Industry News

Indorama Ventures acquires M&G USA

March 20, 2019

Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd., a global chemical producer, has received the regulatory clearance required from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for the joint asset purchase of M&G USA Corp. and its affiliated debtors. Indorama Ventures, Alpek, S.A.B. de C.V., and Far Eastern Investment (Holding) Ltd., entered into a joint venture agreement to acquire M&G’s …

Industry News

Herculite launches new website

March 19, 2019

Herculite Inc. has launched a new website that showcases the company’s capabilities and market leadership in materials for solar protection, marine, health care, digital graphics media, and military and tents and structures. Located at www.herculite.com, the website details the company’s leadership position in several market segments, as well as the resources available to customers to …

Industry News

EuroFibers named ripcord supplier

March 18, 2019

Teijin Aramid has appointed EuroFibers BV as premium supplier of Twaron®-based ripcords types. Ripcord orders can be placed at EuroFibers where they will handle the complete order process. The Twaron-based ripcords from EuroFibers are called Ripo RC and Ripo WB. EuroFibers also introduced a new type called Ripo PS, which is a colored non-wicking ripcord …

Industry News

Egyptian Cotton oversight announced

March 15, 2019

The Egyptian government has appointed an official steering committee to safeguard the future of the Egyptian Cotton brand. Appointed by the minister of Trade & Industry, the new steering committee is made up of government and trade representatives. It will be responsible for the licensing and promotion of Egyptian Cotton globally, as well as policing the integrity of …

Industry News

DuPont builds new facility

March 14, 2019

DuPont Industrial Biosciences broke ground on its new site at the Leiden Bio Science Park in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands. The state-of-the-art facility will utilize the tools of modern biotechnology to make industrial processes more efficient and products more sustainable. The bio-based solutions created will have an impact on societal issues including reducing food waste, reducing environmental impacts of …

Industry News

IFAI Expo 2019 exhibitor Early Bird deadline is March 30

March 13, 2019

Exhibitors: Book your IFAI Expo 2019 booth by March 30 to take advantage of the Early Bird discount. Don’t be left out! IFAI Expo is the largest specialty fabric trade event in the Americas. Each year, more than 5,000 high-level decision makers, industry insiders and qualified buyers meet in an unrivaled face-to-face environment, where networking …

Industry News

ResinFiber’s Forj wins innovation award

March 6, 2019

Forj thermoplastic, a product of ResinFiber LLC, recently won an Outdoor Retailer Innovation award. Forj tape-ribbon is a pure polymer ribbon, that when heated, becomes moldable into any shape. Once cooled, its molecules couple and harden forming a tensile strength of 1,000 pounds. Each tin of Forj comes with 20 feet of white ribbon and …

Industry News

Dunlap Industries names recipient of Above and Beyond Award

March 6, 2019

Each year a Dunlap Industries employee is recognized by peers as the individual who has most consistently and extraordinarily demonstrated the willingness to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer’s needs. This year, Leoma Cribbs, purchasing and inventory manager, is the recipient of the Above and Beyond Award. Robert Kwasnik, Dunlap Industries’ president says, …

Industry News

DuPont builds new facility

March 4, 2019

DuPont Industrial Biosciences broke ground on its new site at the Leiden Bio Science Park in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands. The state-of-the-art facility will utilize the tools of modern biotechnology to make industrial processes more efficient and products more sustainable. The bio-based solutions created will have an impact on societal issues including reducing food waste, reducing …

The Greater Good

A&R Tarpaulins’ mentorship program takes internships to a new level

March 1, 2019

Bud Weisbart was determined to make a difference. He transformed A&R Tarpaulins into a leader in fabric and equipment manufacturing for the  aerospace industry, and also turned the company into a beacon of inclusiveness, diversity and multiculturalism. After earning a degree in social service and serving in many social service roles, Weisbart entered the business …

Business Members only content

Strategies that can change the workplace and workforce

March 1, 2019

Picture this: It’s bedtime and children are getting their goodnight kisses. The parents wish them sweet dreams, leave the room and close the door behind them. With their defenders gone, the children begin their nightly debate: Is the boogeyman here? And if so, what exactly are they going to do about it? The boogeyman comes …

Business Members only content

How to solve the labor shortage

January 1, 2019

Think about your local hospital. Picture it in your mind. Think about the people who work there and the work they do. Now imagine that this hospital closed, and so did many of the clinics. Can you imagine your community without access to health care? How would that change your life? As far-fetched as this …

Business

Fringe benefits benefit employers and employees

November 1, 2018

Whether it’s a result of a booming economy, tighter immigration laws or an educational system gone astray, finding qualified job applicants has become increasingly more difficult for those in the specialty fabrics industry. How can small businesses compete for badly needed, qualified workers? Thanks to our unique tax laws, every business can afford to offer …

Business Members only content

Tax law changes make adding equipment and vehicles more affordable

September 1, 2018

Last December’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) not only slashed tax rates, it also enacted rules that allow businesses to treat as an expense and immediately write off more—including 100 percent temporary expensing for certain assets. This means adding needed equipment, vehicles or even a new shop building is now a lot more affordable. …

Business

Stop sexual harassment in your workplace

July 1, 2018

Far too often, the process of making bad and/or unethical choices begins with a simple, almost thoughtless decision. How do I know this? Well, I’ve seen it happen far too often. Harassment is not a sexy subject, and ethics are more than words. “The times they are a changing,” and that’s more than just song …

Business Members only content

Tracking supplier compliance for sustainable textile companies

May 1, 2018

The issue of compliance can be complicated for textile companies, which have to comply with various regulatory and voluntary company standards for product safety and restriction of substances. In the United States, for example, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) contains provisions that aim to improve the safety of children’s products. The European Union …

Business

California Community College Makerspaces offer work-based learning for students

April 10, 2018

The CCC Maker Initiative, administered by Sierra College (www.sierracollege.edu), is offering internships and work-based learning experiences for students through 24 California Community College makerspaces, where students gain technical, entrepreneurial and work-ready skills sought by employers. California Community Colleges participating in the CCC Maker (cccmaker.com) initiative to build makerspace communities are preparing students for careers through …

Business Members only content

Outside expertise: how to find affordable, professional help when you need it

March 1, 2018

While most owners of small- and medium-size businesses know the details of their companies intimately, there are often highly technical matters of law, accounting, management and marketing that are best handled by outside experts. Attorneys, accountants, and management and marketing advisers have specialized knowledge about niche areas that few business owners can hope to duplicate. …

Business Members only content

Savvy cash management helps your bottom line

January 1, 2018

Cash flow—the amount of money flowing into and out of your shop—is an easy concept to understand, yet not always well managed. Not every owner is aware of the impact skillful cash management has on net income, probably because the importance of managing revenue is far easier to recognize in some types of businesses than …

Business Members only content

New IRS accounting method changes

October 1, 2017

The tax returns of many businesses in the specialty fabrics industry have been—and will most likely continue to be—extra thick. Thanks to newly issued “repair regulations,” tax return filings for last year included more work on “Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method” than usual. Fortunately, the IRS recently made it easier for small …

Expo News

2018 Outstanding Volunteer Awards presented at IFAI Expo

October 18, 2018

At the annual meeting during IFAI Expo 2018 in Dallas, Texas, IFAI presented this year’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards, to people who generously gave of their time by serving on different boards, task forces and committees, judging competitions and providing education and leadership to others in the industry. The Outstanding Volunteer Award program was developed in …

Expo News

Mary Hennessy: IFAI’s newest Honored Life Member

October 18, 2018

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, at IFAI’s annual meeting at IFAI Expo in Dallas, Texas, association leaders announced that Mary Hennessy had been given Honored Life Member status for her many years of service to IFAI and, most notably, for her leadership as president and CEO of the association for the six years before her retirement …

Expo News

2018 Fabric Structures Student Design Competition Winners Announced

October 18, 2018

The Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), recently announced the recipients of the 2018 Fabric Structures Student Design Competition awards. The winners were announced at IFAI Expo 2018, held Oct. 15-18 in Dallas, Texas. First Place Rafael Dias Simoes, Kevin Barthelmebs and Fabien Burgeat from ENSAVT University won …

Expo News

2018 Advanced Textiles Student Design Competition Winners Announced

October 18, 2018

Advanced Textile Products and the Narrow Fabrics Institute, divisions of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), recently selected the winners of the 2018 Advanced Textiles Student Design Competition. The awards were announced during IFAI Expo 2018, held in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 15-18. First Place First-place honors went to J. Walter Lee, Stephanie Wang and Caroline …

Expo News

Small shops: Tips for shortening your lead times

October 17, 2018

Torey Heinz, of Teagles Consulting, has a background in small manufacturing jobs shops. This gives him a good sense of how poor workflow and other issues can affect a small shop’s lead times. Shortening lead time is important, Teagle told participants at his Oct. 17 Expo session, because shorter lead times mean increased sales and …

Expo News

Shade sails clinic

October 17, 2018

On October 17 at IFAI Expo 2018 in Dallas, Texas, Brydon Roe from Shade Sails Canada Inc., Revelstoke, British Columbia, led a shade sails campfire session where he shared his business’s top dos and don’ts for installing shade sails. When it comes to shade sail fabric options, Roe recommended polyester, Commercial95 (or a mid-grade shade …

Expo News

The right technology can save you money

October 17, 2018

Trying to figure out which technology can save a business money can be confusing given all the options available. In his Oct. 17 Expo session, “Using Technology to Improve the Bottom Line,” Mark Stiver, manager of ecommerce, strategy and analytics for Trivantage, gave a high-level view of the primary types of technology available to specialty …

Expo News

Testing basics provide key communication points on textile products

October 17, 2018

When you plan to sell a textile product, there are numerous reasons to test it before taking it to market. Many of those testing results tell you what you can ultimately communicate to others about your product, and what they can expect of your product. Dr. Emiel DenHartog, North Carolina State University, College of Textiles, …

Expo News

IFAI Expo 2018: Show Stopper winners on the floor

October 17, 2018

All the best from Texas: Wednesday morning, Oct. 17, at IFAI Expo led off with lists of winners for the year, including the most popular products on the show floor. The seventh annual Show Stopper competition was designed to showcase the best of the best in the industry, from fabrics, equipment and chemicals to services …

Expo News

The way forward with geosynthetics in the US Army Corps of Engineers is focus of plenary at GeoDallas

October 17, 2018

Jeb Tingle, senior research engineer at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Miss., delivered the plenary address at GeoDallas on Oct. 17 on “Advancing the Nation’s Infrastructure: The USACE Role.” “There’s a big role for research and innovation,” Tingle said. “Doing business as usual won’t give …

Feature

Extreme sports, tough textiles

March 1, 2019

Fabricators go to great lengths to make sure every piece of material they produce or distribute will be up to difficult tasks. But sometimes the task is so specialized—or so extreme—that production requires a truly exceptional level of care, expertise and, often, regulation. Products such as the ropes that firefighters use to rappel from helicopters …

Feature

Shane Cossette and TRS Industries keep customers covered, improve existing products, and invent new ones

March 1, 2019

I set aside much of my time to move throughout our building so I can work with managers to keep us on the same page,” says Shane Cossette, COO of TRS Industries, Fargo, N.D. “Something my dad instilled in me years ago was that not only is the customer always right, but it’s our responsibility to …

Feature

Thread technologies breaking through barriers

March 1, 2019

The future of fabric or any manufactured product boils down to the components that make it up. For fabric that means yarns and threads—the building blocks of fabric possibilities. It’s an exciting time to be a part of yarn and thread innovations—innovations that include conductivity, protection, sustainability and comfort. Imagine that yarns and threads can …

Feature

2019 State of the Industry

March 1, 2019

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—reaching 6.6 percent. China’s GDP is projected …

Feature

Changing the markets—and the marketing—of custom fabric graphics

February 1, 2019

The company’s founders could never have imagined the products that Art Display Company is making for its customers today. Back in 1947, when the Maryland sign shop began printing business signage, awnings were cotton canvas, neon signs were cutting-edge technology and everything from painting to sewing was done by hand. Today, the company produces a …

Feature

Whether indoors or out, custom graphics have a strong appeal with brand-savvy businesses

February 1, 2019

Those contemplating adding fabric graphics to their professional repertoire will find an arena poised for expansion and strong demand, driven by advancements in print and ink technology as well as by fabrics that increasingly deliver stunning results more reliably. Also fueling activity is the accelerating movement toward personalization and customization, says Randy Anderson, product marketing …

Feature

Getting into fabric graphics means doing your homework

February 1, 2019

Ron Nissenbaum, CEO of Humphrys CoverSports in Philadelphia, Pa., has been in the business long enough—51 years to be precise—to have witnessed a few changes in the way fabricators use graphics. When Nissenbaum started at Humphrys, which itself is nearly 150 years old, graphics were a rarity on the tarps, sports field covers and other …

Feature

Paul Aumento relies on employees and customers to keep Creative Textile Solutions a responsive manufacturer

February 1, 2019

Nova Scotia is a small market and Halifax is a smaller city compared to some others, so we’ve had to diversify to continue a successful year-round employment,” says Paul Aumento, co-owner and president of Creative Textile Solutions Ltd., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. “So we expanded our markets right away to include whatever can be manufactured …

Feature

Working innovation: all successful companies innovate to grow, but each approach is unique

January 1, 2019

If there were a formula for writing a hit song, we could all do it. Efforts have certainly been made to figure out just what’s required to reach the top of the charts, but there simply isn’t a single defined path that can be taken to ensure musical success. In manufacturing, businesses that look to …

Feature

Women’s work: challenges and rewards in the specialty fabrics industry

January 1, 2019

Since the earliest days of civilization, women have sewn garments, constructed the tents they called home, and woven the textiles that made life more comfortable and defined distinctive cultures. Over the millennia, textiles produced by women have been essential to life and enterprise. As industrialization made these goods profitable, however, the textile world became a …

Advanced Textiles

Advancing sustainability in textiles

March 1, 2019

Textiles are part of a larger drive to protect and preserve resources for the future. Sustainability may be understood as a way to judiciously consume resources while leaving or even enhancing the availability of resources for future generations. The term “sustainability” has developed a powerful vibe that affects our society in general and the business …

Markets

Making it easy: the benefits of keder

March 1, 2019

Hidden within aluminum extrusions, shaping both simple tents and extravagant clearspans, lies the years-old invention that continues to help advance the success and technology of the tent industry today: keder, a bead or core that attaches to a fabric panel and then slides into a corresponding track in a frame. “Keder makes a joint, essentially, …

Markets Members only content

Fabricators and boat owners have a world of choices in windows

February 1, 2019

When it comes to choosing their windows, most boat owners don’t want to make it too complicated—they want a quality product that will last at a reasonable price. As fabricators know, however, it’s not quite that simple. In fact, according to Zach Grant, marketing manager at Sailrite®, a distributor of marine fabrics and supplies for …

Advanced Textiles

Advances in smart medical textiles

February 1, 2019

A series of novel developments in medical textiles see smart textiles coupled with smart design to deliver benefits to both patients and medical professionals. With the medical textile market predicted to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 4.23 percent during the period 2018–2022, the industry is positioning itself to meet this demand. …

Markets Members only content

Taking the lead: women in the tent rental industry

January 1, 2019

When Sarah Crews, director of sales and marketing for Miami, Fla.-based Economy Tent International (ETI), started going to outdoor trade shows 13 years ago, she didn’t see many women attending the events. Tent rental companies headed by women were even scarcer. But over the years that situation has changed, says Crews (formerly Lapping). “As the …

Advanced Textiles

Growing interest in using natural “smart” fibers

January 1, 2019

Since the industrial revolution, textiles have transitioned from natural fibers of cotton, wool, silk and linen to textiles created from petroleum products and reconstituted wood pulp. Today’s synthetic fibers are stronger, cheaper to manufacture, and have proven easily adaptable to a wide range of technical, performance and smart textiles, to the benefit of modern life. …

Advanced Textiles

New smart fabrics and protective gear innovations keep first responders safer

December 1, 2018

First responders—from firefighters to law enforcement to emergency medical services technicians—need to be ready to handle any situation they encounter, and they need the appropriate gear to respond quickly to emergencies. Responders draw on their experience to make sound decisions in the chaos of a crime or accident scene, or in the heat of a …

Advanced Textiles

Early adopters affect product development

November 1, 2018

IoClothes describes itself as “A Community Fusing Tech & Textiles™” that exists to support those who innovate in the smart textile industry by providing information and helping them to establish the right connections to move forward. Managing director Ben Cooper says, “About 30–40 percent of the [textile] industry has a warm-to-hot interest in innovation—new processes, …

Markets Members only content

A faster path to market through industry dialogue and profitable partnerships

November 1, 2018

If innovation is a key to growth and profitability because of the differentiation it can offer in our broadly commoditized industrial fabrics industry—one that for decades has been under strong pricing pressure from low-cost imports—then R&D is an essential component of a company’s toolbox for financial success. My experience, however, coincides with the observation of …

Markets Members only content

Basic training principles for new and long-time tent installers

October 1, 2018

Labor is a problem everywhere, with tent rental companies experiencing constant turnover and the need to train new installers. Desperate to fill out their crews, tent renters will often send new employees on the road for installations right off the bat, with training coming on the job from long-time employees. But just because a crew …

Industry News

Indorama Ventures acquires M&G USA

March 20, 2019

Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd., a global chemical producer, has received the regulatory clearance required from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for the joint asset purchase of M&G USA Corp. and its affiliated debtors. Indorama Ventures, Alpek, S.A.B. de C.V., and Far Eastern Investment (Holding) Ltd., entered into a joint venture agreement to acquire M&G’s …

Industry News

Herculite launches new website

March 19, 2019

Herculite Inc. has launched a new website that showcases the company’s capabilities and market leadership in materials for solar protection, marine, health care, digital graphics media, and military and tents and structures. Located at www.herculite.com, the website details the company’s leadership position in several market segments, as well as the resources available to customers to …

Industry News

EuroFibers named ripcord supplier

March 18, 2019

Teijin Aramid has appointed EuroFibers BV as premium supplier of Twaron®-based ripcords types. Ripcord orders can be placed at EuroFibers where they will handle the complete order process. The Twaron-based ripcords from EuroFibers are called Ripo RC and Ripo WB. EuroFibers also introduced a new type called Ripo PS, which is a colored non-wicking ripcord …

Industry News

Egyptian Cotton oversight announced

March 15, 2019

The Egyptian government has appointed an official steering committee to safeguard the future of the Egyptian Cotton brand. Appointed by the minister of Trade & Industry, the new steering committee is made up of government and trade representatives. It will be responsible for the licensing and promotion of Egyptian Cotton globally, as well as policing the integrity of …

Industry News

DuPont builds new facility

March 14, 2019

DuPont Industrial Biosciences broke ground on its new site at the Leiden Bio Science Park in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands. The state-of-the-art facility will utilize the tools of modern biotechnology to make industrial processes more efficient and products more sustainable. The bio-based solutions created will have an impact on societal issues including reducing food waste, reducing environmental impacts of …

Industry News

IFAI Expo 2019 exhibitor Early Bird deadline is March 30

March 13, 2019

Exhibitors: Book your IFAI Expo 2019 booth by March 30 to take advantage of the Early Bird discount. Don’t be left out! IFAI Expo is the largest specialty fabric trade event in the Americas. Each year, more than 5,000 high-level decision makers, industry insiders and qualified buyers meet in an unrivaled face-to-face environment, where networking …

Industry News

ResinFiber’s Forj wins innovation award

March 6, 2019

Forj thermoplastic, a product of ResinFiber LLC, recently won an Outdoor Retailer Innovation award. Forj tape-ribbon is a pure polymer ribbon, that when heated, becomes moldable into any shape. Once cooled, its molecules couple and harden forming a tensile strength of 1,000 pounds. Each tin of Forj comes with 20 feet of white ribbon and …

Industry News

Dunlap Industries names recipient of Above and Beyond Award

March 6, 2019

Each year a Dunlap Industries employee is recognized by peers as the individual who has most consistently and extraordinarily demonstrated the willingness to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer’s needs. This year, Leoma Cribbs, purchasing and inventory manager, is the recipient of the Above and Beyond Award. Robert Kwasnik, Dunlap Industries’ president says, …

Industry News

DuPont builds new facility

March 4, 2019

DuPont Industrial Biosciences broke ground on its new site at the Leiden Bio Science Park in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands. The state-of-the-art facility will utilize the tools of modern biotechnology to make industrial processes more efficient and products more sustainable. The bio-based solutions created will have an impact on societal issues including reducing food waste, reducing …

Industry News

Heubrandner appointed VP at Lenzing

February 28, 2019

The Lenzing Group has named Florian Heubrandner vice president of global business management textiles. He will be leading Lenzing’s global strategy and development across the textile value chain, helping the company to transform from a B2B fiber producer to a business-to-business-to-consumer brand following the rejuvenation of TENCEL ™ , Lenzing’s textile specialty brand and the …

Products

Power products: tough tools and fabrics

March 1, 2019

Graphic software The new and updated tools available in version 4 of the EFI™ Fiery® DesignPro software suite from EFI allow graphic designers to create and complete designs directly within Adobe® design software. Fiery DesignPro eliminates the need to reduce designs to indexed colors, maintaining the highest possible fidelity of the artwork. It also creates …

Products

Labor saving products for productivity

January 1, 2019

Slick tent setup Rainier’s High Peak tent system provides an elegant, streamlined look with a frame design that allows for quick and easy installation without tools. The system features a flying center pole tension top with a catenary (arched) design and does not use interior support poles, maximizing usable space. The tent comes in a …

Products

New products: Savvy textile solutions

December 1, 2018

Breathable textiles Teijin Frontier has developed a polyester high-gauge knitting material laminated with a breathable film to produce thin, lightweight and breathable textiles. Textiles laminated with breathable film are widely used for high-functional sportswear due to their waterproofness and stretchability. The new material is compact as well as stretchable, form-stable and moisture-permeable. It has a …

Products

New and flexible fabrics

October 1, 2018

Sound barrier EPT’s XTRM Ply SoundSafe™ is uniquely designed to act as an acoustic barrier, reducing noise transmission through floors, walls and ceilings. It is a smooth, reinforced high-density Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) recommended as an acoustic wrap for machinery, equipment and ductwork. A typical application consists of applying the product over studs, joists or …

Products

Practical products with punchy effects

September 1, 2018

Versatile webbing Bally Ribbon Mills offers high-quality, high-performance webbing to meet the demands of recreational applications including the commercial and sport markets. The webbing is appropriate for a range of recreational applications including binding tape, chin straps, harnesses, packs, climbing webs, pet leashes, and parachute and balloon setups. Available in nylon, polyester, polypropylene, Kevlar®, Nomex®, …

Products

Faster printer

July 1, 2018

The Mutoh ValueJet 1948WX is recommended for everyday and high-production sublimation printing. With its staggered four-head design, it prints at speeds up to 2,199 sq ft./hr., with applications for trade show graphics, promotional items, flags, interior decor, apparel and more. Designed with advanced features such as a rear media feed lever for easy material handling, …

Products

Durable health care upholstery fabric

July 1, 2018

KnollTextiles’ Between the Lines collection offers performance, bleach-cleanable upholstery, privacy fabric and wallcovering for the health care and industrial markets. The collection includes coated upholstery fabrics such as Brigadoon 21, a phthalate-free vinyl upholstery fabric priced at less than forty dollars per yard. Ribbon Stripe is a certified Healthier Hospitals Initiative-compliant privacy fabric stocked with …

Products

High visibility striping

July 1, 2018

World Emblem’s high-visibility striping can be applied to work apparel, vests and many other clothing items to increase visibility and safety. Appropriate for construction workers, firefighters, police officers and others who need as much visibility as possible while working in low light or potentially hazardous conditions. Offered in 10 different trims and 48 standard placement …

Products

Ultra-light composite grid fabric

July 1, 2018

TeXtreme® has added ±45° Grid fabric to its Spread Tow line of ultra-light composites to further optimize solutions for new applications in advanced aerospace, industrial and sports product markets. Used alone or in combination with other TeXtreme products, the Grid fabric helps reduce the weight of products without sacrificing mechanical properties. The new grid fabric …

Products

Flame-resistant stretch fabric

July 1, 2018

Teijin Aramid’s Teijinconex Coolnex Stretch is a flame-resistant, durable stretch fabric that is also highly comfortable for workwear applications. The unique single-layer, high-performance textile combines FR protection with Solotex® stretch technology, which offers excellent fabric memory, elasticity and flexibility. Current workwear fabric using polyurethane is susceptible to reduced stretch and recovery over time, has poor …

Projects

Hand-woven folk art with character

March 1, 2019

Folk art meets Pokémon Ukrainian artist Oksana Levchenya has long admired the craftsmanship of traditional hand-woven rugs and tapestries. She founded OLK Manufactory in Kiev to create woven rugs and tapestries that exemplify the same kind of expertise. Her vertical kilims are created by hand using an intricate technique dating back to the 16th century. …

Projects

Marathon lamp is a bright idea

March 1, 2019

Sometimes inspiration is found in a most unexpected place. For designer Victor Moynier, the spark of an idea for a lighting fixture came from sportswear. The Lausanne, Switzerland-based industrial designer looked at running jackets and saw the possibility to produce a lamp using ripstop nylon. His Marathon lamp was one of nine lighting fixtures created …

Projects

Animated display for Brussels airport uses kinetic fabric

March 1, 2019

There are many “must sees” in the Flanders region of Belgium: charming cities and towns graced with medieval architecture, the paintings of the Flemish masters, historical sites, fashion, food and design. The tourism bureau, Flanders Tourism (Toerisme Vlaanderen), wanted to give travelers flying into the Brussels Zarventem Airport a taste of the adventure that awaits. …

Projects

Pressed Shoes inspired by auto upholstery

March 1, 2019

Are there similarities between manufacturing upholstery for automobiles and making a pair of shoes? Artist Joris de Groot thinks so. The Amsterdam-based product designer is interested in the tension between craftsmanship and industry. De Groot looked to the techniques involved in manufacturing car interiors to create his In4nite II 2000N Pressed Shoe collection. He chose …

Projects

Textile origami for space habitats

March 1, 2019

So, you move to Mars—now where are you going to live? As a matter of fact, there is innovative work being done on that subject. A design team is working on the MoonMars project—architecture plans for smart human habitats and research stations on other planets. They are experimenting with origami and high-performance textiles to create …

Projects

Eight-story banner helps Seattle sizzle

February 1, 2019

The new mixed-use building 9th & Thomas, located in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, takes a fresh approach to commercial space with floor-to-ceiling glass, gardens, integrated outdoor decks and a welcoming lobby that serves as a community living room. Developed by the Redman family, whose Sellen Construction Company occupied the site for 70 years, the …

Projects

Apartment honors history with fabric images

February 1, 2019

Designer Cory Gans of Boston’s Planeta Design Group had a unique idea to honor the history of the site where the new Montaje Apartments in Sommerville, Mass., now stand. Gans wanted to incorporate photographs from the old Ford Motor Company assembly plant that once inhabited what is now Assembly Row, a residential and commercial redevelopment …

Projects

Truck wraps promote Wreaths Across America program

February 1, 2019

Each December, wreaths are laid at Arlington National Cemetery as well as more than 1,400 cemeteries across the U.S. and abroad to remember fallen soldiers during the holiday season. What began in 1992 as a gesture of respect by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company, Harrington, Maine, has developed into an annual nationwide tribute …

Projects

Dramatic visuals for luxury car show

February 1, 2019

It’s all about the visuals when you want your brand to make an impression at a busy exhibition. That’s something that Belgian exhibit builder Conceptexpo understood when it was contracted to create stands for Porsche and Ferrari at the January 2018 Brussels Motor Show. Conceptexpo chose Van Straaten, a Netherlands-based visual brand producer with large-scale …

Projects

Helping children heal through fabric graphics

February 1, 2019

A hospital can be a scary place for children facing serious illness. Medical equipment and sterile surroundings hardly make for a comforting atmosphere. Step into Nino Jesus University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, and it’s a much different story. Colorful butterflies and birds cover the ceilings of the pediatric cancer treatment center while fish and ducks …

The Greater Good

A&R Tarpaulins’ mentorship program takes internships to a new level

March 1, 2019

Bud Weisbart was determined to make a difference. He transformed A&R Tarpaulins into a leader in fabric and equipment manufacturing for the  aerospace industry, and also turned the company into a beacon of inclusiveness, diversity and multiculturalism. After earning a degree in social service and serving in many social service roles, Weisbart entered the business …

The Greater Good

Ennis Fabrics is committed to community support—from the top down

February 1, 2019

Ennis Fabrics in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has a history that’s steeped in community support. James Ennis Sr. launched Ennis Fabrics in 1972 with a goal to provide better industrial fabrics and service. From a modest 2,500 square-foot warehouse, the company steadily grew, and today it sells 9,000 products from a state-of-the-art office and warehouse that …

The Greater Good

In the pink: Cooley Group supports breast cancer patients and families

January 1, 2019

Social stewardship and community outreach have been woven into the culture at Cooley Group, headquartered in Pawtucket, R.I.  Nearly every quarter, Cooley Group conducts a specific outreach program under the “Cooley Cares” banner to improve lives and make positive changes in the community. Founded as a cotton awning fabrics manufacturer in 1926, Cooley Group has …

The Greater Good

IFAI’s Manufacturing for Good booth assembles duffel bags for homeless recovery center

December 1, 2018

IFAI’s Manufacturing for Good booth made its second appearance at Expo 2018 held in October in Dallas, Texas. Workers at the live manufacturing booth assembled 74 red duffel bags from start to finish. The bags, made from 14 oz. vinyl, were donated to The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, a North Texas-based organization devoted to helping …

The Greater Good

MMI Textiles builds a better community, and workplace, one volunteer event at a time

November 1, 2018

Integrity, service and teamwork are at the center of everything MMI Textiles does, extending beyond working with customers and hiring employees to supporting its community. “Giving back not only goes with our core values, but it also provides an opportunity to work as a team to affect and impact the lives of others less fortunate. …

The Greater Good

Safety Components puts its business acumen to work for charity

October 1, 2018

Following the events of 9/11, Joey Underwood, senior vice president of Safety Components in Greenville, S.C., witnessed several neighborhood efforts to raise money for families of the fallen firefighters in New York City. “I remember driving past a bake sale and thinking, ‘We’re in that business—we should do something, too,” he says. Safety Components develops …

The Greater Good

Aurora Specialty Textiles Group invests in American manufacturing

September 1, 2018

When it became obvious to Aurora Specialty Textiles Group (ASTG) that its 132-year-old facility in Aurora, Ill., was no longer adequate, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the company had given serious consideration to moving operations overseas. But that was not the case. “There might have been a split-second mention of Mexico, but only because …

The Greater Good

O’Sullivan Films’ creek cleanup is the centerpiece of its community work

August 1, 2018

When employees at O’Sullivan Films work to improve the world around them, they don’t have to go any further than their headquarters in Winchester, Va. Winchester, part of the Shenandoah Valley located 75 miles west of Washington, D.C., is home to Abrams Creek, a stream that runs through O’Sullivan’s campus, which includes offices and a …

The Greater Good

Haartz Corporation’s community involvement goes deep

July 1, 2018

Many mission statements of companies claim that part of their corporate responsibility is to support the communities where their employees work and live. Often, this means making a donation to a worthy cause.                 But at the Haartz Corporation, a world leader in convertible toppings and interior surface …

The Greater Good

Service Thread believes that business success and community success go hand in hand

June 1, 2018

When it comes to serving the community, no need is too great or too small for Service Thread, a Laurinburg, N.C.-based designer and developer of engineered yarns and sewing threads. “We usually try to participate in everything,” says Hope Dohogn, human resources manager. “It’s very rare that we would say no.” Whether that need is …