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‘Robotic’ textile can help control breathing
December 1st, 2021
OmniFiber, developed by researchers at MIT and in Sweden, contains a fluid channel (air or water) in the center that allows the fiber to act similar to an artificial muscle when activated. Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Sweden have developed a new “robotic” textile that can be woven into clothing. Called OmniFiber, […]
Smart gloves translate sign language
December 1st, 2021
A Chinese startup has found a way to commercialize and mass produce a smart glove that can translate sign language into text or audible speech. Wulala Technology Co. has launched a glove paired via Bluetooth® to a subscription-based app on a smartphone. It incorporates two-way bending sensors in each finger, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) […]
Carbon nanotube fibers used in new ‘smart shirt’
December 1st, 2021
A Rice University lab has developed a new technology for creating a health monitoring shirt using flexible, conductive nanotube thread to weave functionality into regular apparel. The university’s Brown School of Engineering lab of chemical and biomolecular engineer Matteo Pasquali report that the lab sewed nanotube fibers into athletic wear to monitor the heart rate […]
NASA tests new heat shield material
December 1st, 2021
The team behind the umbrella-like, deployable heat shield design called ADEPT (Adaptable, Deployable, Entry and Placement Technology) is testing out a new material to deliver science payloads on future missions to Mars and beyond. Called Spiderweave, the woven fabric will make it safer for larger vehicles to safely pass through the atmosphere of more distant […]
Working together to solve problems
December 1st, 2021
An event like last month’s Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo in Nashville, Tenn., is a good way to check the pulse of an industry. And if anything was clear at Expo, it was that textile manufacturers are ready and eager to get back to work. Exhibitors and attendees at Expo were clearly excited to be […]
Showroom showdown
December 1st, 2021
Oyster Creek’s floor design gives customers a glimpse of production in progress even if they’re only there to shop for materials. Whether it’s online or brick and mortar, a well-conceived product showroom can make a substantial difference in how customers perceive your company and its offerings. Strategic improvements in both can help your clients better […]
New textile solutions for thermal management
December 1st, 2021
Coolwave's shape-shifting technology creates a true bidirectional thermal textile. The Coolwave technology opens or closes the fabric's pores to cool or warm the wearer. Photo: Faye Levine, University of Maryland. Life on Earth—as we know it—would not be viable without managing the temperature levels of our personal climates, our environments and the perishable materials we […]
The ethical dilemma of ransomware attacks
December 1st, 2021
The recent proliferation of well-publicized cyberattacks has revealed ransomware to be a serious national security threat. Still largely hidden from public view, however, are the attacks on small businesses, including many within the industrial, specialty and advanced textile industry, that don’t make the headlines. Surprisingly, while ransomware attacks have become a multibillion-dollar threat, the average […]
Crowdsourcing funds a new modular tent system
December 1st, 2021
Diamond Brand Gear’s Tent Rescue Program crew created a miniature LMNL tent—complete with modular panels—out of scraps of materials. Photo: Diamond Brand Gear. Take an established business with a solid customer base, add a great idea for product expansion and what do you get? The need for capital. Product development takes cash—even when developing the […]
DIY printable wall coverings
December 1st, 2021
TexStyles® FashionWalls is a line of 100 percent knit polyester printable fabric wall coverings that allows customers to create their own designs to fit any environment. The wall coverings are durable, washable, abrasion resistant and stand up to washing and scrubbing with minimal to no staining. Available in dye-sublimation and latex/UV versions in widths up […]