July 21st, 2016
For a community event in Los Angeles called “Dark Nights,” AirDD used its Hi-Light™ fixtures to create an illuminated forest of wick-shaped designs in a variety of bright colors. Not only did it draw crowds, according to company founder Doron Gazit, but visitors snapped pictures of themselves and promoted the event on social media. Photo:...
Read MoreJuly 18th, 2016
Today’s advanced sewing equipment offers a host of cost- and labor-saving advantages. In addition to energy-efficient motors, the machines incorporate sophisticated features like auto back-tacking, under-thread trimming devices and (shown here) parachute line cord feed—hot cut, fold, place and sew. Photo: Henderson Sewing Machine Co. ROI is still an important factor in buying decisions, but...
Read MoreJuly 14th, 2016
Training staff to be empowered, involved and empathetic means success in the present and in the future. Although it was years away—10 to be exact—from when Jerry Grimaud, president of Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures Inc., St. Louis, Mo., became the company’s sole owner in 2005, he didn’t waste any time considering an exit plan....
Read MoreJuly 13th, 2016
Trendspotting online shows tent renters and manufacturers what brides are looking for. If you want to know what’s trending in fashionable apparel, look to Paris, France. If you want to know what’s trending in automotive design, look to Torino, Italy. If you want to know what’s trending in cuisine, look on either coast of the...
Read MoreJuly 7th, 2016
The government of Honduras is investing $3.4 billion to make its textiles sector more sustainable. The money will be used to improve infrastructure, provide training programs, address energy sector issues and reduce environmental impacts. $1.6 billion will be set aside for the textile industry to invest in new equipment and technology. Better working conditions for...
Read MoreJuly 6th, 2016
Bob Casey, a long time veteran of the entertainment industry, has joined Rose Brand at the company’s new Florida location. Rose Brand, a provider of theatrical fabrics, custom stage drapery, custom sewn creations and production supplies for the entertainment industry, recently expanded its operations to the Orlando area with the purchase of Swag Decor, Florida’s...
Read MoreJuly 5th, 2016
The U.S. Senate passed the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 by unanimous consent, following the passage of an identical bill by the House of Representatives (H.R. 4923). President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on May 20. Endorsed by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the legislation reforms the process by which...
Read MoreJune 30th, 2016
Ultraflex Systems’ Signetics™ for magnetic receptive media offers easy on-site installation, no-edge chipping and high durability. Materials are engineered with an optimized face-film for ink adhesion and offer a neutral white point. Potential applications include wall graphics, menu boards, interior design decoration and fixture graphics. Signetics Select is offered in three sizes and has a...
Read MoreJune 29th, 2016
Demand for coated fabrics in the U.S. is forecast to increase 2.1 percent per year to 650 million square yards in 2020. Coated fabric usage is highly dependent on the production of end products and the level of competition from alternative materials such as leather, plastic and uncoated fabrics. These trends are presented in “Coated...
Read MoreJune 29th, 2016
Solar Cloth Company and Base Structures recently merged and will focus on the deployment of solar carports in the U.K. Photo: Solar Cloth Co. Industry breakthroughs are proving the viability of photovoltaic fabrics. The University of Wisconsin–Madison may not be the first research institution you would think of for solar textiles research, but a relatively...
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