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Out of this world inflatables
March 1st, 2023
NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) demonstrated inflatable heat shield technology. After launch LOFTID inflated and deployed in space. It was released and re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: NASA When you hear the phrase “inflatable structure,” the first image that comes to mind is likely to […]
Inflatable architecture on display
September 1st, 2021
The history of inflatable architecture is told through an exhibition that includes everything from live displays to conceptual artwork, such as this proposal for an inflatable venue for the Spanish Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020 by architectural firms SelgasCano and FRPO. Photo: © SelgasCano + FRPO. The first inflatable, the hot-air balloon, was invented in […]
Inflatable forest comes to life with human interaction
October 1st, 2020
The Canopy is an inflatable art installation that invites visitors to interact as they choose—some pedaling on bikes that transform the sculptures with movement and light, some cheering on the bikers, and some wandering through the grove, allowing the canopy of trees to open and close around them. Photos: Pneuhaus. The Canopy, an inflatable installation […]
Disinfecting fabrics for COVID-19
October 1st, 2020
Expert advice for eliminating a deadly virus while keeping employees and end users safe. by Pamela Mills-Senn Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturers of textile-based products like gym mats and pads, soft seating and bounce houses faced the usual questions from their customers about how to clean and disinfect these items. But there is nothing […]
Custom inflatables are blowing up
March 1st, 2020
Inflatables are in demand, thanks to advanced technologies that create higher quality products and new applications. by Jeff Moravec There was a time when consumers viewed inflatable products as bargain-basement cousins to rigid objects. Think of the air mattress rolled out on the bedroom floor for a middle-school sleepover or the discount-store blow-up swimming pool […]
Living on the edge with the G7 POD
September 1st, 2019
The G7 POD is easy to carry and set up for a night’s sleep. It packs down into its own inflation bag measuring just 16 by 8 by 6 inches. Photos: Grade VII Equipment. Imagine you’re climbing up a sheer rockface, and you want to take a break. If you’re a rock climber on an […]
Surrounding the market—and finding (or creating) new ones
September 1st, 2019
You can find and create new profit centers with existing technology, products and capabilities—and with new technology, innovation and creativity. Don’t let the details hold you back. by Laurie F. Junker Today’s marketplace is dynamic, competitive and sometimes confusing—but still full of opportunity. Choosing a path can be both daunting and potentially expensive. Smart business […]
Exhibition combines the physical and digital worlds
January 1st, 2019
Contemporary artist Michael Rees likes to create artwork that connects to a specific space. His experimental exhibition at Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre sculpture park, museum and arboretum founded on the site of the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds, began in the exhibit hall looking for inspiration. His show, “Synthetic Cells, Site and Para (Site)” […]
Growth in the inflatables market is coming from safety and protection
November 1st, 2018
Everybody knows about inflatables. They’re the bouncy houses rented for kids’ birthday parties, or the big blow-up gorilla that the local car dealership uses to attract customers. The real growth in the use of inflatable technology, however, is in much more serious (and practical) applications—even if they aren’t nearly as visible to most of us. […]
Koons’ inflatable graced Rockefeller Center
August 1st, 2017
American artist Jeff Koons, well known for vivid and often whimsical takes on pop culture and everyday life, created a show-stopping inflatable sculpture of a ballerina that was installed at Rockefeller Center from May 12 to June 2, 2017. Seated Ballerina was a larger-than-life version of a piece he did for his Antiquity Series that […]