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Makers on the move
November 1st, 2014
The Makers Coalition and IFAI join forces to train— and place—a skilled workforce. Talk to just about any manufacturer of sewn products and you’ll hear the same thing: finding skilled sewers is one of the most difficult things about running this kind of business. Now, thanks to The Makers Coalition (TMC), Minneapolis, Minn., and its […]
A U.S. Army wish list
November 1st, 2014
The U.S. Army tells the textile industry exactly what it wants in the next generation of clothing, gear and structures. By Sigrid Tornquist Fiber reinforced, insect repellent, modular, ergonomic, chemical resistant, paper thin but super tough, omniphobic. These are some of the properties the U.S. Army’s Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) is […]
How to tap into the military market
November 1st, 2014
Where does a company turn when it has technology that could solve a problem for the military? How does it go about making the proper contact? Can it find government funding for a project or does it have to find its own financing? Carole Winterhalter, textile technologist for NSRDEC (Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering […]
Building relationships
November 1st, 2014
Working with the military requires patience, agility and a thorough understanding of government processes—and shifting markets. In July, the Senate appropriations committee passed a 2015 base defense budget of $549.3 billion and another $59.7 billion to fund overseas contingency operation. While the numbers appear staggering, they mark a drop of about $20 billion in each […]
Manufacturing for other militaries
November 1st, 2014
Manufacturers can produce non-strategic items for the militaries of foreign governments, but just like any other business venture outside the United States, it takes patience and education. “Every country operates differently,” says Ron Houle of DHS Systems LLC, based in Tanner, Ala. “Like our military, they can move very, very slowly at times.” The first […]
Gearing up
November 1st, 2014
ROI: Supplying fabrics, materials and services to the military. The U.S. Army’s decision to make its latest training uniform with no reflective element punched Oakdale, Minn.-based Safe Reflections Inc. right in the bottom line. Safe Reflections bases 35 percent of its business on military sales, namely reflective products for workout gear, which were on the […]
One idea, four products
November 1st, 2014
One idea, four products One idea, four products Carry-on, airline-approved suitcase, trolley, steerable kick-scooter and skateboard—in one urban mobility package—the “Olaf” assures that you can get around the city and have everything you need along with you. There are two models: the Olaf Urban and Olaf Business. Both are unisex, unisize, can hold up to […]
Fabric defense
November 1st, 2014
Fabric shelter systems protect valuable aircraft, equipment and military personnel in Afghanistan. Durable fabric relocatable military buildings, temporary hangars, aircraft shelters, storage warehouses and sunshades are designed to be rapidly deployed and quickly constructed anywhere in the world. These engineered aluminum-framed structures are robust, reliable and field maintainable. They are designed to support defense requirements […]
Thermal protection testing
November 1st, 2014
The ThermaRate™ Thermal Barrier Test Apparatus from SDL Atlas measures the burn injury protection of fabrics used in protective clothing worn by workers in the proximity of fires or extreme heat sources, replicating the effects of fabric in proximity of a fire but not immersed in one. Includes closed-loop controlled IR radiant heat source, automated […]
Metallic Details
November 1st, 2014
Konecranes’ CXT Electric Wire Rope Hoists for overhead cranes are manufactured to safely and reliably meet the demands of industrial material handling environments. Compact design accommodates facilities with limited headroom above the crane while maximizing the use of available floor space. Can be custom-tailored for any lifting need up to an 80-metric-ton capacity and programmed […]