TEXTILES.ORG
Nanotechnology goes to the dogs
July 1st, 2009
When Rover rolls over on his fabric-covered pet bed, most dog owners resign themselves to an ongoing, unsightly mess of dog coat oil, dirt, grime, food stains and hair. Banishing dirty dogs from the family hearth isn’t a viable option, but Nano Pet Products LLC, a Wilton, Ct., manufacturer of pet products, thinks nanotechnology can […]
Fabric decorates walkers for mobility-impaired
July 1st, 2009
Approximately eight million Americans have some type of mobility impairment requiring adaptive equipment such as a cane, crutches, walker, wheelchair, or scooter, according to the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute. Reasons range from medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy or diabetes, to a broken leg or balance problems among the elderly. Medical […]
Air-supported membrane roof gets an upgrade
July 1st, 2009
The Dedmon Athletic Center at Radford University, Radford, Va., is known as “The Bubble” because of its air-supported membrane roof, installed in 1981 by Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. The roof had outlasted its 20-year expected life, but still needed a retrofit in 2009; Radford University went back to the source, Birdair, for an upgrade. The […]
Designers rebel against “one-size-fits-none” hospital gowns
July 1st, 2009
Professor Traci Lamar, North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Textiles, is a rebel without a gown—at least until the ugly, flimsy, shapeless hospital gowns of today experience a makeover. “Nobody is happy with it,” says Blanton Godfrey, dean of the NCSU College of Textiles. “It is amazing—we have created a product nobody likes.” Lamar […]
Performance Fibers updates website
July 1st, 2009
Customers of Performance Fibers, Richmond, Va., will have easy access to product performance specifications on the company’s updated website at www.performancefibers.com. The site includes enhanced navigation, new graphics, videos, illustrations, case studies and other improvements, including 15 new comprehensive global Product Guides translated into German, French, Spanish and Chinese. Performance Fibers’ portfolio includes fibers and […]
SCORE offers online resources
July 1st, 2009
SCORE Association, Herndon, Va., supports 370 chapters and 11,700 volunteers whose mission is getting small businesses going strong. SCORE, a partner with the U.S. Small Business Association, calls itself “Counselor to America’s Small Business,” and its website contains resources to spur start-ups, create new jobs and keep Americans employed. Featured content on www.score.org/accelerate includes: Free […]
Laser cutting technical guide available for download
July 1st, 2009
Textile manufacturers looking for information on how to match laser cutting technology to their application requirements may now download the Spartanics Laser Cutting Technical Guide in English, French, German and Spanish at www.spartanics.com. Part I covers laser cutting vs. tool-based die cutting systems, quality and soft marking standards and cutting speed vs. web speed. Part […]
PBDEs found in ecosystem
July 1st, 2009
The commonly used flame retardant chemicals polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used in building materials and textiles are finding their way into coastal ecosystems in South Florida, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study released in April. Most U.S. manufacturers have discontinued use of PBDEs voluntarily, and production of the chemicals is banned […]
Schoeller’s “textile DNA” offers piracy protection
July 1st, 2009
Counterfeits of fabric products steal an estimated 200-300 billion Euro ($280-420 billion in U.S. dollars) from companies that invest in development, manufacture and promotion of branded products. Schoeller Textil AG, Sevelin, Switzerland, unveiled a new way to stem the tide of fakes at the June 16-18 Techtextil conference in Frankfurt, Germany. The company has developed […]
OMNOVA wins excellence award
July 1st, 2009
For the fourth consecutive year, OMNOVA Solutions Inc., Fairlawn, Ohio, has won the Award for Excellence in Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Performance from the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council. In 2008, OMNOVA’s Mogadore, Ohio, chemicals facility integrated two new environmental improvements to its latex polymer manufacturing process. The facility installed a French auger press that […]