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About us
Classic Clay™ was developed exclusively in Australia by a team with a long standing and well recognised history in the sports surfaces industry.
It is has also been a concept nurtured by a group of associates and interested parties, often without a commerical interest, to see the product successfully installed and enjoyed.
The manufacturer is a boutique, family owned and passion fuelled business. Above all else... Classic Clay™ was intended to be a long lasting, superior tennis surface. So it is with a great sense of achievement, that the entire team realise rapid global acceptance.
History of the Classic Clay™ development company
The story began in the late 60’s with Australian entrepreneur Gary Waterford. He began his career as a leading carpet manufacturer, retailer and importer of synthetic grass and was approached by a multinational petroleum company with an attractive proposition. The company was at the time importing synthetic grass and turfs and needed a viable case study to manufacture domestically.
Gary demonstrated the feasibility of the project and was invited to invent, design and develop a synthetic manufacturing system, from concept to production facility. He designed utterly unique machinery rather than adapting existing carpet manufacturing technology and his processes are still in practice and emulated globally today.
Later, Waterford assumed the leadership of a breakaway company and grew the product to be stronger, longer lasting, better wearing, better packaged and easier to lay than the products of any other national or international competitor.
By 1985, the company was a clear market leader with a major network of contractors across Australia.
By 1989, it was a worldwide company, with an additional manufacturing plant in England and achievements as far away as the Soviet Union where a hockey field and fifty of Gary’s indoor tennis courts became the training ground for many young Soviet champions.
Many achievements were to be claimed by the company over the years and the following is a summary snapshot.
- The first in the world to create a facility for in-built lines as an integral part of the product surface (Permaline®)
- The first in the world to create synthetic surfaces for indoor sporting stadiums
- The first in the world to create non-shrink synthetic grass surfaces
- The first in the world to sell a manufactured grass back to the traditional home of manufactured turf, the USA
- The first in the world to have short-pile patented grass Classic XT, approved to American Standards
A range of Grass Manufacturer products are currently exported to many countries at very competitive rates. Further information can be found at www.grassman.com.au.
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