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The glass floors are certified for games at the highest level. © FIBA Media
ASB GlassFloor, a medium-sized company from Stein an der Traun in Bavaria, has managed to penetrate the American professional basketball league NBA with its innovative sports flooring technology.
Traunreut – The digital glass floor from ASB GlassFloor was used during the NBA All-Star weekend in February 2024. Beneath the glass sports floor is a multitude of LEDs that make it glow and transform it into a dynamic screen.
According to Jan Weber of ASB GlassFloor, the idea for the glass floor came from an unusual request in 2005. A cruise company wanted to build an outdoor squash court on the deck of a ship. Since conventional wooden floors would not withstand the weather conditions, ASB came up with the idea of using glass as a material – after all, the walls of a squash court are also made of glass. The concept worked and paved the way for the development of a sports floor made of glass and aluminum for larger areas and other sports.
Big ideas, high hurdles and a clear vision for ASB GlassFloor
Despite initial scepticism about whether it would be possible to do sports on glass, ASB GlassFloor convinced people with its patented technology. The floor is made of non-slip glass with LEDs underneath that give it video capabilities. Two specially treated safety glass panels, combined with a sophisticated substructure, provide the necessary flexibility and force absorption.
According to Weber, it was a long road until the glass floor met all standards and was officially approved for competitions. One milestone was the change to the 90-year-old rules of the world basketball association FIBA to allow the use of the glass floor at top events. After successful use at a U19 World Championship and in the German Bundesliga, the NBA finally called.
The innovative glass floors are now being used for numerous sports around the world. © ASB GlassFloor
The combination of glass floor and LED technology opens up completely new possibilities, as Weber explains. Special moments in the game can be highlighted, emotions conveyed and spectators more involved. Innovative options also arise for marketing, as advertising spaces can be flexibly adapted. Hall operators benefit from shorter changeover times between different sporting events.
The sporting advantages of the floor are particularly noteworthy: it is more durable and offers better grip in wet conditions than parquet. The non-slip glass ensures a safe playing surface that minimizes the risk of injury and promotes sporting performance. The special construction of the floor also enables optimal force absorption, which reduces the strain on the joints and reduces fatigue in the players. This makes the floor not only a technological innovation, but also a significant improvement for sporting practice.
Success in sight since 1965: This is the story of ASB GlassFloor
- 1965: ASB, short for Aluminium Systembau, was founded.
- 1976: Development of the ASB Squash Courts – since then over 9,000 installations worldwide.
- 2007: Construction of the glass squash court on the cruise ship AIDA Diva.
- 2013: Market launch of ASB GlassFloor for all sports.
- 2015: The ASB LumiFlex, the world’s first full-LED video sports floor, was successfully put into operation at the Nike FootballX event in Berlin.
- 2024: Numerous high-quality events have taken place on the ASB GlassFloor, including the FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship, NBA All-Star, Basketball CL Final 4.
ASB GlassFloor – From Stein an der Traun to the wide world
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With its vision and innovative strength, ASB GlassFloor has positioned itself as a pioneer when it comes to redesigning the sports experience and inspiring athletes, as the company emphasizes. The fact that it has succeeded in doing so is demonstrated by awards such as the German Stevie Award, the Fast Company Most Innovative Company Award and the FEVO Sport Industry Award. They recognize the user-friendliness, added value and outstanding design of the ASB GlassFloor.
At ASB GlassFloor, we don’t want to stand still
But the company is not resting on its laurels. “In the future, we want to take the floor concept further into the leagues and switch from basketball to other sports,” says Weber in an interview in spring 2024. A multifunctional arena with the floor could be used for many different sports, but also for eSports events or a new edition of the roller disco. Even interactive games like Pacman or Mario Kart live on the floor would be conceivable.
The floor will also be further developed as a training tool. Coaches could demonstrate their exercises directly on the floor without having to spend time setting up cones. Players could be guided by a point of light as to where they should position themselves for new moves. The possibilities seem endless.
The glass floors are continually being developed further. © ASB GlassFloor
Despite all the high-tech, ASB GlassFloor does not lose sight of sustainability aspects. Tests are already being carried out to see how the waste heat from the floor can be used for heating. The power consumption of the LEDs is lower than one would expect and work is continuously being done to improve the ecological balance, as Weber assures.
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2024-06-24 22:31:58
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