Whether it’s a huge concert, street festival, corporate gala or other large event where a sea of tents suddenly materializes to house the festivities, Made in the Shade Tent Rentals (MITS), based in West Sacramento, Calif., specializes in this kind of practical magic.

While the topic of soft robotics is primarily exclusive to the academic and research world, it is still targeted at specific markets and applications. From the medical field and agriculture to search and rescue missions, soft robots may offer a solution.

Having a customer with an almost $850 billion budget sounds like a potential boon for most companies—and it is. But if that purchaser is a company’s sole customer, that exposure comes with risk, even if the customer is the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

At first glance, the custom manufacturing solutions produced by Masson Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind., might seem simple. From coated webbing assemblies for the medical market to urethane-coated pet collars, the company’s products pair a modest outward design with practical purpose.

These are uncertain times, particularly for segments of the textile industry that import and export raw and finished products around the globe. Still, success in textiles often requires innovation and even risk. Those who are not willing or able to accept the risk that comes with innovation are more likely to fall behind.

Companies that conduct business internationally benefit from a large customer base and market diversity. But at times, they must grapple with supply chain disruptions, contentious geopolitics and the interplay of various cultural dynamics—even getting everyone together on a Teams chat at a reasonable hour. Regardless of an organization’s size or scope, company leaders say it’s important to maintain a stake in the local landscape, whether it’s through local and regional offices or distributors and partnerships—or all of the above.

Serving on the board has been a deeply rewarding experience on multiple levels. On one hand, it’s gratifying to know that the time and effort we’ve invested have supported initiatives that strengthen and advance our industry. But perhaps even more meaningful has been the opportunity to build lasting relationships with my fellow board members and PAMA members across the country.

Laws and regulations are inherently part of doing business in the textile industry. Compliance challenges are compounded by shifts in both U.S. and international textile markets, driven by new laws and regulations—including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) in Europe and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates globally.

The textile industry is an international beast, subject to the effects of supply availability, sustainability, worldwide regulations and changing tariffs. Successful companies deal with those changes by being nimble, focusing on core strengths and planning for the years ahead.

While composites and rigid structures may not seem to have much in common with textiles, they do often feature soft goods for a variety of purposes. Many examples were on display at this year’s JEC World composites trade show, demonstrating how textiles are being used in products, such as sporting goods.

North Carolina State University (NC State) colleagues Kavita Mathur, Ph.D., and Amanda Mills, Ph.D., have jointly contributed the following responses to questions from Janet Preus, senior editor of Textile Technology Source, about current research in materials science. It has been edited for space and clarity.

A tricky installation can take many forms, whether it is a location that is difficult to access, a massive awning that needs to be lifted several stories or plans that go awry.