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Hands-on approach to customized work gloves
September 1st, 2012
In an effort to develop improved fit in work gloves, the Hohenstein Institute, Bönnigheim, Germany, asked 100 test volunteers to give them a hand—and allow a 3D scanner to map the hand’s 48 longitudinal and circumference measurements. The Institute is defining detailed virtual hand models and hand-measurement tables to help manufacturers create customized, ergonomic gloves. […]
Tented event boosts Mexico’s travel industry
September 1st, 2012
A marina in the fishing village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle hosted Tianguis TurÃstico, Mexico’s largest annual tourism trade show under tents provided by Grupo Serna of Iztapalapa, Mexico. The trade show brings together travel businesses, national and international buyers, hotels and airlines. The goal: boosting Mexico’s travel industry. “As there are many rental companies […]
“Smart Home” highlights 21st century living spaces
September 1st, 2012
The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), Chicago, Ill., invites guests into 21st century living spaces in its current exhibit, “Smart Home: Green + Wired.” MSI’s Smart Home is a real, functioning three-story modular house built in the museum’s back yard. It is fitted with sustainable materials, repurposed furnishings, energy-saving technology and high-tech gadgets. Solar […]
Branded tent shades video gamers
September 1st, 2012
People sat on couches and gamed—but not in their living rooms. Contestants gamed for more than 26 hours in a tent at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo to set a new Guinness world record for longest video gaming experience using tablets. The contest was created by Qualcomm in celebration of the release of its gaming […]
Recycled banners become ‘upcycled’—and upscale
September 1st, 2012
The core business of Banner Creations Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., is banners, but the company recently launched an e-commerce initiative making use of banner scraps, misprints and overruns. Scrappy Products bags are fashioned from waste fabric, and some are made from 100 percent recycled water and pop bottles, giving the custom products sustainability street cred and […]
Major corporations push PET from plants
September 1st, 2012
Five industry powerhouses joined forces in June to speed research and development of PET plastics made entirely of plant-based materials, according to an article in IndustryWeek.com. Ford, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, H.J. Heinz Co. and Nike Inc. use plastics in products ranging from automotive fabric to footwear to plastic bottles. The goal of the strategic […]
Geosynthetics restore Gulf Coast
September 1st, 2012
A new Duke University study, “Geosynthetics: Coastal Management Applications in the Gulf of Mexico,” details how the emerging geosynthetics industry can create jobs benefitting nearly 200 employee locations in 36 states, including more than 72 in the five gulf states and 24 in Louisiana. Increased investment in ecosystem restoration, flood prevention and erosion control is […]
Sales of textile-based automotive airbags set to increase
September 1st, 2012
Textiles Intelligence predicts that sales of textile-based automotive airbags are set to increase rapidly between 2010 and 2017, following two tough years in 2008 and 2009 when global sales of light vehicles fell sharply. In the U.S. the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is improving standards of protection against side-impact crashes; the new standards […]
GOCarbonFibre 2012 conference in London
September 1st, 2012
The 15th annual Global Outlook for Carbon Fibre conference will bring together the most influential figures from the carbon fiber industry. Taking place October 2–4 in London, GOCarbonFibre 2012 will address key issues in the carbon fiber value chain and give expert insight into the entire manufacturing process for carbon fiber from beginning to end. […]
Nontoxic treatment promises a cleaner way to dye
September 1st, 2012
Textile dyeing has been known to discharge pollution into waterways. Old practices die hard, but the two men who formed ColorZen LLC have set out to make the industry sustainable. Tony Leonard, a textile chemist, and Michael Harari, son of a New York City apparel maker, founded their startup in 2010 to commercialize Leonard’s improvements […]