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Tents, trends and technology
June 1st, 2016
From RFID to GPS, Mike Holland uses all the newest tools to keep Chattanooga Tent Co. at the leading edge. "We embrace technology here,” says Mike Holland, president of Chattanooga Tent Co., Chattanooga, Tenn. “Especially when it comes to material handling, we’re always looking for anything that can help us work smarter and be more […]
At the intersection of textiles & technology
May 1st, 2016
Qaizar Hassonjee mines market opportunities and forms partnerships to bring smart fabrics to market. "The intersection of textiles and technology is a huge untapped opportunity for the textile industry,” says Qaizar Hassonjee, senior director, business development and partnerships, for adidas Digital Sports. “Market segments such as hospitality, health care and military are really prime for […]
Innovation on the water
April 1st, 2016
Adding comfort, performance, style and durability to boats, inside and out, through the advantages of the latest marine textiles. Sun and water are the iconic companions of leisure and recreation. (Think lounging on a boat, salty sea spray misting your face, sun warming your skin … ) But if you’re a marine fabricator, those same […]
Ideas in harness
April 1st, 2016
Michael Lester doesn't shy away from a challenge. He builds a team of fellow innovators and comes up with tensioned fabric solutions. "We’re always innovating,” says Michael Lester, managing director of MakMax Australia Pty. Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia, a world-renowned company building custom membrane structures and manufacturing a range of shade products. “We’ve always got […]
Envision, build, repeat
March 1st, 2016
Michael Catalano treats his clients as strategic partners—and that keeps them coming back. "We have a saying here: It’s not about the first job. It’s about the next job,” says Michael Catalano, CEO of Capitol Awning Co., Jamaica, N.Y. “And probably 90 percent or more of our work ends up being repeat business.” Michael Catalano […]
Fabric on the frontier
February 1st, 2016
Eric Walton and Devlin Mckee bring fabric solutions to Alaska's wild and wondrous terrain. "The remote area where we work can be a challenge so we have to be flexible and willing to do lots of different things,” say Eric Walton, MFC, and Devlin McKee, CC, owners of Custom Canvas Alaska (CCA) in Fairbanks, Alaska. […]
Charting a course
December 1st, 2015
Incoming IFAI board chair Katie Bradford takes the helm, using business expertise and networking know-how to lead the association. "I believe good leadership encourages participation and embraces differences,” says Katie Bradford, MFC, IFM, incoming chair of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and owner and president of Custom Marine Canvas, Noank, Conn. “IFAI membership is […]
Members make the industry
November 1st, 2015
As the Specialty Fabrics Review turns 100, we honor the members, readers and contributors who help keep the industry a strong and evolving economic force. For 100 years the Review has been the voice of the specialty fabrics industry—but it is the members of IFAI who helped to create and have supported that voice; it […]
Demand + supply = prevail
October 1st, 2015
Robert Cole brings decades of experience and common sense to the time-honored but always evolving economic model of supply and demand. One of the great things this industry has to offer is the quality of its suppliers,” says Robert Cole, IFAI Honored Life Member (HLM) and owner of Goodwin-Cole, Sacramento, Calif. “They’ve kept our industry […]
No fear
September 1st, 2015
Per Lindstrand sees obstacles as stepping stones as he develops new methods and products for fabric engineering. Never be afraid to stick your head out. I’d rather have my head slapped one time too many than too little,” says aeronautical engineer Per Lindstrand, founder and president of Lindstrand Technologies, Oswestry, U.K. “You get nowhere unless […]