Flexible photovoltaics

April 1, 2011  |  Business, Markets

As the performance and durability of flexible photovoltaics increase, so do market possibilities. By Kikuko Tagawa At the World Expo 2010 Shanghai (“Better City—Better Life”), which ended on October 31, the Japan Pavilion presented a 100 by 50 by 24-meter dome with a roof made of s…
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Wendy Tankard builds the workforce

April 1, 2011  |  Features, Management, Perspective, Tents

Wendy Tankard inspires and equips apprentices to enter the specialty fabrics industry. By Sigrid Tornquist “Without tradespeople on site we wouldn’t have the knowledge to make our products,” says Wendy Tankard, administration director of Baytex Mfg. Co., Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. “And if…
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Strong businesses, strong communities

April 1, 2011  |  Features, Management

When small businesses give of their time and resources to build better communities, everyone profits. By Jill Lafferty Gunther Williams’ family business, Idaho Sewing for Sports Inc. of Grangeville, Idaho, was hit hard by the recession. But laying off employees didn’t sit well with him. …
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Professional certification

April 1, 2011  |  Management

Get results by setting your business apart from the competition. By Kelly Frush There’s no question that education affords opportunities. When those opportunities lead to growth—both business and personal—the results are worth the effort. The Industrial Fabrics Association Internat…
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Performance plus: Coatings on demand

March 1, 2011  |  Advanced Textiles, Business, Features

On demand: collaborating on fabrics, products and value-added coatings. By Janice Kleinschmidt Just as Clark Kent flexed his super powers when he emerged from a phone booth, fabrics take on high-performance properties when they emerge from today’s high-tech coating processes. In what appears t…
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Keeping an eye on property taxes

March 1, 2011  |  Management

By Mark E. Battersby Despite all of the attention focused on income taxes, it’s the bill for the tax on the property owned—or leased—by many industrial textile products businesses that is the biggest expense, and the most difficult to manage. According to the Council On State Taxat…
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Mark Mordecai discovers new business opportunities

March 1, 2011  |  Advanced Textiles, Features, Marketing, Perspective

Mark Mordecai engages customers and employees in the process of creating high-performance products. By Sigrid Tornquist “Keeping product lines relevant is really a question of how we can harness the energy and talent of our whole team to make that happen,” says Mark Mordecai, director of busines…
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Solar options for tents

February 1, 2011  |  Business, Features, Tents

Decades of research narrows the search for affordable and efficient solar panels for tents. By Todd Jensen & Sigrid Tornquist For flexible solar panels to have a place in the world of tents they have to be lightweight, and they have to pull their weight; in other words, they have to benefit the …
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Getting back to business

February 1, 2011  |  Management

Focus on the 3 P’s for 2011. By Dave Sanders Most small business owners wear many hats—sales, purchasing and production, to name a few. The demands of day-to-day business activities leave little time for planning or thinking about ways to improve your business. The past few years have be…
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Riad Shakeer builds his company with diversification

February 1, 2011  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Marine, Marketing, Perspective

Riad Shakeer moves his company forward through product diversification. By Sigrid Tornquist As soon as my business started to grow, I started looking for something else to produce,” says Riad Shakeer, owner of Calypso Marine Canvas Ltd. and Calypso Fabric Architecture Caribbean Ltd. in Chaguanas, …
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