Michael Lester, managing director

MAKMAX AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.
Brisbane, Australia

IFAI member since: 2002

Most valued benefit: Communication with others in the industry

Ideas in harness

April 1, 2016  |  Business, Fabric Structures, Features, Management, Markets, Perspective

Michael Lester doesn’t shy away from a challenge. He builds a team of fellow innovators and comes up with tensioned fabric solutions. “We’re always innovating,” says Michael Lester, managing director of MakMax Australia Pty. Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia, a world-renowned company build…
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Tropical canopies

April 1, 2016  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Climate and sustainability goals dictate the choice of ETFE membrane structures for the U.S. Embassy in Laos. In the capital city of Vientiane, Laos, the U.S. Embassy complex recently underwent major rebuilding and a thorough sustainability assessment. The outcome of this multi-year process produced…
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Start to finish

February 15, 2016  |  Fabric Structures, Tents

Fabric structure companies with metal shops make material decisions based on multiple factors. Site conditions, local building codes, aspects of design and customer preferences dictate the type of metal used with fabric structures, says Gerald Thompson, CEO of Awnings of Hollywood. His company works…
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Domes of discovery

December 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Detectors at the HAWC Gamma Ray Observatory are protected by custom domes made of military grade fabric. We have learned a lot about the universe by looking out from our planet. Scientists are discovering much can be learned about outer space by looking at our immediate surroundings as well. One of …
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Reaching for the stars

November 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Tectoniks pioneers inflatable technology in developing high-value asset protection for Lockheed Martin U.K. To help provide environmental protection to its high-value assets, aerospace and defense contractor Lockheed Martin U.K. needed a robust, portable and retractable structure that met specific a…
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Protecting those who serve

November 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

A fabric cover at an army heliport shields against the Arizona sun. The Silverbell Army Heliport, located near Marana, Ariz., about 30 miles northwest of Tucson, is a training site for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). There, aviation training is conducted using severa…
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Powering up

September 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Marine, Markets

The demand for inflatables used for shelters, rescue and training is strong and growing, as new applications for a well-known but developing technology attract more attention worldwide. Air is a powerful force. Properly harnessed, it can be completely transformed, becoming an integral player in prod…
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Fabric meets frac sand

September 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

A fast-growing industry relies on fabric architecture for a long-term, large-format storage facility. Wind and sand are like oil and water; they don’t mix. When Source Energy Services (SES), Eau Claire, Wis., enlisted the assistance of Legacy Building Solutions Inc., South Haven, Minn., to build t…
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A healthy living

September 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Marine, Markets, Products

Inflatable products need not be oversized to have a big impact; small can be mighty, especially when it comes to inflatables designed to provide relief on an individual basis, such as those popping up in wellness centers, hospitals, nursing homes and even on clothing racks and in closets. Here’s a…
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Air support

July 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Markets

Advances in materials and technology mean advantages for air-supported fabric structures in durability and sustainability. In May 2009, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility collapsed under a freak microburst of 60mph winds, injuring a dozen people and leaving at least one person partially paralyz…
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