Problem: Conventional web dryers can produce high drying temperatures, resulting in slower line speeds and high energy consumption. Solution: The Macrowave™ RF Drying System from Radio Frequency Co. selectively heats only the coated portions on the web, leaving the bound moisture in the substrate intact, preventing over-drying, distortion and shrinking. Capable of operating at speeds [...]

Problem: Charging portable electronics outdoors is often inconvenient, or even impossible, as electrical outlets are not always accessible. Solution: The SOLARBrella™ from SKYShades shields customers from the sun while simultaneously providing a power source to charge electronics such as cell phones, laptops or other small portable devices. The umbrella features Power Plastic®, a lightweight film [...]

Problem: Several pieces of equipment may be needed to offer customers a variety of printing services. Solution: Roland DGA Corp. offers the VersaUV LEC-330, a 30-inch, roll-to-roll LED-UV inkjet printer and cutter, an all-in-one device for seamless workflow and efficiency. Capable of printing on a range of substrates including labels, decals, POP displays and posters, [...]

Problem: Retractable awnings save energy, but may require regular attention to maintain maximum efficiency. Solution: The Sunis WireFree™ RTS Sun Sensor from Somfy Systems automatically extends awnings, solar screens or blinds using Radio Technology Somfy® (RTS) based on the intensity of the sun. The sensor is powered by a solar cell, providing energy savings while [...]

Mark Welander uses his penchant for simplicity and accuracy to solve fabrication dilemmas. By Sigrid Tornquist “When you’re trying to get information, try to find the bull’s-eye,” says Mark Welander, MFC, owner of Fabricon in Missoula, Mont. “You need to have accuracy and good information when going into a project—without it, you’re going to have [...]

[MIT] Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. Space pioneers may go to Mars wearing skintight space suits developed by Dr. Dava Newman and the Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) Research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass. With support from the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts and Trotti & Assoc. Inc., Cambridge, Mass., the BioSuit is being [...]

[Airborne Systems North America] Santa Ana, Calif., U.S.A. NASA has taken a major step toward building the next crew exploration vehicle by completing the Orion Project’s preliminary design review (PDR), which evaluated the vehicle’s capability to support three types of missions: flights to the International Space Station, weeklong missions to the moon and missions to [...]

[ILC Dover] Frederica, Del., U.S.A. NASA’s Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE) passed a test launch this fall with flying colors after extensive testing was completed. ILC Dover, working with NASA Langley Research Center, designed and manufactured the IRVE inflatable from silicone-coated, high-temperature fabric and a covering of ceramic fabric. The IRV is patterned and manufactured [...]

Dublin’s U2, recognized worldwide for its driving yet melodic musical vision, launched the band’s “360° World Tour” in June 2009 on a fabric-clad stage that rocks around the clock. The stage system resembles a giant steel-trussed spider clad with PVC-coated polyester blackout fabric. No matter where concert goers sit, even if the venue is a [...]

Add energy to phase-change materials such as phosphors, and they glow in the dark. The challenge for scientists has been to produce long-lasting phosphorescence in specific hues. Now, the University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc., Athens, Ga., and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, have illuminated the field with a patented portfolio of [...]