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Rethinking equipment purchasing strategies

June 1, 2021  |  Features

Of all the adages that could be applied to the past year, “Necessity is the mother of invention” may be the most appropriate for the fabrication business. Fabricators, and the equipment manufacturers that supply them, learned more about pivoting than they probably ever wanted to know. The conven…
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Up against a wall

June 1, 2021  |  Features

Wallpaper has been around for centuries—since the 16th century to be exact. In its earliest iterations, wallpaper was printed on paper in monochrome black ink, and color soon followed with the introduction of polychrome block printing. Eventually, in the late 1960s/early 1970s, vinyl wallpaper too…
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The balancing act of textile treatments

June 1, 2021  |  Features

Fueled by consumer demand, textile treatments are evolving to provide an ever-growing array of performance benefits. This development has also driven the need to pay close attention to regulations and environmental considerations. COVID-19 has, not surprisingly, escalated interest in antimicrobial t…
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Books that improved me and my business

June 1, 2021  |  Business

Education is a valuable asset when it comes to success in life and business. Going to college is the standard road map many people use to get an education that helps them succeed, but I never really enjoyed the classroom. I wanted to get out and get busy. I did better with hands-on learning, either…
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DITF celebrates 100 years of textile innovation

June 1, 2021  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) is the largest textile research center in Europe, with roots that go back 100 years to the first German Research Institute for the Textile Industry, established in Reutlingen in 1921. As the institute expanded to additional locations in Stut…
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IAAs celebrate 75 years of awarding excellence

June 1, 2021  |  Editorial

What do Tupperware, bikinis and the International Achievement Awards (IAAs) have in common? They are all 75 years old this year. In addition to getting their start in 1946, these innovations seem to signal the dawn of a new era. The Great Depression and a terrible war were over, and a boom was about…
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Leather-like upholstery fabric has new grain

June 1, 2021  |  Products

Stamskin® Top Club has a new leather-grain texture for the already popular Stamskin Top upholstery range. Available in 15 modern colors, the fabric emulates the look of worn leather and performs well in demanding environments such as outdoor, marine and hospitality. Rated as a heavy-duty material, …
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From shelters to suits, Taiyo Kogyo meets pandemic needs

June 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Efforts to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue worldwide, with companies developing all kinds of innovative medical protective products to fight COVID-19.
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Coated upholstery fabric sports team spirit

June 1, 2021  |  Products

Morbern’s Varsity line of vinyls is geared toward the sports enthusiast and designed for the hospitality market and the marine aftermarket. With guidance from the color experts at Pantone, the company selected popular color combinations for teams nationwide. Designed to increase sales by tapping i…
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Swiss scientists explore the benefits of robotically ‘knitted’ roads

June 1, 2021  |  Swatches

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are investigating how roads could be more easily reinforced and then recycled after use, using robotics and string.
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