Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Middle East Foam & Polyurethane
  • UTECH Asia/PU China
  • UTECH Europe
  • UTECH Las Americas
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Ukraine
  • News
    • Asia
    • Americas
    • Europe
    • M & A
    • Financial results
    • Automotive
  • Data
  • Information
    • Country Overview
    • Market Sector overviews
    • Technical articles
    • Company profiles and strategies
  • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Conferences
    • Webinars / Livestreams
    • Become a Speaker
    • UTECH Europe 2021
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 18, 2009 12:00 AM

Soccer Circus attraction uses polyurethane foam for players

Utech Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Birch Vale, England -- Soccer Circus, a football-themed attraction in Brahead, Scotland, has selected a polyurethane foam specially formulated by Dow Hyperlast to form the player figures for its interactive football games.

    Soccer Circus centres on a series of football skill games, which aim to enable everyone to play, using real footballs, in interactive, fully automated games.

    The attraction has been developed by former football manager and international footballer Kevin Keegan, Scottish entrepreneur Peter Barr and engineer Clive Mockford. The team invested more than six years and £5 million ($8 million) in research and development for the new visitor attraction.

    "The project has been very thoroughly researched and we believe we have a soccer-based attraction that is second only to the thrill of taking part in a professional match," explained Keegan. "The unique nature of the attraction is the result of the combination of real football activity with advanced technology, enabling visitors to develop their football skills, compete with each other if they wish, and to have fun in a safe and controlled environment -- whatever the weather."

    Soccer Circus has a broad appeal to families and to football followers, combining individual football challenges with a team game in an immersive‚ stadium atmosphere, where players can view their scores on league tables of all visitors and teams.

    Dow Hyperlast formulated an energy-absorbing foam for Soccer Circus's player targets. The foam has to absorb the energy of a football travelling at speed, so that it does not bounce back from the target. Dow's experts customised a material specifically for this use, to offer the required maximum absorption of energy in a tough, long-lasting material. A soft thin polyurethane skin on the surface gives a tough exterior which is paintable, so the models could be decorated as footballers.

    "Working in close collaboration with Dow Hyperlast throughout the project, from concept through to delivery, has been a key part of our success. The team in High Peak [Birch Vale] has invested significant time and expertise in developing the materials and production process that we use for the player targets," said Mockford, who managed the project all the way through. Dow Hyperlast "provided high quality technical advice and development work to tune the materials meet our needs. We now have a technical foam that absorbs the majority of the energy from a very elastic object, a football, whilst delivering high levels of durability," he commented.

    "

    Recommended for You
    gng group mattress factory normanton 800
    GNG Group opens new UK mattress factory
    FRX flame retardant makes it into more cars
    FRX flame retardant makes it into more cars
    basf madgamma concept shoe 800
    BASF and Maddy Plant create sustainable concept shoe
    Latest Issue
    Urethanes Technology International June/July 2022
    Click HERE for Free Download
    View All Archives
    Get our newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Register to access our archive of leading information on the polyurethanes industry.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube

    Follow us on social media for the latest polyurethanes industry news and event updates.

    Logo
    Contact Us

    Crain Communications
    11, Ironmonger Lane
    London
    EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom

    Editorial
    Phone +44 (0) 20 3287 5935
    Email click to send

    Customer Service
    Phone +1 313 446 0450
    Email click to send

    Resources
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Ukraine
    • News
      • Asia
      • Americas
      • Europe
      • M & A
      • Financial results
      • Automotive
    • Data
    • Information
      • Country Overview
      • Market Sector overviews
      • Technical articles
      • Company profiles and strategies
    • Events
      • Exhibitions
      • Conferences
      • Webinars / Livestreams
      • Become a Speaker
      • UTECH Europe 2021
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Issues
    • Subscribe