Standard for active illumination developed in Europe
November 16th, 2020
In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries. Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries […]
Rapid prototyping = faster market launch
November 16th, 2020
A presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, titled, “Rapid Prototyping and Textile Product Development” urged attendees to use “sticks and glue … whatever method you have to get your idea out there.” The presenter, Dr. Andre West, director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University, may not have meant […]
Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE
November 13th, 2020
The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association […]
Deep dive into roller shades
November 13th, 2020
Interior shade can be an important aspect of how people perceive the comfort of a room in terms of lighting, temperature and acoustics. While people may take that shading for granted, says Colin Blackford, director of business development at Mermet USA, the right type of shading gives “occupants a sense of control over their environment.” […]
The larger issues in respiratory protection
November 12th, 2020
Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, […]
Garments that deliver medicine can solve patient-compliance problems
November 11th, 2020
The impetus of Nufabrx, an innovative textile business, emerged from a common teenage ailment: acne. Back when John Schindler, CEO of Nufabrx, was a young college student, a dermatologist told him that washing his pillowcase two or three times a week would decrease his acne breakouts. Schindler says that laundering his pillowcase more often was […]
Surgical gowns require extra manufacturing considerations
November 11th, 2020
All surgical gowns are not created equal, and a Nov. 11 presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 helped sort out the differences. The finer points of surgical gowns were discussed by Dr. Martin King, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, and Jing Liang, president of Medical PPE Consulting LLC. […]
Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM
November 11th, 2020
How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie […]
E-textile testing and standards are evolving
November 11th, 2020
At the 2020 Virtual Expo session, “Ask the Expert: Textile Electronics Testing and Standards,” Jesse Jur, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, discussed how standards and testing continue to evolve due to the evolution of textile-based electronics (e-textiles). Jur said that standards have long been a vital resource for […]
Partnerships in smart textile products
November 11th, 2020
The second week of IFAI’s Virtual Expo 2020 advanced textiles educational sessions began with a presentation that illustrated the importance of collaboration. “Smart textiles for healthcare and wellbeing: a collaborative approach” had three presenters speaking from different perspectives, but with one, unified message about reaching across geographical distance and areas of expertise to create successful […]