Advanced shade control in the Be Open building

March 1, 2018  |  Projects

The unique façade of the Be Open building, the showpiece of a new complex in Paris’ Rive Gauche development area, features an undulating form that seems to change in color and shape as the sun and sky evolve throughout the day. Designed by the architectural firm Brenac & Gonzalez & Associ…
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Stretchable battery made of fabric

March 1, 2018  |  Projects

Combine fabrics and electronics, and these days, the possibilities seem endless. Now a research team at Binghamton University, State University of New York, has developed a smart fabric that doesn’t just contain electronics—the fabric is the source of the electronics. It’s called a bio-battery…
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David Murray at Fiesta Tents goes for the gold

March 1, 2018  |  Features, Perspective

Running a business is hard work. There’s always a time when you’ve got to change the way you’re doing things,” says David Murray, founder and president of Fiesta Tents Ltd. in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. “Every year you have to review your business—you have to review and correct.” T…
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Smart bandage, smartphone controlled

March 1, 2018  |  Projects

Even with medical science advances, the treatment of wounds is often fairly low tech. The process of changing bandages and applying the right medication at the right interval is often labor intensive. Promoting faster healing and preventing infection remain concerns. Scientists at the University of …
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The Vikings, innovation and editorial coverage

March 1, 2018  |  Editorial

Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid. ~Albert Einstein Okay… I guess I have to report that The Curse of the Vikings is still intact (see February editorial). We upset New Orleans well enough that &hell…
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Complete coverage

March 1, 2018  |  Projects

In the marine upholstery industry, covering three-dimensional shapes requires the right design and fabric. It’s all about getting a smooth, secure form fit that won’t loosen over time. That was the challenge Tammy Hampton, owner of Buford, Ga.-based Cover Girl Marine Canvas and Upholstery, faced…
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2018 State of the Industry

March 1, 2018  |  Features, State of the Industry

AWNINGS AND CANOPIES In 2017, growth in the awning market increased, in the low single-digit range. Contributing to the growth was an approximate 6.5 percent rise in housing values in 2017; a 4.1 percent increase in home values is anticipated in 2018. Many homeowners used their rising home equity to…
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Engineered geosynthetics offer riverbank erosion protection

March 1, 2018  |  Markets

The Río La Antigua flows through a low-lying region in the Mexican state of Veracruz, which has the historical importance of being one of the first regions where Hernán Cortés landed in the early 1500s. The Casa de Cortés is a popular tourist attraction, and the village of La Antigua has signifi…
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Tarp and truck cover manufacturers stand at the ready with products designed to keep loads secure and drivers safe

March 1, 2018  |  Features

Fabric truck covers, side curtains and tarping systems are enjoying increased attention from an industry looking for advanced solutions to help keep fleets rolling along more efficiently, safely and economically. Several factors are fueling this interest. For one thing, drivers are getting older, sa…
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Globe Manufacturing Company helps volunteer fire departments stay safe

March 1, 2018  |  Industry News

Many fire departments across the U.S. are under-funded and volunteer-based. This lack of funding often means many firefighters lack the needed on-scene safety equipment. In response, the world’s leading manufacturer of protective clothing for firefighters is putting its expertise and resources to …
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