PRESS RELEASE
2007-06-12
Kährs Activity Floor in aerobics championships till 2011
Kährs Activity Floor, currently being launched to the market by one of the world's leading wood flooring companies, is an advance for all active people regardless of age and activity.
Kährs has signed a contract with FISAF, the Federation of International Sports Aerobics & Fitness Inc., to be the exclusive official floor supplier for the upcoming World and European Aerobics Championships through 2011.
This year is also Kährs' 150th anniversary and the company is one of the world's leading and second largest wood flooring manufacturers still in business today.
The kick-off for the cooperation agreement between Kährs and FISAF took place during the European Championships Sports Aerobics and Fitness Teams 2007, May 10-12 in Barcelona, Spain. The floor was already in use for the FISAF championships in Rotterdam 2004 and in Moscow 2005. Participants and spectators from all over the world experienced and witnessed all the possibilities of Kährs Activity Floor.
According to Riitta Hämäläinen-Bister, Secretary General of FISAF, it is one of the key operations of FISAF to find partner who is ready to develop and offer valuable actions with united efforts in the enormous network of Global Fitness industry. "At the moment the installation system and the whole Activity Floor product is a unique article in the field of fitness floor market", says Hämäläinen-Bister, "FISAF likes to be a forerunner and thus wants to promote this incredible new article together with Kährs."
From two innovations to an exclusive sports floor
There are two innovations that make the Kährs Activity Floor unique and outstanding, not only from a user's perspective but also from the floor installers' point of view, according to Marc Bacher, Global Product Manager for the Activity Floor at Kährs.
Unlike ordinary wood or synthetic floors for sports and activities, the absorption material and reinforcement are already fitted to the back of Kährs Activity Floor boards. "The shock protection is excellent", Bacher says, "You can do your trainings in a safe way without extra harms to your body."
The floor is also provided with the patented glueless Woodloc joint, just like the majority of Kährs floors. What makes Woodloc so special in this context is its great durability (the joint can take a weight over 10 kN/m) and that it is as easy to install as it is to take up again. The floor is suitable for applications in temporary areas for training, contests and different kinds of exhibitions and shows.
"The Woodloc joint gives perfect joints between boards," says Bacher, "and the one piece convenience means a 30-40 percent quicker installation time than most similar products. There is no glue involved and no nailing."
Positive responses and promising markets
Kährs Activity Floor was test launched three years ago on a few markets after many years of extensive development and tests. "We have received very strong and positive feedback from existing customers. We are very confident that we now will have a very successful global launch," Bacher adds.
Hämäläinen-Bister of FISAF says, "Positive feedback from the competitors, coaches and our training instructors had a great influence on our decision. They all preferred the Activity floor without any negative comments."
According to Bacher, Kährs Activity Floor is suitable for all kinds of activities because it provides such a forgiving surface. It is also suitable for exhibitions and fairs where participants and exhibitors spend a long time on their feet and need a floor that is comfortable to walk on.
"The most promising markets for the company are in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Sweden remains a strong home market," he concluded.
Kährs Activity Floor has a total thickness of 30mm. It is available in oak, beech and hard maple, and can be sanded several times. The floor satisfies the DIN testing by the Norwegian Building Research Institute in all categories, such as energy absorption, deformation, ball bounce, rolling load and friction.
Examples of Kährs Activity Floor's applications around the world:
Finland:
• Oulu, S.A.T.S Group, Aerobics, 200 m2
France:
• Lapoutroie, Judo, 230 m2
• Strasbourg-Robertsau, Dance, 200 m2
Germany:
• Frankfurt, Sporthalle Eintracht Frankfurt (Youth Football Promotion), 350 m2
• Hamburg, Physiotherapeutische Praxis (Physiotherapy), 57 m2
Italy:
• Trento, Sports Hall, various activities, 848 m2
Netherlands:
• Rotterdam, FISAF European Championships in Aerobics 2004, 300 m2
Norway:
• Drammen, Drammens Teater, Theater, 220 m2
• Trondheim, Nypvang skole, Gymnastics, 241 m2
Sweden:
• Stockholm, KTH Försvarshögskolan (Swedish National Defence College), Gymnastics, 170 m2
• Stockholm, Riksdagshuset (Swedish Parliament House), Floorball, 141 m2
Russia:
• Moscow, FISAF European Aerobics and Fitness Championships 2005, 140 m2
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For further information and additional images, please contact:
Kährs International Inc.
Tel: 1.800.800.5247
E-mail: info@kahrs.com