fact that every Terraplas system sold in the last 20 years is still in use!!
There is an obvious distinction between turf protection and a turf cover. It is easy to cover a grass field without consideration for the subsequent condition of the turf, it is however a far greater challenge to be able to cover the field, allowing for a swift change from core events held in the stadium to a concert for example and back again, without compromising the quality of the turf. Terraplas products, uniquely, are manufactured from natural virgin translucent High Density Polyethylene, which not only gives a product far superior in strength to any of its competitors, it also allows the light to go through the translucent material, therefore allowing photosynthesis to continue.
