Ametek acquires materials testing firm

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News

Ametek Measurement and Calibration Technologies (M&CT), Berwyn, Pa., designs, manufactures and distributes material testing equipment for tension, force, hardness, temperature, pressure and other material properties. In November, Ametek added to its capacity by acquiring Atlas Material Testing T…
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Expanding Ascend facility in South Carolina

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News

Ascend Performance Materials LLC, a Houston, Texas, manufacturer of nylon and other manmade fibers for carpet, apparel, tires and agricultural products, will invest $3.25 million to expand its Greenwood, S.C., facility to add capacity and meet market demands. The Greenwood plant produces nylon fiber…
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Electronic edge for athletes

March 1, 2011  |  Advanced Textiles, Industry News

Athletic wear giant Reebok International Ltd., Canton, Mass., announces a new research and development agreement with MC10 Inc., a Cambridge, Mass., company that makes “skin-like” flexible electronics, to develop apparel that monitors and improves sports performance. The intelligent spor…
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Flying a new flag at Olympus

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News

Olympus Flag & Banner, Milwaukee, Wisc., recently changed its name to Olympus Group, reflecting expanded product offerings and consolidation of several divisions under one umbrella organization. In 2010, Olympus invested more than a million dollars to update its technology, expand 10,000 square …
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Repurposed tarps for less

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News, Markets

A Denver company manufactures high-quality tarps that can cost signficantly less than comparable products sold by competitors. What’s the secret? The tarps began life as large vinyl billboards and ended up at Repurposed Materials Inc., Denver, Co., instead of a landfill. The tarps are 20 mils …
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Stuart Rental Co. formed

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News, Tents

Two providers of special event tents combined forces in January to create a full-service business for event production, large-scale clear span structures, tents and party rental products. Stuart Rental Company, Milpitas, Calif., has merged with Top Productions, Richmond, Calif., to offer the San Fra…
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New reports on textile markets

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News

Market Publishers Ltd., London, England, publishes a range of Textiles Intelligence reports on various markets and has just added five new reports to its list. These include: Fast Track: Should Questions about the Safety of PTFE Worry the Performance Apparel Industry? Nanotechnology in Performance A…
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Assessing the value of nanotechnology

March 1, 2011  |  Advanced Textiles, Industry News

Smart money has been invested in nanotechnology innovation, but estimating the actual monetary value of the benefits of nanotechnology has been tricky. The United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) commissioned Oakdene Hollins Research & Consulting to deve…
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China’s textile producers suffering drought

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News

Water is essential to the textile business, and in China’s Shandong province, where one-sixth of the country’s manufacturers are located, the worst drought in 60 years is taking a toll. As water demand increases, the Chinese are being forced to confront lack of water management and regul…
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Stability predicted for Indian textiles

March 1, 2011  |  Industry News

The outlook for the Indian textile industry is stable in 2011, despite an appreciation of the value of the rupee against the U.S. dollar and a consequent dip in garment exports. Robust domestic demand for fabric and apparel, driven by India’s increased purchasing power, organized retail penetr…
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