SnapSports, Inc. has received Associate status from FIBA, The official international governing body of basketball, basketball flooring for use in officially sanctioned events. Also known as the International Basketball Federation, FIBA granted SnapSports Associate Manufacturer status on December 31, 2009.

Earning Associate Manufacturer status requires suppliers to pass equipment standards tests defined by FIBA’s official Approval Program. Manufacturers must also have international distribution networks to assure worldwide availability of their products.

“We put a lot of effort into meeting FIBA’s standards and we’re glad it’s paid off. Being recognized as an FIBA Associate Manufacturer is another reminder that our floors are built for competition at even the highest levels,” said Jeremiah Shapiro, Director of Product Development for SnapSports.

Founded in 1932, FIBA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the official governing body of basketball.

SnapLock Industries, Inc. was awarded a US patent for their AccuPark Parking System.

This system essentially employs a modified garage floor tile with two raised ridges. This, when driven over, signals the driver to stop accurately. The durable brushed aluminum AccuPark parking system integrates seamlessly with other SnapLock products. Anyone can also use AccuPark for temporary or portable applications over any surface.

“The AccuPark System is a clever solution for a common problem. We know it’ll save a lot of bumpers and walls in the future,” said Jorgen Moller, CEO of SnapLock Industries, Inc.

Additionally, the AccuPark system interlocks with all RaceDeck products, so you can create your custom garage in a “snap!” Mix and match our modular flooring products for the truly unique look you’ve always wanted.

The first-ever Big Apple Team Handball Tournament will be held on January 2nd through the 3rd and will feature US National Club champions, New York City Team Handball, in a game against a star-studded cast of European professionals.

The six-team Big Apple Team Handball tournament will feature five of Germany’s top professional teams and is being held in the US to build awareness of the sport.

Team handball, as it’s known in the US, is played in 159 nations by 39 million people. It is an Olympic sport which bares more in common with soccer and basketball than American handball. Teams of seven players play two 30 minutes halves and attempt to get a ball, about 8″ in diameter, past a goalkeeper. Games often score into the 30s.

Games will be played on a custom ShockTower® surface by SnapSports®, the official flooring provider for USA Team Handball. SnapSports will install a 9,176 square foot handball court two days before the tournament. The event, to be held at Park West High School in Manhattan, will consist of two-day tournament capped by an all-star game featuring Germany’s best players against the US National champions.

SnapLock Industries new manufacturing and operating systems is one of the “Greenest” manufacturers of modular flooring in the world.

Snap Lock Industries, the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of premium modular flooring systems, has implemented new proprietary manufacturing technologies, as well as recycling procedures that has enabled them to manufacture with nearly zero waste. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Snap Lock industries operates in a state of the art 100,000 square foot facility operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year with a strong emphasis on “ Keeping it Green ”.

Snap Lock has a long list of global leading brands that include RaceDeck garage flooring, SnapSports multi-courts & athletic surfacing, SnapLock portable dance flooring & event floors and Duragrid safety matting & decking.

Over the last decade Snap Lock has implemented technologies that have not only resulted in the leading modular flooring systems available, but a company that is committed to the environment with nearly zero waste in their manufacturing process.

“ We are committed to reducing the impact on our environment and at the same time, offering the most Eco-Friendly & safe product line available to our customers.” Said Jorgen Moller CEO Snap Lock Industries.

The proprietary materials used to manufacture all of Snap Lock flooring products are recyclable and of the highest grade available. “We maintain 100% control of what goes in our products to ensure quality and safe use for the consumer. Many companies add materials from unknown sources such as landfill and scrapyards, which may contain many toxic ingredients, we want no part of that process” said Moller

The following are just a few of the ways SnapLock is “ Keeping it Green ” :

• They use only the highest-grade polypropylene in their manufacturing processes, which is all 100% recyclable & clean.

• Polypropylene is manufactured from propylene monomer, a relatively safe gas, which is a waste byproduct of the petroleum industry that used to be burned off into the atmosphere contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. As a consequence, the more polypropylene used in products helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Polypropylene is 100% recyclable

• Any waste material they may produce in their manufacturing is reground and used to make other non-flooring parts, ensuring nearly 0% waste.

• They do not add any questionable additives in their products, such as rubber or lead filled items.

• Their unique manufacturing process is low in emissions and meets all of the strict California Standards, including the standard for residential community placement.

• The cooling system they use to control temperatures for all of the manufacturing machines and runs on a closed loop, so it’s 100% recycled.

• All of the steel used in their molds and sports components is 100% recyclable.

• The warehouse structure within the 100,000 square foot facility was engineered to maximize natural sunlight rather than energy-wasting lights.

• Snap Lock has pioneered numerous manufacturing processes and technologies to allow them to use less energy to produce all of their products.

• They implemented a system to actively recycle all cardboard packaging, office papers and all petroleum products.

It is refreshing to see that a USA-based manufacturer and supplier can not only produce quality products to compete in the global marketplace, but they can do it while ‘keeping it green’ at the same time.

About SnapLock Industries

SnapLock Industries is recognized as the industry leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty modular flooring systems for both residential and commercial markets. All of Snap Lock Industries flooring products are proudly made in the USA.

Releasing as RaceDeck ShockTower®, the new flooring adapts technology originally used in professional sports surfaces to reduce fatigue and noise. The patented system incorporates eight shock absorbing modules, or Shock-Towers, per square foot to attenuate sound and reduce stress on joints and muscles.

The new RaceDeck ShockTower® system is fully compatible with all current RaceDeck garage flooring styles and can be retrofitted to existing installations. Suggested applications include workstations, walkways, commercial and residential garages, or any environment where the user would benefit from a consistent, quiet and low-impact surface.

“It is our mission to stay on the leading edge of our industry. We do this by continually innovating and creating new technologies with the input of our customers,” said Jorgen Moller, CEO of SnapLock Industries. “The feedback from commercial customers able to get an early look at the ShockTower® has been tremendous and we’re sure our residential customers will be just as thrilled!”

SnapSports Inc. was awarded an additional US patent for their BounceBack® sports surfacing.

The new patent covers a multi-level support design marketed as the ShockTower® Suspension System which acts as a dual-stage vertical impact absorber, reducing fatigue and injuries to players.

“The feedback we have been receiving from both athletes and coaches about our SnapSports BounceBack® ShockTower surfacing has been tremendously positive. The increased demand for this revolutionary sports flooring by coaches, players and sports facilities confirms this,” said Jorgen Moller, CEO of SnapSports.

SnapSports BounceBack® ShockTower, a ¾” tall suspended sports floor system, has the highest shock-absorption rating of any modular sports tile, as tested by US independent laboratory tests. The ShockLock® and Dual Suspension® systems allow for greater impact stability, and superior performance during play. The under-structure of the BounceBack provides a “cush” effect to help with the reduction injuries and fatigue to athletes from high impact sports and increases ball response in sports like basketball, Futsal®, team handball, inline hockey, tennis, and volleyball.

SnapSports®, the world’s largest manufacturer of premium athletic surfacing and game courts, will introduce their BounceBack ShockTower® athletic surfaces to the parks and recreation industry at the 2009 NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association’s) Annual Congress.

The event will be held in downtown Salt Lake’s Salt Palace Convention Center. A half court basketball court will be featured in the center’s reception area and a full outdoor court will be displayed outside the convention area.
“We make it our mission to stay on the leading edge of our industry. When we were asked to feature our ShockTower basketball courts at this year’s NRPA, we were not only honored, but felt it was a great opportunity to exhibit our advancements to a leading advocacy organization like the NRPA,” said Jorgen Moller, CEO of SnapSports®.

The NRPA Annual Congress begins today and runs through Saturday.

About the National Recreation and Park Association

Founded in 1965 through the merger of five national organizations, the National Recreation and Park Association is dedicated to the advancement of public parks and recreation.

SnapSports Inc. was awarded two US patents for their DuraCourt and BounceBack sports surfaces.

The first patent covers the multi-level, slip-resistant surface of the DuraCourt flooring. The second applies to the lateral locking and Dual Suspension® systems of the BounceBack flooring.

“We believe we make the best modular sports flooring available today. Our unique patented designs have exceeded the expectations of our customers all over the world,” said Jorgen Moller, CEO of SnapSports.

BounceBack, a ¾” flooring system, has the highest shock-absorption rating of any modular sports tile. Its ShockLock® and Dual Suspension® systems allow for greater impact stability and support heavier rolling loads. The under-structure of the BounceBack provides a “cush” effect and increases ball response in sports like basketball and volleyball.

DuraCourt, a 5/8″ tall outdoor modular sports surface, is more rigid and impact stable for multi-sport games like inline hockey and tennis.

SnapSports® today announced the completion of two high-profile court installations.

The clients, Jameer Nelson, All-Star point guard for the Orlando Magic, and his agent Steve Mountain, each took receipt of custom multi-sport game courts.

Nelson’s 10,000 square foot, fully enclosed, court includes a 17,000 watt lighting system, a custom 80 foot long batting cage, and markings for over fourteen different games. Mountain’s 5400 square foot enclosed court includes a “dasher board” system for inline roller hockey. A crew of seven SnapSports employees installed the courts over the course of six days.

“SnapSports is honored to have been selected to provide such high profile clients with our athletic surfacing. All of us at SnapSports love being a part of so many families and we strive to do so everyday,” says Jorgen Moller, SnapSports CEO.

Nelson plays point guard for the NBA’s Orlando Magic. At Saint Joseph’s University, he became a star of men’s college basketball. More recently, he was a member of the 2009 NBA All-Star Team, sharing the honor with Magic teammates Howard and Rashard Lewis.

SnapSports, the industry leading manufacturer and provider of premium modular sports surfacing and game courts, was the premier championship flooring for the 2009 Volleyball Festival championship games played in the US Air Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

“We are very pleased to have worked with the SnapSports team and to have players from around the world play on the SnapSports surface during our 26th year of the festival,” said Bernice Epperson – CEO of Festival Sports, Inc.

Every year since 1984, Festival Sports has put on the largest volleyball tournament in the world, Volleyball Festival. This year over 500 teams from around the world, consisting of girls ranging in age from 12-18 came together for 2 weeks to play thousands of games on hundreds of courts.

“We can’t express how thrilled we are to be apart of this world class event. To have our athletic surfaces chosen as the championship court for the Volleyball Festival tournament is a tremendous testament to the quality and high performance features of our sports flooring,” said Jorgen Moller – CEO SnapSports.

The SnapSports surface the athletes competed on is the industry’s most advanced suspended modular sports flooring. The BounceBack® ShockTower™ surface has multi-patent design features including the new ShockTower™, the resilient shock technology which offers excellent impact control and rolling support for added player safety and superior ball response.