Success Stories

The Market

Safety & Playground Surfaces

The Challenge

As outdoor safety surfaces and playgrounds continue to evolve in requirements, complexity, and customization, end-user customers need products that can meet both industry standards as well as their unique design specifications. These systems must be consistent upon installment, account accurately for climatic conditions, and be highly durable against damages from both UV exposure and usage. Additionally, while brightly colored EPDM rubber appears colorful and vibrant immediately after installation, it often shows a significant amount of yellowing over a short period of exposure to UV rays. This is caused by yellowing of the polyurethane adhesive used, and ultimately renders the surface aesthetically unappealing.

The Solution

Carlisle’s team of chemists has developed an alternative technology to meet today’s play and safety surface requirements, while also maintaining color fastness. While other color fast binders on the market provide an improvement over standard MDI binder, they generally cause installation crews to have a very difficult time working with the material. In response, Carlisle created an aliphatic isocyanate chemistry with the same installation characteristics as standard MDI binder, which greatly reduced installation time and expense over other color fast binders on the market. Additionally, the color fastness achieved continues to surpass any other product options available today.

Learn more about our rubber and EPDM capabilities at www.UltimateRb.com.

The Market

Safety & Playground Surfaces

The Challenge

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), through the Parks Build Community Initiative, selected a location to restore a park in St. Louis, MO – the host city of its annual conference. In 2016, the NRPA chose to take on a new challenge, creating a park from scratch. The suburb of Wellston was chosen as the prime location to create Trojan Park, a state-of-the-art gathering place for youth, families, and adults. This large park, over 1-acre in size, required a safety surface that was not only durable enough to support heavy traffic, but was also aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly, and safe.

The Solution

Carlisle Polyurethane Systems, a St. Louis-based company, was proud to donate its Tru-Motion binder product to support NRPA with this project. Tru-Motion, a moisture-cure binder for use in the construction of bonded rubber granule type surfaces, exhibits reactivity and cure rates similar as MDI-based binders. The binder’s excellent color fastness and exterior durability allow the use of light-colored EPDM granules without the objectionable yellowing encountered when using MDI and TDI binders. Tru-Motion products provide an eco-friendly, highly durable, and visually appealing ground cover.
Carlisle chemists were on-site daily to oversee the installation of the base (aromatic) and top (aliphatic) coats. Working under a tight deadline, installers were able to cover this large area with the rubberized material. The entire project finished just in time for the park’s grand opening ceremonies… and for the eager kids waiting to try out the playground equipment!

The Company

Pro Track and Tennis, Inc., is a family-owned business based out of Omaha, Nebraska. Owner Lance Laurent has been active in the track and tennis court resurfacing industry for more than twenty years, and proudly founded Pro Track and Tennis, Inc. in 2005. Mr. Laurent has extensive knowledge of the sports surfacing industry and has personally installed more than 400 running tracks and just as many court surfaces.

“Carlisle’s staff provides the type of accessibility and support to help make us more successful” – Lance Laurent

The Challenge

The unpredictability on the jobsite and of the weather are our two biggest challenges. In this business, work cannot be completed when it is raining, and heat and humidity can pose issues during the curing process. We do not want the materials to set too quickly which is contingent upon the climatic conditions on-site. Also, if there is any irregularity in the asphalt planarity, our contractors will have to take extra care to ensure even installation of the system. Each job is a little different, so preparing our contractors to deliver a consistent end-product every time, despite varying conditions, poses a real challenge.

The Solution

Product consistency is the key element to enable our contractors to overcome these challenges. We have used various products from other manufacturers, but we found they can perform differently from one job to another. Our two lead track installers, who each have more than 20 years of experience, stated that the Tru-Motion products provide consistency. They are the ones handling the product day-in and day-out, and I have only heard positive feedback from them. They specifically like the structural spray because it consistently delivers excellent coverage.

What is important to me is the products are competitively priced and my contractors are familiar and successful with the products. Anything that causes problems in the field can slow you down and cost you money. If something does not go as planned, the provided support is very important, and the Carlisle staff provides the type of accessibility and support to help make us more successful.

protrackandtennis.com