In 2014, Ethan Halpern moved from the music classroom as a teacher to the shop floor as president and owner of American Awning & Blind Co. in North Hollywood, Calif. A family friend owned the business and offered Halpern the opportunity to buy it. U.S.-based and financially strong with a customized product, it made business sense to Halpern. He closed the deal and generally hasn’t missed the classroom.

Marine Fabricator compiled a small selection of its favorite submissions and winners from the past few years of Tools, Tips & tricks contests.

In an era inundated with online inspiration, event planners and their clients are continually seeking new ways to stand out while staying on trend—and they’re increasingly turning to customized linens. When every detail makes a difference, a personalized tablecloth pattern or strategically positioned emblem on a napkin or seat cover can help elevate the entire experience.

In Retalhuleu, Guatemala, a prominent beverage distribution center faced a major challenge: their parking area was unusable during the rainy season. Frequent flooding and weak subgrades made it impossible for trucks to access the lot without delays or damage.

A 2023 interactive art project involving two Maine artists, Cynthia Thompson, owner of Transformit in Gorham, and James LaPlante, Sputnik Animation, South Portland, led to another. The 2024 installation was inspired by quantum physics concepts and explored through giant lotus flowers.

Editor’s note: Early in my career writing about functional textiles, the board chair of what was then the Industrial Fabrics Association International walked me through the JEC show, running concurrent with our Expo. He gestured around the displays, most of them featuring rigid composites, and said simply, “There are textiles in everything here.” We might be more likely to label them fibrous substrates, or even just “fibers” today, but the fact remain: there is a large market for them in an industry that might seem far removed. Dr. O’Mahony’s feature, however, will help to make some connections for us. - JP