VTF-ABS macros explained.

What VTF-ABS means

VTF stands for Vacuum Thermo-Formed. ABS is the thermoplastic — Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene — that is heated and drawn over a mould using vacuum pressure to create the shell of the macro. The result is a large climbing feature made from a thin-walled thermoplastic shell rather than a solid or semi-solid cast, which is how traditional GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic, or fibreglass) macros are constructed.

The difference matters because GRP macros become very heavy at large scale, and are brittle under impact. A large fibreglass macro can crack when dropped or knocked during a reset. VTF-ABS macros carry the same rigidity under climbing load — setters get the same structural performance — but at roughly half the weight and with far greater impact resistance. For busy commercial gyms doing frequent resets, this is a significant practical improvement.

Rockcity's flangeless design and three years of R&D

Most VTF-ABS macros on the market retain a visible flange — a lip around the perimeter of the shell where the plastic was trimmed after forming. Removing the flange cleanly while maintaining structural integrity and achieving edge profiles as thin and precise as fibreglass required solving several interconnected engineering problems simultaneously: insert placement, edge cutting, sanding geometry, and the flex characteristics of ABS versus the rigidity of GRP.

Rockcity spent three years on this R&D, working with a team of aerospace and mechanical engineers to design and build a manufacturing solution. The challenge was that ABS is considerably more flexible than GRP — properties that are an advantage for impact resistance but a problem when trying to maintain the thin, precise profiles that define competition-grade hold geometry. The solution developed through this process is now protected by a patent: WO2025/191268.

Rockcity has acknowledged the pioneers who proved the VTF-ABS concept before this development — notably Blocz and Blue Pill, who went all-in on VTF-ABS early and demonstrated its viability at a time when the industry was sceptical. The Rockcity approach builds on that foundation while solving the flange problem that limited earlier designs.

The shift from GRP to VTF-ABS

Rockcity set a benchmark for high-level GRP macros in 2019, and has acknowledged that this influenced the wider industry. The decision to cease all GRP production in 2025 and move entirely to VTF-ABS reflects a considered view that the technology has matured to the point where the advantages are unambiguous: cleaner manufacturing, stronger under impact, longer-lasting, and easier to recycle at end of life.

Other leading macro manufacturers including Flathold, Cheeta and Squadra now offer VTF-ABS or polycarbonate (PC) features, which means VTF-ABS has become the industry standard for large-format competition macros. Binary were instrumental in the early R&D and prototyping work that shaped Rockcity's approach, and are credited accordingly.

Dual texture and route-setting use

The defining characteristic of modern competition macros is dual texture: a single feature carries two distinct surface finishes — a coarser, grippier texture across the intended contact zones and a smoother finish across the non-contact areas. This is not decorative. Dual texture is a route-setting tool. It allows the setter to communicate clearly which part of the feature a climber should use without relying on hold orientation alone.

In competition climbing, where movement must be legible to both climbers and judges, this precision is essential. A climber approaching a dual-texture macro can read the intended sequence immediately: the rough zone is the climbing surface, the smooth zone defines where the body moves around or past it. This clarity is part of why VTF-ABS macros became the standard at IFSC level.

For commercial gyms running their own setting programmes, dual texture is equally valuable. It reduces the ambiguity that leads to repeated falls on misread problems, and it allows setters to build more consistent difficulty grades across the same wall area.

Olympic supply: Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024

Rockcity macros were selected as the primary macro feature for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games climbing competition — the first time sport climbing was included in the Olympics. The same macro generation was used again at Paris 2024. Both competitions were watched by tens of millions of viewers globally, and the Rockcity macro shapes became the most-viewed climbing equipment in history across those events.

The Rockcity range also includes supply across IFSC Climbing World Cups and World Championships, giving the product a continuous competition pedigree.

Commercial gym considerations

The weight reduction versus GRP is the most immediately practical benefit for commercial gyms. Large VTF-ABS macros that would have required three-person handling in fibreglass can typically be reset by two people. This speeds up reset workflows and reduces the physical demand on setting teams doing multiple resets per week.

The impact resistance improvement matters most in storage and transit. Fibreglass macros chip and crack when dropped or when edges knock during crating. VTF-ABS macros absorb the same impacts without structural damage, which extends service life and reduces replacement costs over the hold inventory's lifetime.

For panels, 21 mm birch ply or above is the recommended minimum substrate. T-nut spacing for large macros should be verified against the feature's fixing pattern before installation. The fixing requirements are the same as for GRP macros — M10 stainless bolts, correct torque (20–22 Nm using a cross-pattern on multi-point fixings) — the material change does not require any change to the installation workflow.

Ordering through the B2B portal

VTF-ABS macros are available to approved trade customers through the Rockcity B2B catalog. The catalog lists current colour and variant availability per product family. For project-scale quantities, out-of-stock items, or competition event supply, the Rockcity team recommends contacting sales before placing the order so production timing and availability can be confirmed.

International buyers should check the distributors directory first — several territories have local distributors who hold regional stock and can reduce lead times.