Heavy-duty marine zipper

September 1, 2017  |  Products

LENZIP has a brand new zipper for the marine canvas, outdoor gear and portable (temporary) shelter markets: the LENZIP No. 12 Marine Grade UV Zipper is larger than the industry standard No. 10, but smaller than Lenzip’s BIGZIP® No. 15 gauge. The new No. 12 gauge is available with 316 stainless st…
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Charity-driven live manufacturing to debut at Expo 2017

September 1, 2017  |  Industry News

For four days every year, IFAI Expo offers industry members the opportunity to share trade secrets and take advantage of educational opportunities, product demonstrations and certification options. A new addition this year is Manufacturing for Good. The live manufacturing experience demonstrates the…
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Preventing permastink goes beyond antimicrobial solutions

September 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

It’s everywhere and it’s not attractive. Permastink—the unpleasant smell that won’t wash out of textile products—has become a topic of conversation for consumers and brands alike. Polyester and other synthetic fibers are the materials of choice for the active performance and athleisure sty…
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Museum of Modern Art fabric exhibition in 1956

September 1, 2017  |  Markets

In 1956, all of New York City’s art world was abuzz about a new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It wasn’t the retrospective about the French Impressionist painter Henri Matisse, whose works were newly arrived in New York from Paris (a show that originated at the French National Mu…
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Walk-in installation offers perspectives on light, pattern and texture

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

Europe’s biggest international lighting exhibition is Euroluce, held in Milan in conjunction with Salone del Mobile Milano (the Milan Furniture Fair). At Euroluce 2017 last April, 485 exhibitors displayed the latest in indoor, outdoor and industrial lighting products, including many innovative, cu…
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Invisible netting

September 1, 2017  |  Products

The new 26-foot-wide Nebula™ net from Rose Brand Inc. provides a high gain, see-through projection surface that’s virtually undetectable to an audience. Projected objects seem to float in midair or appear out of nowhere. The Nebula net can be used for stunning visual effects such as layered proj…
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The Ocean Cleanup foundation plans to rid oceans of plastic

September 1, 2017  |  Projects

In the Pacific Ocean, there is an area known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a mass of plastic and other debris that doesn’t biodegrade. Estimated to be between the size of the state of Texas and the continental United States twice over, the patch is held in place by ocean currents.    Boyan…
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Community service

September 1, 2017  |  Editorial

Vision is dandy, but sustainable company excellence comes from a huge stable of able managers. ~Tom Peters September is IFAI Expo month, and this year’s programs, events and exhibits are focused more than ever on making the workmanship surpass the materials—even the amazing materials on the show…
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Fibers and fabrics play a starring role in the effort to harvest kinetic energy

September 1, 2017  |  Features

Back in the day, a telephone was expected to perform a limited number of functions: alert you when someone was trying to reach you and connect you to those you were trying to reach. Technology advanced and phones became more portable. The same sort of process is happening to fabrics and fibers. The …
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Tougher shears

September 1, 2017  |  Products

Wolff Industries’ Premium KAI series multipurpose shears are made from high-quality Japanese steel. With steel throughout the handles, the soft Santoprene insert cushions the user’s hands for increased comfort. The shears are made from A-8 High Carbon stainless steel with a Rockwell hardness rat…
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