Adidas and Covestro partner on European Championship ball
Sportswear manufacturer adidas and Polymer materials supplier Covestro have worked together to create the match ball that will be used at the upcoming European Championship in France. The “Beau Jeu” (French for beautiful game) will be used at all matches at the tournament, which starts on June 10.
The companies say that the ball’s outer shell, which is made from five layers of polyurethane raw materials, means it is easier to control, has better flight characteristics and is more water resistant. As Thomas Michaelis, project manager for ball development at Covestro, explains: “It starts with the outermost skin, a full underglass print that prevents abrasion of the printed layer.”
According to Covestro, “the underlying intermediate layer protects the ball against external influences and lends it unusually high elasticity. Beneath that is a polyurethane foam with millions of microspheres that ensure outstanding flight characteristics. A polyurethane adhesive bonds the top layers to a special polyester-cotton fabric that serves as a substrate.”
The extra durable white surface of the ball will be decorated in the French national colours, red, white and blue, and marks the 30th anniversary of adidas and Covestro working together.
