YKK (USA) Inc. introduces the Power Rail made from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), for weatherability. With a strong grip and flexible base, and the 3.6mm and 2.2mm hook sizes, it is well suited for low and high endurance applications, such as truck bed covers, gym mats, boat interiors and curtain rails. SOURCE YKK (USA) Inc.

Ensure that your customer is getting the right information on cleaning and maintenance of outdoor fabrics. By Holly O’Dell Proper care and maintenance are the cornerstones of an outdoor fabric’s lifespan—and the lack of proper care is also one of the first things that brings unhappy customers back with complaints. Unfortunately, this increasingly important information [...]

The City of Bowie, Md., wanted to upgrade its aging Bowie Skate Park to a premier destination for skateboard athletes. City project manager Matt Reno wanted skaters performing gravity-defying feats for friends and family to enjoy the outdoor venue’s half-pipes and banked ramps without excessive exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. The city chose [...]

When Rover rolls over on his fabric-covered pet bed, most dog owners resign themselves to an ongoing, unsightly mess of dog coat oil, dirt, grime, food stains and hair. Banishing dirty dogs from the family hearth isn’t a viable option, but Nano Pet Products LLC, a Wilton, Ct., manufacturer of pet products, thinks nanotechnology can [...]

Approximately eight million Americans have some type of mobility impairment requiring adaptive equipment such as a cane, crutches, walker, wheelchair, or scooter, according to the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute. Reasons range from medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy or diabetes, to a broken leg or balance problems among the elderly. Medical [...]

The Dedmon Athletic Center at Radford University, Radford, Va., is known as “The Bubble” because of its air-supported membrane roof, installed in 1981 by Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. The roof had outlasted its 20-year expected life, but still needed a retrofit in 2009; Radford University went back to the source, Birdair, for an upgrade. The [...]

Professor Traci Lamar, North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Textiles, is a rebel without a gown—at least until the ugly, flimsy, shapeless hospital gowns of today experience a makeover. “Nobody is happy with it,” says Blanton Godfrey, dean of the NCSU College of Textiles. “It is amazing—we have created a product nobody likes.” Lamar [...]

Customers of Performance Fibers, Richmond, Va., will have easy access to product performance specifications on the company’s updated website at www.performancefibers.com. The site includes enhanced navigation, new graphics, videos, illustrations, case studies and other improvements, including 15 new comprehensive global Product Guides translated into German, French, Spanish and Chinese. Performance Fibers’ portfolio includes fibers and [...]

SCORE Association, Herndon, Va., supports 370 chapters and 11,700 volunteers whose mission is getting small businesses going strong. SCORE, a partner with the U.S. Small Business Association, calls itself “Counselor to America’s Small Business,” and its website contains resources to spur start-ups, create new jobs and keep Americans employed. Featured content on www.score.org/accelerate includes: Free [...]

Textile manufacturers looking for information on how to match laser cutting technology to their application requirements may now download the Spartanics Laser Cutting Technical Guide in English, French, German and Spanish at www.spartanics.com. Part I covers laser cutting vs. tool-based die cutting systems, quality and soft marking standards and cutting speed vs. web speed. Part [...]