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10 May 2016

THE GREENER “ICE” SKATING OPTION

NOICEONE LTD has developed a greener, cheaper alternative to real ice rinks. Managing Director, John

Thorpe, says I have spoken widely about the growing market for the company’s synthetic “ice” rinks,

which are not intended to replace frozen water but offer a remarkable alternative where viability and

logistics are issues.

East Midlands Skating Academy

I became involved with plastic rinks in 1982 in Dubai at a Sports and Leisure Exhibition, where Hi-Den

Ice (a subsidiary of the British Picker Company Ltd), from Yorkshire, exhibited.

Subsequently I bought the British Picker Company Ltd in 1987.

The range of products, in plastic engineering, was enormous which kept me very busy for 3 decades.

Synthetic “ice” was always a favourite of mine and many hundreds of installations were carried out

during these years.

I decided to concentrate on synthetic “ice” in 2009.

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To help further develop this innovative product NOICEONE LTD was formed and a strategic alliance

was forged with OKULEN®, a German company widely recognised as one of the top European

producers of Sinter Pressed Polyethylene Sheets that make up synthetic “ice” rinks. All manufacturing

is now carried out at OKULEN’s facilities in Germany while Southport has been turned into the sales

and marketing hub for the product.

The OKULEN factory in Germany

We have created ICE-Y-BLUE 700® “AL”, a material that has been produced solely for “ice” rinks that

incorporates Very High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (VHMWPe), dry lubricants, infused silicone oil,

non-abrasive pigments (which give it the distinctive, glacial ice appearance) and UV stability so that it

has a longer life outdoors. As well as the appearance, the feel and performance of the rink is obviously

very important and the partnership between NOICEONE and OKULEN has seen the panel connecting

methods further refined and developed.

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A major advantage that ICE-Y-BLUE 700® “AL” has over traditional ice rinks is that once the rink is

installed (which costs less than one year’s running expenses for a traditional ice rink) there are none

of the ongoing energy and other environmental issues associated with keeping real ice frozen. This

advantage is being recognised by an increasing number of customers in the public and private sectors

and synthetic “ice” rinks from NOICEONE can be found in universities, schools, leisure centres, health

clubs, shopping malls, hotels, theme parks, public parks and many more venues around the world.

The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas

Some of the biggest projects that the company has been involved in recently include ICE-Y-BLUE 700®

rink installations in the Winter Wonderland at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, which had a capacity

of 60 skaters per session; the shopping mall of the Marina Bay Resort in Singapore, which is 600m2

and can hold up to 200 skaters at once; a National Hockey League rink at a workers camp in Fort

McMurray, Canada, which is 1,300m2; a junior ice hockey training camp in Slovakia; the Planet Ice

Leisure Centre; Lets go Skating; The East Midlands Sports and Hockey Academy in the UK, and many,

many more!

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Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore

We are seeing more opportunities now than ever before. The product has been perfected and public

awareness is growing about the sustainability issues and environmental impacts associated with real

ice rinks.

Coca Cola sponsored in Barcelona

Suitable for all kinds of activities done on real ice, including “ice” hockey, figure skating, speed skating

and public fun, which have very different requirements, the future for ICE-Y-BLUE 700® “AL” looks

positive and this has been reflected in growing sales, which are heading towards a turnover of £2

million a year for NOICEONE.The nature of the business means that new customer acquisition is the

name of the game because, once installed, operators aren’t going to need a replacement formany

years to come!

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Working with a network of distributors/re-sellers, including Smartrink in Canada; xHockey in the US;

Skyice in Turkey; Flexiice in Slovakia; Starhockey in Switzerland; Inice in Finland; Syntetis in Sweden,

Likeice in Germany; and Renxin in China, NOICEONE also helps customers with installation advice and

training for ongoing maintenance and operation of their ICE-Y-BLUE 700® “AL” rinks, which results in

happy skaters.

With many European economies faltering and investments in projects being postponed, the company

has had to look further afield for new business and has recently exported rinks to Canada, USA,

Australia, New Zealand, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, South Africa, India, Japan and South

America.

Ontario Hockey Academy

With the goal of growing the business 25 per cent year-on-year, I am looking to appoint new

distributors and resellers in several more countries to help achieve this. I also have a vision that ICE-

Y-BLUE 700® “AL” rinks can help solve some of the problems that our societies face.

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This rate of growth cannot be funded solely out of income. Additional investment, including

crowdfunding, is being sought.

Investments in “local” rinks may be desirable to support communities wishing to take part!

Everybody needs exercise, our young people need something to do and every city, town and village

could benefit from one or more ICE-Y-BLUE 700® “AL” rinks.

Millenium Dome

Almost any “redundant” building of a reasonable size could house a synthetic “ice” rink, perhaps also

incorporating another activity eg. rock climbing etc. Very little work, therefore cost, would be

necessary to bring about such a conversion.

Outdoor sites can also be easily made ready for the installation of rinks

Training camp : Slovakia

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Brighton Park

Our North American distributor, Smartrink, has identified a growing market in the domestic private

sector.

Ice Hockey is incredibly popular and many families are investing in small backyard/basement/garage

training pads.

Canadian Tyre Edmunton Dream Home

Fort York Backyard Rink Southport Spare Room Rink

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Most people find skating on synthetic “ice” much safer than skating on thin ice!!!!!!!!!!

Fund raising for charity at Chipping Norton

In conclusion, NOT ALL SYNTHETIC “ICE” SKATING SURFACES ARE THE SAME.

It’s important to remember that we offer:-

Material specifically developed to give a great skating experience.

Floor panel connection systems which stay connected.

Quality (British design, German manufacture).

Superior service (100’s of satisfied clients in many parts of the world).

Extended warranty periods.

Value for money.

End.