Mitsubishi Plastics to Sell Panels for No-Ice Skating Rinks
Tokyo, May 12, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Astro Corp., a unit of Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. <4213>, said Monday that in June, it will start selling panels for artificial skating rinks that do not require ice.
The Xtraice petrochemical resin-based panel produced by Spain's Extraice S.L., measuring 1.965 meters by 0.965 meter, will be available for domestic ice skating and hockey rinks, Astro said.
Despite the growing popularity of skating thanks to figure skaters Mao Asada and Daisuke Takahashi, the number of rinks is decreasing in Japan due to high maintenance costs.
The introduction of the panels will allow more people to enjoy skating easily, a company spokesman said.
Not only can the panels be used both indoors and outside, but they also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions because skating rinks using the panels require less power and water, the company said.