DrainTalent and SIS Heat Dynamic demonstrate that performance starts at the foundation. The two undersoil systems work in synergy, or separately, with DrainTalent providing water management through vacuum drainage and subsurface irrigation, and SIS Heat Dynamic providing a more sustainable approach to pitch heating.

Turf Business was invited by DrainTalent to join a group of turfcare professionals on a recent trip to the Netherlands to find out more.

Attended by groundspeople from both football and cricket, the first day of the two day event took attendees to DrainTalent’s Research and Innovation Centre, where they received demonstrations of the DrainTalent system as well as presentations led by Sales Manager Pim Hermans, and International Sales Manager Greg Collins.

2026 has seen the hottest summer on record in the UK, with July being the driest on record since 1836. Turfcare professionals across all sectors are feeling the pressure of water restrictions, and a push to implement more sustainable practices. The DrainTalent aims to provide some relief to water management problems through subsurface irrigation and water reuse, , . The technology is already delivering measurable results, with Dutch Eredivisie club FC Utrecht reporting a 50% reduction in irrigation water use following installation of the system.

Removing excess water in minutes, visitors were able to view first-hand the speed in which the system removes surface water from one of the test pitches at the Research and Innovation Centre- seeing puddles of water disappear in just minutes. Not only does the system drain the water from the pitch, making it playable, it also recycles it- going some way to help grounds teams that are facing increased water restrictions, as the water can then be used to irrigate from below through the same system.

SIS Heat Dynamic can work alongside DrainTalent, or both systems can be installed and run individually. SIS Heat Dynamic is an electric undersoil heating technology made up of a stainless-steel grid installed at the rootzone. The system provides uniform heat distribution, resulting in healthier turf that doesn’t suffer from frost damage. It also provides a more sustainable approach than traditional hydronic systems, which typically operate with gas, reducing CO₂ emissions and having the option of being run from a renewable energy source.

Both systems come under the SIS Pitches company umbrella, taking us to the second day of the trip that visited the SIS Pitches office where Alan Thomson, Sales Director, presented on what else the company has to offer. Manufacturing and installing sports surfaces, SIS prides itself on being a single source, for an entire project. Working on the development, manufacturing and installation of synthetic, hybrid and natural grass, SIS works with DrainTalent and SIS Heat Dynamic systems, alongside other systems such as SIS Air, SIS Aqua and SIS Hydrobox to provide a single solution.

Both SIS Pitches and DrainTalent have showcased their work at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the extreme weather conditions put DrainTalent’s surface drainage to the test. But if seeing the systems on the big stage isn’t enough, SIS Pitches and DrainTalent intend on holding regular visits to their Netherlands offices where grounds teams can take a closer look at the products and find out more about how their venues can benefit from a more sustainable approach through their innovative technologies.

Steven Thomas, Head Groundsman at Hibernian Football Club, who attended the trip, spoke on the importance of seeing the technology first hand when making decisions on what technology to work with. “As the club are in soft phase early planning for a stadium pitch reconstruction we reached out to SIS Pitches for some ideas and possibilities. As part of this we were invited to attend an event at the SIS and DrainTalent headquarters in Zaandam to see first hand their Research and Innovation Centre. We went over with the intention to have a look and ask questions on one specific innovation, but once we arrived at headquarters we were also very excited by the different equipment on offer. The visit has certainly given us food for thought about any future pitch reconstruction plans, and extra ammunition to take back to the club hierarchy.” Although still in the early planning and research stages of the pitch reconstruction, Steven says he’s looking forward to the future project and “building something to not only host football matches but also something to be proud of and showcase to the eyes of anyone looking in from the outside.” Overall, Steven describes the trip as “extremely positive and would recommend anyone in a similar position to jump at the chance to go and experience the systems first hand.”

If you would be interested in attending the DrainTalent Research and Innovation Center on a similar trip you can visit you can find out more here. 

*Please note spaces are limited and fill up quickly*