One of these is Saertex GmbH & Co. KG from Saerbeck.  The company produces so-called non-crimp multi-ply fabrics.  These are characterized by stretched fibres within the individual plies, which optimally absorb mechanical forces such as pressure and tension.  Different mechanical strengths can be achieved by the fibre used, weight per unit area and angle combination.  Multi-axial multi-ply fabrics have been specially developed for the requirements of the sports industry and are used, in particular, in skis and snowboards.

Light, strong, flexible – these are the requirements that must be provided by sports equipment. 

Composites precisely fulfil these criteria and consequently have become essential where top level sports are concerned.  Whether helmets, hockey sticks, skis as well as boots and sticks, helmets, luge or bobsleds – no sport can survive without equipment of high-tech materials with fibre reinforcement. Atomic, Dynamic, Dynastar, Elan, Fischer, Nordica, Salomon or Völkl – virtually every reputable supplier of sports equipment depends on composite materials.  The manufacturers of composites are ecstatic – according to the latest survey by the Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK), twelve per cent of the composites produced in Europe are already being used in the sports and leisure sectors.