Engo Flexboard PPS
engo flexboard pps: "player protection system"
The next generation of flexible lightweight dasher board systems with active player/spectator protection as a worlds first extremely durable material with an easy removal system making back breaking change overs a thing of the past.
Description
The engoboard PPS is the latest generation of safety "flexible" board system for all private, municipal and professional ice skating facilities. Strength and flexability combined to become the best boards ever designed. Many colours available at no additional charge
- engoboard PPS - Made with the strongest aluminum construction, UV - resistant and flexible, PPS-CSF post (short glass reinforced with PPS)
- Narrow band material with a beveled soft rail made to reduce the serverety of injuries to players
- PE - HD paneling with 10 mm thickness with a buffer strip of polyethylene (protects against the excess wear)
- Encredable strength and high module flexibability for todays bigger and stronger players
- Proven, and vigorisly tested rugged aluminum construction that will never rust with easy to clean components
- Revolutionary glass mounting system for quick assembly/disassembly
- Tempered safety glass without uprights designed to be the best protection for players and spectators
- Entrance doors width 0.80m with a security lock system simular to whats found in an automotive industry
- Double-leaf doors with a width of 2 x 2 x 1.6 m to 2.0 m all doors can be positioned anywhere desired
- Player/penalty benches made identical to dasher board system
- Thin high density material with maintenance free durablity
- Superoir Long lasting life with very little maintenance required
- Options such as Sound Proofing Panels, Steel Ice Dam, Quick Installation System, Outside Panels, are available
The manufacturer reserves the right to make technical alterations!
- Corner radius of 7.0 m to 8.5 m
- Height of the boards 1.10 and 1.25 m
A flexible and force retrenching dasher boards system
Why should you choose a flexible and force retrenching dasher board system?
Since 2006, engo has been concerned with the development of a flexible dasher board system. For the first time, we were approached with the topic by IIHF during the delivery of dasher board systems for the XX Winter Olympic Games in Turin 2006. Even back then, we screwed the boards on the ice field together with disc springs. These springs allowed a certain amount of flexibility.
Since this moment, we have been constantly advancing the flexible dasher board systems. In 2010, we approached the topic as a whole and ordered a research study in order to include all the needs of the players, the coaches, the operators and the architects.
On the basis of the resulting rapport and the following developmental years, the engo flexboard pps ('pps' stands for Player Protection System) was created. At the time being, this board is the most sophisticated, revolutionary and modern board in the design and aesthetics in the world, as it completely differs from the previous way of thinking and styling.
The centrepiece of the dasher board is the flexible-bendy synthetic part construed from a special synthetic mixture. It absorbs the whole energy of a body check from the players. In combination with the welded stiff aluminium framework, we have a perfect basis for the board body. A benefit of this flexible board is that the board framework is screwed or fastened fix and stiff on the refrigerating plant and so the ice cannot splinter off during a check at the kickboard.
The flexible part first begins above the kickboard and it increases progressively up to the soft specially formed handrail without any sharp edges, which should additionally protect the players from facial injuries. The system is unique in the whole world and it gives evidence of the decades-long know-how of our company. If you want to protect both the players and the audience on the ice field in an effective and safe way, only engo flexboard pps qualifies because flexible is not immediately flexible.
In 2013, the technical university Winterthur conducted a dasher board test of our board in Swiss Wil by order of DSF, the national Swiss television for the science magazine EINSTEIN. The board was tested at the stiffest part of the ice hockey field, in the radius area. The test results showed that the engo flexboard pps is by 1/3 (33%) softer than a traditional conventional tested board system (see the alongside video "Einstein the board check").
On the basis of the changes in the rules of IIHF 2014 - 2018, the board height was adjusted to 1.100 mm and also a special transparent polycarbonate part was developed for the acrylic glazing.
The rule book of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), valid for the years 2014-2018, regulates the game rules in all friendly, tournament and championship matches in the national and the international field. The new rule book of IIHF 2014 - 2018 prescribes flexible and force retrenching board systems for these events.
The engo flexboard pps is at the moment the only board system on the market that has been tested by TÜV and can therefore be delivered with the CE certificate. In addition, it also conforms to IIHF and KHL.
IIHF study about player’s injuries
Roughly in the same period, IIHF conducted a 7-year study about the players' injuries during the world championships and the Winter Olympic Games.
The study analysed 528 recorded accidents from 2006 until 2013 during the world championships in the division of men, during the Winter Olympic Games 2010 and also during the qualifications for the Winter Olympic Games Vancouver 2010 and Sotchi 2014 (extract from IIHF Medical Study Released Report).
It was found that there is a 29% lower risk of an injury in arenas where flexible dasher boards with glass are used in comparison to traditional arenas where stiff boards with glass are being used. There were less concussions in arenas with flexible boards with glass in place of arenas using traditional boards with glass protection. This trend is also verifiable by all other types of injuries (extract from IIHF Medical Study Released Report).
"It was the first study researching the impact of flexible boards and glasses on the injury risk," remarks the member of the Medical Commission Dr. Markku Tuominen. "We expect naturally that the flexible board systems and glasses decrease the risk of injuries but it was still interesting to learn that the whole rate of injuries was decreased by 29% when flexible boards and glasses were used. Above all, the fact is that flexible boards and glasses decrease shoulder injuries by 60%, but it is also statistically significant ". (Extract from IIHF Medical Study Released Report)
The study revealed explicitly that it is necessary to know the risk factors and the mechanisms of ice hockey injuries in order to prevent the systematic occurrence of these injuries. It also showed that there is a need for further studies in order to find out whether facial injuries in ice hockey can be decreased by the implementation of existing rules or by mandating and protection of the whole face. Possible changes in rules should also be considered in order to decrease the risk of a brain concussion. (Extract from IIHF Medical Study Released Report)
You can download the whole IIHF Medical Report and also the detailed study from the side.
Link to the IIHF Medical Study Released Report:
As it can be seen, the flexible boards are a topical theme and although still at the beginning of their history of origins, we are excited to see in which directions it will advance.