Simple arithmetic can offer some effective regular exercises. By Richard Ensman If you’re not an accountant or a budget analyst, you probably don’t want to spend long hours hunched over your general ledger or detailed statistical reports. But you do still want to get a quick fix on the financial health of your enterprise. There [...]

Shedding new light in historic districts. By Art Allen and Janet Preus When you have a business in an area of the country as historically rich as the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania, there are many rules to follow about what you can and cannot do. Historic preservation boards are notoriously strict about what they [...]

The European Solar-Shading Organization is working to gain recognition for the merits of mobile solar shading in building construction. By Dick Dolmans A couple of months ago, the fuel bill at my nearby Shell filling station here in Brussels hit the 100 (euro) mark for the first time. In dollars, that’s around $140. And, yes, [...]

New geotextile manages water and soil stabilization issues. The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) chose TenCate’s new water-wicking geotextile, Mirafi® H2Ri, to receive this year’s Innovation Award. The product was officially launched with the announcement of the award at IFAI Expo Americas 2011.  The story of Mirafi H2Ri began with one question at a business meeting [...]

Compiled by Juli Case Where can we get copies of Federal labor law and OSHA posters? Businesses in the USA are required to post information for employees on federal labor law and safety issues. You have three options for obtaining posters. First, you can simply print them from a government site and use as is. [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We have a customer who wants us to replace an old retractable awning system with something similar. The problem is that their old system has scissor arms and projects 13 feet. Any idea of who might have this? Scissor arms are a style more popular in Europe than in the U.S., [...]

Compiled by Juli Case How do I get my fabric certified to Title 19? Title 19 is the flammability document for the state of California, although it’s referenced by other parts of the U.S. as well. The certification process is managed through the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM). The process as it is now is [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We’ve got a job where we’ve been asked to use a fabric that is acoustically reflective. What kind of material is that? Sound waves tend to bounce around an open space. A hanging fabric, such as a banner or fabric sculpture, can disrupt or even absorb that wave; fabric is more [...]

WeatherMax 80 fabric uses solution-dyed yarns that are fade-resistant and stand up to the abuse of UV radiation, snow and cold—two reasons that it was chosen by Stoett Industries to fabricate three-season rooms. Because Stoett’s vertical panels are pulled up and down frequently, the fabric must also be lightweight and durable. WeatherMax is stronger and [...]

Performance textiles need testing to assure safety, protection and comfort for users. Cad Modelling Ergonomics s.r.l. has developed anthropometric solutions to offer a useful tool to manufacturers. Active and SuperActive FORMAX® mannequins are available with a higher degree of articulation on hips, back, knees and shoulders, and can be sensorized according to customer requests to [...]