The advantages of a consistent maintenance regime are clear to see on any synthetic facility – enhanced playing characteristics, an extended life expectancy and improved drainage & aesthetics, to name but a few. These benefits become all the more apparent when regular treatments are interrupted or discontinued, and the surface in question will soon suffer the consequences.

This was the very situation Chichester College found themselves facing earlier this year, when circumstances combined to bring their maintenance programme with Technical Surfaces – uninterrupted for the previous six years – to a temporary standstill. While in-house maintenance continued to promote the overall appearance of the facility, college staff were keen to reinstate a suitable programme of specialist works.

“It had long been the recommendation of our experienced Technical Managers that a deep-cleaning Revite® of the Chichester facility would help address issues of residual contamination that had started to accumulate in the lower reaches of the sand infill,” commented Sean Colbert, Technical Surfaces’ UK Sales Manager. “In the absence of any mechanical works over the previous months, the college made the decision to include the Revite® within their next maintenance programme, and the contract with Technical Surfaces was thus renewed in summer 2008,” says Sean.

The first-rate service proved influential in persuading Maintenance Manager Kevin White to order the Revite® to his synthetic pitch. “The work was carried out quickly and effectively, with full liaison with both the college’s estates team and the college sports team, resulting in minimum disruption. This is the first Revite® carried out on the pitch and I am very pleased with the results. The surface has regained its shock absorbing qualities, and the playability has been improved.”

Moreover, since the reintroduction of Technical Surfaces’ specialist maintenance works, Kevin has contacted the company on several occasions to express his delight at the outcome.

“I am a keen Hockey player myself and see & play on many pitches across the country – some good, some bad! Using my experiences as both responsible for the maintenance and as an end-user. I advocate an integrated maintenance approach using regular brushing, usually in-house, regular Power Sweeping by Technical Surfaces, and now the Revite® system when required. Despite its age, and heavy use patterns, the condition and quality of the Pitch at Chichester College is testament that this works. The pitch is a pleasure to play on, something we at the college are very proud of. This is, in the main, down to the investment in quality maintenance, and the commitment by all involved with that.”

Another customer to benefit recently from Technical Surfaces’ combined Power Sweep-Revite® service is Queen Elizabeth School in Carnforth, Lancs. “As with their counterparts at Chichester College, the school’s on-site grounds team are very pro-active in their pitch care responsibilities, frequently drag brushing the pitch in conjunction with our own specialist maintenance to ensure the pitch remains in the best possible condition,” says Sean.

“We have worked with Technical Surfaces for the past few years now and so far have been delighted with the relationship we have with them,” explains the school’s Finance Manager, Steve Holmes. “The combination of regular maintenance and also one-off maintenance like the Revite® we have recently had completed has helped to maintain our surface to the highest standards. We look forward to continuing the relationship into the future”.

The facilities at Chichester College and Queen Elizabeth School enjoy high activity throughout the year, with evening and weekend bookings adding to the near-capacity usage experienced during term time. Surfaces with this level of play require an effective, regular maintenance programme to keep them in peak condition, and with the help of Technical Surfaces ‘Maintaining Standards’, the upkeep of both facilities is proving to be more than a match for the many hockey matches, soccer trials and training sessions taking place all day, every day, whatever the weather.

For more information on this or any other maintenance practices, please call Technical Surfaces’ National Office on 08702 400 700 or visit www.technicalsurfaces.co.uk

Technical Surfaces Limited. Standards House.
Meridian East, Meridian Business Park. Leicester LE19 1WZ
Tel: +44 (0) 8702 400700
Fax: +44 (0) 8702 400701
Email: sales@technicalsurfaces.co.uk
Web:  www.technicalsurfaces.co.uk