Surftech

Surftech is a surfboard, Stand Up Paddleboard manufacturing company based in the US with offices around the globe.[1] It specializes in scalable production techniques using a composite materials and a proprietary expanded polystyrene fused cell foam core . The boards are designed by established surfboard shapers are manufactured using Surftech's technology to create a more durable, lightweight alternative to the standard Polyurethane construction technique. [2][3]

History

Surftech was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1992 by surfboard shaper Randy French, who wanted to see the industry expand from its focus on individually-shaped boards to more efficiently manufactured process using more advanced teqniques.[2] French had previously owned a sailboard manufacturing company, SeaTrend, where he developed the production techniques he later employed at Surftech. The success of his initial product attracted the interest of other professional shapers such as Dale Velzy, Reynolds Yater, Donald Takayama, Mickey Munoz and Robert August.[2]

Surftech was the first company to introduce a production SUP and Paddleboard and has a long standing partnership with the designer Joe Bark who's boards currently hold the world record for both the Molokai2Oahu World Championships and Catalina Classic. Surftech rose to become an industry leader at a time of increased focus on new technologies within the surfboard production industry. Whereas traditional boards are made using polyurethane foam "blanks" that are then cut and sanded to form by shapers, Surftech uses a process of blowing polystyrene blanks into preset molds designed by its various shapers. The blanks are then coated with polyvinyl chloride, carbon fiber, organic fabrics or other materials, laminated, and finished. This results in a board that is stronger and considerably lighter than traditional polyurethane boards.[2] Surftech boards are now manufactured in Thailand and shipped throughout the world.[2][3] As of 2015, Surftech moved its corporate head quarters in Carlsbad California with offices in Santa Cruz, California, Honolulu, HI, Australia, and Japan. Surftech was acquired in January of 2015 by a Thailand-based investment company, named Tripple D .[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Surftech Announces New Ownership" (January 07, 2015). prweb.com. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Motil, p. 201.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Leslie Earnest (December 8, 2005). "Production of Surfboards Overseas Expected to Swell". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 8, 2013.

References

External links