The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) today announced the beginning of the competition for the 2012 IFF Innovation Award.

The specialty fabrics industry encompasses some of the most innovative companies in the world, and the IFF Innovation Award honors the achievements of the manufacturers whose innovative ideas have made or will make a difference in today's competitive marketplace.

According to IFF Director Ruth Stephens, "Innovation is at the heart of a dynamic specialty fabrics industry, and the IFF Innovation Award encourages invention." Stephens says that the IFF Innovation Award was designed to inspire and reward companies from all over the world, large and small, to create great ideas and bring them to life.

TenCate Geosynthetics of Pendergrass, Georgia, was presented with the 2011 IFF Innovation Award for a product called Mirafi®H2i--the most highly engineered geotextile on the market--which offers a unique combination of high particle retention and exceptional coefficient of interaction.

As Congress and the president focus on restoring the national transportation infrastructure, this super textile significantly minimizes costs of highway repairs, especially in locations of moisture management concern.

The award competition is open to any company which has developed and manufactured an innovative product or process related to the specialty fabrics industry. The IFF Innovation Award and $5,000 prize will be presented at IFAI Expo Americas 2012 (Nov. 7-9, Boston Convention Center).

Entries must meet several criteria: Innovation distinctive from other products currently manufactured or processes currently in use; benefit to the specialty fabrics industry or consumer; practicality and cost-effectiveness.

To qualify entries much be a product or process that is available for the market; the final development of the product or process must have been after 2010; and the product or process must not have been entered in any previous IFF Innovation Award contest or any other competition.

For details on how to enter, go to www.indfabfnd.com, or contact IFF Managing Director Ruth Stephens at +1 651 225 6545 or at rastephens@ifai.com. There is a fee of $250 per entry. All entries must be received on or before July 12, 2012 to be considered.

About the Industrial Fabrics Foundation

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation is committed to a well-educated workforce, with the knowledge and skills to bring quality, innovation and growth to the specialty textile industry. To support this vision, IFF (a 501(c)3 organization), underwrites research and study regarding specialty fabrics, provides information and educates the public about specialty textiles, and engages in other philanthropic activities as approved by its Board of Directors. www.indfabfnd.com

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has officially kicked off the observance of its 100th Anniversary year in 2012 as the largest, longest-running trade association for the specialty fabrics industry.

And when its trade show doors open at IFAI Expo Americas 2012 at the Boston Convention Center, Nov. 7-9, 2012, the entire specialty fabrics industry is invited to take part in a momentous three-day centenary celebration.

"We're hosting a party for around 7,000 of our closest friends," says Todd Lindemann, IFAI vice president of conference management, "and a lot of detail and planning is going into the festivities!" Lindemann says this will include a Welcome Reception and 100th Anniversary Party, an IFAI Historical Museum on the show floor with archival materials and photos, music, prizes and lots of fun. Special events will commemorate industry achievements throughout the three-day trade show.

IFAI Expo Americas is literally the specialty fabric industry's one-stop-shop for connecting buyers with sellers, featuring exhibitors from the industry's top companies in fabrics, fiber, films and chemicals, end products, components, equipment and technology services. As one specialty fabrics end product manufacturer recently said, "If you can't find it at IFAI Expo Americas, it probably doesn't exist."

IFAI Expo Americas' strong educational tradition continues with sessions that include CEU credits. Many companies bring their staff to take advantage of this unique face-to-face training by top industry experts, which they could find nowhere else.

In addition to the training tracks IFAI Expo Americas also includes two events which explore highly engineered specialty fabrics solutions:

• The Advanced Textiles Americas 2012 conference, a forum on new research which demonstrates how to use innovative technology to benefit your company's next generation of products.
• The 8th International Conference on Safety and Protective Fabrics--a biennial conference which will include a full day of materials research and applications (topics to be announced. Programs are carefully selected by an advisory committee of industry leaders and proposals are being accepted through Feb.15, 2012. A submission form is located at www.ifaiexpo.com/AT_education_proposal.cfm.

The IFAI Expo Americas exhibit floor will host one of the largest shows to date, showcasing a diverse and comprehensive representation of industry markets. Bob Varner, account manager from Ascend Performance Materials added: "We've been attending IFAI Expo Americas since the early '90s. This show draws our customers and customers of our customers. The networking is unbelievable."

And for the first time ever, IFAI will co-locate with the JEC Americas 2012 Composites Show and Conferences in its American debut. Combined, there will be more than 600 exhibitors blending fabric, hardware, equipment, tools, software, accessories and services with the composites value chain of polymers, plastics, fibers, glass, carbon fibers, ceramic fibers, resins, adhesives, industrial subcontracting and composites.

Stay tuned for updates on www.ifaiexpo.com.

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) announced today that its Geosynthetics 2013 conference and trade show will co-locate April 1-4, 2013 at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA, with the Southwest Geotechnical Engineers Conference (SWGEC), and the Geosynthetics Institute's GRI-25 Conference.

According to conference chair Sam Allen, Vice President/Division Manager of TRI Environmental, "This industry event is unique in its ability to gather the manufacturing, engineering, installation and academic communities for in-depth technical discussion, professional advancement and maximum business growth. These key opportunities increase exponentially with direct involvement and contribution. An excellent investment and return is realized."

The Geosynthetics 2013 conference theme is Geosynthetics for Water & Energy Challenges, and attendees will see a large array of all the major new developments in geosynthetics engineering and technologies. The conference spans four days of technical programming, including short courses, panel discussions and papers, plenary lectures and receptions.

Professor Bob Holtz, Ph.D, P.E., University of Washington praises the value of IFAI's Geosynthetics trade event: "With one exception, I've attended every biennial Geosynthetics conference since 1987, and each one of them was technically excellent and professionally rewarding. I always learned something new and exciting from the technical sessions, short courses, exhibition, and special events."

Geosynthetics 2013 is organized by IFAI, which is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2012. IFAI's support of the industrial fabrics industry includes numerous contributions specifically to the world of geosynthetic materials. IFAI has been a linchpin organization in this regard, supporting and growing the geosynthetics industry.

• As a not-for-profit organization, IFAI has invested millions of dollars back to the industry though its conferences, publications and programs.
• Organizing successful geosynthetics industry events since 1982, IFAI conferences have provided networking opportunities and exposure to the industry for engineers, specifiers, contractors, government agencies and academics.
• At the request of a fledgling industry more than four decades ago, IFAI started a geosynthetic division to help build the industry and provide a forum for the development of specification and standardization.
• IFAI's geosynthetic division (now GMA, Geosynthetic Materials Association) has put a total of more than $4 million into programs for the industry, including the development of education, specifications and standardization, and government relations.
• IFAI's publications arm has published geosynthetics journals and nearly three decades of the industry-leading magazine, Geosynthetics magazine (formerly GFR), totaling almost 200 issues.
• IFAI has worked collegially and professionally with other geosynthetic organizations including IGS (International Geosynthetics Society), NAGS (North American Geosynthetics Society), and GSI (the Geosynthetic Institute).

An esteemed advisory conference committee has been established and includes:

• Sam Allen, Vice President/Division Manager, TRI Environmental, Co-chair
• Prof. Robert Holtz, University of Washington, Co-chair
• L. David Suits, NAGS Executive Director, Education Chair
• Stan Boyle, PhD, PE, Vice President, Shannon Wilson, Technical Paper Co-chair
• Shobha Bhatia, PhD., Syracuse University, Technical Paper Co-chair
• Mark DeSalvatore, Geotechnical Services, California DOT, Member at Large
• Andrew Aho, GMA Managing Director, IFAI
• Ron Bygness, Editor, Geosynthetics magazine
• Barbara Connett, Technical Program Manager, IFAI
• Deb Stender, Event Director/Secretary General, IFAI

Exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities are available to companies that market geotechnical products and services. More information can be found on the event website or by contacting Elizabeth Welsh at eawelsh@ifai.com.

Geosynthetics 2013 is supported by the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS); the Geosynthetics Institute (GSI) and Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA); under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS); and is organized by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI).

Online registration will be available soon at event websites for Geosynthetics 2013, GRI-25 and SWGEC. For more information visit www.geosynthetics2013.com.

Proposal information is available on the event website and submissions are being accepted online at www.geosynthetics2013.com/Topic_Proposal_Submission.cfm through Feb. 8, 2012. Abstract submissions begin Feb. 15.

Questions? Contact Barbara Connett, Technical Program Manager, at bjconnett@ifai.com.

 Geosynthetics 2013 Call for Proposals extended to Feb. 8, 2012

This Call for Proposals is issued to solicit Technical Session Chairs, Short Courses and Panel Discussions.

Please submit proposals online at geosynthetics2013.com/Topic_Proposal_Submission.cfm.

Panel Discussions
Panel discussions are 90-minute sessions that bring professionals together for discussion and debate about technical and non-technical subjects and industry issues, such as political influences or social trends and their impact. Panel Discussions have a facilitator with several panelists to present differing viewpoints. A published summary of the discussion is possible

• Proposals should include an outline and title, a synopsis of the expected outcome of the discussion, preliminary names for facilitators and panelists. Facilitators are responsible for securing panel members and organizing the panel discussion. Meeting room and standard AV equipment (laptop, projector and sound), will be provided.

Short Courses
Short Courses will be emphasized in the technical program. Geosynthetics 2013 is committed to providing continuing education opportunities for participants. Short Courses at Geosynthetics 2013 may include beginner, intermediate and advanced courses.

• Proposals should include the course title, a description of the course with a summary of its learning objectives, a list of instructors and their qualifications, a summary of course handouts, and whether the course should be scheduled as a half or full day. Also indicate whether the course will offer professional development hours (PDHs).

Technical Paper Sessions
Technical Paper Sessions are 90 minutes in length during which four to six related papers are presented by their authors. Multiple papers that present various facets of a project are encouraged.

Multiple sessions with a related theme are possible. Technical Paper Sessions require at least one Session Chair who solicits paper submissions (if needed), conducts anonymous reviews and conducts the session onsite. Co-chairs are preferred but are not required. Complete Session Chair responsibilities are available online.

Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

• Energy
• Drainage
• Mining
• Water
• Dams and Levees
• Environmental
• Case Histories
• Renewable Energy
• Conveyance and Storage
• Failures • Agriculture / Aquaculture
• Foundations
• Transportation
• Shoreline and Water Protection
• Geo-Hazards
• Geosynthetics Properties
• Ground Improvement
• Hydrofracking
• Temporary Roads
• Other

 Technical Paper Program Submission Deadlines

• Proposals due Feb. 8, 2012 online at geosynthetics2013.com/Topic_Proposal_Submission.cfm
• Abstract submissions begin Feb. 15, 2012 online at geosynthetics2013.com/Technical_program_call.cfm

 Questions? Contact Barbara Connett, Technical Program Manager, at bjconnett@ifai.com.

IFAI publishes seven market specific magazines in print and online, hosts 14 different websites, organizes global industry events such as IFAI Expo Americas and supports the growth of nearly 1,900 member companies located in 54 countries. Under the IFAI umbrella you will find 13 special interest groups, each with specific programs aimed at various segments of the industry. In addition, IFAI conducts valuable industry research that provides market trends and statistics, while also providing exclusive members-only sourcing and technical information.

The President and CEO reports to a board of 12 industry leaders and has six direct reports. Fiscal Year 2011 total operating revenue was $9.7 million, and there is a total staff of 53. The offices are located in Roseville, Minn., a community 15 minutes from the downtowns of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

The ideal candidate should have at least 15 years experience of executive level leadership and be a strategic thinker capable of developing both longer-term strategic plans and one-year business plans. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated leadership of a membership organization as either a board member or staff leader and have developed an internal culture of being member-driven.

The President and CEO leads the efforts to retain and grow the membership. The ideal candidate should be comfortable serving as the face of the industry to important stakeholders and should have demonstrated significant public relations skills. Finally, the ideal candidate should have demonstrated skills at working with a board of directors that governs the organization using the Carver Policy Governance Model.

Interested candidates should send a letter of introduction and a resume to our search firm at employment@cincinnatus.com or in care of:

Kent Eklund
Cincinnatus Inc.
Riverplace Suite 210
43 Main Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55414

The deadline for submission is March 16, 2012.

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) today announced that it is offering five scholarships to specialty fabrics/technical textile industry students.

But these are only for students with dreams as wide as a fabric structure sports stadium, high as a cover on a NASA missile about to blast into space; deep as a dam embankment fortified with geosynthetics, tiny as a fabric patch in a heart valve, cool as a sustainable design shade structure, hot as a temperature controlled climate suit for arctic workers, strong as a fabric reinforced ski worn by an Olympic athlete.

The importance of college and vocational training has been the core of IFF's mission, and a hot button news story this past week in President Obama's State of the Union address and in his speech Friday at the University of Michigan. The country's new goal: Getting people the education and training they need so they're ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Technical training is a critical part of the specialty fabrics/technical textiles industry for everyone from the chemist conducting R&D to the factory worker operating million-dollar high-tech machinery.

The specialty fabrics industry is made up of a wide spectrum of companies. Small, medium and large suppliers make fabrics, machinery, components and accessories.

End product manufacturers make high-performance textile products for a variety of uses by the aerospace industry, the military, first responders/hazmat, fabric structures, biomedical applications, high performance sports apparel, geosynthetics in agriculture and waste containment; automotive interiors; and in futuristic applications in nanotechnology.

The 2011 world market for these high-performance fabrics was estimated at $126 billion in 2011--$29 billion of that in the U.S. In fact, this is one segment of the domestic textile  manufacturing base which now thrives thanks to continuous technical innovation.

IFF was established in 1994, and it awards several scholarships each year to students enrolled in accredited colleges, universities or technical schools. The foundation was set up by the board of directors of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), a trade group with over 1,800 member companies which has represented the U.S. specialty fabrics industry for 100 years.

Students interested in applying for the scholarships can visit IFF's website--the submission deadline is in May--and the scholarship applies to the following school year, paid directly to the students' schools for fall semester tuition.

The IFF Board of Directors holds responsibility for application review and scholarship awards. Announcement to the industry of the scholarship recipients takes place during IFAI Expo Americas 2012, which will be held Nov. 7-9 at the Boston Convention Center.

The scholarships offered are as follows:

Don Williams IFF Student Scholarship - $3,000 each (up to three available)--This scholarship is named in honor of the IFF board director who was instrumental in developing the foundation scholarship program. IFF pays for tuition expenses at an accredited college, university, or technical school textile or textile-related program. Applicants must be enrolled in a textile or textile-related program of study. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service, and interest in a future career in the specialty fabrics industry.

IFAI Member Scholarship - $3,000 each (up to two available)--This scholarship award pays for tuition expenses at an accredited college, university or technical school. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service, and interest in a future career in the specialty fabrics industry. To qualify for the IFAI Member Scholarship award, applicants must be employed by or related to an employee of an IFAI member company.

In addition to these IFF-funded scholarships, several market segment scholarships are made available through IFF by IFAI Divisions:

Architect Student Scholarship - $3,000 (one available) - This scholarship award pays for tuition expenses at an accredited college or university architect program. The scholarship recipient will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service, and interest in a future career in the specialty fabrics industry. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be enrolled in a college or university architect program. This scholarship is funded by a donation from the Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a division of IFAI.

Fabric Graphics Association (FGA) Member Scholarship - $2,000 (one available) - This scholarship award provides tuition expenses at an accredited college, university or technical school. The scholarship recipient will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service, and interest in a future career in the fabric graphics industry. To qualify for the FGA Member Scholarship award, applicants must be employed by or related to an employee of a FGA member company. This scholarship is funded by a donation from the Fabric Graphics Association (FGA), a division of IFAI.

Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Member Scholarship - $2,000 (one available) - This scholarship award provides tuition expenses at an accredited college, university or technical school. The scholarship recipient will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service, and interest in a future career in the specialty fabrics industry.boat with girl To qualify for the MFA Member Scholarship award, applicants must be employed by or related to an employee of an MFA member company. This scholarship is funded by a donation from the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA), a division of IFAI.

Additional scholarships will be announced in February and March, 2012. For more information visit www.ifai.com/resources/iff or contact Ruth Stephens, IFF Managing Director, at +1 651 225 6545, rastephens@ifai.com.

About the Industrial Fabrics Foundation

The IFF is dedicated to specialty fabrics education and research. As a non-profit organization set up by the board of directors of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), its mission is to act as a close partner which complements IFAI's many programs created for the advancement of the people and companies in the specialty fabrics industry. www.indfabfnd.com/

At a time when President Obama and his administration are on a new mission to repatriate American manufacturing jobs, the U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) recently scored a small victory for the textile industry. USIFI is the manufacturing segment of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), and has a long track record of fighting policy decisions that kill American manufacturing jobs--semper vigilans.

This mission began two-and-a-half years ago when a surprise reinterpretation of the Berry Amendment was announced by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) saying that military tents could be constructed with components made offshore. That subtle interpretive phrasing would curtail American companies, and was contrary to the spirit of the Berry Amendment, (USC, Title 10, Section 2533a), a law which requires the Department of Defense to give preference in procurement to domestically produced, manufactured, or home grown products.

Congress originally passed domestic source restrictions as part of the 1941 Fifth Supplemental DoD Appropriations Act in order to guarantee a domestic source for products needed during war.

The battle begins

In 2009 at the request of its membership--the U.S. military tent supply chain--USIFI sent a letter to Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, explaining the industry's understanding of Berry compliance and requesting written clarification of the new DLA interpretation.

An August 2009 response from Nancy Heimbaugh, Director, Strategic Acquisition, DLA, reiterated DLA's position that only the fabric used in tents is subject to the Berry Amendment's domestic purchasing restriction; since tent components were not mentioned.

Ms. Heimbaugh's letter cited as an example a phrase in the Berry Amendment statute that refers specifically to components of clothing items.(This section of the Berry Amendment had been changed in 2006; prior to that time, no mention of clothing components had been included in the Berry Amendment.) Because of similar issues of non-compliant clothing components like buttons and embroidered emblems being used in military apparel, the apparel industry initiated the 2006 change to the Berry Amendment.

The division advances

In the intervening months, USIFI polled the military tent-supply chain, including member and non-member companies and textile and non-textile component producers to determine if broad support existed for changing the statute's language to include tent components. There was no dissention.

USIFI member company Easton Technical Products stepped forward to lead the effort with help from Outdoor Venture Corporation, Camel Manufacturing, and Johnson Outdoors--three of the largest domestic MilSpec tent manufacturers. In addition, a number of tent frame, trim, and fabric suppliers agreed to help achieve a solution.

During 2009, 2010 and 2011, because of DLA's new interpretation of the Berry Amendment, new DoD contracts have been awarded to bidders using imported components. This created an industry-wide sourcing issue which threatens many jobs within the domestic military shelter supply chain during a time of high unemployment and economic uncertainty.

A concerted effort was made to write language into the FY2011 Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act that included domestic tent components as part of any contracts let by the DoD. Working through the office of Congressman Rob Bishop (UT, 1st), who at the time was on the House Armed Services Committee, leadership of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) was informed of the inconsistency and the industry's interest in fixing the error.

USIFI, with the assistance of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC), worked with Rep. Rob Bishop to craft legislative language to correct DLA's mistaken interpretation. Rep. Bishop, following the counsel of the staff of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), was able to propose that the following language be added to the DoD Authorization bill, H.R. 5136, in 2010:

"The committee is aware that the Director, Defense Logistics Agency has chosen to interpret the requirement to buy certain articles from domestic sources per subsection (b) of section 2533(a) of title 10 United States Code in such a manner that it applies expressly to tents, tarpaulins, or covers, but not to the materials and components of tents, tarpaulins, or covers. The committee is concerned that this narrow interpretation of the statute is inconsistent with the law. Therefore, the committee directs the Director, Defense Logistics Agency to review the interpretation of the current statute to ensure that they are compliant with both the law and with congressional intent and submit a report to the Congressional defense committees not later than Oct. 1, 2011, explaining how the committee's concerns were addressed."

A battle lost

The HASC staff did not feel, at that time, that an attempt to amend the existing statutory language was warranted. Their proposed statement offered a strong indication that Congress' intent was that the military shelter components be covered under the domestic supply restriction of the Berry Amendment. Further, as "Directive report language," the DoD would be required to respond.

Unfortunately, the legislation which passed in the waning hours of the 111th Session of Congress (the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011) was stripped of much of the language in the earlier draft and did not include the previously agreed to language (above).

Therefore USIFI, with continuing help of the broad coalition of industry members and Representative Bishop's office, attempted a statutory fix in the 112th Congress. USIFI proposed language to be inserted into the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, permanently amending the Berry statute so that tent components would be required to be produced in the U.S. The language was included in the Defense bill approved by the House, but it was not included in the Senate bill.

Victory at last

A joint House and Senate committee produced the final document which passed and was signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 31, 2011. The final bill, H.R. 1540--the $662 billion 2012 National Defense Authorization Act--included the USIFI language requiring domestic production of all tent components.

It is important to note that this change is not an expansion of the Berry Amendment beyond its original scope, but rather a clarification of the original intent of the law. USIFI engaged its entire membership as well as the military shelter value chain in their effort. The success of the effort shows the value of collective action.

USIFI will continue to monitor military procurement, particularly Berry compliance, with 2012-2013 efforts directed to study of the recent change in the Berry threshold (the contract amount that triggers domestic sourcing requirement) from $100,000 to $150,000; and tactics employed by Defense Logistics Agency to circumvent Berry regulations.

Semper vigilans.

For anyone in a funk about the decline of big U.S. innovators like Kodak, the Wall Street Journal highlights companies like Milliken & Co., maker of textiles, that have innovation exactly right. John Bussey has details on WSJ's "The News Hub."

Milliken & Company is an innovation company that has been exploring, discovering, and creating ways to enhance people’s lives since 1865. With corporate headquarters located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company has expertise across a breadth of disciplines including specialty chemical, floor covering and performance materials. Milliken has long led the way for “knowledge-based” investment, employing over 100 PhDs, including the current CEO and two division presidents; and has accumulated more than 2,200 U.S. patents and more 5,000 patents worldwide.

IFAI mourned the passing of Roger Milliken Sr., (the great grandson of the founder) just over a year ago. He led Milliken & Company for 71 years, and passed away in Spartanburg, South Carolina at the age of 95 in December 2010. His epitaph simply reads "Builder." He is survived by five children and nine grandchildren.

Ford, through the use of REPREVE®, plans to divert about 2 million post-consumer plastic bottles for use in the new Focus Electric and other new vehicles for the next model year.

The Focus Electric contains REPREVE-based fabrics that are made from about 22 recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles in each car. This is the first Ford vehicle to have an interior made from 100 percent clean technology.

“Ford is committed to delivering vehicles with leading fuel efficiency while targeting at least 25 percent clean technology in interior materials across our lineup,” says Carol Kordich, lead designer of Sustainable Materials for Ford. “The Focus Electric highlights this commitment as Ford’s first gas-free vehicle, and the first in the automotive industry to use branded REPREVE.”

“After decades of education, the United States PET bottle recycling rate is only at 29 percent, about half the rate of Europe,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO of Unifi Inc. (NYSE: UFI). “We hope this recycling initiative with Ford will help raise visibility around the importance of recycling with a goal to drive recycling rates to 100 percent, diverting millions of plastic bottles from entering the waste stream and potentially back into REPREVE-branded fibers.”

Ford and Unifi will help collect some of the bottles destined for Ford vehicles by recycling plastic bottles from the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) taking place in Detroit on Jan. 9-10 and the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Jan. 10-13.

Quality on the inside

The REPREVE seat fabric is a polyester fiber made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials, including post-industrial fiber waste and post-consumer waste such as the plastic water bottles made of PET.

Using REPREVE also reduces energy consumption by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil for production. The technology meets all Ford design and comfort requirements to help ensure the Focus Electric and other vehicles meet the company’s high performance standards.

“We aimed to make the Focus Electric the most overall sustainable vehicle available to consumers, from using clean technology to overall vehicle efficiency,” said Kordich.

The Focus Electric, Ford’s first all-electric passenger car, started production in December 2011 at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich. When full production is under way in March, the car’s seat fabric could contain plastic bottles collected at NAIAS or CES.

Eco-conscious solutions

Ford’s “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” commitment is part of the company’s broader global sustainability strategy to reduce its environmental footprint while at the same time accelerating the development of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies around the world.

Currently Ford vehicles are approximately 90 percent recyclable at end of life. By using recycled content in its vehicles and ensuring its parts are recyclable, Ford is leading the industry in recycling efforts. Ford’s goal is to have its vehicles be 100 percent recyclable.

In 2009, Ford mandated that fabric suppliers use a minimum of 25 percent recycled content for all 2009 and beyond model year vehicles. Since then, 37 different fabrics meeting the requirements have been developed and incorporated into Ford vehicles.

Examples include soy foam seat cushions and head restraints, wheat straw-filled plastic, castor oil foam in instrument panels, recycled resins for underbody systems, recycled yarns on seat covers and natural-fiber plastic for interior components.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

For more information on REPREVE and Unifi visit http://www.repreve.com.

The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association has an easy way to achieve that resolution by adding fabric awnings and canopies over doors and windows.

"People don't have to make drastic changes to their homes in order to reduce their energy use and save money," said Michelle Sahlin, managing director of the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA). "Awnings are an easy home upgrade that enhance the aesthetic quality of a home, while reducing the energy used by running air conditioners at full-blast."

Adding window awnings to a home can help ease electricity usage (a top producer of carbon emissions) for an air conditioner. When combined with an air conditioner, awnings can reduce the amount of electricity needed to cool a house by preventing solar radiation from penetrating through windows.

"Awnings are the simplest thing you can do to lower your energy costs," says Illinois homeowner Barbara Neuerman, "We're not talking about replacing central air conditioning units; we're not talking about ripping out 37 windows in the house. We are talking about putting up 9 canvas awnings, and possibly saving as much as 30 percent on my energy bill."

"We looked at the cost of our air conditioning bills in the summertime, which could go as high as $500 a month. That was just becoming unacceptable," said Ms. Neuerman. "I went online and started to do some research as to what awnings could actually do… I was very surprised to find out that, in this climate, my energy savings by adding awnings to the front of the house would be as great as 30 percent per month. That's a huge number." That calculation on savings comes to around $150 a month in the hot summer months.

For more information on the energy-saving benefits of awnings, visit http://www.awninginfo.com.

The scholarship awards provide tuition expenses at an accredited college, university or technical school for students who are interested in a career in the specialty fabrics industry. The scholarship awards are as follows:

IFF Student Scholarship recipient Vinitkumar Singh is a student at Texas Tech University. Singh is pursuing a Master's Degree in environmental toxicology. He is a research assistant in the Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech. He holds a Master's Degree in environmental toxicology, and hopes to develop specialty nonwovens for chemical and biological protection. Singh's scholarship is funded by the Industrial Fabrics Foundation.

IFF Student Scholarship recipient Morgan Bennett is a student at Auburn University, and is pursuing a degree in polymer and fiber engineering. She is senior warden for the Lambda Chapter of the Phi Psi Professional Textile Fraternity, as well as the Emergency Services Officer for the Civil Air Patrol's Auburn Composite Squadron. With her degree in engineering she hopes to research and develop materials that can more adequately protect fire fighters. Bennett's scholarship is funded by the Industrial Fabrics Foundation.

Industrial Fabrics Association International Member Scholarship recipient Maggie Will is pursuing a degree in architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She serves as student council president as well as captain of both the varsity soccer and softball teams. She hopes to one day own her own architecture firm. Will was sponsored by Custom Marine Canvas of Noank, Conn, and the scholarship was funded by the Industrial Fabrics Foundation.

Architect Student Scholarship recipient Simon Chiu is a student at the University of Southern California, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in architecture. He hopes to go on to research, development and teaching of fabric structure design. The scholarship was funded by the Fabric Structures Association, a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.

Fabric Graphics Association Member Scholarship recipient Noah Thompson is a student at University of North Florida pursuing a degree in graphic design with a minor in Spanish. He has served as captain of the track and field team, and has participated in community service initiatives in Mexico City. His degree in graphic design will allow him to possibly run his father's company one day. Thompson was sponsored by Ad Graphics of Pompano Beach, Fla; and the scholarship was funded by the Fabric Graphics Association, a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.

Tent Rental Division Member Scholarship recipient Becca Barth is a student at Bowling Green State University, and is pursuing a degree in communications and business. She is involved in the National Honor Society and was a volunteer for the Red Cross and Exceptional Olympics. With her degree in communications and business she hopes to develop public relations within the specialty fabrics industry. Barth was sponsored by Snyder Manufacturing in Dover, Ohio, and the scholarship was funded by the Tent Rental Division, a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.

Marine Fabricators Association Member Scholarship recipient Larissa LeClair is pursuing a degree in accounting at Towson University. She has been involved with the Towson Equestrian Club as well as working for Carriage House Canvas. She hopes her degree in accounting will allow her to follow her dream of opening her own shop. Larissa was sponsored by Carriage House Canvas of Betterton, Maryland; and the scholarship was funded by the Marine Fabricators Association, a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.

Applications and criteria for IFF scholarships will be available in early January 2012 at www.indfabfnd.com, with awards going toward 2012-13 school year tuition.

Member scholarships are available to employees and family members of employees of companies that are members of the Industrial Fabrics Association International and/or the Fabric Graphics Association, the Marine Fabricators Association and the Tent Rental Division.

Financial need, academic achievement, community service and studies related to a career in the specialty fabrics industry will be considered in the selection process.

IFF is a separately incorporated nonprofit 501(a)(3) organization dedicated to education and research in specialty fabrics. For information on IFF or its scholarship programs, contact managing director Ruth Stephens at rastephens@ifai.com.

According to IFAI's conference management vice president Todd Lindemann, "This decision will allow us to evaluate the date and venue for the event. We expect the second edition of IFAI Expo Asia to be bigger and draw larger attendance, and we are carefully planning for that success."

IFAI Expo Asia 2011 had a strong premiere 22-25 March 2011 in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. The combined specialty fabrics trade exhibition and symposiums covered the spectrum of the cutting-edge developments occurring in the industry.

IFAI Expo Americas 2011, the specialty fabrics industry's top-performing trade event in the Americas, hosted 5,066 registered participants from 43 countries at the Baltimore Convention Center, as the industry gathered at the largest industry showcase of products, knowledge and accomplishments.

The strength of the specialty fabrics industry was on display at the Industrial Fabrics Association International's signature Expo Americas trade show. This is an industry that runs on innovation, and the trade show floor buzzed as 340 top companies from 18 countries exhibited the latest in fabrics, fiber, films and chemicals, end products, components, equipment, and technology services. IFAI Expo Americas' well-known breadth enables connections to be made throughout the industry's value chain.

Feedback was that the quality of attendees was very good, and exhibitors made numerous new contacts with customers. Howie Granat, Granat Industries, Inc., was pleased with the buyer attendance: "It's been another fabulous year. We've been exhibiting for 15 years and we scanned the most ever on the first day. Our average is 40 leads, and this year we scanned 60!" More.

Specialty fabrics serve an array of markets -- everything from awnings to auto airbags to protective gear for soldiers and firefighters.

Unlike apparel textiles, the U.S. specialty fabric business has continued to grow, but according to industry trade associations it may now be threatened by the new Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS).

The U.S. International Trade Commission, a bipartisan federal agency, estimates KORUS will lead to increased U.S. textile exports to South Korea. The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) takes a different view, noting that under the agreement recently approved by Congress, goods from South Korea would enjoy duty-free entry into the U.S., while U.S. exports to Korea would be subject to a 10 percent value added tax (VAT). The measure also would allow South Korea to raise its VAT rate above 10 percent.

Ruth Stephens, executive director of the U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI), says U.S. negotiators erred because KORUS places domestic companies at a competitive disadvantage. USIFI is part of IFAI , a Roseville-based trade group with more than 1,800 member companies.

Q: How big is the specialty fabric industry -- what are the sales trends?

A: The world market is estimated at $126 billion in 2011 -- $29 billion of that in the U.S. Sales growth in the U.S. is about 1.5 percent to 2 percent a year and there are about 250,000 workers. What everybody thinks about in the textile industry is apparel that has basically been moved offshore. The industrial and specialty side of the business in the U.S. hasn't had a lot of competition, until recently.

Some areas are seeing fast growth, for example, the base fabric used in road construction, erosion control, (and) spoil containment in landfills. The areas with the least growth are awnings and building products, like flat-roof membranes. There's now potential for growth is the safety market, like gear for firefighters. The only reason that has slowed was because cities have been dealing with budget cutbacks. But there are innovations left and right in this area, and cities want the products.

Q: What fueled growth of the U.S. industry?

A: We have a history of being the innovators. In global markets U.S. products are sought after because they are cutting-edge. We are getting competition from Europe on high-end products. The industry there gets a lot of government support.

We've also used this slow economic time to make our industry more productive. Companies have invested in automation. If you go into a mill, you'll find that the looms are threaded automatically and inspection is all done automatically by computer. Those things have helped us stay ahead of the game.

Q: Why is KORUS such bad news for your industry?

A: It's a lesson in how the U.S. has done free trade agreements since World War II. The U.S. was sort of the big brother helping other countries get back on their feet after the war. Almost every trade agreement we've done since then uses that philosophy. Unfortunately with South Korea, you're now dealing with a country that's a very sophisticated textile producer, one that is not in need of U.S. support. In 2010 we had a trade deficit of more than $700,000 with South Korea in textiles.

Q: If it's such a bad idea, why did Congress approve it?

A: Trade agreements aren't about trade. They're about politics and power struggles. Right next to South Korea is North Korea. I believe that had a big influence on the timing of the passage [because the U.S. wants to keep South Korea as an ally].

Another reason is that the portions of this agreement that deal with agriculture and the automotive products will result in job creation opportunities in the U.S. Washington is all about jobs right now. The government's analysis of the trade agreement found there should be export opportunities in agriculture and automotive sectors while several market segments could be hurt, including textiles.

Q: When does it go into effect and how long will it take to impact your industry?

A: The Korean government still has to pass it. After that, it would take four to six months to implement. We know that South Korea, with government support, has built up textile production capacity. We know there will be a flood in the U.S. market of some types of fabrics. Within a couple years the industry here could lose 5,000 to 7,000 jobs. As for the long term, we expect to see a lot of consolidation in our industry here. We'll find ways to lower our prices as much as we can. Companies here will need to find new products and new markets where there's not as much competition.

IFAI member UNIFI has created REPREVE, a polyester fiber made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials including used plastic water bottles and post-industrial waste. Through the use of REPREVE, each all-new Ford Focus Electric keeps 22 plastic bottles out of landfills.

Sitting on empty plastic bottles while driving or riding in a car would be less than ideal. That’s not the case when it comes to the all-new Ford Focus Electric, as it features seat fabric made of recycled material that includes the equivalent of more than 20 plastic bottles per car.

The fiber – called REPREVE® – is made from a hybrid blend of recycled materials and manufactured by Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), a global leader in sustainable textile solutions.

Unifi officials say 22 plastic, 16-ounce water bottles are used in the seat fabric of a single Focus Electric. The figure is based on the amount of REPREVE branded fiber used in the production of fabric in each vehicle.

Ford is the first automaker to use REPREVE branded fiber in its seat fabric.  More...

View the presentation video (shown at IFAI Expo Americas 2011); and then browse photos and descriptions of the 84 winners in 33 project categories. Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function.

TenCate Geosynthetics of Pendergrass, Georgia, was presented with the 2011 IFF Innovation Award for a product called Mirafi® H2i, the most highly engineered geotextile on the market.

Mirafi® H2i provides a significant improvement in stabilizing structures, with high tensile modulus, combined with the inherent ability to move water. Its patented construction offers a unique combination of high particle retention and exceptional coefficient of interaction.

Best of all, as Congress and the president focus on restoring the national transportation infrastructure, this super textile significantly minimizes costs of highway repairs, especially in locations of moisture management concern. Read more.

The purpose of the annual IFF Innovation Award is to inspire companies from all over the world not only to come up with great ideas, but to make them happen.

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation developed the annual recognition award last year to tell the stories of outstanding specialty fabric manufacturers and suppliers who have challenged the norm and succeeded; and who are leading the way to uncharted territories. IFF wants these companies and their stories to inspire others in the industry, acting as benchmarks for others to surpass.

Said IFF managing director Ruth Stephens: "Innovation is the heart of creating a specialty fabrics industry that will inspire new technology in the 21st century. The IFF Innovation Award transforms that idea into action by fostering the next generation of specialty fabrics industry innovators."

About the Industrial Fabrics Foundation--

The IFF is dedicated to specialty fabrics education and research. As a non-profit organization set up by the board of directors of the Industrial Fabrics Association International. its mission is to act as a close partner which complements IFAI's many programs created for the advancement of the people and companies in the specialty fabrics industry.

For more information, visit www.ifai.com/resources/iff or contact Ruth Stephens, IFF Managing Director, at +1 651 225 6545 | rastephens@ifai.com.

This follows the announcement by IFAI Board Chairman Peter McKernan on 24 Oct. that President/CEO Stephen Warner is stepping down from his post.

Hennessy has been with IFAI for 23 years, and most recently held the position of vice president of communications and publisher of IFAI's seven industry magazines. Susan Niemi, formerly the associate publisher, will now step into the publisher position left vacant by Hennessy.

Said Hennessy, "IFAI stands as the voice of the specialty fabrics industry as it approaches its 100-year anniversary. I am honored to be a part of the continuation of this great association."

Danicia Manning replaces MITO Chief Executive Janet Lane due to her increased responsibilities following the merger of the Tranzqual ITO with MITO.

As the executive officer, Manning will assist with the annual OFPANZ conference and trade show, manage member recruiting and communications; as well as coordination of the MITO apprenticeship program. Manning's office will be located in Rolleston, Christchurch, NZ.

According to Kathy Mattson, IFAI vice president of member services, "Danicia's strong background in communications, event planning and project management make her a perfect fit for the association."

OFPANZ: www.ifai.com/ofpanznews

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has announced that two members of Congress have submitted a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), asking that office to conduct a study regarding geosynthetic materials in roadway systems.

The geosynthetics industry has long sought a federal study of the cost-benefits of geosynthetic materials as separators and interlayers in pavement systems.

The coauthors of the study request letter are Rep. John Duncan (R-TN-2) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), both members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Rep. Duncan also serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and Rep. LoBiondo serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Pavement system design for long-term performance and longer lifecycle pavement preservation techniques continues to be a high priority in Departments of Transportation across the country. Using geosynthetics in roadway pavement systems affects long-term performance, including separation/drainage and reflective crack reduction/moisture intrusion prevention.

Geosynthetic Materials Association"There have been a number of academic and industry case studies that indicate the positive benefits of using geosynthetics in road building," said GMA managing director Andrew Aho. "This study will provide federal government with validation of the benefits of geosynthetics in the nation's roadways."

The letter from Duncan and LoBiondo to the GAO highlights the data available to complete the study:"Because there is ample academic, industry, and state department of transportation information publicly available that the GAO can use to complete the study, the study should incorporate existing research and data concerning the use of innovative materials in payment systems, such as the addition of geosynthetic materials in pavement systems." (13 Oct. 2011, Duncan/ LoBiondo letter to GAO).

"We believe this study will ultimately increase the use of geosynthetic materials in transportation systems," Aho said. "This is a significant step forward for the industry."

The Geosynthetic Materials Association represents 80 member companies that manufacture, distribute, fabricate, and install geosynthetic materials. GMA is a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International, based in Roseville, MN. GMA research notes that the geosynthetics industry employs 12,000 people in the U.S. and adds $2.1 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

Two affiliates of KPS Capital Partners LP will get American & Efird’s 23 plants and 11,000 global employees in the deal. That includes plants in Mount Holly and Gastonia.

“This transaction allows the management team and their associates at A&E to continue to pursue their strategic plan of transforming A&E into a more Asian-centric enterprise, which has been years in the making,” said Thomas Dickson, chairman, president and CEO of Ruddick. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter.

 Ruddick (NYSE:RDK) expects to record pre-tax non-cash impairment losses and other related expenses totaling between $42 million and $48 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, which ended Oct. 2.

The after-tax impact to fourth quarter results is expected to range between $33 million, or 68 cents per diluted share and $37 million, or 75 cents per diluted share.

“As A&E’s business has grown substantially in Asia it has become less of a domestic company and more of a complex international manufacturing company and its strategic fit with Harris Teeter has become less evident to our shareholders,” Dickson said in a statement.  More.

Missak Azirian, president of Alpha Productions Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., has been in the industry for 32 years and is a pioneer in the retractable awning industry in the U.S. His vision and ambition have had a significant and long-term influence on the awning business.

Ann Hunzinger, co-owner of Evanston Awning Co., Evanston, Ill., has been involved in the industry for more than 25 years, leading organizations at the regional, national and international level. For more than eight years she served on the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA) board of directors. She has presented at industry events and seminars on many occasions. Evanston Awning is a charter member of IFAI.

Edward Hunzinger, Jr., MFC, co-owner and president of Evanston Awning Co., Evanston, Ill., has been part of the specialty fabrics industry for 45 years, providing leadership through various organizations on a regional, national and international level. He served on the PAMA board of directors for two terms and was president of the Mid-America 8 Canvas Products Association.

Rosemary Krienke, MFC, IFM, CPP, former owner of North Texas Tarp and Awning, Denton, Texas, has been an active member of PAMA and a long-time member of the Tarp Association board of directors. Even in retirement she continues to serve as a member of the Awning and Canopy MFC Task Group. She is one of only four people in the industry to earn the Master Fabric Craftsman, Industrial Fabrics Craftsman and Certified Project Planner certifications.

The story of Mirafi H2Ri began with one question at a business meeting in Alaska between officials from that state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and representatives from TenCate Geosynthetics North America of Pendergrass, Ga. “We always ask, ‘What problem do you have today that can’t be solved with geosynthetics?’” says David Jones, TenCate’s director of product and application development.

Alaska officials cited the difficulties of building and maintaining roads in a harsh climate and over problematic geology. “When you build over the tundra, you’re on frost-susceptible soils, which take in water at different rates,” Jones explains. “When the water in the soil freezes, it expands and contracts at different rates, creating frost heaves or frost boils. We figured we can’t stop that, but then we figured if the entire road did the same thing at the same time, there wouldn’t be a problem.” 

Moving the water

The TenCate team contemplated how to create an industrial fabric that might improve the situation. The initial planning phase, which involved qualifying and quantifying exactly what features the fabric should have and how it should perform, took about 18 months, Jones says. “Could we move water out of the road system? Yes, but how much would be enough?”

The textile would have stability applications, so it needed to allow sufficient water to pass through while holding back small particles. It would also need to be strong enough to withstand extreme stresses and pressure, but still be lightweight and cost effective to use.

Once the plan was in place, the team began experimenting with composition and materials. In designing a fabric with the stated goals in mind, “We figured the only way to do it was to build the fabric vertically,” Jones says. “We needed to make it thicker.” With more than one layer, the fabric could channel enough water, but the holes could still be small enough to block particles from flowing through.

Developers knew the choice of yarn would play a significant role in how the fabric performed and found a fiber with a geometric shape to maximize surface area, providing optimum wicking capabilities, but getting everything right took trial and error. “Two-layer weaving was new to us,” Jones says. “We went through 23 trials on the loom, looking at the samples and trying to figure out how to balance soil retention and water flow-through.” The project was nearly complete. 

A new fabric category

At about the same time the team in Georgia was working on the textile first conceived in Alaska, TenCate’s European division was finishing its own new product. After four years and more than 120 extrusion trials, the European division had developed a stiffer, higher modulus yarn that could bear increased loads at lower elongation points. The new fiber “basically doubled the modulus,” Jones says. “It was really an innovative breakthrough for us.” 

That kind of strength—especially for applications such as road stabilization—coupled with the fabric’s water-wicking capabilities, would create a fabric in a category by itself. After another 12 loom trials adding the new yarn to the mix, Mirafi H2Ri was born. “Once we saw what we had, we said we need to revamp all of our products and put in this new-generation technology,” he says. 

Proven benefits

In August 2010, TenCate tested Mirafi H2Ri in Alaska on the Dalton Highway, a road running from north of Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean subject to frost-related damage due to uneven moisture levels in the soil.

To test Mirafi H2Ri’s water-wicking ability, at mile marker 110 TenCate engineers dug out several feet of the existing road, graded the surface and installed a section of Mirafi H2Ri at a depth of about three feet. Engineers covered that with a foot of dirt, compacted it and installed a second piece of fabric at a depth of about 18 inches. Workers placed sensors between the layers of fabric, opened the road for use and monitored the sensors for more than a year.

The results showed that the moisture moved out of the road bed, preventing frost-related road damage. Areas on either side of the fabric installation suffered the typical frost-related road damage.

“[The fabric] won’t drain a lake,” says Jones, “but it will move moisture around so you don’t have saturated and unsaturated areas. That’s the true benefit of the fabric.”

Not just the frozen North

The recently introduced (and patented) geosynthetic has been installed in several roads vulnerable to frost-related damage in Alaska and northern Canada. As of this fall, more than 30 new or revamped products are on the innovation list, with half a dozen “on the same caliber” with the kind of innovation found in Mirafi H2Ri, Jones says. Most will be in development for another 18 to 24 months.

Jones says the product use potential is “anyplace where water and the need for stabilization come together”—for instance, the clay soils of Texas. “They’re expansive soils, so as long as they’re wet, they’re fine,” he says. “But they’re like Play-Doh. If they dry out, they develop huge cracks. If you’re building over those types of soils, foundations will crack, and that’s a problematic issue.” 

Tests are continuing at The University of Texas at Austin.

Jan Brenny is a freelance writer based in Bloomington, Minn.

Are you an innovator?

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) began its Innovation Award program in 2010 as a way to recognize and celebrate the industry’s noteworthy achievements. The award honors ideas that make a difference in today’s competitive marketplace. Entries are judged by a panel of industry experts, and winners receive a $5,000 prize.

IFF is now accepting entries for the 2012 competition. To be considered, entries must have been produced since 2008 and be available to the market. Products cannot have been previously submitted for an Innovation Award.

Cook cautioned the audience that the elections are 12 months away and anything can happen, but suggested that, given the current state of the economy, the 2012 presidential election is probably “the Republican party’s to lose”—but also noted that the GOP’s extremely conservative factions will have to focus on economic issues and not social issues in choosing a candidate, or risk alienating that changeable swing vote.

Additional coverage of the keynote address will be included in the December issue of Specialty Fabrics Review magazine.

This year’s competition included 33 categories. IFAI received a total of 385 entries from 16 countries. Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function. Judges included industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals who were selected for their knowledge in a particular field of study or product area.

All entries receive prominent recognition at IFAI Expo Americas, the largest specialty fabrics trade show in the Americas. Entrants receive additional publicity through coverage in IFAI magazines and press releases distributed to media professionals.

For more than six decades, IAA has recognized excellence in design and innovation, highlighting truly spectacular work in the specialty fabrics industry. The goal of IAA is to promote awareness of the specialty fabrics used in thousands of products and applications ranging in size and type. The International Achievement Awards competition is sponsored by IFAI, a not-for-profit trade association whose 2,000 member companies represent the international specialty fabrics marketplace.

Photos and detailed project descriptions of the winners are available at ifaipublications.com/iaa/.