State of the Industry 2022

July 1, 2022  |  Features, State of the Industry

How did textile and fabric manufacturers survive the global pandemic? How do supply chain issues and labor shortages continue to be a problem? What markets are manufacturers looking to expand into, and how do they plan to get there? Which trends will have the biggest impact on the industry in the ne…
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2021 State of the Industry

July 1, 2021  |  Features, State of the Industry

This research highlights findings from more than 300 members of the industrial fabrics community who shared information about their organizations with us (Fig. 1). The information was gathered through an online survey fielded January–March 2021 that asked organizations about their businesses pre-p…
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2019 State of the Industry

March 1, 2019  |  Features, State of the Industry

Economic growth in 2018 increased in the United States: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 3.0 percent for the first time since 2005. Unfortunately, growth has been down in other advanced economies such as Canada, Japan and Europe. Growth in the emerging economy of China was also down in 2018—re…
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2018 State of the Industry

March 1, 2018  |  Features, State of the Industry

AWNINGS AND CANOPIES In 2017, growth in the awning market increased, in the low single-digit range. Contributing to the growth was an approximate 6.5 percent rise in housing values in 2017; a 4.1 percent increase in home values is anticipated in 2018. Many homeowners used their rising home equity to…
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The 2017 State of the Industry: Part 2

March 1, 2017  |  Features, State of the Industry

The slow economic recovery after the Great Recession has made kick-starting growth in the specialty fabrics industry a continuing challenge. Five of the six key markets covered in Part 2 of this report showed growth in 2016, which is expected to continue in 2017. (The military market was down 6 perc…
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Part 1: State of the Industry 2017

February 1, 2017  |  Features, State of the Industry

Despite some slowing of global GDP in 2016, growth of the U.S. and Canadian specialty fabrics industry is slow but steady, and markets like fabric structures, tent rental and manufacturing, fabric graphics and marine fabrication are outpacing national averages. The pace is expected to continue, but …
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Part 2: State of the Industry 2016

March 1, 2016  |  Features, State of the Industry

As consumer confidence slowly increases, buoyed by improvements in the U.S. economy and employment figures, respondents in 10 of the 11 markets surveyed by IFAI predict single-digit increases in sales in 2016. Innovation in products and processes will help manufacturers anticipate customer needs and…
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Part 1: State of the Industry 2016

February 1, 2016  |  Features, State of the Industry

With the U.S. economy continuing a slow but steady recovery, more job growth, more consumer confidence and increasing sales are anticipated for 2016. The world economy in review Six years after the world economy emerged from the Great Recession of 2009, a return to a strong global expansion remains …
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