May 1, 2020
By Jeff Moravec It’s easy to misunderstand viral respiratory diseases, whether the current pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or past events such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002−2003. When they fade from the news, people often assume it’s because a cure was found. In fact, what happens is that human-to-human disease transmission …
by Lawrence A. Ward and Dave Townsend The textile trade has long been complicated, requiring careful attention to the source and production methods throughout the supply chain to determine whether imports were allowed under quotas or what tariff rate applied to the imports. Although the Trump administration has a fundamentally different policy toward international trade …
April 2, 2020
The organizers of the successful and long-running conference series Textile Coating and Laminating (TCL) have announced its expansion and refocus as the World Congress on Textile Coating (WCTC20). The event will debut in Berlin on November 19-20, 2020. The venue hotel is the Novotel Berlin Am Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany, which has excellent conference facilities. Tegel …
April 1, 2020
John Brown University’s disaster shelter contest challenges students to develop and demonstrate solutions for emergency scenarios. By Holly Eamon Global economic losses from natural disasters topped $232 billion last year, rounding out a decade that cost the world nearly $3 trillion, according to the 2019 Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight Annual Report published by global …
Sustainability issues leap to the forefront in creating new synthetic fibers. by Ericka Ford, Ph.D. Philosopher scientist Robert Hooke’s 17th-century belief that plants eaten by the silkworm could spin into a silk alternative was an oversimplification of the biological processes that ultimately allowed the food-satiated silkworm to spin silk. Nevertheless, the timely invention of the …
March 6, 2020
We understand concerns about COVID-19/Coronavirus are top of mind, and we want to be as transparent as possible and share information about what we are doing to prepare for the Geosynthetics Conference: CASE STUDIES 2020 in North Charleston, SC USA. Many of our exhibitors will be onsite soon to setup for the show, and we …
March 1, 2020
by Glenna B. Musante Improving safety apparel for workers operating in hazardous situations is a constant focus of the textile industry, but it is a task not always easily accomplished. Hazardous materials professionals can be exposed to any number of chemical, biological and flammable materials in the same environment, according to The Institute of Hazardous …
By Pamela Mills-Senn It’s all about “Instagrammable” moments. Event producers are under increasing pressure to design photo-worthy experiences that get clicks and shares. Within that environment, inflatable structures offer a way for tent and event rental companies to provide their clients with unique inventory that attracts a crowd, while standing out from the competition. Sean …
February 1, 2020
When compounded performance additives in vinyl aren’t enough, antimicrobial lacquers and topcoats offer extra protection. By Hugh Barrett Microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, can live on a surface for months. Manufacturers of flexible vinyl, films, fabrics and textiles use engineered antimicrobial (AM) lacquers and barrier topcoats to offer an extra level of protection against …
by Marie O’Mahony The story of sustainability in the textile industry has grown and changed, particularly in the last decade. The concept of “circularity” is now driving sustainability across the materials sector. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “A circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and …
