November 2009 Issue

• 

  Easing the squeeze

  Fabric graphics manufacturers and suppliers look forward to market improvements in 2010.

• 

  Cabana solar panels produce 1,260 watts per hour

  Most vacationers don’t need an enticement for lounging in a poolside cabana, but for those who want more than good looks, Solade Concepts, Corona, Calif., has a bright idea.

• Online auctions for 'Shade Across America'

  The Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation wants children across the nation to have shade structures in outdoor play spaces—and will help raise money for shade projects through an online auction.

• 

  Sewage cover system allows for biogas collection

  Living downwind of a wastewater treatment plant or settling pond can be a fragrant experience.

• Four-step sustainability from SGIA

  Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) has recently updated its 4-Step Sustainability Action Plan with additional resources to help imagers develop a successful Sustainability Management System (SMS) in their printing businesses.

• 

  New rotary drum heat transfer machine features lightweight roll shafts

  Model 7240IJO rotary drum heat transfer machine for digital dye-sub printing of fabric up to 40 inches wide prints approximately 3 linear feet per minute at a 40-second dwell time.

• 

  Printer able to handle variety of job sizes and fabric types

  The UJET Mc3-Premium textile printer from Converd handles large and small projects from samples and proofs to 500-yard runs.

• Coated media engineered to be sturdy and lightweight

  New Pure Color Apollo Flag from Neschen is engineered to be both sturdy and lightweight, allowing for the creation of dramatic messaging.

• 

  Moveable graphics can be repositioned 100 times

  The Start SOMA Art Gallery in San Francisco, Calif., wanted artists and designers to think big.

• 

  Vinyl bus wrap goes on historic tour

  In 1787, Northern and Southern states at odds over slavery fought over whether slaves would be counted as persons for tax distribution and apportionment of representatives to the U.S. Congress.

• 

  Drawing on expertise

  Engineers help to ensure the practicality, safety and success of fabric structures.

• 

  Suzhou sky canopy features multimedia projection surfaces

  In Suzhou, China, Harmony Times Square, next to Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake, is a new landmark for the city, including office buildings, retail streets, riverfront cafes and a state-of-the-art shopping mall.

• 

  Pre-engineered structures offer budget-friendly custom looks

  Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., has an impressive portfolio of custom lightweight roofing, shading and tensile fabric structures, designed for malls, stadiums and airports.

• 

  Sunbrella View now available in marine colors

  Sunbrella View, a light-filtering version of Sunbrella fabrics excellent for privacy screening onboard ship, is now available in Pacific Blue and Captain Navy colorways.

• Personal Protective Technology Program

  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Personal Protective Technology (PPT) Program will host the 3rd Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting on March 2–3, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A.

• 

  Air-inflated patient transfer products

  AirPal PTS Inc., Center Valley, Pa., claims to build a better line of air-inflated products for transferring ill or injured patients—and is willing to back its claims with a limited five-year warranty.

• 

  Toyota features eco-friendly floor mats

  The new third-generation Prius has the world’s best fuel consumption, solar-powered ventilation system, plant-derived plastics in its moulded interiors and deluxe floor mats made of Ingeo fibers.

• Milestone at Firestone: 1 million hours injury-free

  The employees of Firestone Textiles Co., Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, produce nylon resins and yarns for tire manufacturers in the U.S.—and they do it without the on-the-job accidents that increase production costs.

• 

  Luxury fabrics offer durability

  Chella Textiles’ line of luxury fabrics can take the punishment, too.

Back to Top

• Four-step sustainability from SGIA

  Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) has recently updated its 4-Step Sustainability Action Plan with additional resources to help imagers develop a successful Sustainability Management System (SMS) in their printing businesses.

• Personal Protective Technology Program

  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Personal Protective Technology (PPT) Program will host the 3rd Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting on March 2–3, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A.

• From supplier to market: consider the source

  A new report, “Geographical Proximity May No Longer Be a Critical Factor in Textile and Apparel Sourcing,” is now available from Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland.

• Online auctions for 'Shade Across America'

  The Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation wants children across the nation to have shade structures in outdoor play spaces—and will help raise money for shade projects through an online auction.

• New U.S. Trade Representative for textiles

  U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk selected Gail Strickler, an experienced former textile company CEO and associate director at Philadelphia University’s College of Textiles and Sciences, as the U.S. lead negotiator for textiles.

• Tire tariff on Chinese imports

  President Barack Obama imposed tariffs of up to 35 percent on illegally subsidized tire imports from China, a move celebrated by textile manufacturers and blasted by the Chinese.

• China's nonwovens and technical textile industry bounces back

  Industry adjustments, government action and product innovation kept China’s textile industry solvent in the first half of 2009, in spite of a decline in exports due to the global economic crisis.

• Argotec revamps to serve textile laminators

  To better serve the textile lamination and performance apparel industries, Argotec Inc., Greenfield, Mass., will concentrate on better matching its film extrusion capabilities, technical expertise and resources with the applications of its customers.

• Teijin dissolves S.C. monofilament subsidiary

  When Teijin Limited, Tokyo, Japan, purchased the monofilament business of Johns Manville in 2000, it expected the market for paper machine clothing (covers for paper-making rollers that improve machine performance) would be strong.

• Agion Technologies receives Gold environmental certification

  This year, Agion went for the Gold certification and received it.

• New name for Genesis Plastics Welding

  Genesis Plastics Welding, the new name for the combined companies Genesis Manufacturing and Plastics Welding Technology, launched a new logo and web presence in August.

• 

  Schurz to join Rowley Co.

  As the owner of Tavern Hill, a custom drapery workroom, Susan Schurz has hands-on experience working with fabrics and textile technologies.

• 

  Frisch joins Springs Creative Products Group

  Scott Frisch, former president of a textile and mattress industry consulting firm, has been named sales and merchandising manager for the specialty fabrics division of Springs Creative Products Group (SCPG) LLC.

• Saint-Gobain facility becomes ISO 14001 certified

  Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics, manufacturer of industrial fabrics for construction, packaging and building materials, received ISO 14001:2004 certification for its facility in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

Back to Top

• 

  Printer able to handle variety of job sizes and fabric types

  The UJET Mc3-Premium textile printer from Converd handles large and small projects from samples and proofs to 500-yard runs.

• Eco-friendly silicone additive for technical textiles

  DowCorning is now offering DS-9000 Eco Repel, an eco-friendly multifunctional encapsulated silicone additive for technical textiles.

• Coated media engineered to be sturdy and lightweight

  New Pure Color Apollo Flag from Neschen is engineered to be both sturdy and lightweight, allowing for the creation of dramatic messaging.

• 

  Luxury fabrics offer durability

  Chella Textiles’ line of luxury fabrics can take the punishment, too.

• 

  Affordable, entry-level laser equipment alternatives

  The Preco Golden Laser (PGL) line offers affordable, entry-level laser equipment alternatives for cutting and marking.

• 

  Laser die-cutting machine offers flexibility-focused design features

  With an eye to giving worldwide textile manufacturers full operational versatility, Spartanics Finecut Combination Model laser die-cutting machine has multiple flexibility-focused design features.

• 

  Sunbrella View now available in marine colors

  Sunbrella View, a light-filtering version of Sunbrella fabrics excellent for privacy screening onboard ship, is now available in Pacific Blue and Captain Navy colorways.

• 

  Preprogrammed unit assists with basic burst testing

  The innovative PnuBurst from SDL Atlas offers the convenience of a preprogrammed unit for basic burst testing for customers who do not need the extended range of the company’s regular AutoBurst model.

• 

  Three-pedal sewing machine improves efficiency

  Unicraft Corp. has added a three-pedal, heavy-duty long arm sewing machine stand to its current line.

• 

  Modular walls combine with benefits of lightweight fabric structures

  The EZ Fabric Wall System from Moss Inc. combines the versatility of modular walls with the benefits of lightweight fabric structures.

• 

  High-performance finish improves durability and cleanability

  The Textures collection with Nano-tex protection, now available from Silver State Inc., has a unique finish that provides enhanced durability and cleanability, while retaining the exceptional hand of the fabric.

• 

  New rotary drum heat transfer machine features lightweight roll shafts

  Model 7240IJO rotary drum heat transfer machine for digital dye-sub printing of fabric up to 40 inches wide prints approximately 3 linear feet per minute at a 40-second dwell time.

• Compressors with net zero energy consumption

  The ZR Series of water-cooled, oil-free air compressors, manufactured by Atlas Copco, Stockholm, Sweden, are the first to be TüV certified for zero net energy consumption.

Back to Top

• 

  What do customers really want?

  Perfecting the art of mind reading.

• Planning ‘forever’ tax savings

  Strategies to keep your tax bill at its legal minimum, year after year.

• 

  McKernan strives for integrity, quality and excellence

  Pete McKernan makes a commitment to action for the specialty fabrics industry.

Back to Top

• 

  Drawing on expertise

  Engineers help to ensure the practicality, safety and success of fabric structures.

• 

  Fabric barn offers cheaper, customized protection

  A fabric barn shelters the herd for a dairy business in Tradewell, Ontario, Canada.

• 

  HDPE geomembranes assist shrimp farmers in Indonesia

  Although traditional shrimp farming first practiced in small, brackish coastal ponds is still used, farmers in Indonesia have also succeeded with semi-intensive and intensive methods.

• 

  Horse trainers work in all weather under fabric shelter

  The owner of Zen Horsemanship in Hatfield, Ark. specializes in clicker training, which focuses on the best possible relationship between horses and humans.

• 

  Suzhou sky canopy features multimedia projection surfaces

  In Suzhou, China, Harmony Times Square, next to Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake, is a new landmark for the city, including office buildings, retail streets, riverfront cafes and a state-of-the-art shopping mall.

• 

  Sewage cover system allows for biogas collection

  Living downwind of a wastewater treatment plant or settling pond can be a fragrant experience.

• 

  Toyota features eco-friendly floor mats

  The new third-generation Prius has the world’s best fuel consumption, solar-powered ventilation system, plant-derived plastics in its moulded interiors and deluxe floor mats made of Ingeo fibers.

• 

  Moveable graphics can be repositioned 100 times

  The Start SOMA Art Gallery in San Francisco, Calif., wanted artists and designers to think big.

• 

  Pre-engineered structures offer budget-friendly custom looks

  Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., has an impressive portfolio of custom lightweight roofing, shading and tensile fabric structures, designed for malls, stadiums and airports.

• 

  Cabana solar panels produce 1,260 watts per hour

  Most vacationers don’t need an enticement for lounging in a poolside cabana, but for those who want more than good looks, Solade Concepts, Corona, Calif., has a bright idea.

• 

  New retractable banner keeps cube neighbors away

  The Cubicle Message Barrier, a 2.6-inch-wide retractable banner, clearly signals your intention to work uninterrupted.

• 

  Air-inflated patient transfer products

  AirPal PTS Inc., Center Valley, Pa., claims to build a better line of air-inflated products for transferring ill or injured patients—and is willing to back its claims with a limited five-year warranty.

• 

  Vinyl bus wrap goes on historic tour

  In 1787, Northern and Southern states at odds over slavery fought over whether slaves would be counted as persons for tax distribution and apportionment of representatives to the U.S. Congress.

• Milestone at Firestone: 1 million hours injury-free

  The employees of Firestone Textiles Co., Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, produce nylon resins and yarns for tire manufacturers in the U.S.—and they do it without the on-the-job accidents that increase production costs.

Back to Top

• Jet bridge canopy fabric that meets standards

  How to meet NFPA 415 and FAR 25.853 standards for a fabric jet bridge canopy.

• Fabric assembly helps muffle sound on noisy equipment

  How to get started on a fabric sound cover for a noisy piece of equipment.

• Where to find reproductions of antique upholstery fabric

  How to get in touch with Full Swing to find retro-style fabrics primarily for interior use.

• How to comply with European standards for hazardous materials

  Most countries have a list of restricted substances. The European Union adopted the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive in 2003, and it went into effect in 2006.

Back to Top