Polytan is the German sports floor manufacturer with the IAAF World Championships reference list. Their PolyPlay outdoor track surfaces have been laid at multiple IAAF World Championships venues; their Rekortan PUR indoor sports floor is the workhorse of FIBA-class halls across Europe. For IL projects targeting international competition standards or premium club facilities, Polytan is one of two brands (Conica being the other) at this tier.
The product range
- Rekortan PUR (indoor sports hall)
- Premium indoor sports flooring system covering EN 14904 P/A/C class range. Used in FIBA-classed basketball halls, premium club gymnasiums, university sports facilities. 7–13 mm typical total system thickness. Line marking cured-in for permanent court boundaries.
- PolyPlay (outdoor athletics)
- The IAAF-class outdoor athletics surface. Class I for international competition, Class II for high-level domestic competition. Used at multiple World Championships venues including the brand's flagship references. Spray-coated finish over base-and-cushion layers for ultimate predictable performance.
- Rekortan M (entry-tier indoor)
- Mid-spec multi-sport variant for school and recreational halls. C3 or C5 class typical.
- PolyPlay SE (mid-tier outdoor)
- EN 14877-rated outdoor surface for athletic clubs without IAAF certification budget. Same chemistry as PolyPlay but without the certification cost.
- Polytan FieldTurf (synthetic turf)
- Adjacent category — synthetic football turf. FIFA Quality Pro certified for top-tier installations.
Where Polytan wins
- IAAF reference list. Polytan PolyPlay is the surface at multiple World Championships venues. For IL athletic facilities targeting international competition certification, this reference depth closes the spec conversation.
- German engineering depth + European volume. Polytan ships at scale across Europe; their formulation consistency across batches is well-documented. The brand's reference scale in Europe is wider than Conica's.
- IL applicator pool deeper than Conica. Polytan's IL channel has a larger network of trained applicators. For projects where applicator availability dominates timing, Polytan often closes faster.
- Adjacent synthetic turf line. For mixed sports facility projects (athletic track + football pitch in the same complex), Polytan can supply both the track and the turf under one brand relationship.
Where Polytan loses
- Premium cost. Polytan PolyPlay at IAAF Class I tier is among the most expensive outdoor athletics surfaces. For domestic-class projects, Conica or commodity brands close at lower cost.
- No engineered antimicrobial for indoor. For school gym hygiene, Polytan does not market a Polygiene-style engineered antimicrobial — but in sport-floor context this is less material than in food production.
- No playground-specific product line. Same as Conica — for pure playground specification, BSW Berleburger / Regupol is the brand reference.
The Polytan vs Conica decision
For most IL sports flooring decisions between Polytan and Conica:
- Premium athletics targeting IAAF Class I: Polytan PolyPlay. The reference list closes it.
- Premium athletics not requiring IAAF certification: Conica CONIPUR EPDM at ~85-90% of Polytan price.
- IL school multi-sport hall, EN 14904 C-class spec: Conica CONIPUR HG or Polytan Rekortan M. Either closes the spec. Pick by applicator availability and channel relationship.
- FIBA-class basketball hall: Polytan Rekortan PUR. The brand's FIBA reference is the deepest.
- School/club projects needing one brand for track + football pitch: Polytan (synthetic turf + athletics under one brand).
Final read
Polytan is the right specification for IL projects targeting international athletics certification, FIBA-class basketball, or mixed sports facility projects benefitting from single-brand simplicity. For domestic-class athletics or school gym work, Conica often delivers equivalent functional spec at lower cost. The IAAF Class I reference is the decisive factor where it applies; elsewhere the brands are functionally close enough that channel and applicator availability tip the decision.
Related: Poured-PU sport encyclopedia · Conica brand profile (alternative) · EN 14904 + EN 14877 standards glossary.
Sources
- Polytan corporate (Germany)
- Rekortan PUR product page
- EN 14904:2006 — indoor sports surface classification.
- EN 14877 — outdoor athletics surface classification.
- World Athletics (IAAF) certified surface register.