Why you should choose titanium deckplates for your facility

Few things come close to the energy that radiates through an aquatic facility on race day. The smell of chlorine wafting through the air, swimmers splashing into the pool as they dive off the starting blocks, the cheer from spectators as athletes race towards the touchpad on their final lap. But behind the scenes all of these elements create a harsh environment for facility managers to control. Electronic equipment and competitive swimming go hand in hand when the most important aspect for athletes at swim meets is their results.

Our extensive experience in competitive swimming has allowed Colorado Time Systems to understand what is most important to the athlete, provide the equipment to drive success, and ultimately improve overall performance. Combining metals with chemically treated water is not an easy task due to the corrosive elements of chlorine, bromine, and salt. So, the question is, how does one create a durable piece of timing equipment for aquatic facilities that won’t corrode in these conditions? Colorado Time Systems has successfully mitigated this issue with years of studies and testing to produce the Titanium Deckplate. 

Deckplates are required to permit plug-in connections for touchpads, A/B/C backup pushbuttons, electronic relay judging, start speakers, and a signal to start the timing device at each lane.  

Metals are difficult to manage in a wet environment due to the rapid speed at which they corrode. When we think of metals used to manufacture electronics the one that is most common is stainless steel. But when we examine this metal on The Galvanic Scale it leans towards the less noble side. To put it simply, stainless steel and chemically treated water do not pair well together, and it will corrode at a quicker rate. Metals such as gold, graphite, and platinum are the most noble and while they are highly corrosion-resistant, they have a higher cost and low mechanical stability. Just above these metals on The Galvanic Scale is titanium. Titanium has the advantages of being more cost effective, lightweight, and as strong as steel. When faced with oxidation, instead of corroding, titanium produces a film-like barrier that strengthens over time making it the ideal metal for aquatic environments.  

Another advantage to the Titanium Deckplate is its functionality and placement. Deckplates are installed at the end of each swim lane so that they can send and receive data to the timing system for each individual swimmer. Unfortunately, the consistent splash of chemically treated water creates an extremely corrosive cycle of pool water drying up and immediately being replenished.   Rather than developing a product that is flat, Colorado Time Systems opted for a dome shaped deckplate so that water will run off the sides and will not collect between the connectors or their contacts. This patented design also has the benefit of preventing an electrolysis reaction which will further corrode electronic timing equipment. The Titanium Deckplate’s domed topography saves the end user time and money by greatly reducing maintenance requirements such as cleaning and total system replacement.  

At Colorado Time Systems we firmly believe in providing exemplary customer service by developing products that will alleviate concerns and benefit the aquatics community. With 50 years of experience in the industry, we trust our expertise and knowledge will bring you a quality product that will revolutionize the look, feel, durability, and functionality of your facility. Because of this, we offer an unprecedented 5-year warranty on the Titanium Deckplate. We are confident that our product will withstand the corrosive environment and greatly reduce your need for maintenance of your facility’s timing system. As a proven, trusted partner in competitive swimming, we are committed to establishing the highest of standards for aquatic equipment and providing products that elevate the swimmer's experience.