September 22, 2017
Empowering employee-led teams to organize activities in their neighborhoods, Huntsman Textile Effects is helping local communities become sustainable through social, environmental and economic sustainability projects. These initiatives are designed by local employees to meet the needs of the communities in which Huntsman operates, in line with the core pillars of sustainability: people, planet, profits. In …
September 21, 2017
Fiber Industries LLC, Columbia, S.C., will open a new textile production operation in Darlington County, S.C., in early 2018. The new plant is projected to bring more than $30 million of capital investment and create at least 135 new jobs. A privately-held company, Fiber Industries was established by MHR Fund Management LLC, a New York-based …
September 20, 2017
Columbia Sportswear, Portland, Ore., has launched its ReThreads program in more than 100 Columbia stores across the country. The program makes it easy for people to recycle used clothing and footwear by dropping them off in bins at each of their store locations. The items are sent to a processing facility through I:CO, a textile-recycling solutions company. Anything that can be …
September 19, 2017
ASTM International will host an organizational meeting to potentially launch a new group that creates technical standards for human exoskeletons. This fast-growing area includes wearable robots and other mechanisms that enhance human strength and provide other capabilities. New exoskeleton standards could support cutting-edge industrial, military, medical, recreational and other applications. Government agencies, industry groups, laboratories …
September 18, 2017
Sinteplast, Piessa Group member, the biggest PVC producer in Mexico, plans to present its new pool liner—GEOPOOL—this September at IFAI Expo in New Orleans. After three years of research to develop a line of reinforced membranes capable of competing directly with European products, Sinteplast moves forward with its swimming pool line which includes outstanding embossing …
AWNEX Inc., a Ball Ground, Ga., manufacturer and installer of architectural metal systems for the corporate chain market, has announced the establishment of a sister company, The Garrett Company (TGC). The company offers commercial-grade metal architectural systems, including trellises, canopies, soffit canopies, sunscreens, patio covers and shutters. Sold directly to customers through a dealer network …
IMI Europe has announced the full invited speaker and panel session program for its strategic Digital Printing Conference event. The event will be held at the Novotel Barcelona City Hotel, Barcelona, Spain, from September 20–21, 2017, with supporting events on September 18–19 including a Mergers and Acquisitions forum, Market Reports Live sessions and a new …
September 15, 2017
The conference, “Managing Today’s Textile Coloration Challenges: From Fiber to Fashion” was held September 13–14 in Charlotte, N.C. Sponsored by the Association of Textile, Apparel & Materials Professionals (AATCC), the conference brought together brands, retailers, mills and suppliers to hear both sides of the story and work together to understand each other’s challenges and propose …
R+T South America, a specialized trade fair dedicated to roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection system in the Mercosur market, will take place May 9–12, 2018, in São Paulo, Brazil. The trade fair is the new platform for national and international manufacturers and dealers. R+T South America showcases new technologies, information on innovations and offers …
September 14, 2017
Tom Koster joins Fil-TecTom Koster has joined the sales team of Fil-Tec Inc., Hagerstown, Md., as senior sales representative for the Midwest region. Koster will handle sales and service for the region, along with new account development. He brings over 36 years of experience in sales and management to Fil-Tec, a leading manufacturer of industrial …
September 13, 2017
A new United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project will help revive the Egyptian cotton industry, which produces high quality fiber known the world over as “white gold.” Although a significant pillar of the Egyptian economy, the textile sector plays a marginal role in the global textile value chain due to the absence of innovation, …
September 12, 2017
R+T 2018, the world trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun protection systems, will take place in Stuttgard, Germany, February 27–March 3, 2018. The demand for high-quality internal sun protection systems has been growing. According to annual figures of the members of the Association for Interior Blinds and Shading Devices (ViS), extremely good sales …
The flame-resistant fabrics market is estimated to grow to $5.787 billion by 2022, according to a new report by Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland. The increase, from $4.379 billion in 2017, represents a compound annual growth rate of 5.73 percent over the forecast period. Mounting concern over workplace safety and government regulations are key factors …
September 11, 2017
How trade deals currently in discussion could impact the textile industry As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since taking office and after threatening to withdraw the United States from NAFTA unless its terms were renegotiated, President Trump has cajoled Mexico and …
The Biocomposites Conference Cologne is scheduled to take place on Dec. 6–7, 2017, in Cologne, Germany. This year’s conference and exhibition will be the largest industry meeting on biocomposites worldwide, with more than 250 participants and 30 exhibitors expected. Organized by the nova-Institute, the conference will highlight the wide range of successful new technologies and …
September 8, 2017
The MFA Awards are now open for entries! MFA members are being notified in advance of non-member industry professionals. Submit your best fabrication projects for an opportunity to win a Fabrication Excellence Award. Participation is simple, so submit your projects today! The deadline to submit projects will be November 30, 2017. No exceptions. Fabrication Excellence …
Mahaffey Fabric Structures has acquired more than $24.2 million in assets from Classic Party Rentals, including tents, structure frames, fabric pieces and specialty structures. Based in Memphis, Tenn., Mahaffey provides temporary turnkey structures and shelter solutions across the U.S. With the purchase, Mahaffey will have an expanded network of both personnel and products to cover …
September 7, 2017
SPGPrints has opened a 7,534-square-foot demonstration and training facility for digital textile customers and end-user brands at the company’s global headquarters in Boxmeer, The Netherlands. The Experience Center features operational SPGPrints PIKE® and JAVELIN® digital textile printers for demonstrations and customer trials. The facility will be used to help ensure that suppliers and buyers of …
September 5, 2017
Saint-Gobain, Corbevoie, France, has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire Kirson, Bavaria, Germany. Kirson makes reinforcement scrim and combination products of scrim and nonwoven fabrics primarily for the waterproofing roofing markets, as well as floor coverings and construction panels. The integration of Kirson into Saint-Gobain’s high-performance materials line will complete the company’s Adfors division …
September 1, 2017
Strataglass, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., manufacturer of premium clear vinyl composite sheets, has launched a new company website: www.strataglass.com. The site is an information hub for the marine enclosure markets, featuring comprehensive blog articles and download opportunities for informational product documents about both Strataglass and CrystalClear, the company’s uncoated clear composite vinyl alternative that offers …
It’s everywhere and it’s not attractive. Permastink—the unpleasant smell that won’t wash out of textile products—has become a topic of conversation for consumers and brands alike. Polyester and other synthetic fibers are the materials of choice for the active performance and athleisure styles consumers now wear throughout the day. Unfortunately, these synthetic fibers are perceived …
LENZIP has a brand new zipper for the marine canvas, outdoor gear and portable (temporary) shelter markets: the LENZIP No. 12 Marine Grade UV Zipper is larger than the industry standard No. 10, but smaller than Lenzip’s BIGZIP® No. 15 gauge. The new No. 12 gauge is available with 316 stainless steel sliders in auto …
For four days every year, IFAI Expo offers industry members the opportunity to share trade secrets and take advantage of educational opportunities, product demonstrations and certification options. A new addition this year is Manufacturing for Good. The live manufacturing experience demonstrates the making of a duffel bag from start to finish, with a philanthropic twist: …
In 1956, all of New York City’s art world was abuzz about a new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It wasn’t the retrospective about the French Impressionist painter Henri Matisse, whose works were newly arrived in New York from Paris (a show that originated at the French National Museum of Modern Art), …
Europe’s biggest international lighting exhibition is Euroluce, held in Milan in conjunction with Salone del Mobile Milano (the Milan Furniture Fair). At Euroluce 2017 last April, 485 exhibitors displayed the latest in indoor, outdoor and industrial lighting products, including many innovative, cutting-edge designs. The Italian lighting company Leucos created a dramatic rendition of their own …
The new 26-foot-wide Nebula™ net from Rose Brand Inc. provides a high gain, see-through projection surface that’s virtually undetectable to an audience. Projected objects seem to float in midair or appear out of nowhere. The Nebula net can be used for stunning visual effects such as layered projections for concerts, dramatic reveals for corporate events …
In the Pacific Ocean, there is an area known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a mass of plastic and other debris that doesn’t biodegrade. Estimated to be between the size of the state of Texas and the continental United States twice over, the patch is held in place by ocean currents. Boyan Slat, …
Vision is dandy, but sustainable company excellence comes from a huge stable of able managers. ~Tom Peters September is IFAI Expo month, and this year’s programs, events and exhibits are focused more than ever on making the workmanship surpass the materials—even the amazing materials on the show floor in New Orleans. It’s an education in …
Back in the day, a telephone was expected to perform a limited number of functions: alert you when someone was trying to reach you and connect you to those you were trying to reach. Technology advanced and phones became more portable. The same sort of process is happening to fabrics and fibers. The possibility of …
Wolff Industries’ Premium KAI series multipurpose shears are made from high-quality Japanese steel. With steel throughout the handles, the soft Santoprene insert cushions the user’s hands for increased comfort. The shears are made from A-8 High Carbon stainless steel with a Rockwell hardness rating of approximately 60, one of the hardest and smoothest available. These …
Researchers at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, have developed a technology that could help people who suffer from respiratory conditions including asthma, sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They created a smart T-shirt that monitors a person’s respiratory rate in real time. Best of all, it uses an antenna sewn into the shirt …
The properties of any fabric will be determined by the combined characteristics of its fiber, yarn, construction method, and dyeing and finishing processes,” says Elissa Decker, senior manager of materials, Moss Inc., Chicago, Ill. “It’s such an exciting time to work in the industry, because there’s a lot of performance that you can build into …
Improving productivity depends on a combination of efficient employees, equipment and processes. Driving improvement in all these areas involves examining the current practices in place and making adjustments to systems, employee training, technology, equipment and tools. From small tweaks in communication processes to large technology improvements, companies are using many techniques to boost productivity. Tecsew …
The Coats Signal line of premium fire-resistant and flame-retardant retro reflective tapes are designed for maximum heat and flame protection, for great visibility and resistance to extreme conditions. When illuminated by a light source, the reflective tapes provide enhanced visibility at nighttime, during difficult weather conditions, as well as in low light for protective clothing …
Enduratex has introduced Overshadow, its first combination TPO fabric with a PU topskin and a new offering in its earth-friendly Puretex collection. The high-performance fabric with applications in the contract and hospitality markets has UV-stabilized pigments that last a minimum of 300 hours, an abrasion resistance on the Wyzenbeek of 100,000 cycles #10 Cotton Duck, …
Can one visualize the wind? That was one of the ideas explored by Estudio Invasivo or Invasive Study, a Chilean design studio that studies the cardinal logic of architecture and its pedagogical dialogues. The project, Archetypical Sessions, placed architectural elements in different settings to explore how people interacted with the different scenarios. Participants were asked …
When U.S. textile jobs started to leave en masse for China and other cheap-labor countries in the 1990s, an entire industry scrambled to pick up the pieces. Companies that survived the upheaval frequently shared one common trait: adaptability. Some contract sewers courted niche non-apparel product makers, while others invested in equipment to become leaders in …
There are many challenges to cleaning up oil spills. Consider the devastating Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. A portion of the millions of gallons of oil that escaped drifted through the ocean rather than rising to the surface. Because it did not rise to the top, the oil could not …
Herculite’s NATURA® awning fabric has new features including surface improvements that reduce crazing and make the appearance of the face and reverse of the fabric virtually identical. The new proprietary core-stabilized system reduces edge curl, inhibits seam leakage and offers excellent dimensional stability. The new NATURA now features 10 designer colors and a softer hand …
As many as 330 million people worldwide suffer from Chronic Middle Ear Disease, a debilitating condition that is the most common cause of perforated eardrums. It can cause hearing loss and great pain when there is damage to the eardrum and mastoid bone. A team of scientists at the Ear Science Institute Australia and the …
In addition to reviewing in-house monthly profit and loss statements, The Dize Co., an awnings fabricator in Winston Salem, N.C., monitors information gathered by an independent, web-based company. “I can go online and see what we installed the week before and what we have in the pipeline for the next four to six weeks,” president/CEO …
For the last 18 years, the Young Architects Program at The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 in Manhattan has sponsored a design competition for emerging architects. The challenge was to develop a creative design for a temporary outdoor installation that provides shade, seating and water. Guidelines regarding environmental issues, including sustainability and recycling, …
Working the floor of a big-box store requires heavy lifting and moving bulky products around. Employees are at risk for muscle fatigue from repetitive motion or even injury from improper lifting techniques. The home improvement giant Lowe’s has developed technology to offer employees support. Lowe’s Innovation Labs worked in partnership with a team at Virginia …
After 85 years in a historical, four-story building, Ohio Awning & Manufacturing Co. moved to a newer, one-story building. The Cleveland-based company took advantage of the relocation to design its new floor layout with workflow in mind. The move also allowed Ohio Awning to invest in a cutting machine, which it didn’t have space for …
No matter where in the world we run our businesses, we aspire to be successful, profitable and happy. We have either started the business from nothing, purchased an existing enterprise or taken the reins of the family business. Often, we begin with limited skills, have minimal formal industry training and largely “learn by our mistakes.” …
The Canadian Printable, Flexible, Wearable Electronics Symposium (CPES2017) was held on the outskirts of Toronto in May this year. Buildings, and smart buildings in particular, were a hot topic both in presentations and in the poster exhibition that accompanied the three-day event. Ronald Zimmer, president and CEO of the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) set …
August 31, 2017
Multiple nonwovens product sectors in China continue to exhibit strong growth and potential for the foreseeable future, according to reports from the biennial China International Nonwovens Expo & Forum held in Shanghai in June. While multiple sectors within China’s nonwovens market are experiencing strong growth, three in particular stand out: hygiene, medical and filtration. Government …
August 30, 2017
A 2015 survey by Consumer Reports indicates that nearly 8 in 10 American consumers would rather buy a product made in United States than an imported one—and 60 percent of them would be willing to pay 10 percent more for it. But the sewn-goods industry faces critical questions about the “Made in the USA” label: …
The government of India has set the goal for the Indian textile sector to reach $650 billion by 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the goal while inaugurating India’s largest ever textile meet, Textiles India–2017 last June in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. He said that speed, scale and quality are essential for Indian textiles to compete against …
August 29, 2017
Pennel & Flipo SA, a Mouscron, Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of ORCA® textiles, has acquired Fait Plast, Brescia, Italy. A European leader in the manufacturing of technical thermoplastic films, Fait Plast’s films are used for applications including ecological thermo adhesives for shirt/T-shirt printing, functionalization of sportswear and underwear, anti-slipping solutions for hosiery and the orthopedic …