No guessing game

March 1, 2014  |  Management

Getting good at estimating taxes. By Mark E. Battersby It will come as no surprise to anyone that Uncle Sam wants taxes paid in full during the course of the year. Avoiding the penalties associated with guessing wrong about estimated tax payments is easy—with some preparation. Any person, and …
Art and architecture with a twist

March 1, 2014  |  Industry News

Art Basel, a celebration of modern and contemporary art, welcomed the design world to Miami December 5–7 for a sun-drenched revel among paintings, installations, photography, film and more. Architectural Digest magazine wanted to advertise its presence at Art Basel with a luxurious “oasi…
Polyfab shade sails get ‘safe sun’ seal

March 1, 2014  |  Industry News

Melanoma International Foundation (MIF) promotes prevention, early detection and innovative treatment for melanoma, a form of skin cancer that metastasizes rapidly and is often deadly. Polyfab USA, Manhattan Beach, Calif., has been awarded the MIF Seal of Approval for its shade sails and structures …
Job-driven training

March 1, 2014  |  Industry News

Federal government commitment to a skilled workforce; U.S. exports reach record levels. On Jan. 31, 2014, President Obama signed a federal employer commitment addressing the issue of long-term unemployment in the U.S. This commitment follows the Presidential memorandum for the Secretaries of Commerc…
Surfing banners catch the upcycle wave

March 1, 2014  |  Business, Industry News

Reef, a Carlsbad, Calif., manufacturer of sandals and surfing wear, sponsors the annual Reef Hawaiian Pro surfing competition, bringing surfing fanatics from around the globe to the first stop on the Vans Triple Crown of surfing. Vinyl banners from this and other sponsored events once ended up in la…
Crum to lead Seaman Corp.

March 1, 2014  |  Industry News

Seaman Corp., Wooster, Ohio, recently announced the promotion of John Crum to the positions of president and chief operating officer. Seaman develops high-performance industrial textiles for applications such as roofing systems, truck tarps, architectural fabrics, geomembranes and other specialized …
Assessing textile product performance

March 1, 2014  |  Features, Industry News, Markets

With the current consumer demand for performance, how are fabrics tested, and who does the testing? How do I know that this fabric does what it says it’s going to do? In the highly competitive market of multifunctional textiles, it is imperative that manufacturers provide evidence that their produ…
‘Love Your Melon’-on wheels

March 1, 2014  |  Industry News

Zachary Quinn and Brian Keller, students at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., launched a class project to fight pediatric cancer called “Love Your Melon.” The “Buy one, Give one” strategy involves asking people to buy a knit hat and donate another, which are then…
Enduratex taps Kessler

March 1, 2014  |  Industry News

Enduratex™/China General Plastics Corporation of America (CGPCA), Mira Loma, Calif., has appointed John Kessler as contract manager to oversee growth of the company’s vinyl-coated fabrics in the contract market segment. Kessler previously worked with the Mitchell Group, Kestrel Fabric Pr…
Another fine mesh

March 1, 2014  |  Features, Graphics

Durable, versatile, printable fabric makes a big impact outdoors. The merging of advanced printing technologies and the broad spectrum of mesh products on the market is allowing fabricators to do more than was possible in previous years, especially with splashy, attention-getting outdoor graphics. M…