Engineered geosynthetics offer riverbank erosion protection

March 1, 2018  |  Markets

The Río La Antigua flows through a low-lying region in the Mexican state of Veracruz, which has the historical importance of being one of the first regions where Hernán Cortés landed in the early 1500s. The Casa de Cortés is a popular tourist attraction, and the village of La Antigua has signifi…
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Weighing sustainability

February 1, 2018  |  Markets

Trends reflect a global interest in natural fibers and ethical practices. The smart and advanced textile industries, while broadly in agreement on the need to be more sustainable, are in less accord when deciding how to address the issue. Cultural and local differences can on one level exacerbate th…
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Acquisitions reshape the U.S. tent and event rental industry

February 1, 2018  |  Markets

A wave of acquisitions reshaped the U.S. tent and event rental industry in 2017 Beginning in 2016 and accelerating the pace in spring and summer of 2017, several recapitalized tent rental companies acquired other like-businesses. The break-up of the Classic Party Rentals network, based in Inglewood,…
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New substrates for smart fabrics

January 1, 2018  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Manufacturers of smart fabrics are looking for new, novel textile substrates. A key takeaway from the Smart Fabrics Program and E-Textiles Workshop at the 2017 IFAI Expo was the symbiotic relationship between smart technologies and the development of suitable textile substrates to facilitate the des…
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Geofoam solves construction challenges

January 1, 2018  |  Geosynthetics, Markets, Projects

High atop Hidden Peak, lightweight geofoam solves construction challenges the easy way. All projects have challenges, purpose and meaning, yet some projects mean a lot more to owners than others. It takes a visionary to leave a legacy, and Richard Bass, founder of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in U…
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Training and education for the high-tech textile industry

December 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

According to Deloitte’s 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitive Index (GMCI) report, the United States looks set to overtake China as the world’s most competitive manufacturing nation within five years. The textile industry is a significant part of that repositioning in its moves to bring manufact…
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Fabric installation at Renwick Gallery plays with perceptions

December 1, 2017  |  Markets

Since the 17th century (with the debut of the French École des Beaux-Arts), drawing has been the first basic skill taught to architects. This still holds true, despite the advent of computer aided drafting (CAD) and sophisticated rendering software. And today there is a segment of the architecture …
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A new NAFTA?

December 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since taking office and subsequently threatening to withdraw the United States from NAFTA unless the terms were renegotiated, Mexico and Canada have been cajoled…
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Fighting pink stain

November 1, 2017  |  Markets

The work “pink” brings to mind a little girl dressed as a princess, cotton candy at the county fair and plastic lawn flamingos. But for those in the marine industry, the word takes on a sinister connotation as a stain caused by streptoverticillium reticulum. It’s a far greater menace than a ne…
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Fabrics go multifunctional

October 31, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Textiles have evolved from being commodity materials to providing an array of benefits, including additional comfort and protection, improved hygiene and support for health care. The innate nature of fibers can provide certain special characteristics—cotton adds breathability and a smooth hand, an…
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