Melvin Rabinowitz, president of United Textile and Supply Company, Baldwin Park, Calif., from 1967 to 1994, died May 22, 2012, from complications of open heart surgery at the age of 76. After retiring from the wholesale canvas company, Rabinowitz served on various community groups, including North Hollywood Little League and North Ranch Tennis Club. He [...]

[Autoliv Inc.] Stockholm, Sweden Renault’s new electric vehicle, the Twizy, is outfitted with a 2+3-point seatbelt system from Autoliv, an automotive safety system manufacturer. By adding a 2-point shoulder belt, occupants are protected in all directions, including improved safety in side-impact collisions. The risk of the occupant’s head hitting the inside of the roof in [...]

[Automotive Concepts] New Hope, Minn., U.S.A. Automotive Concepts does a lot of car restoration, and car interiors are a big part of their business, but only about a dozen a year are fully custom restoration projects for a vintage beauty like this 1964 Chevolet Impala. A Minnesota sports celebrity hired the company to do a [...]

[Ecole Cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL)], Switzerland Created by Thibault Penven, a student at ECAL, the Ar Vag (which translates as “boat” in Brittany) is a folding fabric vessel with oars. Designed for use as a shuttle between the shore and a larger vessel, it functions well on a lake or in quiet seas for [...]

It will take teamwork among supply chain partners to develop multifunctional solutions for safety and protective applications. By David Ronner What are the most exciting or intriguing developments in the industry in advanced textiles? Multifunctional fibers, yarns and fabrics are leading the way in advanced textiles. The end user has become accustomed to multifunctional devices [...]

Jeri Perillo has had her share of odd walk-in requests—followed by growing revenue streams. By Sigrid Tornquist “The relationships we’ve built that have resulted in revenue streams weren’t something we went looking for; they came to us,” says Jeri Perillo, president of Custom Canvas of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. “And I think that if you [...]

Renewed demand for these niche markets helps support growth By Holly O’Dell Like many industries, the trucking industry has had to deal with the effects of the slow economy. American Trucking Association recent statistics indicate that truck tonnage fell just 0.7 percent in May 2012 after dropping 1.1 percent in April. The numbers, however, show [...]

PAMA’s Awning Energy Study II shows residential cooling energy savings in fifty U.S. cities. By Michelle Sahlin The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association’s (PAMA) Awning Energy Study II: The Impact on Energy Use and Peak Demand of Awnings and Roller Shades in Residential Buildings provides data on how the use of awnings and roller shades affects [...]

Inflatable vehicles and structures are gaining ground with advances in materials and manufacturing. By Barb Ernster The sophisticated technology behind modern inflatable structures puts them in a category that can be almost as exciting to watch as the development of modern communications—at least for those in the specialty fabrics industry. Advertising blimps and bouncy houses [...]

How to make your next business trip into the most productive week of the year. By Richard Ensman You probably use technology to build productivity and effectiveness every day in the office—but do you take full advantage of it when you travel for business? Next time you attend your association convention or trade show, use [...]