Shared success

September 1, 2018  |  Editorial

Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities. Michele Jennae, author of The Connectworker Shared success This year’s IFAI Expo is shaping up to be an exceptionally dynamic show, as we work to keep pace …
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Aurora Specialty Textiles Group invests in American manufacturing

September 1, 2018  |  Industry News

When it became obvious to Aurora Specialty Textiles Group (ASTG) that its 132-year-old facility in Aurora, Ill., was no longer adequate, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the company had given serious consideration to moving operations overseas. But that was not the case. “There might have bee…
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Nonwovens in the automotive industry

September 1, 2018  |  Features

“I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Plastics.”  When Dustin Hoffman’s character Benjamin Braddock heard those words in the iconic movie The Graduate in 1967, the use of plastics—or polymer-based materials—was on the rise. (This, although plastics had been around for al…
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Art installation dances with the breeze

September 1, 2018  |  Projects

Downtown Phoenix’s Arizona Center is undergoing a major transformation. One of the objectives was to open up the inward-looking space to connect it to the surrounding neighborhood, creating a more interactive and spontaneous experience for the public. The one-million-square-foot multi-use project …
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Spider silk builds strong bones

September 1, 2018  |  Projects

The process of mending broken bones can be long and difficult. Load-bearing bones sometimes require a metal plate for support, which can lead to other problems such as irritation and rigidity. Researchers at the University of Connecticut decided to turn to nature for a solution. Led by Professor Mei…
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Recommended fabric cleaning products

September 1, 2018  |  Markets

It’s pretty simple. People buy boats because they want to have fun. The reality, however, is that work—the opposite of fun—is required to keep any watercraft in tip-top condition. Therein lies the rub. “A lot of boaters don’t want to do all the cleaning and maintenance,” says Marianne Io…
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Practical products with punchy effects

September 1, 2018  |  Products, Resources

Versatile webbing Bally Ribbon Mills offers high-quality, high-performance webbing to meet the demands of recreational applications including the commercial and sport markets. The webbing is appropriate for a range of recreational applications including binding tape, chin straps, harnesses, packs, c…
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Smart wearable tracks sports performance

September 1, 2018  |  Projects

A new device puts a “coach” on the back of elite aspiring athletes, enabling them to track their performance and improve their game. PLAYR is a smart wearable vest designed by Benjamin Hubert of LAYER, an experience design agency, for Catapult, a sports analytics and tech company. Catapult work…
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Moving military textiles into commercial markets

September 1, 2018  |  Features

Located in Philadelphia, Pa., and founded in 1929, Ehmke Manufacturing Co. Inc. has made the military its primary target from the beginning, designing and fabricating a wide array of technical fabrics not just for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, but for allies and the defense industry in gene…
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Tax law changes make adding equipment and vehicles more affordable

September 1, 2018  |  Business

Last December’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) not only slashed tax rates, it also enacted rules that allow businesses to treat as an expense and immediately write off more—including 100 percent temporary expensing for certain assets. This means adding needed equipment, vehicles or even a new shop…
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