Tag Archive for: Pitches

GKB Powering the Progress of Parkers Pitches

GKB Powering the Progress of Parkers Pitches

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GKB Powering the Progress of Parkers Pitches

Supporting contractors Parkers Pitches in their ongoing expansion is a fleet of efficient, robust equipment from GKB Machines. Pushing firmly into larger drainage and construction projects across East Anglia has demanded machinery that can step-up, and stay reliable under pressure and that’s exactly what owner Will Parker says they’ve enjoyed with their V-Strong, Combinator and, most recently, their SP100 topdresser.

GKB Powering the Progress of Parkers Pitches

GKB Powering the Progress of Parkers Pitches

Will together with wife Lydia run Parkers Pitches, with a further team of three full-time operatives on the ground. In just a few short years, the contractors have built a strong reputation for cricket and football renovations, increasingly undertaking projects on other sports surfaces including drainage-led projects in golf. “As we began to expand, we found we were picking up more topdressing work and needed something faster and with more capacity” explains Will.

With a V-Strong and GKB Combinator already demonstrating fantastic build quality and versatility, Will was confident enough to purchase the Sandspreader without the need for a demonstration. They opted for an SP100, a broadcast disc-dresser with a 1.0m3 hopper – the ideal size for mounting on their existing John Deere ProGator.

“It’s been absolutely bulletproof” he exclaims. “We’re putting thousands of tonnes through it every year and you wouldn’t know it. It runs perfectly every time, we’ve barely had to put a spanner on it… even the paint is still immaculate inside the hopper! This productivity and reliability is crucial for keeping our schedule on track in tight renovation windows.”

The performance of the SP100 has come as no surprise to the team, with similar qualities on show from their V-Strong scarifier and Combinator. “The V-Strong is exactly that – unbelievably strong! Cricket square can be really hard come the end of a season and where our previous machine would struggle on renovations, the V-Strong doesn’t blink – getting the job done in less than half the time.”

“Our 1.6m Combinator also is getting used more and more and, again, it’s rarely missed a beat. On the odd occasion we’ve needed support, GKB’s Tom Shinkins and the team at Ernest Doe have gone above and beyond to get us back up and running and keeping us on track.” Will concludes, “As we continue to grow and move into new areas, we know we have the right equipment and right support with GKB to make it a success.”

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New Rapid Hybrid Turf Solutions from SIS Pitches

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New Rapid Hybrid Turf Solutions from SIS Pitches: With fixture schedules intensifying and sporting venues hosting more events than ever, SIS Pitches has launched two new hybrid pitch systems designed to help grounds teams and stadium operators tackle mid‑season deterioration and tight installation windows without compromising performance.

SIS Pitches’ GAMEREADY Hybrid range offers two new hybrid grass pitch solutions, both of which significantly reduce the typical lead time associated with new pitch installations. Thanks to the new range, grounds teams benefit from a solution that is faster and more cost-effective to install than traditional hybrid carpet systems, requiring less forward planning.

New Rapid Hybrid Turf Solutions from SIS Pitches

New Rapid Hybrid Turf Solutions from SIS Pitches

The first of the two innovative systems is GAMEREADY Pre-stitched turf, a premium-grade sports turf, which is grown and stitched at an off-site turf farm before being harvested and installed within just two days as a reinforced, high-quality match-ready hybrid playing surface.

Ideal for grounds teams and stadium operators faced with a struggling pitch mid-season or a short installation window due to a busy events calendar, the turf is grown either by SIS Pitches or one of its trusted turf farm providers before being stitched at a 45mm depth using the state-of-the-art machinery from SISGrass. In as little as eight weeks post-stitching, the turf is harvested with the hybrid fibres in place, before being transported to the stadium. The pre-stitched hybrid turf is then installed by specialist teams within a two-day window, providing immediate game-ready reinforcement.

In independent testing by the University of Tennessee, GAMEREADY Hybrid was found to provide the most natural feel as well as greater consistency, safety, stability and traction than both conventional hybrids and natural grass playing surfaces. These benefits were successfully demonstrated at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the USA, highlighting the system’s proven performance at elite standard.

The pre-stitched surface assures stadium operators of reduced upfront investment by eliminating the need to commit to a conventional hybrid carpet around a year in advance. SIS Pitches’ pioneering system allows turf from any farm to be selected and stitched a minimum of eight weeks before being harvested.

The second GAMEREADY Hybrid system is SIS Pitches’ Rapid-stitch Turf, which sees premium natural turf installed and stitched simultaneously. The result gives grounds staff the opportunity to plan for an installation window of as little as three days – a timeframe never previously thought possible for a machine-stitched hybrid surface.

GAMEREADY Hybrid Rapid-stitch Turf redefines expectations for time-pressed grounds teams and stadium operators, enabling ultra-fast, high-quality stitched hybrid pitch installations during the tightest windows. Offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional hybrid carpets, it combines rapid installation with deeper hybrid stitching—at least 85mm—for a more durable, maintenance-friendly playing surface with an extended lifespan.

Crucially, the Rapid-stitch system allows grounds staff to source turf from their preferred farm at short notice while still benefiting from gold-standard stitched hybrid reinforcement. This approach eliminates the high costs, limited availability, and long preparation times typically associated with traditional hybrid carpets kept in reserve.

Each Rapid-stitch Turf pitch is installed using the manufacturer’s next-generation SISGrass Hybrid machines, which feature the world’s fastest hybrid stitching technology. Their unmatched speed reduces full-pitch installation times by up to 78%, while a design that’s up to 70% lighter than competing models minimises turf stress and surface compaction. With fully customisable stitching depths ranging from 45mm to 180mm, these machines were instrumental in developing the GAMEREADY Hybrid range.

The stronger reinforcement created between the fibre and the rootzone extends the lifespan of the Rapid-stitch Turf to a minimum of two years – a standout advantage for clubs struggling throughout winter. Like the Pre-stitched equivalent, GAMEREADY Hybrid Rapid-stitch Turf has also been tested by the University of Tennessee and proven to provide a faster, more responsive and more stable surface than traditional hybrid carpets.

SIS Pitches’ Rapid-stitch Turf set a new record in elite stadium turf delivery at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, where a ready-to-play Rapid-stitch surface was successfully installed at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium in just 56 hours.

Ivo Lamot, CEO at SIS Pitches said: “The launch of our GAMEREADY Hybrid rapid turf solutions marks the start of another exciting chapter for grounds teams and stadium operators worldwide, by setting the bar even higher for what can be achieved with hybrid pitch installations. Our Pre-stitched and Rapid-stitch hybrid pitch systems are a direct response to the increasingly tight turnaround windows stadium operators are faced with when accommodating busy fixture schedules and demanding events calendars.

“The launch of our next-generation hybrid stitching machines in 2025 paved the way for us to completely revolutionise how new hybrid surfaces are supplied and installed, and we’re proud to be able to make such a significant breakthrough in capability while simultaneously enhancing performance. We’re hugely committed to powering more play and this new range will enable grounds staff and operators at some of the most iconic, multi-use stadiums in the world to achieve just that.”

For more information on SIS Pitches’ GAMEREADY Hybrid range, visit www.sispitches.com/surface/rapid-hybrid-turf

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Bernhard and Company strengthens elite stadium pitches across Morocco

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Bernhard and Company strengthens elite stadium pitches across Morocco: Bernhard and Company has reinforced its position at the forefront of elite sports turf technology with the installation of SubAir Systems at three of Morocco’s most iconic football stadiums, supporting pitch performance during one of the most high-profile international tournaments on the football calendar.

SubAir Systems have now been installed at:

  • Grand Stade de Tangier – Tangier
  • Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium – Rabat
  • Stade Mohammed V – Casablanca
Bernhard and Company strengthens elite stadium pitches across Morocco

Bernhard and Company strengthens elite stadium pitches across Morocco

The installations form part of a wider strategy by stadium operators to ensure consistent, resilient, and controllable playing surfaces, capable of performing under intense scheduling, climatic pressure and global scrutiny.

With Morocco set to host a major international football tournament, pitch performance has become a critical focus. Heavy rainfall, tight turnaround times, and high expectations from players, broadcasters, and governing bodies place significant demands on natural turf systems.

For the turf teams, drainage and moisture control have been central priorities. “Drainage is absolutely critical for us,” explained Taha Hassoune, Pitch Manager at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. “In the past, we’ve experienced periods where rainfall overwhelmed traditional drainage systems, and that directly impacts firmness, playability, and preparation time.”

Hassoune added: “Installing SubAir Systems has made a huge difference. By having the ability to pull moisture down and out through the rootzone, we’re encouraging deeper, more fibrous roots.”

Steve Wilson, Bernhard and Company’s Global Business Development Manager for Turf Technologies, commented: “It has been fantastic to work alongside Taha and the other pitch maintenance teams to install the SubAir Systems and see them make improvements using the technology. If the pitches in Morocco become too soft, the SubAir allows them to dry the turf and regain firmness, which is a crucial element for football tournaments.”

He added: “The world’s best stadiums are investing in SubAir because it gives them control over moisture, firmness, recovery, and consistency, exactly when it matters most. In preparation for major international tournaments, there’s no margin for error, so having the safety net of SubAir is a huge advantage.”

Alongside SubAir, the stadiums are using Soil Scout sensors (distributed by Bernhard and Company in the UK, Ireland and more recently North America) to monitor moisture and temperature levels, helping the teams understand changes within the profile to allow for proactive response.

The projects were delivered in collaboration with Sports Turf Maroc, one of Morocco’s leading pitch builders, recognised for their willingness to innovate and experiment with new technologies.

To learn more about SubAir Systems, subsurface control, head online to: https://bernhard.co.uk/products/subair/

To find out more about Bernhard and Company and its full range of product offerings, head to: https://bernhard.co.uk/

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SIS Pitches prepares Estadio BBVA

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SIS Pitches prepares Estadio BBVA: Preparations ahead of the next World Cup are in full swing, with less than a year until the tournament commences on June 11, 2026.

The first to be hosted across three nations, 48 teams from six confederations will travel across North and Central America over the course of a month, visiting 16 venues to decide the winner. It’s arguably the most logistically complex football tournament ever held, laying the foundations for a similarly ambitious centenary edition in 2030.

SIS Pitches prepares Estadio BBVA

SIS Pitches prepares Estadio BBVA

Estadio BBVA will be one of three Mexican stadiums used in 2026. Having opened in 2015 as the new home to Liga MX team CF Monterrey, the ground and much of its surrounding infrastructure already met FIFA guidelines. Recognising the need for playing surface improvements, however, the management team sought a full refit of the pitch in early 2025 to prepare it for the crucial months ahead.

This is where SIS Pitches entered the frame.

Elite in 10 weeks

The client brief was simple: deliver a pitch fit for World Cup standards and specification, playable within 10 weeks.

This short window was particularly challenging given the changes agreed through early consultation. Estadio BBVA’s old playing surface was to be fully excavated to make way for a series of advanced drainage and aeration systems developed by SIS. Once installed, the top layer would then be fitted with a hard-wearing stitched hybrid pitch.

Working together, these components not only promote ideal root zone growth conditions but also allow stadiums to manage a packed calendar of fixtures and events without impacting the quality of their playing surface. This was especially important for Estadio BBVA, with a packed summer of events and a full domestic football season planned before and after the World Cup.

The planning and process

As with any large project of this kind, the key to successful delivery lies in good preparation.

SIS and Estadio BBVA agreed work would commence in May 2025, once CF Monterrey’s season concluded. From the early conversations held in January, this gave the SIS team only a few months to plan, design and procure everything needed to deliver the new pitch in time.

Much like the ’26 World Cup, the project demanded solid logistics management. Everything had to be ready to go in May – equipment, materials and teams – if the 10-week turnaround was to remain achievable. In preparation, SIS had two containers shipped from Europe to Mexico in advance of work commencing.

Excavation took just over two weeks. Once the area had been fully cleared down to the formation level, trenches were dug for irrigation pipework to be laid. The sand bed was then added, with gravel and a root bed on top, and finished with fresh natural turf, grown 100km away in the turf farm chosen by the client and FIFA.

Among the world’s most advanced playing surface

Estadio BBVA represents an important step forward for SIS, as the first major stadium to install three of our solutions at a single project.

The first was a new version of SIS Air – a turf aeration and rainwater management system designed to promote stronger, healthier grass. For Monterrey, the system was upgraded with enhanced moisture and temperature sensors, allowing the site team to adapt to local conditions in Mexico, where natural grass typically struggles to thrive.

This upgrade was designed to work alongside SIS Aqua, an advanced pitch irrigation system with 35 pop-up units that can be individually controlled. This creates an even distribution of water across the pitch, delivering a uniform playing surface.

Finally – and key to meeting the 10-week turnaround – the stadium was fitted with SIS Hybrid. The installation of hybrid grass can be completed in as little as three days using SIS Pitches’ leading X-Gen machines, which were launched globally in 2025.

All set for the coupe du monde

SIS’s planning and logistics has paid off, with the stadium now set for one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

Delivery was completed by 24 July, meeting the 10-week deadline. The result is an elite-level football pitch now capable of performing to the highest standards all year round, supported by a suite of tools that optimise play regardless of local conditions.

Since completion, SIS has been on site to hand over to the Estadio BBVA site team, advising on regular maintenance and scheduling. Initial feedback has been positive.

“Transforming Estadio BBVA into a World Cup-ready venue in just 10 weeks was a milestone for SIS. By integrating SIS Air, SIS Aqua and our turf, we’ve delivered a surface that meets the highest standards of play and durability. It’s a proud moment – not just for our team, but for what this project represents in terms of innovation and collaboration.”

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SIS Pitches Reports Surge in Hybrid Pitch Installations

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SIS Pitches Reports Surge in Hybrid Pitch Installations: Leading sports surfaces specialist, SIS Pitches, has reported a 44% year-on-year increase in hybrid pitch installations, driven by demand from Premier League football clubs.

The growth in demand for durable, high-performance playing surfaces among football’s elite in preparation for the current season has meant that SIS stitched hybrid playing surfaces for half of the clubs in the Premier League this summer to help them prepare for the current season. The growing adoption of SIS Grass Hybrid at stadiums and training facilities has also been seen abroad, especially across Europe, the Middle East and in North America.

SIS Pitches Reports Surge in Hybrid Pitch Installations

SIS Pitches Reports Surge in Hybrid Pitch Installations

In the past six months alone, SIS Pitches has stitched hybrid surfaces at stadiums or training grounds for the likes of Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

Notable among its list of successful projects this summer was the stitching of the new hybrid pitch at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. The state-of-the-art playing surface was installed alongside a SIS Air AquaCycle aeration and water management system, making it one of the most advanced playing surfaces in the world.

SIS’ impact is equally felt across the Championship, League One, and League Two. Clubs such as Birmingham City, Wrexham, Derby County, Wycombe Wanderers, Stevenage, Mansfield, Colchester United, Swindon Town, Notts County and Stockport County have all benefited from SIS Grass Hybrid or SIS Synthetic artificial surfaces. Notably, Stockport County’s SIS Grass Hybrid pitch at its Edgeley Park stadium contributed to the club winning the EFL’s Grounds Team of the Season award two years running.

Non-league clubs are also embracing the latest hybrid pitch technology, recognising the performance and durability benefits seen at higher levels. Hednesford Town is one such example, having invested in a new SIS Grass Hybrid surface at its Keys Park home with the same aeration, vacuum drainage and water recycling and management system installed at Everton’s new world-class sporting, music and entertainment arena.

Earlier this summer, the leading sports surfaces specialist made a multi-million-pound investment in a new fleet of 16 hybrid pitch stitching machines, which allow faster installations and greater configurability for its global customer base. This investment also eases operational pressure for groundspeople working at multi-use stadia, whose narrowing timeframes to install hybrid grass pitches between matches and non-sporting events represents a major challenge. This need for speed and flexibility – without compromising quality – has been driven by clubs and franchises around the world seeking to maximise stadium revenue by hosting concerts, exhibitions and fixtures spanning multiple sports.

Ivo Lamot, CEO at SIS Pitches said: “Demand for our elite-level hybrid pitch technology has never been greater, not just among clubs in the Premier League but many others around the world.

“The rise of the multi-use stadium and the revenue it can generate means many forward-thinking clubs are looking to install or replace their playing surface in a much tighter timeframe than before. Having invested significantly in our advanced stitching capabilities, we’re best placed to meet those needs, which is resulting in an increase in projects from new and existing clients.

“Furthermore, with the recent launch of our new Game-Ready Hybrid pre-stitched turf product, means we can harvest and transport turf with the hybrid fibres already within the profile. This means a ready-to-play, reinforced surface can be installed in an exceptionally quick timeframe.

“One of the best things about hybrid pitch technology is its accessibility at all levels of competition. We’re seeing an increase in interest from clubs further down their respective countries’ football pyramids, eager to benefit from the consistency and durability it brings. We’re fully expecting this growth trajectory to continue well into next year and beyond.”

For more information on SIS Pitches, visit www.sispitches.com

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