12 Feb 2010

NEW CRAFT SKIN SUIT MADE WITH DYNEEMA® MAKES OLYMPIC SPEED SKATING DEBUT

First one layer full body protection skin suit designed for the Royal Dutch Skating Association

URMOND (NL), 12 February 2010 - Hot on the heels of today’s official opening ceremony of the XXI Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, comes the start of the speed skating tournament. It is an event where the Dutch have a long-standing reputation for success, and they look set for more medals in the coming days. The chances of success for the Dutch Olympic short-track team will be further assisted wearing a new and innovative CRAFT one layer skin suit, made with Dyneema®, which is lighter and more comfortable due to intrinsic cooling properties than comparable alternatives, whilst offering for the first time, full body protection.

The secret weapon behind the new skin suit is the clever combination of Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™, with other materials to create a new skin suit with full body protection in a single layer. Previously, Olympic athletes wore two layer skin suits – an under layer for protection purposes and a surface layer for aesthetic appearance. The one layer CRAFT skin suit is lighter than existing alternatives and its snugger-fit makes it exceptionally comfortable.

“We work closely with top athletes to maximize their performance by engineering world class apparel used in sporting events, such as the Olympics,” comments Johan Neperus, General Manager of CRAFT Benelux. “Thanks to the use of Dyneema®, the technical performance of the suits, in terms of keeping the athlete cool and allowing body heat to escape more effectively is ensured. In addition, the suits provide full body protection which exceed today’s requirements as set by the International Skating Union.”

“The traditional combination of a protective under layer with a nylon suit on top meant that the overall outfit was too heavy and fairly uncomfortable,” explains Bert van der Tuuk, CEO of SportConfex B.V. “Hence, we developed a new solution, involving a double-face single layer construction combining Dyneema® and nylon. We are very excited about this new product and foresee many more opportunities for its use in other sports.”

The material behind the new short-track skin suits is a development of DSM and Fuchshuber Techno-Tex, a specialist producer of high-technology protective fabrics using Dyneema®. CRAFT in close cooperation with SportConfex and Royal Dutch Skating Association (KNSB) designed the revolutionary single layer full body protection skin suit.

“The entire organization is extremely proud of the role Dyneema® plays in improving Olympic athletes’ chances of success at the Winter Games in Vancouver. It really is fantastic to know that, through the combined efforts, our sportsmen and women will be competing in more comfort with better protection and hopefully an even better chance of success,” confirms Jaco Fok, Business Manager Yarn of DSM Dyneema.

For other news on the short track suit application click here.

Reader enquiries

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Notes for editors

About CRAFT

Swedish brand CRAFT is the pioneer of functional apparel for serious athletes. Since 1977 CRAFT has devoted itself to developing innovative clothing built to withstand extreme requirements in all conditions. CRAFT works closely with its many sponsored athletes and national teams, and focuses on designing the highest performance gear. The brand’s foundation is its authentic understanding and love for the sporting culture, reflected in its strong involvement in cross-country skiing, biking, and running. Constantly working on the optimisation of innovative material and construction technologies, CRAFT sportswear is the ideal training and competition gear for all activities year-round.

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® is an ultra strong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel. Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands), Flaach (Switzerland) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.

DSM – the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company

Royal DSM N.V. creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM’s products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrics and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM has annual net sales of EUR 9.3 billion and employs some 23,500 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com.

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