Sustainable packaging materials for finished goods

January 1, 1970  |  News

Fabrics and membranes help make farming more sustainable in many ways, but a large portion of agriculture’s environmental footprint has to do with the packaging and distribution of the goods. Luckily, Megaplast S.A., a packaging company headquartered in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, has developed …
Read More
Finishing methods for materials

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Andrea Swensson Vinyl laminated polyester Heat sealing “Provides a clean, pleasing finish to the quality printed product. No holes punched in the material. No thread to distract the appearance. And bonding strength to last the life of the material versus a tape, which can lose its hold in v…
Read More
Sewing vs. welding seams

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Andrea Swensson Sewing Economical. For shops just starting out, a new sewing machine can cost only a fraction of a new welding machine. Convenient. The needle-and-thread method can accommodate a variety of thicknesses without much adjustment, and many shops already have sewing capabilities. Versa…
Read More
Creating an event out of fabric

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Gail Nickel-Kailing Wanting to “wow” their best management staff, T-Mobile approached Rainier Industries seeking colorful, creative and flexible graphics and displays for a staff appreciation event planned at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The Challenge: Sight unseen What d…
Read More
Deciding between buying or subleasing equipment

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Maura Keller The decision to buy equipment or continue to sublease is often made on a per item basis. Before buying, ask yourself: Do I have the storage space for this item? Is there an ongoing market for it? How many times will I need to rent it out to make a profit? “I … <div><a hr…
Read More
Tools and resources for making estimates

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Shelby Gonzalez Several fabricators recommend the MFA Time Standards Manual as a useful reference point when estimating the time a project will take. When it comes to software that will help you track jobs and generate professional-looking estimates, work orders and invoices, you have many option…
Read More
Meeting FAA requirements with aircraft upholstery

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Abbie Yarger Working with aircraft interiors takes more than simply agreeing to do a job. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented numerous regulations and procedures for upholsterers providing aircraft services. “Those people who want to get into the aircraft market have to do…
Read More
Designing upholstery work for its transportation niche

January 1, 1970  |  News

By Abbie Yarger Some upholsterers involved in custom niche transportation projects find themselves immersed in the design elements of the work. When Dan Salinas, owner of Hot Rod Heaven in Nampa, Idaho, accepts a job, he thoroughly inspects the vehicle, researching the frame, body and paint to creat…
Read More
Future visions for government oversight

January 1, 1970  |  News

Terry Davies, a senior fellow at Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C., envisions a new federal agency larger than the EPA with a staff of 43,500 and budget of roughly $18 billion. It would incorporate six existing agencies: EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini…
Read More
Pioneering ‘nano’ ideas

January 1, 1970  |  News

Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988) was professor of theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, Calif. Awarded the 1965 Nobel Prize for his work on the development of quantum electrodynamics, Feynman has been credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing …
Read More