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SMART ePANTS program works on computerized clothing

December 1, 2024  |  Features

Innovative technological advances sometimes require intensive research and partnership efforts with years of dedicated government funding. Such a program in the smart textiles area is the SMART ePANTS program, which stands for the Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems. Intelligenc…
ADVANCED TEXTILES EXPO 2024: Highlights from Anaheim

December 1, 2024  |  Expo Report, Features

Advanced Textiles Expo returned to Anaheim, Calif., this year, highlighting the unique West Coast textile industry and plenty of recent innovations.
Canada’s Rolltec: From an importer to a leading manufacturer

November 1, 2024  |  Features, Perspective

When thinking of places known for fun in the sun or cafe culture, Canada may not immediately come to mind. Yet that is where awning manufacturer Rolltec® Rolling Systems Ltd. in Concord, Ont., Canada, does business—in a big way.
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Textiles combat noise pollution

November 1, 2024  |  Features

In August, Hollywood Park, adjacent to the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., hosted the HARD Summer music festival, a two-day celebration of genres including electronic, techno, house, and drum and bass. The venue included four outdoor stages in the parking lots around the stadium, drawing more tha…
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Inventors share challenges of launching new products

November 1, 2024  |  Features

Inventing a new product can change an industry—but it isn’t easy. To go from the eureka moment to a finished product available for customers takes longer and costs more than one might think. Here’s how some inventors overcame the hurdles.
Third generation manages Charnecke Tents

October 1, 2024  |  Features, Perspective

Think of the last big outdoor event you attended. There’s a good chance it included a tent, whether you were at a community festival, a business gathering or a wedding reception.
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Exterior fabric graphics industry creates own opportunities

October 1, 2024  |  Features

Sustainability, art, better durability and new printing technology are among the trends shaping the exterior fabric graphics market. Companies involved in all facets of this area continue to innovate, meet market demands and introduce new and better features for fabric products and the equipment tha…
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Reusable textiles are finding wider use in medical facilities

October 1, 2024  |  Features

As concerns grow over how to mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with the disposal of textiles past their useful life, one area under scrutiny is medical textiles, which includes surgical gowns, scrubs, drapes and orthotics. A significant number of these products fall into the dis…
Ron Nissenbaum reflects on Humphrys’ 150 years

September 1, 2024  |  Features, Perspective

With early but short-lived career aspirations of becoming a sports broadcaster, Ron “Boots” Nissenbaum instead built a 56-year career providing a different type of coverage—several types, in fact. As CEO of Humphrys, Nissenbaum oversees three separate Philadelphia, Pa.,-based companies under t…
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Textiles that float return astronauts, research and more safely to Earth

September 1, 2024  |  Features

When it comes to the study of Earth and space, it’s easy to be mesmerized by the rockets and spacecraft that have soared past the very top of our planet’s exosphere. But bringing those astronauts and scientific research safely back to earth is thanks in part to textile products that float, such …