Covestro's Polycarbonate in Sports, Archery
The bowstring is drawn back, the bow arches under the tension ... and the arrow speeds to the target. Archery is a sport that’s all about precision, which is why bow and arrow technology is continuously evolving. That also applies to the nock of an arrow – the notched tip that briefly clasps the bowstring before the tension of the drawn bow is released and the arrow takes flight. It’s the central point where tremendous energy is directly transferred to the arrow, enabling it to reach speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour.
Werner Beiter GmbH & Co. KG, located in the town of Dauchingen in Germany’s Swabia region, is considered a pioneer in precision injection molding and has gained an international reputation as a manufacturer of premium archery accessories and parts. Since 1985, the company has been using the polycarbonate Makrolon® 2805 from Covestro for its nocks.
Nocks for champions
With its mechanical strength – and effect colors developed for this area of application – the polycarbonate is the key to the nocks’ outstanding quality. The international renown of these products is ultimately due to their remarkable durability, coupled with a visual effect that enables an archer to see the arrow’s point of impact, even from considerable distances.
One of the many archers who have enjoyed great success with Beiter nocks is Lisa Unruh of Germany, who recently was named a 2016 Woman Athlete of the Year by the World Archery Federation. National teams, world champions and Olympic medalists from all over the world are constantly flocking to the Werner and Iris Center at Beiter’s site in Dauchingen – an incomparable facility for testing archery equipment. They’re always on a quest for the latest refinement that can push the boundaries of world-class performance a little further. And Makrolon® 2805 is always in the forefront whenever successful archers celebrate their victories.
From a hunting weapon to a competitive sport
Archery is one of the oldest hunting methods in human history, and the bow has also been an important ranged weapon for millennia. Archery underwent a fundamental transformation over 100 years ago, maturing into a precision sport that is also frequently an element of major sporting events.
Precision isn’t the only thing that makes archery amazing; the effective range of a bow and arrow is also very impressive. An arrow shot from a bow can have a range exceeding one kilometer, and archers using special bows have even shot arrows over distances of more than two kilometers.
Pictures provided by Covestro
For more information about Covestro, please visit www.covestro.com.
