Shade market basics that deliver

October 15, 2018  |  Expo News

The shade market keeps growing, according to Marc Shellshear, general manager of Value Vinyls Inc., and customers are more concerned than ever about preventing skin cancer. Shellshear was among the first presenters October 15 at IFAI’s 2018 Pre-Expo Conference in Dallas, Texas. Shellshear explaine…
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Medical textiles keep evolving

October 15, 2018  |  Expo News

Fitzroy Brown, product manager of Bard Peripheral Vascular, discussed the evolution of medical textiles for vascular surgical applications on October 15 at IFAI’s 2018 Expo Pre-Conference in Dallas, Texas. Attendees at the presentation learned that implantable fabrics were first experimented with …
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Making connections in smart textiles

September 29, 2017  |  Expo News

When E.M. Forster wrote the words “only connect” in his Victorian novel Howards End, he was linking poetry and prose. But the phrase was given new meaning at IFAI Expo’s Advanced Textiles Conference Smart Fabrics Track on Tuesday by presenters who encouraged better connectivity between the tex…
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Best business practices for working with engineers

September 29, 2017  |  Expo News

Mike Sullaway, principal engineer, president and owner of Sullaway Engineering Inc. in San Diego, Calif., presented a campfire session “Working with Engineers” at IFAI Expo 2017 in New Orleans, La. Throughout the presentation, Sullaway offered tips and advice on the best ways to go about working…
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First annual Greater Good Award given to Scott Massey of Awning Cleaning Industries

September 29, 2017  |  Expo News

Scott Massey, owner of Awning Cleaning Industries, was awarded the first annual Greater Good Award at the IFAI Expo 2017 in New Orleans, La. Massey’s business is based in New Haven, Conn. The Greater Good Award focuses on an IFAI member company that does good business—and strives to be a good ne…
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Manufacturing for Good Booth volunteers sew bags for Raintree Children and Family Services

September 29, 2017  |  Expo News

Christine Gerard (left), IFAI division supervisor, and Whitney Armentor (right), Raintree Development Coordinator, are pictured at IFAI Expo 2017 in the Manufacturing for Good Booth. Several companies contributed supplies, equipment and labor to sew 70 large tote bags for young people who receive se…
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How to inspire the next generation

September 29, 2017  |  Expo News

A critical issue in the textile industry is how to attract and inspire the next generation. North Carolina State University in Raleigh may have an answer: develop student/industry partnerships that solve real-life open-ended problems. During a presentation at EXPO, co-directors Jesse S. Jur and Russ…
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Sewing a quality product depends on asking lots of questions

September 28, 2017  |  Expo News

Getting a contract sewing job is great, but making sure a customer’s needs align with one’s business capabilities is a key consideration. “Company fit” is all important, according to Chad Miller, director of contracting at American National Manufacturing. American National Manufacturing was …
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2017 Student Design Challenge Winners: Fabric Structures

September 28, 2017  |  Expo News

The Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a division of IFAI, announced the winners of the 2017 Fabric Structures Student Design Challenge at IFAI Expo in New Orleans on Sept. 28. First Place: Ahmad Nouraldeen, from Anhalt Hochschule, took the top prize for his project “Tenso Refugee Shelter,” a …
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Tips for navigating social media madness

September 28, 2017  |  Expo News

“Post with a purpose,” says Sam Armijos of Fabric Architect LLC. “Understand that you’ll be wasting someone else’s time if you don’t have a purpose for posting.” Armijos presented a campfire session on “Social Media Madness” during IFAI Expo 2017 in New Orleans, La. Armijos shared …
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