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Textiles in the defense industry
October 1st, 2024
Finnish Marines with the Nylands Brigade prepare to move out on skis after landing near Alta, Norway, during the NATO allied forces Exercise Nordic Response 24 in March. Image: NATO A synergistic relationship exists between defense agencies and the textile industry. Small-to-medium enterprises enjoy support from the defense sector through funding mechanisms such as the Small […]
FiberTect wipe tested for “dry” chemical decontamination
March 1st, 2024
FiberTect, a nonwoven wipe invented in the lab of Texas Tech University professor Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., for use by the military in liquid and gaseous chemical decontamination is being evaluated for dry substances as well. Images: Texas Tech University A nonwoven wipe invented in the Texas Tech University lab of professor Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., for use […]
Textiles in protection from bioagents, chemical warfare
February 1st, 2024
A scanning electron microscope image showing a close-up of a metal-organic framework/polyethylene terephthalate fiber composite. Image: Northwestern University The medical and military industries are both in need of fabrics that offer protection against biological threats in health care environments and, for warfighters, the threat posed by chemical warfare. The challenges faced are complex; protection against […]
Banner Canvas’ Faith Roberts on the value of ATA networking
November 1st, 2023
Photography by Dani Werner Photography Although Faith Roberts’ business has been mostly a one-woman show for almost 40 years, she has always been a firm believer in the power of networking. When she graduated with a degree in apparel design, Roberts envisioned going to New York and designing eveningwear. Instead, she began working at a growing […]
Navigating military textile development
March 1st, 2023
Alaska Army National Guardsmen patrol a training area at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Dec. 3, 2022. The patrol was part of an air assault exercise to evaluate the soldier’s proficiency in an arctic environment. Photo: Army Sgt. Seth LaCount Bestwork Industries for the Blind Inc. is a Cherry Hill, N.J., not-for-profit employment program that provides […]
In search of the next generation of military textiles
October 1st, 2020
The U.S. military continues the hunt for breakthrough textile products. by Glenna B. Musante In March of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping the globe, the search for vast amounts of textile personal protective equipment (PPE) became a major focus of the United States government and its military. In response, the U.S. textile industry […]
Moving military textiles into commercial markets
September 1st, 2018
Located in Philadelphia, Pa., and founded in 1929, Ehmke Manufacturing Co. Inc. has made the military its primary target from the beginning, designing and fabricating a wide array of technical fabrics not just for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, but for allies and the defense industry in general. Products directed to the market […]
On the march
December 1st, 2017
For several years the U.S. military market has been characterized by base closures and troop drawdowns, which has had an admittedly dampening effect on the need for and spending on military textiles. The United States isn’t the only geographic market for these products, nor are these textiles limited to just our military; purchasers are found […]
What’s happening to the military textile market
October 1st, 2016
Decreased budgets are a reality, but markets exist for new and innovative products. While it's fair to say that portions of the military textile market are shrinking—the U.S. now has far fewer troops overseas—it is also true that some segments are changing, which is an open door for innovation. Despite a decline in the U.S. Department […]