Nature’s coated textile

November 1, 2016  |  Products

SIMPL® by Sommers Plastics is an eco-textile comprised of only two layers of sustainable materials—a backing featuring hemp and hemp blended fabrics and a silicone surface for enhanced performance and pleasing aesthetics. The coated textile can be woven and colored in a wide range of weights, and…
Northern niche

November 1, 2016  |  Business, Management

Kate Mitchell is the owner of NOMAR, a Homer, Alaska-based company that develops unique items to serve the local industries. NOMAR first opened its doors in 1978 as Mitchell’s Marine Canvas & Upholstery. Today, it employs 15 skilled employees and offers American made clothing, ‘Laska Luggage…
Military complexities

November 1, 2016  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Smart materials mean lighter and more comfortable gear—and more flexible procurement policies. The nature of military warfare has undergone a seismic change over the past twenty years. Theaters of engagement are now more diverse and complex, demanding more of military personnel than ever before. T…
Fusing style with durability

November 1, 2016  |  Products

The Sunbrella® Fusion Collection is a decorative mix of design and performance with 99 new textures, patterns and colors for indoor and outdoor upholstery. The collection offers a wide variety of colors and patterns including classic basics and jacquards for style and design possibilities. New addi…
Five climates, five approaches

November 1, 2016  |  Marine, Markets

Weather and water conditions dictate how regional shops make enclosures for exacting customers. Local geography can define a business. In the case of marine fabrication shops, locality factors into everything from work schedules to choice of materials. Whether the shops are based in the subtropical …
One winner, 310 tents

November 1, 2016  |  Projects

The U.S. Open Golf Tournament serves as a premier stage for the best golfers in the world—156 athletes in 2016 vying for $10 million in prize money. Dustin Johnson walked away with the $1.8 million winner’s purse, but Arena Americas, Oak Creek, Wis., was another big winner as the provider of 310…
Room to grow

November 1, 2016  |  Features

As Mother Nature persists in her fickle and sometimes destructive ways, manufacturers of agricultural fabrics and fabric products report strong and growing demand in many areas. The agricultural arena isn’t for the faint of heart; just ask anyone who earns a living by keeping us supplied with food…
Expanding design

November 1, 2016  |  Products

Synchronicity is an extension of the Eduraprint program, a roto-gravure, three-color print offering that can be customized with a 200-yard minimum. In addition to the Enduratex topcoat, Produratect Plus, it is equipped with an abrasion resistance rating of 100,000 cycles and is mildew resistant and …
Art and architecture, comfortably

November 1, 2016  |  Projects

The Brickell City Centre, a new $1.05 billion, 5.4-million-square-foot, mixed-use development in downtown Miami, Fla., has it all. There are luxury residences, a hotel, office space and a five-story pedestrian mall with shops, restaurants and cafés. Connecting this vast space into one architectural…
Economical safety

November 1, 2016  |  Products

Melt Out fabric is a fire safety ceiling fabric used to diffuse light over trade show booths, displays and exhibits. It has meltable seams, which appear every 12 inches along its length. In the event of fire, the seams open and allow smoke to escape and water from sprinklers to come through. Melt Ou…