Case study: retractable roof keep BC Place Stadium patrons protected

BC Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada, has been transformed into a year-round, open-air facility with an innovative retractable roof featuring SEFAR® Architecture’s TENARA® architectural fabric. The renovated facility is once again an iconic architectural landmark for the province.

Elements of design

The most prominent element of the new stadium roof is the inner, retractable TENARA fabric roof that extends from the center of the stadium where it’s hidden inside of a pod above the video board to a fixed outer roof. The opening is 109 yards by 93 yards, the same size as the field below, and takes about 20 minutes to open or close.

The retractable roof consists of pneumatically stabilized membrane cushions constructed from two layers of TENARA architectural fabric. The cushions are pre-stressed using hydraulic tensioning units and inflated with fan units. The retractable roof is suspended from steel cables spanning between six 164-foot steel masts by specially designed sliding and driving carriages. The deflated cushions are stored until it is time to close the roof and the driving carriages pull the fabric outwards radically towards the perimeter; to close the roof, the process is reversed. In the winter, the retractable roof edge is inflated to seal it along the glass shelf at the inner edge of the permanent roof to form a rigid shape and weather-protective seal.

“SEFAR Architecture’s TENARA fabric’s composition makes it inert—delivering environmental resilience and a long-lasting, high-quality architectural finish,” says David Campbell, president of Geiger Engineers, the engineer of record on the project.

The building as a whole

Revealing more than 89,729 square feet of clear blue sky, the new retractable roof allows BC Place to tailor the atmosphere for any event. In the past, the facility had to turn away events due to the sealed air configuration that prevented natural light transmission and caused heat and humidity issues during the summer. BC Place is now equipped to handle summer festivals and concerts under the sun, football games under the stars, indoor exhibits protected from rain and much more.

The facade is made from 144 transparent ETFE panels that protect the facility’s 55,000 spectators from inclement weather. The outer fixed roof is made out of 36 glass/PTFE panels. The new roof system is also more energy efficient than the previous air-supported roof, saving the facility 25 percent on energy costs.

“TENARA fabric provided the durability, strength and foldability that we needed for this ambitious pneumatic retractable membrane roof,” says Campbell. “In addition, TENARA has the high light transmission we desired for the retractable roof at BC Place. It greatly enhances the roof closed daylighting of the system.”

“We chose to design with TENARA because of its folding capabilities and translucency,” says Christoph Paech, project manager for Schlaich Bergermann & Partners, roof design engineers on the project. “We performed several tests during the design phase, including a folding mock-up, and as a result the engineering of the roof was straightforward and successful.”

Who made BC Place's recent history come alive?

BC Place originally opened in 1983 and was the world’s largest air-supported dome stadium until it closed in April 2010 for renovation after serving as a venue during the 2010 Olympic Games. The $563 million revitalization project also included a new all-weather turf playing surface, upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, lighting and sound systems, enhanced entrances and concourses, outdoor landscaping and replacement of 50,000 seats.

The BC Place project was completed in September 2011. Members of the project team include architect Stantec, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; engineer of record Geiger Engineers, New York, New York; engineer Schlaich Bergermann and Partner LP, New York, New York; and engineer Tensys, Bath, U.K.; Hightex GmbH, Rimsting, Germany, was the fabricator and installer for the retractable roof and the outer roof.

Source: SEFAR Architecture

Ford Fusion hybrid customers can donate to the charity of their choice through the REPREVE® Gives Back program—and help recycle 2 million plastic bottles into the innovative seat fabric of the car in the first model year alone. Unifi’s REPREVE brand of recycled fibers are used in the all-new 2013 Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid and 2012 Ford Focus Electric. Through Unifi’s REPREVE Gives Back program, a portion of REPREVE-based sales are donated to environmental nonprofit organizations, including Keep America Beautiful, American Rivers, Rocky Mountain Institute and Conservation Alliance.

“REPREVE Gives Back is a natural fit for Fusion hybrid customers who already are contributing to a better world by saving fuel while driving and keeping water bottles from landfills,” said Carol Kordich, Ford’s lead designer of sustainable materials. “Ford is committed to delivering vehicles with leading fuel efficiency while targeting at least 25 percent recycled content in seat fabric across our lineup.”

Customers may designate:

• Keep America Beautiful – creates a cleaner, greener America, from national parks to community gardens;
• Conservation Alliance – protects North America’s last wild places by supporting conservation work at the local level;
• American Rivers – protects and restores America’s rivers and the full variety of life they sustain;
• Rocky Mountain Institute – an organization working to accelerate the profitable transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables.

Through the program, Ford customers and supporters can help determine how the funds will be distributed among the four nonprofits. To vote, customers must “like” REPREVE on Facebook and click the “Gives Back” tab to get a passcode. At www.repreve.com, customers can vote for their favorite environmental cause and learn more about REPREVE recycled fiber of choice.

REPREVE is made from a hybrid blend of post-industrial and post-consumer waste. Each Focus Electric seating interior contains the equivalent of about 22 recycled plastic bottles made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate)—the technical name of the plastic of which the bottles are made—while Fusion hybrids feature nearly 42 bottles.

In addition to recycling waste that otherwise could have ended up in landfills, REPREVE reduces energy consumption by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil. REPREVE fiber meets all Ford design and comfort requirements to help ensure the Fusion hybrids and Focus Electric meet the company’s high performance standards. Unifi and Ford also are working together to set up plastic bottle collection points within Ford facilities in Michigan and California.

In addition to Ford, REPREVE can be found throughout many products made by some of the leading brands and retailers, including Polartec, Life Khaki, The North Face, Patagonia and Blue Avocado.

Source: REPREVE

White polypropylene fabric from Zend Nonwoven Co. Ltd. protects vegetables, strawberries and plants against frost, snow, rain, heat and other damage caused by pests and birds, increasing the growing temperature and extending the growing season. Easy to install, it comes in 2 x 10m or 2 x 20m rolls, packed in polybag and labeled. Samples are available from the company.

Source: Zend

Pfannenberg, a worldwide leader in thermal management and signaling technology, has introduced PATROL Series PA X 5, a new generation of 105 dB(A) industrial flashing sounders. The sounders fulfill numerous requirements for warning individuals about hazardous situations or production problems in factories, water and waste treatment facilities, commercial offices, sports arenas, hotels, and other buildings, as well as aboard ships. Applications include: evacuation signals in the event of fire, toxic gas leak, or chemical spill; promoting safety around dangerous machinery by warning personnel and bystanders of impending startup or movement; improving product quality and minimizing waste by warning operators of functional problems with machinery; and alerting production technicians of process upsets due to out-of-tolerance manufacturing conditions. Flashing sounders ensure notification of all individuals in the presence of background noise or lighting.

The unit is designed as an integrated flashing sounder, rather than combining a sounder with a bolted-on flashing light. The lens cover is large, highly visible, and available in a variety of colors. The xenon strobe flash tube contains no filament to break and is secured by a steel clamp to further protect it from abuse. Users may choose from a wide selection of acoustic tones which are electronically self-generated; since there are no moving parts, the device’s reliability is enhanced for critical applications. The housing is manufactured from a UV-resistant and flame-retardant polycarbonate/ABS blend and is offered in red, grey, or white to meet application requirements and building decor.

Source: Pfannenberg USA.

Teijin Techno Products Limited, a Teijin group company producing advanced aramid fibers, has announced its development of the world’s first mass-producible aramid nanofiber to offer reliable heat and oxidation resistance together with high quality. Until now, aramid nanofibers have been produced only in laboratories, so this first commercially viable product represents a significant step forward in the evolution of this promising new material.

The nanofiber, which is uniformly sized with a diameter of just several hundred nanometers, is based on Teijin’s proprietary Teijinconex® heat-resistant meta-aramid. It will be marketed in the form of nonwoven sheet for separators in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Commercial production is targeted at 2014.

Teijin’s highly heat-resistant aramid nanofiber sheet maintains its shape even at 300°C. It is also highly resistant to oxidation. These features are expected to enhance the safety of high-power, high-capacity, energy-dense LIBs for vehicles and stationary storage, offering significant advantages over conventional separators in terms of reducing the risk of ignition in high-capacity, energy-dense applications.

Other features that Teijin Techno Products expects to achieve include:

• High porosity promotes smooth mobility of the electrolyte, resulting in higher output and faster charging.
• Large surface area, a feature of nanofibers, as well as high porosity, hold the electrolyte effectively to maintain battery performance at low temperatures, when ion conductivity drops.
• As a nonwoven sheet, it absorbs electrolyte more rapidly than conventional polyolefin-based separators, helping to shorten the time required to pour electrolyte into the battery, thereby reducing the production cost of large batteries.

The company expects to develop other applications for its thin, heat-resistant aramid nanofiber sheet, such as separators for capacitors; high-performance, heat-resistant filters; and heat-resistant cleaners for office automation equipment.

Source: Teijin

In May 2012, Twitchell celebrates 90 years in business. Since 1922, Twitchell has been a leader in quality yarns and fabrics across a variety of industries. The company has grown into a multi-national manufacturer of some of the world’s most innovative fibers, textiles and coatings. Its commitment to its customers hasn’t changed over the years; Jeff Register, CEO and president, says customer service will always be an important part of Twitchell.

“Our customers are a large part of what has kept Twitchell alive for ninety years, and we are forever grateful. Twitchell will continue to make customer service a priority for the next ninety years,” said Register.

Twitchell celebrated its 90th birthday internally with an employee cookout May 3. A representative from Congresswoman Roby’s office presented a Congressional Record, a proclamation was read from Mayor Schmitz, and a resolution was made by Matt Parker to declare May 3 “Twitchell Day.” “Making it to ninety years has nothing to do with luck. It has everything to do with our employees,” said Register. “We wanted to take the time to recognize and thank our employees, and make sure they remember how important they are to Twitchell.”

Source: Twitchell Corporation

Under the patronage of the Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the recently concluded Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2012 brought together leading figures from the fashion and textile industry who pursue a common vision of eco-friendly and sustainable business. Once again a huge success, the event—with an impressive roster of speakers and the presence of designers from 27 different countries—drew an enthusiastic crowd representing more than a thousand companies worldwide.

Prominent economists and politicians joined officers from world-class firms to take an active part in seminars on exploring innovative ways for the global high-end textile and fashion industry to tackle today’s environmental challenges. The summit focused particular attention on how to involve and engage end users in sustainable consumption.

Organized by the Danish Fashion Institute for Nordic Fashion Association (NFA, which also includes Helsinki Design Week, Icelandic Fashion Council, Oslo Fashion Week and the Swedish Fashion Council) this year’s event benefited equally from valuable cooperation on the part of C.L.A.S.S. (Creativity, Lifestyle And Sustainable Synergy), an international forum set in motion by Giusy Bettoni to promote the development of green products and business plans in the fashion and design sphere.

The Copenhagen Fashion Summit, where Italian delegates played an important role, culminated on May 3 with a runway show competition featuring fifteen Scandinavian brands. The contestants sent down the catwalk a series of eco-glam creations in 100 percent Italian textiles and materials made available by C.L.A.S.S. To the winner—Danish fashion designer Susanne Rützou—went two prestigious awards: the White Award, from the eponymous tradeshow that (every season during Milan Fashion Week) exhibits high glam Italian and international brands; and the Newlife™ Honorable Mention, from Newlife, the Miroglio Group’s technological textile platform. Both White and Newlife are C.L.A.S.S. partners.

The Fashion Summit has also become a special stage set for the elegant display of couture marking the partnership between the Green Carpet Challenge and Giusy Bettoni of C.L.A.S.S. While the former is the project spearheaded by Livia Firth and British journalist Lucy Siegle to get stars to grace the world’s most spectacular red carpets in nature-friendly gowns, Giusy Bettoni makes every effort to provide top fashion designers with the necessary environmentally ethical materials. On the arm of her husband, Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth, Livia stole the show at the Golden Globe and Academy Awards ceremonies in her stunning Giorgio Armani and Valentino creations made from eco-friendly fabrics.

Source: C.L.A.S.S.

Export.gov presents webinars on the intricacies of NAFTA. A basic overview of NAFTA is the purpose of the webinar on May 16, titled Basic Guide to Exporting: Taking Advantage of NAFTA.

More webinars in the near future include:

Roles and responsibilities of the importer, customs broker and freight forwarder
June 13, 2012; 2–3 p.m. EDT
Cost: $25
Registration
Learn how the importer, customs broker and freight forwarder can efficiently and effectively facilitate the export of your products to Mexico and Canada. Understand the benefits, rules and regulations of NAFTA. You will be able to ask questions and get answers from the speakers. For more information, please contact Linda Abbruzzese.

The Importance of the HS Number, Preference Criteria, NAFTA Certificate of Origin and essential documentation for exporting to Mexico
July 11, 2012; 2–3 p.m. EDT
Cost: $25
Registration
Understand how to select a Harmonized System Number / Schedule B Number, Preference Criteria as well as how to fill out a NAFTA Certificate of Origin and other documentation. Learn how to comply with the rules of NAFTA. You will be able to ask questions and get answers from the speakers. For more information, please contact Linda Abbruzzese.

Source: Export.gov

SpecialtyFabricsReview.com | May 14, 2012

Small business owners looking for ways to develop their businesses are invited to take part in National Small Business Week’s free networking and educational forums and dialogue with leading business experts during National Small Business Week, May 20-22 in Washington, D.C.

The free forums include a town hall with SBA Administrator Karen Mills on why small businesses are good for the long-term health of any economy; a social media forum on best practices for putting new media tools to work for small businesses; and an exporting forum on how SBA can help businesses find customers abroad. The schedule also includes sessions on federal contracting, selling to large companies, and business matchmaking with major corporations and government agencies.

The town hall and forum events will be webcast live to allow business owners across the country to participate if they cannot attend in person. While registration is required to attend forums and sessions in person, the live online webcast will be available free at the National Small Business Week website.

The scheduled forums include:

• Town Hall Meeting—Small Businesses Creating an Economy Built to Last
• Exporting Forum—Taking Your Business Global
• Social Media Forum—Join the Conversation (hosts will take your questions in person and on Twitter using the hashtag #SBW2012)
• Federal Contracting Educational Sessions—Small businesses will learn how to market themselves to the federal government and go after government contracting opportunities
• How Small Businesses can win Big with Large Companies—Small businesses will learn how to work with large companies to sell their products.

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

SpecialtyFabricsReview.com | May 11, 2012

U.S. and E.U. textile and clothing import prices rose sharply in 2011 reflecting hikes in raw material prices, according to Issue No. 155 of Textile Outlook International from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence.

Between March 2009 and March 2011 the average cotton price rose by 346 percent while the global price index for synthetics—acrylic, nylon, polyester and polypropylene fibres—rose by 71 percent. Since then, prices have declined, but in January 2012 they were still well above the levels seen in March 2009.

In response, suppliers of textiles and clothing to the E.U. raised their prices by an average of 9.2 percent in 2011. The effect was to almost snuff out the recovery in the market since 2009’s recession.

In 2011, the average price of U.S. textile and clothing imports rose by 12.2 percent to $1.89 per sme—its highest level since 2001.

E.U. imports rose marginally in volume terms, but there was a significant reversal in the U.S. as imports fell in volume by 3.2 percent after growing by 19.0 percent in the previous year.

The average price of E.U. textile and clothing exports also rose significantly during the year, up by as much as 13.7 percent.

Interest in substitute fibres was already apparent in U.S. imports in 2011. The increase in the average import price was stronger in the case of cotton apparel than in apparel made from other fibres. Imports of cotton apparel fell by 10.2 percent as buyers were put off by higher prices. By contrast, imports of man-made fibre apparel rose by 14.9 percent.

One of the major topics of conversation at recent European yarn fairs was the high cost of raw materials, particularly cotton and wool. Indeed, spinners and fabric manufacturers were finding it difficult to give forward prices for their products because of the volatility of cotton prices, and this resulted in an increase in interest in linen and viscose.

As spinners await news of the 2011/12 cotton crop, the future of the raw cotton market remains uncertain. Price volatility may be something the fibre, textile and clothing industry will live with for the foreseeable future.

Textile Outlook International is published six times a year by Textiles Intelligence. Each issue provides an independent and worldwide perspective on the global fibre, textile and apparel industries.

Source: Textiles Intelligence

SpecialtyFabricsReview.com | May 10, 2012

In early January, OEKO-TEX® proposed criteria and limit values for tests on harmful substances in the textile industry. The test requirements are now part of OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and were implemented on April 1, 2012. The test requirements consider all Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Candidate List relevant for textile production including the 20 chemicals added on December 19, 2011. Every OEKO-TEX certificate issued will also confirm that the certified item group complies with the provisions of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation relating to restricted substances such as azo-dyes or nickel.

The identification and publication of additional SVHC substances within the REACH regulations will continue to be monitored closely in relation to the OEKO-TEX test criteria.

The most important new regulations of the OEKO-TEX Criteria Catalogue 2012

• Synthetic fibres on which solvents are used during the spinning process, such as elastane and polyacrylic as well as coatings and polyurethane foams will now also be tested for N-methyl-pyrrolidone and Dimethylacetamide.
• Relevant test samples such as coated items, plastic oil prints, flexible foam materials and accessories made of plastic are investigated for four new phthalates used as softening agents.
• The limit value for extractable chromium is specified for leather products in product class IV at 10 mg/kg. This exception from the usual chromium limit values for textile items corresponds to the best available technology in the market and does not conceal any toxicological risks for the intended use of such products.
• A new supplement deals with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification of items such as tents, prams, office chairs and rucksacks.

You can find more information about the new OEKO-TEX Test Criteria and about REACHCompliance from the Secretariat and from the member organisations of the International OEKO-TEX Association

Source: OEKO-TEX Association

SpecialtyFabricsReview.com | May 9, 2012

The U.S. Small Business Administration will host a business matchmaking event allowing small businesses to discuss procurement opportunities with major corporations and federal agencies during National Small Business Week on May 22 in Washington, D.C.

The event will give small business owners from across the country an opportunity to learn about specific contracting and subcontracting opportunities by meeting face-to-face with contractors and federal agency representatives. This is part of SBA’s Procurement Day, which will also feature federal contracting panels on gaining access to federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities.

The business matchmaking sessions are open to small businesses that register for National Small Business Week. Small businesses must have a DUNS number, which can be obtained by going to the DUNS official website, and must be registered in Central Contractor Registration, the federal government’s official database of small businesses wishing to secure federal contracts.

The face-to-face matchmaking meetings will be 15 minutes, matching approximately 150 businesses and 20 buyers based on their compatibility and the buying needs of the federal agencies and corporations. Small business owners interested in participating must first register for National Small Business Week.

During the forums, small businesses will learn how to market themselves to the federal government and attain government contracting opportunities. Once small business owners register for the workshops, they will have the option of attending any of three sessions:

• Government Contracting 101: Small Business Contracting Programs
• Insights into Federal Contracting Opportunities with Federal Agency Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBUs)
• Improving your Business through Subcontracting Opportunities

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

DSM Dyneema announces accomplishments at its ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber manufacturing facility located in Greenville, S.C. DSM Dyneema’s continues its commitment to the defense, law enforcement and civilian protection sectors through life protection innovations that “lighten the load” and increase peace-of-mind protection.

Hugh Welsh, President of DSM North America, said, “We are extremely proud of the Greenville facility, which epitomizes DSM Dyneema’s leadership in materials innovation, advanced technology and performance excellence. The two recent milestones that Greenville has achieved [are] supplying Dyneema® HB80 composite for the new Enhanced Combat Helmet and opening the first full commercial scale ballistic tape facility... .”

DSM Dyneema’s HB80 unidirectional (UD) composite played a critical role in Ceradyne Inc.’s successful development of the new Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) for the United States Marine Corps and Army. Dyneema HB80 composite used in the ECH provides fragmentation performance without increasing weight and is manufactured exclusively at the Greenville plant.

The other major accomplishment is the new, large-scale facility for manufacturing Dyneema Ballistic Tape. This product gives manufacturers greater flexibility in armor design while providing cost-effective protection against high-velocity fragments. Applications include both body and vehicle armor such as spall liner, inserts and shields.

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema is an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber. Dyneema fiber floats on water and is resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. Dyneema is used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. Dyneema is also used in bullet-resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.

Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.

Source: DSM Dyneema

SpecialtyFabricsReview.com | May 4, 2012

Herff Jones chooses REPREVE®, made by Unifi Inc. to help make spring commencements greener. This year, students from colleges and universities can feel even better about their commencement ceremonies because they will be wearing REPREVE-based graduation gowns.

More than 140 colleges and universities have chosen Renew Graduation caps and gowns made with REPREVE. Over 240,000 graduates will walk in Renew caps and gowns, including students from the University of Houston, University of Michigan, Syracuse University, Marquette University, Johns Hopkins University and Providence College.

REPREVE is made from recycled materials, including post-consumer plastic bottles. Each Herff Jones graduation gown made with REPREVE uses about 29 post-consumer plastic bottles, collectively using nearly seven million post-consumer plastic water bottles this year.

“Recognizing that these gowns are a onetime use product, it was very important to make them from REPREVE, helping to reduce their overall environmental impact,” says Tom Carew, vice president and general manager of the Cap and Gown Division of Herff Jones. “Following commencement, through the Renew Gown Recycling Program, graduates can donate their gowns to be recycled back into REPREVE, helping to create a closed loop recycling process.”

“In the United States less than 30 percent of all plastic bottles are recycled and it is our goal to educate people on how recycling and choosing products made with REPREVE can have a positive impact on the environment. These students are the future of this country and can start to encourage change in consumer behaviors for recycling,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO of Unifi.

REPREVE can be found throughout many products made by Ford, Polartec, Haggar, The North Face, Patagonia, AllSteel, Hon and Blue Avocado and others.

Unifi Inc. is a diversified producer and processor of multifilament polyester and nylon textured yarns and related raw materials. Unifi’s yarns and brands are found in home furnishings, apparel, legwear and sewing thread, as well as industrial, automotive, military and medical applications.

Herff Jones works closely with customers to create a climate of achievement through graduation products, class rings and jewelry, yearbooks, educational publishing and motivation and recognition tools. Founded nearly 100 years ago in Indianapolis, Indiana, Herff Jones is an employee-owned organization focused on building long-term relationships.

Source: REPREVE

SpecialtyFabricsReview.com | May 3, 2012

The American Association of Textile Colorists and Chemists’ (AATCC) Chemical Applications Interest Group is partnering with the Southern Textile Research Conference (STRC) to offer a joint conference May 20–22, 2012 in Pawley’s Island, S.C., USA.

The program will focus on sustainability, innovation and opportunity in the textile industry. Confirmed presentations and speakers include:

• Supply Chain Collaboration: The New Paradigm for Sustainable Textiles, John R. Easton, DyStar U.K. Ltd.
• Optimizing Dyeing Process with Dyebath Monitor, Bill Dixon, HueMetrix Inc.
• Digital Denim: Innovation in Garment Finishing, Carly M. Spano, Cotton Incorporated
• Improving Sustainability with a Low Liquor Finishing Process, Peter Tolksdorf, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
• Insect Repellent Textiles—Technology & Commercial Applications Don A. Alexander, Anovotek, LLC
• Personal Protection Innovations, Jeffrey C. Moreland, Ansell
• Dual-Sided Fabric Finishing via Plasma, Peter J. Hauser, North Carolina State University
• Nano-optics of the Biological World (Color from Nature), Mohan Srinivasarao, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Performance Characteristics of Cotton, Brian C. Francois, Pulcra Chemicals LLC
• Inorganic Nanotechnology in Textiles, Jesse S. Jur, North Carolina State University
• Learnings and Advances in Textile-based Phase Change Materials, Mark Hartmann, Outlast Technologies Inc.
• Updates from the EU: Nano Silver Particles, Environmental Impact and Policy, Samuel B. Moore, Hohenstein Institute America Inc

For additional information and to register, please visit AATCC’s symposia website.

AATCC is a not-for-profit textile professional association, serving the textile industry since 1921. AATCC is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., U.S.A., and provides test method development, quality control materials and professional networking for members throughout the world.

Source: AATCC

With a focus on the equipment used by end product manufacturers in their shops, the July issue of Specialty Fabrics Review offers an especially good opportunity for equipment manufacturers to provide potential buyers with information about their new products.

Part of this special feature issue will be devoted to new equipment, tools and accessories available on the market in the last year, or soon to be available. To submit information, go to www.ifai.com/forms/equipment, complete the form, and upload a product description and photo.

You will be asked about what is new or unique about the product, what special advantages it offers the user, and for what end products, processes or applications it is well suited.

Contact Janet Preus, editor, at jlpreus@ifai.com or +1 651 225 6979 if you would like more information. Deadline for submission to the July issue is May 18, 2012, but submissions to subsequent issues of the Review may be made at any time via the “contact us” tab.

In a former church in Pula, Croatia, a huge object with trumpet-like appendages hangs from the rafters, with each opening an inviting red-carpeted cave. The installation, “Tuft Pula,” is the latest startling creation of Numen/For Use, a Croatian-Austrian design collective working in the fields of scenography, industrial and spatial design and conceptual art. Many Numen/For Use experiential artworks use adhesive tape for temporary installations; in “Tuft Pula,” the tape generates a primary form that is self-contained and transferable.

The rough, industrial surface of carpet backing forms the exterior of “Tuft Pula,” while the interior consists of soft organic tunnels of tufted red carpet. The object, suspended on very thin steel ropes more than nine feet off the floor, rocks as people enter. “Visitors who go into the installation are so, so careful and they are always a bit scared to fall down or out of the installation,” according to a Numen/For Use interview excerpt. The combination of anxiety and comfort visitors feel in the inviting curves of carpeted tunnels is part of the experience. “After the initial caution, the user starts perceiving the functional aspect of the installation, utilizing the softness and sound isolation … as an inward facing collective sofa.”

Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater sparkled with music luminaries—including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars—during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, but the massive white fabric stage setting blasted with LED lights held up to the glittering competition. The set design, consisting of 70-by-50-foot tensioned fabric petals covering the walls, ceiling and floor, offset huge video screens showing a feast of film and music delights. The sleek mid-century-modern-inspired staging won Moss Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill., a 2011 BizBash West Event Style Award of Excellence in the Best Staging and Set Design category. It also received an IAA Award of Excellence from the Industrial Fabrics Association International in 2011.

German designer Florian Wieder specified stark white fabric for the sweeping fabric “petals,” which became a canvas for LED lights that changed for each performance and presenter. Fabric wrapped the entire frame, held in place with zippers, and required only minor adjustments after the first fit. The frame can be taken apart and reassembled, but took four days to install and required the theater to remove 2,600 seats. “What I tried to do was create a kind of three-dimensional space, where the entire space is part of the show,” said Wieder. “We use it all ... the whole ceiling, the floor, the walls. It’s really an impressive thing.”

Open-ocean, warm-water fish farming could potentially provide a future food source in countries struggling with famine or drought. At the Aquaculture America 2012 conference, NET Systems Inc., Bainbridge Isle, Wash., introduced a product that increases the likelihood that such efforts will succeed. The PREDATOR-X net, a hybrid of Dyneema® high-strength polyethylene fibers and stainless steel wire, resists tearing, cutting and penetration by sharks, one of the major threats to open-ocean aquaculture.

The PREDATOR-X was developed by NET Systems and DSM Dyneema, Stanley, N.C., using the Ultra Cross netting platform: an advanced, four-strand, braided, continuous-filament, knotless netting technique used in products for heavy-duty commercial fishing. It was field tested by the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) aquaculture cage in the Bahamas, where a full-scale farm of cobia stock is underway. The PREDATOR-X net is thinner than other anti-predator systems; increases water flow and oxygen into farming cages; reduces drag; and lowers need for maintenance, increased insurance premiums and required inspection dives. Other predators that could be thwarted by the PREDATOR-X net include crocodiles, seals, sea lions and piranhas.

The main lobby of the new W Hoboken Hotel and Residences in Hoboken, N.J., sends a modern and sophisticated message to hotel guests with a floor-to-ceiling metal mesh façade framing the welcome desk. Flexible stainless steel metal fabric panels (in the Shade pattern) from Cambridge Architectural, Cambridge, Md., wrap the entire lobby wall and reflect cool purple-colored light back to visitors seeking accommodations, nightlife or a chic resting spot between business meetings.

The metal fabric system features a new attachment method, allowing metal fabric panels up to 60 feet to be installed in tension, but much closer to the wall, using the unique Micro-Eclipse attachment system. Custom-cut apertures receive the metal fabric ends in tubing integrated into a bracket and structural support design, with tube sizes appropriate to emphasize or conceal the attachment, as the design dictates. Stainless steel mesh is extremely durable, reduces maintenance and is 100 percent recyclable, making it a recommended choice for architects seeking LEED credits for sustainable design.

Charlie Kees, owner of Mister Sew-N-Sew Custom Canvas, Ballston Lake, N.Y., received a commission from a not-for-profit organization to make a dust cover for a fire truck—a fire truck with a past as well as a future. MacBoston Truck’s mission,“to keep the memory alive of all firefighters who have died in the line of duty,” involves using the Albany, N.Y., nonprofit’s oldest fire truck as a caisson for firefighter funeral and memorial services. The 1936 American Lafrance is the oldest fire truck of several owned by MacBoston Truck, and is therefore the most difficult to repair or replace.

Kees had attended a Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) vendor show a few years earlier and learned about Softouch™ fabric, manufactured by MarChem CFI, New Haven, Mo., a laminated polyester fabric with a nonwoven, non-abrasive backer.“I immediately thought [Softouch] … would be perfect for this job, because it had an exterior surface that was easy to clean and an interior with a soft flock finish,” says Kees. The final cover protects the finish on the antique vehicle between uses, ensuring that when the truck is used for educational events, parades and memorials, observers are moved to remembrance and respect for the risks taken by firefighters in their communities.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis met with Los Angeles apparel and textile executives to urge them to take advantage of the various free-trade agreements negotiated by the U.S. government. “Our mission in life is to grow exports that support new jobs,” says Marantis. The Trans-Pacific Partnership creates a huge opportunity for U.S. apparel exporters, according to Marantis, even though it has a yarn-forward provision. Industry leaders appreciated the visit, but other experts expressed concern about the Administration’s optimistic outlook. “The U.S. government needs to find some way to grant visas to the hundreds of illegal apparel sewing workers who populate many of the sewing contractors in town,” said Joe Rodriguez, executive director of the Garment Contractors Association of Southern California.

The European Commission and the U.S. have settled a long-standing dispute concerning a practice called ‘zeroing’ that the U.S. uses to calculate duty rates for products that are dumped on the market at below-market prices. Zeroing is a calculation method that led to higher duties for EU exporters, despite the method being found inconsistent by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a series of dispute settlement cases. “This understanding solves this long-standing dispute,” says EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. “It will bring immediate relief to EU exporters who will no longer have to pay excessive anti-dumping duties … We have now re-established a level playing field for our companies.” The change in policy could save EU exporters approximately $15 million per year.

When a vehicle crash triggers an airbag, the chemical reaction that inflates the bag blows out waste particles and gases. Autoliv Inc., Stockholm, Sweden, has found a better way to inflate airbags. Autoliv’s new inflator uses hydrogen and oxygen with inert gas to inflate the airbag, which produces water vapor when it deploys, a much better environmental outcome. The mixing of hydrogen and oxygen takes place in the airbag’s textile cushion, rather than in a traditional airbag’s steel vessel. The new inflator weighs approximately 20 percent less than its counterpart, reducing resource use and energy consumption. If the company increases hydrogen/oxygen airbags to a quarter of its total production, Autoliv could save an estimated 1,000 tons of steel each year. As for vehicle passengers, the lighter weight could save them an estimated two million gallons of fuel over the lifetime of the car.

Corn-husk fiber may be the next big thing in sustainable textiles, if two research scientists at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have their way. Professors Michael James and Yiqi Yang have developed “Husker fiber” into a prototype sweater, but require millions of dollars in capital to develop hundreds of pounds of the fiber for manufacturers to test and apply to specific products. James and Yang want to construct a bio-fibers development lab to produce large quantities of Husker, and have received $500,000 from the Nebraska Research Initiative and nibbles of interest from Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance and NUtech Ventures. “If you look at any industry, somebody had the idea and didn’t proceed with it and somebody else came along and grabbed it,” says James, who is certain the new fiber will succeed in the marketplace. Read more about Husker fiber at The Daily Nebraskan.