Adding lighting to outdoor attractions
July 21st, 2016
To make outdoor fabric structures and displays stand out, integrated lighting systems are setting new standards. No matter what the fabric structure or whether it’s installed outdoors or inside, illumination adds the finishing touch, transforming the extraordinary into something even more unforgettable and making an ordinary tent or display much more memorable. Lighting invites people […]
Equipment purchasing: price and value
July 18th, 2016
ROI is still an important factor in buying decisions, but qualities like reliability, durability and customer service are moving to the forefront. The return on investment (ROI) and how long it might take to achieve it is always a key consideration in most purchasing decisions, particularly during the Great Recession when pricing and ROI moved […]
Tips for building a strong management team
July 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. […]
Revealing the romance of sailcloth tents
July 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 […]
Honduras seeks to be more sustainable
July 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 […]
Casey joins Rose Brand
July 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 […]
American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act is law
July 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 […]
Ultraflex Systems launches Signetics™ magnetic receptive media
June 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 […]
Coated fabric demand increases
June 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 […]
Projects and prototypes
June 29th, 2016
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 new research team is changing that low profile substantially. Marianne Fairbanks, assistant professor in the School of Human Ecology, and Trisha Andrew, assistant professor […]