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Trivantage to host second annual Makers Meet in May
April 2nd, 2026
Image: Trivantage Trivantage will host its second annual Makers Meet on May 8, 2026, in partnership with the Window Coverings Association of America. The one-day event is designed for workrooms, upholsterers and designers, offering opportunities to learn, connect and explore new techniques and materials. The event will take place at the Sunbrella® flagship manufacturing plant […]
Arclin acquires DuPont’s Aramid business, Kevlar and Nomex brands
April 1st, 2026
Image: Arclin Arclin, a global materials science company, announced that the company has completed the acquisition of DuPont’s Aramid business, including the Kevlar® and Nomex® brands, for approximately $1.8 billion. “Kevlar and Nomex are the gold standard in their respective industries, and we are very excited to incorporate the Aramids platform into Arclin’s broader material science […]
Inflatable underground geodesic homes tested by Pneumocell
April 1st, 2026
The dual-layer textile membrane weighs less than 1 kilogram per square meter (3 ounces per square foot). The outer layer is a polyester, coated on both sides with polyurethane (PU), and the inner is a single-sided PU-coated polyester textile. Image: Pneumocell Inspired by their research on inflatable structures as moon habitats, the team at Pneumocell, […]
Tent Expo 2026 showcases innovation, education
April 1st, 2026
Morning dawns on the acres of exhibit space at Tent Expo 2026 in Kissimmee, Fla. The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) brought energy, education and collaboration to Tent Expo 2026, held Jan. 27–29 at Margaritaville Resort Orlando in Kissimmee, Fla. With certification courses, expanded exhibits and high-energy networking events, this year’s […]
Vine-inspired soft robotic gripper
April 1st, 2026
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University researchers created this robotic gripper, which can lift a variety of heavy and fragile objects, like a watermelon. Images: Courtesy of the researchers/Tony Pulsone, MechE Engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University have created a robotic gripper that can gently pick up various heavy and […]
Agriculture fabrics for ever-changing seasons
April 1st, 2026
Whether traveling the countryside in the United States or around the globe, it doesn’t take long to spot a storage building, livestock or poultry shelter, or agriculture storage structure made of a textile. It could be a framed Quonset-hut style building with a textile skin rather than a metal shed in North Dakota. It could […]
Critical insurance lessons for fabricators
April 1st, 2026
Photographing the fire’s aftermath helped document the extent of the smoke damage. This was necessary proof provided to the insurance company of what Robie Canvas owned and its lost value. Image: Robie Canvas LLC/Jim Robert For years, I viewed insurance premiums as a necessary evil—an expensive line item that seemed to grow annually without tangible […]
Geotextiles and geogrids mean longer-lasting roads
April 1st, 2026
A contractor installed this wicking geotextile, Solmax® MIRAFI® H2Ri, on Interstate 94 in Minnesota using a milling machine, which resulted in accurate placement with reduced time and cost. Image: Minnesota Department of Transportation Can geotextiles and geogrids help build roadways that last for 100 years—or longer? Yes, say both industry and transportation representatives, although wider […]
Maintaining critical funding
April 1st, 2026
The advanced textile industry is affected by acts that provide federal funding, such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Commerce, Justice, Science Act. The NDAA funds defense and security efforts at the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, which collaborate with industry on public-private partnerships for R&D and product development. […]
Kolorful Kanvas creates protective, tailored robot skin
April 1st, 2026
Image: Kolorful Kanvas Ltd. A need to protect a robotic arm from desert heat, UV rays and dust brought Kolorful Kanvas Ltd. of Christchurch, New Zealand, a custom project from an existing local client. The robot would be working in the Arizona desert, charging large electric mining vehicles. The bag protecting it needed to be insulated […]