eps announces breakthrough technology for floor cover installation

Leading infrastructure service provider in the live entertainment segment, eps, has announced a breakthrough in the venue floor protection sector.

eps is setting new standards in the installation of heavy-duty floor covers with aluminum panels technical innovation. With immediate effect, eps has started working with state-of-the-art machines. Based on vacuum technology, these semi-automated laying machines help to achieve a 50% reduction in installation times.

Laying floor panels to protect the turf has been a comparatively unspectacular process during the last 40 years; installation was manual. Therefore, management required lots of hands and lightweight, manageable panels for a quick set-up. eps has solved this age-old issue. In recent months, the company has used semi-automated installation machines at various venues and laid down different types of floor panels using tailored vacuum technology, that is lifted semi-automatically and placed in position.

Similarly, eps successfully tested the new installation method for varying weather conditions. The result: The flooring specialist achieved a 50% reduction in laying times and considerable cost savings against the conventional approach. Moreover, this modern approach also ensures that you no longer need a minimum number of workers, panel weight, and dimensions for the installation. Therefore, the company is increasingly relying on aluminum floor protection panels. These also offer significantly lower CO₂ footprint compared to plastics.

Dirk Boda, Technical Manager at eps Deutschland notes "the future belongs to laying machines. Using them saves personnel and costs, increases speed and quality, and lowers CO₂ emissions. This modern approach also ensures planning security and increases occupational safety requirements enormously. With well-trained personnel, we will achieve incredible capacities in the future – in a much more sustainable way."

To further strengthen its pioneering role in the event infrastructure sector, eps will use the time until the next season, 2023, to train workers and improve processes and machinery.

Ralf Müller, Managing Director of eps event holding gmbh adds "we are convinced of the semi-automated installation method we have developed. We firmly believe that the entire industry will benefit from it as early as the 2023 season.

"Finally, it has been possible for the first time to cover the entire stadium surface from Deutsche Bank Park, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in less than eight working hours with the new method. This enormous time advantage opens up completely new possibilities. It offers maximum flexibility for our customers and us."

The eps group – with offices in Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia, the USA, Canada, and South America – has been the leading international service provider of infrastructure for live events and a trustful live entertainment partner for more than 25 years. Headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, the company offers a comprehensive range of barriers, security access gates, grandstands, turf and ground protection systems, and site materials. Worldwide, eps supports more than 3,000 events annually with industry-leading services such as project and CAD planning, security concepts, and tender biddings. 

For more information on the new installation method and innovation, please visit eps.net/en/about-us/innovation/vacuum-technology/.