SIS Pitches has made a multi-million-pound investment in a new fleet of 16 hybrid pitch stitching machines, that they say are designed to deliver faster installations and greater flexibility for stadium operators.

The company says the units can cut the installation time of a full-sized football pitch from around ten days to just over three. This is achieved through a more compact design, which allows machines to work in tandem, and new patented technologies that speed up and improve the precision of fibre stitching.

Two machine types have been developed. The Pro-X is built for large-scale football and rugby surfaces, with recent projects including Borussia Mönchengladbach, Celtic Park and Wrexham AFC. The Spin-X has been designed specifically for cricket pitches, with a lower weight and bespoke wicket configuration.

The technology has already been put into practice at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where a new surface was completed in three and a half days ahead of the Club World Cup. SIS Pitches also highlighted its GameReady Hybrid system, which uses pre-stitched turf rolls that can be transported and laid as a reinforced surface in a matter of days.

The 16 new machines have been distributed globally from July, with fleets positioned in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and other markets. The company says the investment reflects growing demand from multi-use stadia needing rapid turnaround times between sporting fixtures and other events.