Fabric products help conserve water

January 1, 2011  |  Business, Features, Geosynthetics

As supplies drop and demand rises, governments, companies and individuals look for cost-effective ways to save a limited resource. By Janice Kleinschmidt Picture 26 Olympic-size pools filled with water. That’s how much of the precious resource was prevented from evaporating in a year’s t…
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Bob Campbell gets it just right

January 1, 2011  |  Awnings & Canopies, Features, Marketing, Perspective

Bob Campbell ignores the competition and focuses on his best small business strategies. By Sigrid Tornquist I don’t worry about the competition. They can do whatever they want to do,” says Bob Campbell, MFC, president of Mt. Lebanon Awning in Presto, Pa. “They can be more expensive than we are…
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New media presents new opportunities

January 1, 2011  |  Marketing

Get your online lexicon in order. By Richard Ensman So what exactly is a “vlog” and what does it have to do with you? Can you really use podcasts to promote your products? And just how do you get your business on Facebook without sounding like a friendless geek? Businesses need to go whe…
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Creating the future of textiles (part 5)

December 1, 2010  |  Business, Markets

The push for sustainability drives innovation in advanced textiles. By Dr. Richard Chapas Part V of a series by speakers at the Advanced Textiles Conference 2010. Part I covers developments in advanced textiles, Part II addresses developments in auxetic materials, and Part III discusses electrical c…
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Jobs and credit for small businesses

December 1, 2010  |  Management

The lending fund is only a temporary fix, but it can offer some useful options. By Mark E. Battersby Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, the “Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010.” In addition to creating a unique new $30 billion lending program, the tax pro…
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Marco Sánchez is on a roll

December 1, 2010  |  Features, Geosynthetics, Marketing, Perspective

Marco Sánchez turns a thesis project into a thriving business. By Sigrid Tornquist “Of course starting the business was a risk,” says Marco Sánchez, general manager of ML Ingeniería and Azoteas Verdes in Mexico City. “It was very complicated at first and we were very close to broke, but by …
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Creating the future of textiles (part 4)

November 1, 2010  |  Business, Markets

Nanomaterials offer unlimited potential for creative application in specialty fabrics. By Brian Korgel Part IV of a series by speakers at the Advanced Textiles Conference 2010. Part I covers developments in advanced textiles, Part II addresses developments in auxetic materials, and Part III discusse…
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Industrial “diamonds” drive market growth

November 1, 2010  |  Business, Features

Technology breakthroughs drive growth areas in industrial applications and may provide manufacturers with their “diamonds in the rough.” By Julie Young With the nation’s manufacturing industries still feeling the effects of a tentative economy, companies that supply state-of-the-art specialty …
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Boat made of plastic bottles sets sail

November 1, 2010  |  Business

An epic voyage highlights the environmental problems of plastic bottles—and some possible solutions. By Marie O’Mahony Australian billionaire James Packer’s $30 million Z Sydney cruiser (replacing his $50 million Z Ellerston super yacht, sold last year) is an impressive sight as it…
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Health care and the bottom line

November 1, 2010  |  Management

While much of the law doesn’t go into effect until 2014, there are some immediate ramifications. By Carol Brzozowski It’s said that small businesses—defined as companies with no more than 100 employees—are the backbone of the United States economy. Production of specialty fab…
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