Armstrong DLW Playing Surface To Get U.S. Tryout

Lancaster, PA, Aug. 1--A new Armstrong flooring product will take center stage Sunday when Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, plays host to its first major sporting event. At 8 p.m., English soccer champions Manchester United take on Spanish powerhouse Barcelona FC. They will play on Lincoln Field's newly installed DD GrassMaster surface, a synthetically reinforced natural grass system. DD GrassMaster is produced (and patented) by Armstrong DLW AG, a subsidiary of Armstrong Holdings, Inc., the Sports Flooring division operating as Desso DLW Sports Systems in Belgium. DD GrassMaster covers the fields of more than 200 soccer, rugby, baseball, and football teams worldwide, including the Denver Broncos' Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium, and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field. With DD GrassMaster at Lincoln Field, the Eagles hope to solve turf problems experienced at many stadiums that accommodate a full schedule of games, training, and concerts. The DD GrassMaster system strengthens natural grass playing surfaces with synthetic grass fibers. A computer-controlled machine injects more than 20 million of the artificial grass fibers (covering roughly three percent of the field) into the turf to a depth of nearly eight inches. As the roots of the natural grass grow, they intertwine with the artificial fiber, anchoring the grass and providing a very stable surface that is three times more durable than natural grass alone. Manchester United brought all its star players to the U.S. for a four-game, four-city tour to promote soccer here. Desso DLW Sports Systems is market leader for indoor and outdoor sports flooring. Desso DLW Sports Systems also manufactures linoleum, vinyl and textile sports floors for indoor use. Headquartered in Belgium, the company has sales offices throughout Europe.