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Anti-slash clothing protects from blunt trauma
July 1st, 2009
Problem: Workers in high-risk environments need protection from knife attacks that bulletproof vests don’t necessarily provide. Solution: ASEO Ltd., Ripon, U.K., has developed anti-slash clothing that looks like a normal t-shirt but contains a lining made from Spectra, a product that is reported to be 10 times stronger than steel and 40 percent lighter than […]
Tape and sealing technology create strong seams
July 1st, 2009
Problem: A cost-effective, heat-sealing machine is needed to produce stronger seams for PVC and acrylic products. Solution: With Miller Weldmaster’s Extreme Seam Tape™ and new impulse sealing technology, the Impulse Extreme™ creates the strongest awning and marine cover seams possible. Able to weld PVC, acrylic fabrics and many others, the Impulse Extreme is priced to […]
Coverall offers alternative to heavy turnout gear
July 1st, 2009
Problem: Firefighter turnout gear is heavy, uncomfortable and may not provide enough protection from punctures or tears. Solution: Ashburn Hill Corp. has just released TECGEN XTREME™, designed for firefighters to wear as an alternative to heavy turnout gear when they are on non-structural fire or emergency calls. The single-layer coverall is not only cool and […]
Calderon keeps awning business going through tough times
July 1st, 2009
Motivated for success, Paula Calderon sets protocols for an awning business in St. Lucia. By Sigrid Tornquist “The management system of ISO [International Organization for Standardization] is sound, efficient and effective. It enhances productivity and customer service, and consequently the bottom line of the company,” says Paula Calderon, managing director of Caribbean Awning Production Co. […]
Maintaining outdoor fabrics
July 1st, 2009
Ensure that your customer is getting the right information on cleaning and maintenance of outdoor fabrics. By Holly O’Dell Proper care and maintenance are the cornerstones of an outdoor fabric’s lifespan—and the lack of proper care is also one of the first things that brings unhappy customers back with complaints. Unfortunately, this increasingly important information […]
Listening to your employees
July 1st, 2009
Learning what matters to your employees is a key step in making your business more productive and profitable. By Amy Orchard As economists and politicians carry on the debate about whether we have seen the worst of the global economic meltdown or if there is more to come, business people across all industries focus on […]
Attracting employees
July 1st, 2009
Strategic hiring practices and tax breaks combine to help attract and retain employees. By Mark E. Battersby The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded a tax credit (a direct reduction of a company’s tax bill) for hiring new workers from groups such as the disabled, welfare recipients and veterans. Keeping labor costs low […]
Taming tsunamis with style
July 1st, 2009
Membrane fabric tidal wave barrier doubles as fair weather shelter. By Chelan David Since ancient times, ports and harbors in Japan have suffered frequent tsunamis, and the damage can be substantial. Tsunamis are not mere floods or tidal waves, but seismic sea waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the seabed. In August of […]
Collaboration brings new life to old wetsuits
July 1st, 2009
Rip Curl and textile students collaborate—fashionably. By Marie O’Mahony Have you ever wondered what happens to old wetsuits? Rip Curl, the iconic Australian sportswear company, has, and so have students at the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) Department of Fashion and Textiles. The two got together earlier this year to work on Fashion Technology: The […]
ARA partners with the U.S. Census Bureau
July 1st, 2009
With the 2010 Census less than a year away, preparations for the nationwide effort to count all U.S. residents are already underway across the country. Census data affects critical decisions from congressional representation to the allocation of more than $300 billion annually in federal funds. The American Rental Association (ARA), representing the $35.3 billion equipment […]