COLUMBIA, Mo., Nov. 17, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The grades are in, and the new Mondoturf Ecofill fields at the University of Missouri have earned straight A's from students.
When the university installed three Mondoturf Ecofill artificial turf fields in July, school officials knew they were significantly upgrading their recreational facilities, but they've been amazed by the students' response. "Feedback has been 100 percent positive -- the students love it," said Diane Dahlmann, director, MizzouRec Services and Facilities, University of Missouri. "They are astounded at how well the Mondoturf performs, and they're aware that we have recreational facilities superior to anyone else's."
Mondoturf Ecofill is made by Mondo, a global leader in the sports flooring market. The surface covers 140,000 square feet at MU's Stankowski Field and is used for soccer, flag football, lacrosse, rugby and other student recreation activities.
"We have actually seen students' sportsmanship improve since we installed Mondoturf because they know they are playing on a professional-caliber surface and that we respect their recreational needs," Dahlmann said.
Mondoturf Ecofill was designed through extensive biomechanical research to reproduce all of the properties of natural grass without the problems associated with traditional artificial turf fields. It uses an environmentally friendly infill called Ecofill, which is made from a synthetic material and not reground tire pellets, which are commonly used by other artificial turf manufacturers. Reground tire pellets are becoming increasingly controversial as a potential health hazard and for their detrimental environmental impact.
"One of the great things about this product is that it's a top performer in any weather," Dahlmann said. "On hot days or even in rainfall, Mondoturf gives us the profound benefit of never having to shut down. We have uptime, not downtime."
The installation of Mondoturf Ecofill artificial turf fields was one component of an extensive renovation of MU's recreational facilities. Dahlmann said the upgrades demonstrate the school's commitment to providing the best leisure and recreational opportunities along with a top-tier educational experience, and that the enhancements have helped contribute to enrollment increases over the past several years. "We're reinventing the future of higher education recreation and leisure by taking into consideration what is important to our students. With Mondo, students know they are getting the best."
Installed in more than 700 facilities worldwide, Mondoturf Ecofill delivers the appropriate amount of shock absorption and energy return for optimal, natural-field-like athletic performance. An environmentally friendly material, Ecofill is virtually odor free, even in hot, humid conditions, and it retains less heat than traditional black rubber granules, so it reduces the potential for athletic fatigue and dehydration and minimizes the need for fields to be watered down prior to use. It also is completely recyclable, which is an industry first.
About the University of Missouri
The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 and is the oldest state university west of the Mississippi. Today MU is a comprehensive research university with an enrollment of approximately 30,000 students in 20 schools and colleges. The university is home to a robust recreational sports program, with nearly 6,000 participants. Its recreational facilities, named best recreation facilities in the country in 2005 by Sports Illustrated on Campus, support more than 40 club sports and open play.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. Throughout its 60-year history, the company has invested heavily in research and development to produce cutting-edge products that meet the highest quality standards, deliver optimal athletic performance, are durable, require minimal maintenance and are environmentally safe.
More than 1,100 Mondo tracks and 800 Mondo artificial turf fields are installed worldwide. The official supplier of the athletic track for the past nine Olympic Games, Mondo also is the official supplier or official sponsor of more than 100 sports federations and associations, including Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, FIBA, IAAF, National Soccer Coaches Association of America, NIRSA, U.S. Track Coaches Association and YMCA.
The company also supplies a wide variety of commercial flooring and is the world's largest producer of sports and toy balls with an average daily production of 450,000 units. In addition, it manufactures large luxury yachts under its Mondo Marine division.
A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, Mondo sells its products in more than 196 countries. The company's global headquarters are in Italy, and it has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. More information about Mondo is available at www.mondousa.com.
Mondo and Ecofill are registered trademarks of Mondo.
The Mondo logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5765