Advertisement

Technical Ceramics from CeramTec to Be Used at the Olympics

Developed and manu­factured by CeramTec subsidiary CeramTec-ETEC GmbH, this technically innovative system provides perfect jumping conditions year-round, regardless of the weather. From 7–23 February 2014, all eyes were on Russia for the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The best ski jumpers in the world competed in the Nordic combined and ski jumping events in the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center. Here, both the normal hill and the large hill have been equipped with ALOSLIDE® ICE technology from Cer­am­Tec. The inrun track system enables athletes to jump in perfect conditions, regardless of the weather. ALOSLIDE® ICE is a one-track inrun system outfitted with ceramic nubs that are vulcanized in special caoutchouc in a scientifically tested design. A cooling unit integrated into the system creates a stable layer of ice 20 mm thick in good snow conditions in winter or even springlike temperatures. An integrated ice cutter and brushes regulate the thickness of the ice and prepare it. The ice is solely built up from the air humidity and the cooling of the track. The system can be switched easily from summer to winter operation or vice versa without the need for additional ice or snow. In summer, jumpers slide down the take-off ramp to the launch pad right on the ceramic nubs. This technology allows ski jump events to take place year-round in practically identical conditions. This is not the first time the ALOSLIDE® system will be used in large competitions. The inrun track system allowed competitions to take place under optimal conditions back in 2006 at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin. In 2011, this German technology was also featured at the Asian Winter Games in Almaty, Kazakh­stan. In the last five years, their system has been running reliably and without interruption from November to March. ALOSLIDE® proved itself successful at the facilities in Oberstdorf, Germany, and Bischofshofen, Austria, for the Four Hills Tournament and in Klingenthal, Germany, home to the FIS Summer Grand Prix and the 2013 FIS Team Tour. Both the athletes and Werner Schuster, Head Coach of the German ski jumping national team, praised the CeramTec technology.

Service

Phone: +49 7221 502 200


E-mail: info@goeller-verlag.de