City signage makes an impact

September 1, 2010  |  Features, Graphics

Impact your city—and your company’s bottom line—with artistic digital graphics applications. By Sigrid Tornquist What if you could enhance your city’s vitality while furthering your business? What if making a difference in the life of your community could also make a differen…
Read More
The benefits of buying new equipment

September 1, 2010  |  Features, Graphics

Buying new equipment can help you conquer new markets and succeed in today’s economy. By Maura Keller Streamlined efficiencies. Cost-effective measures. New revenue streams. In this tough economy, fabric graphic industry players are pulling out all stops, eager to find ways to stay ahead of th…
Read More
Avoid the greenwashing cycle

September 1, 2010  |  Features, Graphics

What environmental certification really means to your business and your customers. By Juli Case Sustainable. Eco-friendly. Green. Carbon footprint. These words, and the concepts behind them, have become commonplace in business today. Not only are they all over the popular media, but they now have a …
Read More
Discover the potential of natural fibers

August 1, 2010  |  Business, Features

It’s not as simple as “oil versus cotton,” but technological advances have sparked renewed interest in nonsynthetic textiles. By Janice Kleinschmidt If a white-clad John Travolta dancing disco could be called polyester’s shining moment, perhaps the British Petroleum (BP) oil …
Read More
Foam gets technical

August 1, 2010  |  Advanced Textiles, Business, Features

New foam composites respond to the call for high performance in a variety of applications. By Barb Ernster Traditional polyurethane foam is still favored for cushioning and other applications that require a variety of specs for their physical attributes, but foam producers are working with different…
Read More
How green is my economy?

August 1, 2010  |  Business, Features, Markets

Environmental hyperawareness is a luxury that Europe can ill afford, according to the region’s fiber industry experts. By Adrian Wilson European synthetic fiber manufacturers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the many legislative obstacles to trade that are placed in their path—p…
Read More
Michael Ciferri Jr. gets tough to enhance profits

August 1, 2010  |  Features, Management, Perspective

Michael Ciferri Jr. of Donovan Enterprises boosts truck cover and tarp sales despite the sluggish economy By Sigrid Tornquist “Don’t make excuses—in my family [as I was growing up] it wasn’t allowed,” says Michael Ciferri Jr., vice president of Donovan Enterprises in Stuart, Fla. “It doe…
Read More
The economics of fabric structures

July 1, 2010  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Management

Understanding the variables is the key to determining the cost of building a fabric structure. By Samuel J. Armijos, AIA The hardest part of designing and building a fabric structure is determining its cost. There are three major components to a fabric structure—steel, fabric and cables. Other…
Read More
Fabric-based safety solutions offer opportunities in sports and recreation

July 1, 2010  |  Advanced Textiles, Features

Enthusiasts at all levels can focus on their sport with products that assure a safe environment for competition or recreation. By Holly O’Dell In athletic and recreational activities, safety is always an important factor—whether that’s landing properly on a pole-vaulting pit or pro…
Read More
Tent companies provide disaster relief shelters

July 1, 2010  |  Features, Tents

The disaster relief tent market is unpredictable, but the rewards can be satisfying—professionally and personally. By Jill C. Lafferty The market for disaster relief shelters is a “good news–bad news’” scenario. A sudden demand for relief tents usually means that in som…
Read More