Bison putting player safety first

MIES (Switzerland) - Player safety is paramount for FIBA and USA manufacturer Bison has been helping keep players safe for over 30 years with innovative products, including the FIBA approved backboard unit. 

FIBA sets important standards based on the needs of the basketball community and its stakeholders and these standards include safety, performance and durability to ensure high-quality products are available to the market. These standards are applied through the FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre's Approval Program which centers around players' welfare, along with product testing and verification.

Bison has been providing innovative products to fit their unique sports equipment needs since 1985, and amongst this long list of equipment is the FIBA approved DuraSkin.   

The DuraSkin backboard padding was the first Reaction Injection Molded (RIM) safety padding developed and set a new level in innovation, testing and safety in basketball. It was first developed in 1990 as a durable and safe alternative to the then available, and the RIM injection molding process has allowed skin thickness and interior foam density to be adjusted to balance player safety and durability. The Bison RIM backboard unit is now the worldwide standard in the industry. 

Bison's products were on display with their approved backstop used at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2021 in Mexico in August last year, with the USA capturing their seventh title.  

Bison's safety values represent the same ones held by FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre, which has the role of promoting innovation and safety standards to the basketball community. Bison has been a partner with FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre since 2018 and the American company is especially supportive of the standards that FIBA upholds.   

"Basketball is truly an international sport, and consistency of play throughout the world is critical to international competition. FIBA, with the help of its Equipment & Venue Centre, stands alone as the international governing body ensuring that consistency," Bison founder Nick Cusick said.  

"Bison prides itself in both quality and innovation and is highly supportive of the standards that must be met for FIBA approval. Any manufacturer who intends to sell products internationally should embrace FIBA testing as it is critical to their future international marketing model." 

All products, like the Bison backboard unit, applying for FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre approval must undergo strict testing to ensure the requirements are met. In order to standardize the testing around the globe, the Equipment & Venue Centre has detailed precise test procedures across each of the different product categories. 

 FIBA