Manufacture, distribution and installation of synthetic turf systems, running tracks and plastic sports surfaces
Sport Group GmbH
Burgheim · Melle · Grefrath · Evans City, Pennsylvania (US)New on Amplifa
About Sport Group
Sport Group GmbH, headquartered in Burgheim, is a globally active German corporation for synthetic sports surfaces. The company develops, produces and installs synthetic turf systems, running tracks (including Rekortan), tennis and multisport courts, as well as fall-protection surfaces and small play areas. Value creation takes place via a fully integrated supply chain: Melos GmbH in Melle produces EPDM granulates, the Polytex production facility in Grefrath manufactures synthetic turf using coating and extrusion lines, and Advanced Polymer Technology (APT) in Evans City (USA) produces polyurethane materials and coatings. Materials include polyurethane, EPDM and bio-based plastic made from sugarcane (including Poligras Tokyo GT with a 60% sugarcane content, and LigaTurf Cross GT zero as a CO₂-neutral synthetic turf). In addition to manufacturing, the portfolio includes installation, facility maintenance, synthetic turf recycling (FormaTurf) and coatings for industrial applications such as multi-storey car parks. Reference projects include Olympic hockey facilities, FC Bayern München and the US Open.
- Site
- Burgheim
- Processes
- Manufacture of synthetic turf systems (extrusion and coating), Manufacture of plastic sports surfaces / running tracks (Rekortan, polyurethane-bound), Installation of synthetic turf fields, running tracks, multisport and tennis courts, Manufacture of granulates from ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), Manufacture of coatings for floors (e.g. multi-storey car parks) and industrial applications, Recycling of synthetic turf (FormaTurf, complete recycling), Maintenance of sports facilities (service), Distribution and installation of synthetic turf sports fields, running tracks and courts
- Materials
- Polyurethane, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), Bio-based plastic made from sugarcane (Braskem), Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber
- Certificates
- FIFA Preferred Producer
- Founded
- 2006 (pred
- Employees
- over 1900
- Industries
- Sports facility construction, Synthetic turf, Tennis courts, Running tracks/track and field, Landscaping, Industrial plastic products
- 01
Material production (APT, Melos)
- 02
Synthetic turf production (Polytex: extrusion & coating)
- 03
Product development & brand distribution
- 04
Installation of sports fields
- 05
Facility maintenance & recycling (FormaTurf)
Materials & Processes
Polyurethane
Basis for running tracks (Rekortan), synthetic turf coatings and plastic sports surfaces.
Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber
Granulates from Melos for synthetic turf, track surfaces, fall protection and industrial products such as cables.
Bio-based plastic made from sugarcane (Braskem)
Up to 70% fiber content in the CO₂-neutral synthetic turf LigaTurf Cross GT zero and 60% in Poligras Tokyo GT.
Locations & Production Facilities
Burgheim
DEHeadquarters and corporate center
- Materials
- Polyurethane
Melle
DEMelos GmbH – granulate production
- Materials
- EPDM
Grefrath
DEPolytex – synthetic turf production (extrusion and coating)
- Materials
- Polyurethane, bio-based plastic
- Coating and extrusion line for synthetic turf (2003)
- Polyurethane production facility (since 1995)
Evans City, Pennsylvania
USAPT – material production for synthetic turf, running tracks, tennis courts and floor coatings
- Materials
- Polyurethane
Products & Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of synthetic turf systems (extrusion and coating)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Polyurethane, bio-based plastic (from sugarcane) |
| Manufacture of plastic sports surfaces / running tracks (Rekortan, polyurethane-bound)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Polyurethane |
| Installation of synthetic turf fields, running tracks, multisport and tennis courtsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Synthetic turf, Plastic surface |
| Manufacture of granulates from ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM)Plastics | – | – | – | – | EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) |
| Manufacture of coatings for floors (e.g. multi-storey car parks) and industrial applicationsSurface | – | – | – | – | Plastic (polymer coatings) |
| Recycling of synthetic turf (FormaTurf, complete recycling)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Synthetic turf |
| Maintenance of sports facilities (service)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coating and extrusion line for synthetic turf | Polytex | 1 | – | 2003 | Grefrath |
| Polyurethane production facility | Polytex | 1 | – | 1995 | Grefrath |
| Production facility | Sport Group (AstroTurf/Synlawn) | 1 | – | 2017 | Malaysia |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certifications
Quality is ensured through a fully integrated value chain from material to installation. Polytan is a FIFA Preferred Producer and participated in the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf.
| Evidence | Burgheim |
|---|---|
| FIFA Preferred Producer |
History
- 1936
Foundation of Melos GmbH (predecessor Worthmann & C. Bösch)
- 1965
Development of AstroTurf synthetic turf
- 1969
Foundation of Polytan as Firl + Schretter Sportstättenbau OHG in Neuburg an der Donau; Rekortan in the Berlin Olympic Stadium
- 1970
Polytan registered as a trade name
- 1972
Rekortan at the Munich Olympic Games
- 1995
Polytan begins synthetic turf production, acquisition of the polyurethane production facility in Grefrath (Polytex)
- 2003
Vertical synthetic turf production at Polytex; first FIFA-certified synthetic turf field installation
- 2006
Foundation of Sportfield Deutschland Holding GmbH
- 2007–2009
Expansion through acquisitions in Australia, Germany, France, Sweden and the USA
- 2011
FIFA Preferred Producer as Polytan/STI
- 2012
World Rugby Preferred Pitch Producer, FIH Preferred Supplier, hockey facilities of the London Olympic Games
- 2015
Group restructuring: Sport Group TopCo acquires Sport Group Holding GmbH
- 2016
Acquisition of AstroTurf and Synlawn (USA); hockey facilities of the Rio Olympic Games
- 2017
Acquisition of a production facility in Malaysia
- 2020
LigaTurf Cross GT zero (CO₂-neutral synthetic turf); Laykold official surface of the US Open
- 2021
Hockey facilities of the Tokyo Olympic Games
- 2022
Start of complete synthetic turf recycling via FormaTurf
- 2024
Hockey facilities of the Paris Olympic Games; contracts for LA 2028