end-user marketing geosynthetics / advanced composites - TenCate

Open innovation
TENCATE AND PENTAIR X-FLOW LAUNCH WATER TREATMENT DEMONSTRATOR
GreenSource: synthetic turf as a filter
TenCate and Pentair X-Flow have presented the first demonstrator developed in open innovation for drinking water management.
This project, known as GreenSource, combines a synthetic turf system from TenCate with the water filtration technology from Pentair X-Flow.
GreenSource, the combination of synthetic turf
and water treatment, will make it possible to
use drinking water and other water management
worldwide both on sports complexes and on
landscaping based on synthetic turf. This applies
particularly in areas where water shortages
prevail or only polluted water is available.
There is a growing demand globally for
sustainable products, in particular those which
conserve water. The GreenSource project meets
this need. It combines synthetic turf systems for
sports or landscaping with Pentair technology
for water treatment. Rainwater and sewage
is collected in elements and treated to remove
any unhealthy bacteria and viruses. The water,
which is now free of contamination, can be
used for spraying synthetic turf pitches for
sports activities and for irrigating the terrain.
Water of this quality can moreover be made
suitable for use as drinking water. This form of
water management will bring relief in particular
to Africa, parts of the Middle East and now
even southern Europe too. This is because the
process lends itself to large-scale application.
Complementary
Pentair X-Flow (formerly Norit X-Flow) and
TenCate have got together for a number of
reasons. It is not only that the companies
are geographically close, both have an
innovative mindset, are technology-driven
and complementary in terms of technology.
The combination of synthetic turf systems
and water treatment is a striking example of
this. Both companies are seeking to achieve
high innovation strength and to shorten the
lead time of new products. It is thus only
logical that they should collaborate.
GreenSource was presented on the occasion
of the opening of the Open Innovation Center
for Advanced Materials (OICAM) in Nijverdal
on 7 July. On a synthetic turf lawn in front of
the OICAM building and a test arrangement
inside, the process was demonstrated.
TenCate provided the top layer of the system:
the synthetic turf and underlying geotextile.
The water filters came from Pentair X-Flow,
which is skilled in membrane and ultra-filtration
technology. TenCate is currently working on the
development of a synthetic turf fibre which will
attract and absorb condensation from the air.
Nanocoating
GreenSource is the first project within OICAM
to be based on material science. A second
project that was initiated, called Inkjet, relates
to nanocoating technology for textile substrates.
This will harness the scientific knowledge of
the University of Twente and in particular the
Knowledge Centre, Design and Technology of
Saxion University (Smart Functional Materials
Group). As a result of the recent purchase of a
compact inkjet machine from Xennia Technology,
professors and students will be able to gain
experience in open innovation using the
technology for the nanocoating of various fluids
on advanced materials, including ‘smart textiles’.
• GreenSource project combines TenCate
synthetic turf systems for sports or
land scaping with the Pentair X-Flow
technology for the treatment of rainwater
and sewage.
• The process enables treated water to be
made suitable for use as drinking water,
as well as for large-scale applications.
• TenCate and Pentair X-Flow both have
an innovative mindset, are technologydriven
and aim to shorten the lead time
of new products.
www.oicam.nl
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