Safety in the sports arena

Engineering plastics are increasingly being used in areas where safety, durability and functionality are of utmost importance. In sports, the use of engineering plastics has expanded – from the widely used sportswear and sports shoes, to other sporting goods and supplies.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil will witness the latest trends in engineering plastics with several of the stadiums where events will be held utilising flame retardant, high resistant materials. The RadiciGroup Plastics Radiflam? brand will be used in six of the 12 stadiums – Estádio Mineir?o (Belo Horizonte), Estádio Nacional de Brasília (Brasília), Arena Fonte Nova (Salvador), Estádio Beira-Rio (Porto Alegre), Estádio das Dunas (Natal), Arena Corinthians (S?o Paulo).

The seats, and many of their components such as armrests, bolts and supports, in these important Brazilian stadiums hosting the 2014 World Cup are made of Radiflam, a brand known for its superior safety and performance. Plastic parts made of flame retardant Radiflam have high mechanical resistance, excellent aesthetic appearance and are able to withstand prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and other extreme weather conditions, even as they meet the stringent FIFA standards on stadium safety.

The RadiciGroup is the first producer in Brazil to supply certified engineering plastics specifically for the manufacture of stadium seat components. With the nylon 6 flame retardant Radiflam range, the company is able to provide its customers with a complete custom solution featuring high levels of quality, technology, performance and safety. The company continues to strengthen its approach, not only by building on its expertise and experience garnered in Europe and North America, but also by creating a state-of-the-art R&D function in South America at Radici Plastics Ltda to offer more advanced technical development support for local customers.

“Being on the front line with our technology and development know-how at a prestigious sports event like the fast approaching World Cup is a real privilege for our Group,” Jane Campos, managing director of Radici Plastics Ltda, said. “Our efforts in this sector during the past fifteen years of business activity in Brazil have been rewarded. The market has recognised and selected our products because of their superior technology, quality and safety. And this is truly the best stimulus to do even better.”

In addition to the PA6 materials used in the manufacture of the stadium seats and components, the Radiflam range includes PA6.6 and PBT materials combining flame-retardant characteristics with exceptional electrical and mechanical properties. The material meets the criteria of the most stringent safety standards, such as the Brazilian standard NBR-15925. Available in a vast portfolio of colours, Radiflam ensures high quality, performance and safety.

Estádio Mineir?o, with seating capacity of 62,547, has seats made of Radiflam S RV120UK HF, a self-extinguishing, halogen- and red phosphorous-free PA6. This light-resistant material gives the finished piece an excellent aesthetic appearance, and is available in a range of colours.

Arena Fonte Nova (seating capacity of 48,747), Estádio Nacional de Brasília (seating: 68,009) and Estádio Beira-Rio (seating: 48,849) have seats and components made of Radiflam S RV300UK HF self-extinguishing, halogen- and red phosphorous-free PA6. This glass-fibre-reinforced material is light resistant and ensures high technical perforAir Jordan II 2 Shoes