ERCATEuropean Research Centre for Artificial Turf, certified by FIFA, FIH and World Rugby
ERCAT
European Research Centre for Artificial Turf
ERCAT (European Research Centre for Artificial Turf) is part of CTSE and is accredited by the international federations FIFA (football), World Rugby (rugby), FIH (hockey) for both lab and field testing. We offer:
In the ERCAT laboratory, we perform tests and conduct research into (new) artificial turf structures and yarns. ERCAT does this by analysing theball-surfaceandplayer-surface interaction, but also thewearof the artificial turf.
ERCAT is accredited byFIFAandWorld Rugbyto perform classifications for football and rugby products. ERCAT is accredited byFIHto perform hockey lab classifications.
Do you need help with infill testing (Hardgroove, micro-deval, sieve analysis)? We can help you with the analysis of the quality or even the toxicity (PAKS analysis) of your infill.
ERCAT can also help you with CE marking, as we are notified lab for CE-marking of fire behaviour.
ERCAT is accredited by FIFA, World Rugby and FIH to perform field test all over the world for football, rugby and hockey fields. In these tests, the interaction between the ball and the surface, and between the player and the surface is examined. This is a guarantee for the quality of your artificial turf and for the playing characteristics of the field.
Wherever you are, we come by to check the quality of your football, rugby or hockey field. Our devices are fully transportable by van and even by plane.
The department has been conducting intense research for years into the optimization of artificial turf fibres and structures. State-of-the-art scientific knowledge of polymer and fibre technology is appealed to, supported by an extensive set of testing and measuring devices for both laboratory and field tests. For this, ERCAT has a bicomponent monofilament lab extrusion line.
Optimisation of artificial turf systems requires a reliable simulation of real use conditions. ERCAT therefore has a strong tradition in developing new test methods, such as Lisport XL, resilience test on single filaments, IR-Lisport, flat UV tester, …
ERCAT is part of the Centre for Textile Science and Engineering, which belongs to the department MaTCh, a group of more than 200 university researchers in the field of materials, polymers, textiles and chemical engineering of Ghent University. Within the department MaTCh, we work closely with our colleagues from CPMT (Centre for Polymer and Material Technologies). ERCAT is also involved in Victoris, a multidisciplinary research group of Ghent University (Hospital) researchers and clinical specialists, with a special focus on sports technology and innovation.
