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Staying agile in the time of COVID-19

August 1, 2020  |  Features

Agility has emerged as the essential defining attribute of organizations able to respond to this crisis and chart a new, resilient course for the future. by Jeff Moravec Agility has always been something of a prerequisite for owning a company, and that skill set is clearly more valuable now than it …
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Barry Adams on the science and art of the awning business

August 1, 2020  |  Features, Perspective

by Jill C. Lafferty “You have to be an exceptional artist. You’ve got to be able to create a vision for your customer,” says Barry Adams, owner of Peachtree Awnings in Norcross, Ga., and Tennessee Awnings in La Vergne, Tenn. “Where the customer lacks vision, we have to give them a vision…
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Expo 2020 Exhibitor Product Preview

August 1, 2020  |  Exhibitor Product Preview, Features, Industry News

IFAI EXPO 2020 is going virtual! Here’s your first look at the products and value-added services that await you on the virtual show floor in early November 2020. During the virtual Expo, exhibitors will highlight the latest products and information from the entire textile supply chain, from fibers…
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NECPA: A century of survival

July 1, 2020  |  Features

Lessons from four member companies that have survived for a century and continue to thrive. by Cathy Broberg In January 2020, the North East Canvas Products Association (NECPA), a trade organization for the canvas and outdoor fabric industry, marked its 100th anniversary. Members celebrated at its a…
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Designing functional PPE

July 1, 2020  |  Features

For PPE that is both effective and comfortable—and more likely to be worn regularly and properly—consider a systems engineering approach to design. by Sigrid Tornquist Perhaps never before has the acronym “PPE” been so much a part of the common vernacular. In the days of COVID-19, few are un…
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Jan Kellogg’s strategy for growth at CCP Manufacturing

July 1, 2020  |  Features, Perspective

Jan Kellogg looks at the big picture for each job that CCP Manufacturing takes on, leading the company into new markets.  by Jill C. Lafferty “I love working with someone who turns to us with a new idea, saying, ‘Hey, can you make this work?’ We love taking the time to be able to do &…
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Fluid markets require flexible equipment

July 1, 2020  |  Features

Custom manufacturers rely on equipment that multitasks across product lines and markets, with minimal downtime. by Maura Keller Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, every custom end-product manufacturer faced some type of financial challenge. Reduced or canceled orders, customer attrition and market c…
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Automation advantages

June 1, 2020  |  Features

Adding automation can prove challenging, with costs to consider, processes to change and nervous employees to reckon with. Still, fabricators who have taken the leap say there’s no other way to go.  by Pamela Mills-Senn When Darren Arthur, owner of Nautilux Custom Canvas LLC in Hazlet, N.J., …
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Protecting structures with fabric

June 1, 2020  |  Features

When it comes to protecting structures  from the elements, fabric has it covered. by Jeff Moravec Fabric serves an unending variety of needs, but sometimes overlookedis its role in protecting us from the dangers of our natural world. Here’s a snapshot of several companies and their products t…
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Performance upholstery fabrics meet myriad consumer demands

June 1, 2020  |  Features

High-performing upholstery fabrics offer more features than ever, without sacrificing style and comfort.  by Maura Keller Consumers don’t want to choose between beauty and durability, nor do they want to sacrifice performance for sustainability, according to LeAnne Flack, marketing manager fo…
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