Textiles REACH European markets
February 1st, 2010
Shirley Technologies Ltd., Leeds, England, offers new textile testing services to screen for substances of very high concern (SVHC) in garments, fabric, thread or other components of the textile product supply chain. The European Union law that requires companies to be responsible for chemicals used in product manufacture—Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals, or […]
Organic flame retardant from Albemarle
February 1st, 2010
Environmental concerns about flame-retardant chemicals surfaced when compounds were discovered in soil and ground water at fire training sites. Now Albemarle® Corp., Baton Rouge, La., is unveiling a new organic flame retardant suitable for use in textile, electronic and transportation products made of durable plastic resins. GreenArmor™, part of Albemarle’s Earthwise™ family of sustainable solutions, […]
Burlington Technologies brings 100 jobs
February 1st, 2010
Defying a depressed economy, Burlington Technologies, Burlington, N.C., will bring 100 new jobs to the city with its affiliate VitaFlex LLC, a manufacturing facility for nonwoven elastic fabric. The plant will manufacture face masks and stretchable painters’ hoods, but applications for breathable, durable and elastic VitaFlex include medical supply items such as masks, coverings and […]
Highland Industries expands S. C. plant
February 1st, 2010
The weft-insertion manufacturing facility in Cheraw, S.C., will expand and add jobs, says Highland Industries Inc., an industrial textiles manufacturer based in Greensboro, N.C. The state of South Carolina and Chesterfield County rolled out the red carpet for Highland in its attempt to attract new investment. “We believe today’s news will be the start of […]
TTU Distinguished Research Award
February 1st, 2010
>Texas Tech University System, U.S., has awarded the Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Research Award to Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, an associate professor of nonwovens and advanced materials at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health. It is the highest award given by TTU to a faculty member who has excelled in research. With the award, Dr. Ramkumar […]
Shades reduce office window glare
February 1st, 2010
Employees the world over squabble and scheme to get offices with windows, so modern office architecture lets the sunshine in with floor-to-ceiling glass—and sometimes wall-to-wall glare. Architects Scott Tallon Walker faced the additional challenge of reflected glare from the water on an office structure at Lapps Quay, Cork City, Ireland. They selected outdoor shade structures […]
Camper offers luxury on the road
February 1st, 2010
Award-winning designer Axel Enthoven’s new mobile holiday home looks like a pop-up camper when compressed and traveling sedately behind a car, but when deployed it becomes a luxury hotel suite with a teak veranda, two adjustable beds, hot and cold water, ceramic toilet and sink, espresso bar, working kitchen and outdoor barbecue grill. Christened the […]
Tensioned fabric structure brings performance and sculpture together
February 1st, 2010
It was a stretch, but architect Ali Heshmati, LEAD Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., and light architect Dr. Lars Meess-Olsohn pulled together an installation at the GLOW 2008 International Forum of Light in Art and Architecture that enticed 150,000 participants to walk through their “Dar Luz” performance piece in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Visitors walked on a 22-meter […]
Concealable solar cells offer new power possibilites
February 1st, 2010
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga., have developed a new type of photovoltaic system that would allow solar collectors to be embedded in walls or located anywhere, hidden from view. Using zinc oxide nanostructures grown on optical fibers and coated with dye-sensitized solar cell material, researchers created “truly a three-dimensional solar cell,” […]
Used marine apparel gets recycled
February 1st, 2010
Teijin Fibers Ltd., Osaka, Japan, now employs its closed-loop polyester fiber recycling system, ECO CIRCLE™, to convert worn marine clothing to new marine apparel. Teijin’s ECO STORM®, a waterproof and breathable fabric made from recycled fibers and a durable thin polyester film, will be incorporated into 2010 Blue Eco sailing wear produced by Henri Lloyd, […]