PLAYTOP® FOR THE CHANNEL ISLANDERS

Charles Lawrence Surfaces plc has now announced the appointment of a new partner in the Channel Islands, further expanding its network of licensees and ensuring a leading presence for the company on a wider European platform. The licensee, T.L.Moon Ltd. will concentrate on promoting the Charles Lawrence PLAYTOP^® brand, already Europe’s leading in-situ wet pour, impact absorbing, safety surfacing system for children’s playgrounds

T.L. Moon Ltd. has been operating for some twenty years from a Jersey base, achieving a turnover of some £1.5 million. In that time the company has built an enviable reputation for all its services, including private and commercial fencing and surfacing. Its surfacing business predominantly concentrates on safety surfacing for children’s play areas, for new installations and for replacement surfaces where tile and bark had previously been laid.

Peter Bohea, Business Manager at T.L. Moon Ltd. explains: “The company enjoys a significant reputation on Jersey but now we are looking at expanding with new ventures on the other Channel Islands of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, where we have recognised a demand for the service that we offer. Charles Lawrence has also identified the growth potential and the standing that we have in this area.”

PLAYTOP^® has been the market leader in the UK since 1977, and has pioneered the introduction of wet pour safety surfacing since 1995, across Europe and beyond, and licensee partners are already working successfully in Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Finland and Poland.

PLAYTOP^® can be installed to any thickness, between 20mm and 140mm, to meet a child falling from heights of 600mm up to 3 metres from play equipment, and in a range of 13 different colours, with further options for colour mixes. Added play value can be provided in the form of pictures and games, inlaid into the play area surface.

PLAYTOP^® has the advantage over conventional rubber tile and matting surfaces, through its ability to be installed to any shape or configuration, under and around playground equipment, without seams/joints, directly on to a stone foundation, excluding the need for an asphalt or concrete foundation.  It can also be installed to contours, up to 30 degrees in gradient.

PLAYTOP^® is porous and resistance to climatic changes. It has proved its ability to withstand Urban City vandalism over many years – the first ever installation made in 1977, still exists today as a playground, without having received any subsequent maintenance treatment.

T.L. Moon Ltd. will have completed no less than a dozen installations in the six months since being appointed the PLAYTOP^® licensee – the new product having made a considerable impact with all client sectors on the island including commercial nurseries, parishes managing community parks and playgrounds, local housing authorities and the island’s local government, Education Sport & Culture, Department.

Peter Bohea continues: “We have had to do little marketing for the service as word-of-mouth has worked extremely well for us. We are an island of some 85,000 people and this is the first time that this service has been offered by a local company without having to approach faceless, mainland contractors.

“So far, the installations we have completed have been quite straightforward such as 250 square metre play surface for St. Lukes Primary School and a 682 square metre surface for Rouge Boullion Secondary School. Both schools have been thrilled with results, reporting that the new surface has revolutionised the way in which the children use the play area.

“However in the future we expect to be more heavily involved in requests for more complex graphics and designs – truly testing the capabilities of the product and the design teams.

“We had no real idea how this new service would take off and so have been delighted with the response. The excellent working relationship established with Charles Lawrence has also added to the confidence we have in the product.”

T.L. Moon Ltd. has now also extended its relationship with the surfacing specialists - securing its first major order for sports surfacing. The Le Rocquier secondary school has commissioned T.L. Moon to upgrade its gym surface, at 602 square metres the largest open indoor gym facility on the island and soon to be made available to the local community.

The company will be installing Gymsol^®. Gymsol^®, is an exceptionally versatile polymeric product which provides a cushioned, seamless, hard-wearing floor that requires little maintenance beyond sweeping, vacuuming or mopping. It can be laid over concrete, asphalt or solid or sprung timber, and consists of a prefabricated shred-rubber shockpad sealed with resin and then covered with a self-levelling flow coat of polyurethane.

The non-reflective, slip-resistant surface is suitable (among other sports) for badminton, basketball, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, table tennis, tennis and volleyball - not to mention a whole range of other activities including aerobics, fitness classes, martial arts and weight training.