Today, we would like to make you aware of a quite different usage of our well-known splicing tape DuploCOLL® 2801. This tape is characterized by its water solubility.
Today, a modification of this tape is used for a certain type of ball sport: “hand pelota”, which is the name for a traditional Basque ball game. Hand-pelota is played barehanded (or with minimal protections) and with a traditional ball made of wool around a hard core and covered with leather. It is played in the short court either individually or by pairs. It was originally played in the 13th century in the Basque region of Spain and France, and has been played for a long time in Mexico, South America, Cuba, Italy and many US states. The sport is similar to squash or fives, players hit the ball against the end wall, trying to get it out of the opponent's reach.
Depending on the type and the hardness of the ball with which they are going to play, the players must protect their hands, with protections basically with tape and technical foams. The protections are designed and made by hand by each player, according to their best criteria and that are attached to the hand with our DC 28014 tape developed by our Bonding Engineers, adjusting perfectly to the hand of each player. Due to its solubility in water, the tape can be peeled off the hand easily after use, simply with water, which is the perfect solution for gamers.
DC 28014 is coated exclusively under complete coating volumes for the customer MATCOM Europa with whom we have a sales agreement to manufacture and distribute this product worldwide. As already mentioned, this is mainly the case in the Basque country (where the professionals play) but also small volumes are sold in the rest of Spain, in the South of France, Mexico and South America. The product is being adapted during the years to make it feasible for this type of sport. In the past few years Lohmann has also achieved great results in promoting this ancient sport by sponsoring for example various championships for younger players.