Design and branding

November 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Features, Marketing

Awnings have long been an effective way to brand a business, but other kinds of shade structures are emerging as an additional option, especially when organizations understand that branding isn’t only about company colors and logos. Shade structures can be a creative option to communicate branding…
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Sustainability metrics and certifications

October 1, 2013  |  Business, Features, Industry News

The Oeko-Tex® STeP Certification for the textile industry. By Samuel D. Moore, Ph.D. The globalization of the textile industry has created enormous pressure for textile brands, factories and supply chains to demonstrate their ability to manage and continuously improve the sustainability of their…
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Small & mighty nanotechnology market

October 1, 2013  |  Advanced Textiles, Business, Features, Markets

From the fiber level to surface coatings, new developments in nanotechnology impact many specialty fabrics markets. By Sigrid Tornquist Ways of manufacturing specialty fabrics have been around for decades, but what does that mean in terms of opportunities for manufacturers, particularly in regard to…
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Creating the future of textiles: Auxetics advances

October 1, 2013  |  Advanced Textiles, Business

An interview with Advanced Fabric Technologies president David O’Keefe reveals the latest developments in the company’s auxetic technology. by Janet Preus An engineering and design company, Advanced Fabric Technologies focuses on developing material solutions for military and commercial …
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Sales support driving the way

October 1, 2013  |  Features, Management, Perspective, Tents

Alex Kouzmanoff translates customer service into customer satisfaction—by listening. By Sigrid Tornquist “When someone is totally incentivized by sales, there is no backup after the sale is made,” says Alex Kouzmanoff, vice president, Aztec Tents, Torrance, Calif. “We wanted to focus our sal…
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S.M.A.R.T. clothing recycling

September 1, 2013  |  Business, Industry News

Helping communities manage clothing and textile recycling; NCTO welcomes new president. The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART), Bel Air, Md., is taking several positive steps focusing on the issues surrounding clothing collection bins, as part of its continuing effort to p…
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Creating the future of textiles: Carbon nanotube fabrics

September 1, 2013  |  Advanced Textiles, Business

Dry processed fabrics containing high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes could enable a new generation of products. by Philip D. Bradford, Ph.D. Carbon nanotube (CNT) research has received a lot of popular press recently because of the amazing potential applications of these unique nanofibers. Carbon nan…
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First U.S. offshore grid-connected wind turbine

September 1, 2013  |  Business, Projects

The University of Maine, leading the DeepCwind Consortium, deployed the first grid-connected offshore wind turbine in U.S. waters, the VolturnUS 1:8, near Brewer, Maine, on May 31. The approximately 65-foot-tall wind turbine prototype includes a tower constructed of fiberglass-reinforced composite m…
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Estate planning primer

September 1, 2013  |  Management

Planning and solid decision-making will help protect assets for the future. By Larry Oxenham Everyone can benefit from good estate planning. Single, married, a parent with children, a business owner—the scenarios are as varied as the lives we lead, but the principles are the same. Effective es…
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New tools, old school

September 1, 2013  |  Awnings & Canopies, Management

A long-term family business embraces new methods to set the stage for future growth. By Jarrett Schechner Awning Works Inc. serves customers throughout our home state of Florida and nationwide. We recently expanded into general contracting with a new start-up firm called ABuilt Inc. Using today&rsqu…
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