New 303 Products Aerospace Protectant Wipes™ are available for 2010 in a new retail size containing 40 towlettes. A powerful UV screening surface treatment, the protectant is sold in the automotive, marine, RV, hardware, pool/spa, outdoors and recreation aftermarkets. Regular use provides 100 percent protection against UV-caused fading, according to the manufacturer. SOURCE 303 Products [...]

[The Awning Factory] Orlando, Fla., U.S.A. The Awning Factory designed a grand, 80-by-16-foot projection awning to provide shade for a second floor outdoor dining area at the Mona Lisa Resort in Orlando, Fla. Because the client requested that the awning not have columns or supports, the awning needed to be free-standing and cantilevered from the [...]

Genesis Plastics Welding is now offering its proprietary ecoGenesis™ plastics sealing technology for license. The process allows RF welding of materials without the addition of toxic plasticizers or additives. Use of the technology enables the elimination of PVC and PU in products within industries such as the military, consumer, automotive and medical sectors. Manufacturers with [...]

Compiled by Juli Case What kind of fluorescent bulbs should I use for an outdoor backlit awning, and where should I get it? We did a quick survey of awning manufacturers and were cautioned that the fluorescent bulbs you need should be able to withstand outdoor conditions—particularly cold weather. Specifically, you need to look for [...]

Compiled by Juli Case What is the pass/fail for Title 19’s afterflame requirement? One supplier told me two seconds and another said four seconds. Which one is right? Actually, they’re both right; it’s complicated. In California, Title 19 is the regulation that affects textile products. Since California is a leader in the U.S. for flammability [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I’m applying for a loan, and the lender wants me to submit a business plan for my marine shop. How do I find out how many boats there are registered in New Jersey, so I can show them how many potential customers there are? Boat owners are usually required to register [...]

Compiled by Juli Case Is the CASmate program still available? CASmate was a program produced by a company called Scanvec, which has since merged with a company called Amiable and is known as SAi. CASmate was used by awning and sign companies to cut out vinyl lettering. Unfortunately, CASmate was discontinued some time ago, and [...]

The Fiber Society’s Spring 2010 Conference is being organized by BUTEKOM, Bursa Textile and Confection (Home Textiles and Furnishings) Research and Development Center, in collaboration with Uludag Exporters Union and The Fiber Society. The event will take place in Bursa, the textile center of Turkey, May 12–14, 2010. Papers on fundamental research related to the [...]

After the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) approved the Ministry of Railways’ investment plan of 2 trillion Chinese yuan in 2008, the Ministry of Transport is examining a plan to invest 5 trillion yuan over the next 3-5 years. In the ten measures issued by the Council to stimulate domestic demands, [...]

The Shared Work program can help answer the question of how to keep employees while reducing labor costs. By Sigrid Tornquist Anyone who’s been laid off from a job knows that the experience is usually accompanied by emotional and financial hardships. And anyone who’s had to lay off a valued employee knows that good employees [...]