The AITEX Research and Innovation Centre has recently been accredited as a product laboratory by FIFA, the world’s leading football association. Thanks to this new accreditation, AITEX increases its capacities to carry out tests and certifications on artificial turf pitches. This FIFA distinction reinforces AITEX’s commitment to excellence in applied research and technological innovation in the textile sector and its sports applications.

AITEX has passed the FIFA Interlaboratory Product Test Event of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf

AITEX becomes part of the list of ‘FIFA Laboratory Test Institute’, after passing the FIFA Interlaboratory Product Test Event of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf in 2024. This means that, from now on, AITEX will be part of the select group of thirteen laboratories worldwide that can perform laboratory tests to manufacturers who want to certify a sports artificial turf field under FIFA guidelines.

After the approval of this examination, AITEX can now work with different artificial turf manufacturers around the world to check and certify if their products meet the requirements of functionality, quality and safety. Through a series of laboratory tests, AITEX will be able to make a traceability so that any city council or sports club can build artificial turf football pitches with all the FIFA quality guarantees.

Since 2001, FIFA has been developing its FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf, a regulatory framework that governs the use of artificial turf surfaces in football and whose main objective is to ensure the integrity of the game and the safety of players during the practice of this sport.

This FIFA accreditation, added to those that AITEX already had with FIBA, World Rugby and FEP, is a recognition that underlines the centre’s commitment to excellence in research and technological innovation in the textile sector, but also in sport and sports surfaces.

It is a reference for all associations, confederations, communities and clubs that intend to use high quality artificial turf playing surfaces for their competitions and training facilities.

According to Vicente Blanes, General Manager of AITEX: “Being a FIFA product laboratory is a recognition of the effort and dedication of our entire team. This accreditation not only validates our technical capacity and our commitment to innovation, but also encourages us to continue improving and expanding our services in the sports field.

This type of accreditation makes it possible to work closely with society and the sports industry, learning about and experiencing the current situation first hand. As a result, better research projects emerge and are developed to respond to current and future challenges.

AITEX, accredited centre for the approval of sports surfaces

AITEX is able to carry out product characterisation, laboratory tests and “in situ” field tests on sports surfaces and artificial turf. It has state-of-the-art equipment that allows, at laboratory level, the characterisation of artificial turf for sports flooring, and the performance of tests on the turf in the laboratory or on the pitch.

The centre has technicians with consolidated experience and accredited by FIFA, FIBA, World Rugby and FEP. AITEX rigorously carries out all the tests required by the regulations, both “in situ” and laboratory tests. They carry out product characterisation, mechanical, hydraulic, geosynthetic, durability and CE marking conformity tests.