Maintenance of an Artificial Hockey Pitch
For a longer life span of an artificial hockey pitch, annual maintenance is required. Various maintenance methods can be used for this. This depends on the type of hockey pitch. For example, there are artificial grass water pitches, semi-water pitches, and sand-filled pitches.A water pitch is mainly cleaned by means of water. A semi-water pitch is filled with a minimal amount of sand. With this type of pitch, we can use both the dry and wet maintenance methods. A sand-filled hockey pitch is primarily cleaned using the dry maintenance method. A second method is to revitalize the sand-filled hockey pitch.
Semi-water Pitches
A semi-water hockey pitch is filled with a minimum amount of sand. When maintaining this pitch, we use the same method as with water pitches, but also partially remove the sand. After this process, we replenish the pitch with new sand. Alternatively, the dry maintenance method may also be applied. During this process, the maintenance machine brushes the higher-lying sand between the fibres onto a sieve plate, on which the coarse dirt remains. The sand is simultaneously exposed to a vacuum, so that anything lighter than the sand is removed and collected in a filter box. The clean sand then falls back onto the pitch. If you annually maintain semi-water pitches, these will have a lifespan of around 12 years.
Water pitch
A hockey water pitch is mainly cleaned by means of water. We will then spray water into the pitch under high pressure. All the water and released dirt is subsequently suctioned out of the pitch. Water pitches usually last between 8 to 10 years when maintained annually.Sand-filled Pitches
A sand-filled hockey pitch is maintained by means of the dry method. During this process, the maintenance machine brushes the higher-lying sand between the fibres onto a sieve plate, on which the coarse dirt remains. Similar to semi-water pitches, the sand is simultaneously exposed to vacuum and all dirt is removed and collected in a filter box. The clean sand then falls back onto the pitch. Sand-filled pitches last around 10 to 15 years, provided that you thoroughly maintain the pitch every year
Revitalization
In most cases, we will revitalize an artificial hockey pitch when it is polluted, has poor water permeability and no longer meets the technical standards of the sport, but still has sufficient fibre length to last for at least 5 years. During this process, approx. 90 tonnes of polluted sand are blown out of the pitch, without the fibres becoming damaged. After the dirty sand has been removed, we will perform any necessary repairs. Afterwards we will re-sand the pitch by carefully sprinkling small layers of new sand over the pitch and brushing it so that it is equally distributed. After the revitalization process, the pitch will be as new and meet all technical standards.
Smoothing
After cleaning, we will smooth out the sand in the hockey pitch with a tractor and brush. If necessary, we will add extra sand to the pitch.