Features

Prime Edition in a prime spot

October 1, 2024

The Times Square Edition hotel, a new building in New York City, was designed to have a ninth-floor terrace and is set back in keeping with the other properties on Times Square. The Witkoff Group, which developed the property, wanted to create an all-season amenity especially well-suited for the renowned New Year’s Eve parties surrounding …

Features

Textiles’ role in alternative energy

October 1, 2024

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the amount of renewable capacity added to energy systems around the world grew by 50% in 2023, reaching almost 510 gigawatts (GW), with solar/photovoltaic accounting for three-quarters of additions worldwide. The IEA forecasts that U.S. solar power generation will grow 75% from 163 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in …

Features

Ron Nissenbaum reflects on Humphrys’ 150 years

October 1, 2024

With early but short-lived career aspirations of becoming a sports broadcaster, Ron “Boots” Nissenbaum instead built a 56-year career providing a different type of coverage—several types, in fact. As CEO of Humphrys, Nissenbaum oversees three separate Philadelphia, Pa.,-based companies under the Humphrys umbrella and a fourth recent acquisition: “I like to say canvas is in …

Business

Tap into the creativity of your team

October 1, 2024

When we think of assets in an organization, our thoughts generally lean toward the accounting definitions. We have cash tied up in inventory and accounts receivable. We have cash tied up in equipment or other fixed assets. And, we have cash tied up in, well, cash. These are all perfectly acceptable definitions of organizational assets. …

News

ATA, other textile industry associations announce formation of Alphabet Soup Collective

October 1, 2024

A collaboration of associations representing the global sewn products, textile, apparel and nonwovens textiles industries — known collectively as the Alphabet Soup Collective in a nod to their various and plentiful acronyms — officially launched in Raleigh, N.C. last month. The group includes 11 industry associations: The Alphabet Soup Collective inaugural meeting, which was held …

News

Trivantage announces new benefits to customer membership program

October 1, 2024

Trivantage, a fabrics, hardware and accessories provider based in Burlington, N.C., announced new benefits to Trivantage Plus™, its customer membership program. Members will now be able to order complimentary memo samples with free shipping, shop more products at a discounted rate, and access exclusive discounts from new industry partners, Fabric Tattoo and TagTime USA. “Since …

Awards

Announcing the 2024 International Achievement Awards Winners

September 30, 2024

Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 International Achievement Awards (IAA). These winners represent the best in specialty fabrics and technical textiles from around the world and showcase the innovation and excellence driving this dynamic industry. IAA shines a spotlight on the extraordinary versatility of specialty fabrics, which are …

Industry News

ATA introduces PFAS Resource Center

September 17, 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the regulation of them continue to be one of the top issues facing the textiles industry. Although federal reporting rules have been delayed until next year, there are still a number of state and federal regulations to manage. To help companies in the industry navigate those challenges, Advanced Textiles …

Features Members only content

Made in the shade

September 1, 2024

A historical mansion in Healdsburg, Calif., near Santa Rosa, built in 1883 with some of that era’s famous gold rush money, served as a private residence through two world wars and long after until the estate was turned into a bed and breakfast in the 1980s. A more recent change in owners triggered another remodeling and …

Features Members only content

Mesh seats keep soccer fans cooler in Houston heat

September 1, 2024

Keeping cool in Houston, Texas, is practically a year-round endeavor, as temps can hit the 90s F even in the spring. One way the new owners of the Houston Dynamo Football Club addressed fan comfort in their stadium redo was by converting its seats from plastic chairs to mesh fabric from Serge Ferrari. Shell Energy …

Case Studies Members only content

Your ship has come in

November 1, 2022

Along-awaited waterfront ferry terminal is up and running on Seaplane Lagoon, Alameda, Calif. Against a backdrop of the decommissioned USS Hornet aircraft carrier and the Alameda Naval Air Museum, the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal provides regular weekday commuter services from Alameda, Oakland and other areas east and across the Bay from San Francisco. While helping …

Case Studies

Time, time again

October 1, 2022

Shigeru Ban’s corporate campus in Biel/Bienne for the Swiss watch company Swatch Omega Group is a study in contrast. Expanding on a motif the international architect first developed for the Centre Pompidou-Metz, France, Ban created a massive load-bearing timber diagrid shell that encloses and forms the main building. As with the Metz project, the Swatch …

Case Studies

The Feeling: We’re in Kansas now!

September 1, 2022

Overland Park, Kan., is the second largest city in its state, as well as within the Kansas City metro area. The city’s website claims it is “America’s largest inhabited park,” and it feels like it if you stand in any open field and look northeast toward downtown Kansas City where the green-glass iconic towers of …

Case Studies

Sails that sign: Enter here!

August 1, 2022

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indigenous community in Scottsdale, Ariz., has a dedicated space that is surrounded by a high-end commercial plaza on its land. Located at the crossroads of two major roads, the shopping complex is composed of numerous brick-faced masses that have tribal art affixed to the curved walls. One corner of the complex …

Case Studies Members only content

Right of passage

July 1, 2022

Vicinity Centres at Chadstone, located in Melbourne, Australia, is considered by some as the Fashion Capital of Down Under. Chadstone’s high-end fashion shopping precinct includes retail, commercial and leisure zones and recently was grafted to a new five-star hotel, the Hotel Chadstone Melbourne MGallery by Sofitel, via a fabric tensile canopy dubbed “The Link.” “The …

Case Studies

Opening up The Shell

June 1, 2022

Fans of the San Diego Symphony have been singing praises for the new outdoor performance venue featuring The Rady Shell, inaugurated August 6, 2021, with a full-orchestra concert and a packed audience. As any musician will tell you, acoustics at outdoor performances are often a disappointing aural experience due to wind, intrusive noises and other …

Case Studies

Fabric structures reduce environmental impact

May 1, 2022

More than ever before, architects are being called upon to dramatically improve the performance of their buildings, and fabric can help with this mandate. The key to implementing this is to reduce the embodied carbon in buildings.  It’s a given that 40 percent of global resources goes to the built environment, so our construction industry …

Case Studies

Upholstered pods offer spot for creative immersion

January 1, 2022

With commissioned work coming to a halt last year because of the pandemic, artist Liam Hopkins set out to design his own project—a venue that would inspire and evolve. The result is Lazerian Space, a combination art gallery and cafe on King Street in Manchester, England.  Inside the space, guests lounge and nosh within one …

Case Studies

Paris debuts a ‘grand’ temporary venue

December 1, 2021

While the Grand Palais, Paris’ historic exhibition hall and museum complex, is closed for a multi-year restoration project, a membrane-wrapped temporary venue installed on the Champ de Mars in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower is taking its place. Designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte of Wilmotte & Associates, the temporary structure dubbed “Grand Palais Ephémère” …

Case Studies

Michigan dining outdoors, under cover

October 1, 2021

In the autumn of 2020, while Michigan was experiencing a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, the governor and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services put in place a three-week ban on indoor dining in restaurants. To keep their doors open, many Detroit restaurants turned to tents, heaters and other ways to extend their …

Expo News

IFAI Expo 2022 call for presentations

December 20, 2021

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …

ATA News

Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

July 7, 2021

Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …

Expo News

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021

May 10, 2021

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …

Expo News

Get stand-out awnings with digital printing

December 1, 2020

With today’s digital printing options, there’s no reason for an awning client to be limited to colors and patterns in a book or traditional customization methods, according to Andrew Medley, regional sales manager for Trivantage. “Digital printing offers unlimited capabilities, and it is a solution to providing the customer exactly what they want—personalized messaging, the …

Expo News

Welding technology for your business

December 1, 2020

During IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, Jeff Sponseller, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Miller Weldmaster, led a campfire session titled “How to Select the Correct Welding Technology for Your Business.” “Essentially a good weld means that the fabric will tear before the weld does,” says Sponseller. Many types of different materials can be …

Expo News

Guidance offered in commercial insurance market

December 1, 2020

Wildfires, hurricanes, a pandemic and civil unrest have wreaked plenty of chaos on the commercial insurance market in 2020. Steve Christenson, with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, offered guidance to business owners Nov. 9 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. “The business insurance market has been going through several changes this year,” says Christenson, with U.S. …

Expo News

The inside scoop on shade, lighting and acoustics

December 1, 2020

In the 2020 IFAI Virtual Expo presentation, “The Inside Scoop on Shade, Lighting and Acoustics,” Cynthia Thompson, MFA, president and founder of Transformit in Gorham, Maine, wowed conference participants with a slideshow of her company’s projects that highlight the stunning possibilities of interior fabric architecture. Thompson said many different markets can make use of permanent …

Expo News

How to make your business attractive to a buyer

December 1, 2020

Thinking about selling your business—either to an outside party or the next generation? Then it’s time to start considering how your equipment and processes fit into your succession plan. Jonathan Palmer, the second-generation owner and CEO of equipment supplier Autometrix, and Autometrix director of global sales Truy Pham, led an educational session at IFAI Virtual …

Expo News

Standard for active illumination developed in Europe

November 16, 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 …

Expo News

Rapid prototyping = faster market launch

November 16, 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 …

Features

Prime Edition in a prime spot

October 1, 2024

The Times Square Edition hotel, a new building in New York City, was designed to have a ninth-floor terrace and is set back in keeping with the other properties on Times Square. The Witkoff Group, which developed the property, wanted to create an all-season amenity especially well-suited for the renowned New Year’s Eve parties surrounding …

Features

Textiles’ role in alternative energy

October 1, 2024

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the amount of renewable capacity added to energy systems around the world grew by 50% in 2023, reaching almost 510 gigawatts (GW), with solar/photovoltaic accounting for three-quarters of additions worldwide. The IEA forecasts that U.S. solar power generation will grow 75% from 163 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in …

Features

Ron Nissenbaum reflects on Humphrys’ 150 years

October 1, 2024

With early but short-lived career aspirations of becoming a sports broadcaster, Ron “Boots” Nissenbaum instead built a 56-year career providing a different type of coverage—several types, in fact. As CEO of Humphrys, Nissenbaum oversees three separate Philadelphia, Pa.,-based companies under the Humphrys umbrella and a fourth recent acquisition: “I like to say canvas is in …

Features Members only content

Made in the shade

September 1, 2024

A historical mansion in Healdsburg, Calif., near Santa Rosa, built in 1883 with some of that era’s famous gold rush money, served as a private residence through two world wars and long after until the estate was turned into a bed and breakfast in the 1980s. A more recent change in owners triggered another remodeling and …

Features Members only content

Mesh seats keep soccer fans cooler in Houston heat

September 1, 2024

Keeping cool in Houston, Texas, is practically a year-round endeavor, as temps can hit the 90s F even in the spring. One way the new owners of the Houston Dynamo Football Club addressed fan comfort in their stadium redo was by converting its seats from plastic chairs to mesh fabric from Serge Ferrari. Shell Energy …

Features Members only content

Textile recycling confronts hurdles of cost, scalability

September 1, 2024

Textile waste is a massive problem throughout the world. The European Union (EU) estimates it generates 12.6 million tons of textile waste a year and that only 1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled into new products. The situation is not any better in the U.S., which produces more than 17 million tons of textile …

Features Members only content

Taking flight

August 1, 2024

Upon approaching the Dayton Metro Library West Branch, viewers notice the building’s soaring rooflines, which echo the historic Wright Company Factory (within view in the background) where the Wright Brothers developed their commercially viable airplanes. One can imagine hearing the sounds from the past with the test fields spread wide behind the library. Two triangular …

Features Members only content

Making a name for themselves

August 1, 2024

Amphitheater acoustics  Outdoor amphitheaters often are beacons for arts aficionados who enjoy listening to music or watching artistic performances in the great outdoors. While an amphitheater’s proper placement is paramount, the architectural designs of the building and roofing structure play huge roles in the acoustical impact of the space. Working alongside architectural firm Stantec and …

Features Members only content

Powering up while dropping to zero

July 1, 2024

Many architects are using every trick in the book to help reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, including applying photovoltaic (PV) technology to their buildings along with improved efficiencies in HVAC and building envelope insulation. However, not every designer feels comfortable slapping PV arrays on their beautiful buildings—covering every south-facing roof surface with the shiny …

Features Members only content

Outdoor shade and screens ride the storms out

July 1, 2024

Extreme weather that whips up strong winds, releases torrents of rainfall and causes floods, droughts and other hazards is becoming more common, and businesses in the shade industry have had to adapt. They have introduced new structures, fabrics, finishes and cleaning products to help consumers keep their canopies, shade sails, awnings and other shade structures …

Industry News

ATA introduces PFAS Resource Center

September 17, 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the regulation of them continue to be one of the top issues facing the textiles industry. Although federal reporting rules have been delayed until next year, there are still a number of state and federal regulations to manage. To help companies in the industry navigate those challenges, Advanced Textiles …

ATA News

In memoriam: Kevin Yonce

May 1, 2023

Former Industrial Fabrics Association International (now ATA) Chairman Kevin Yonce passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on April 29, 2023. Yonce was born January 24, 1970, in Urbana, Ill. He was a lifelong resident of Champaign-Urbana and a 1988 graduate of Urbana High School. Yonce is survived by his mother, Wanda, brother …

Industry News

Spatial Structure Sub-association hosts 11th National Membrane Structure Technology Exchange Conference

April 18, 2023

The “20th Anniversary Celebration of Membrane Structure Innovation and Development and the 11th National Membrane Structure Technology Exchange Conference” hosted by the Spatial Structure Sub-association of China Steel Construction Association and undertaken by Beijing University of Technology was successfully held this spring in Beijing, China. Nearly 400 delegates from all over the country participated. A …

Industry News

OSHA administers $11.7 million in training grants

June 22, 2022

The U.S. Department of Labor will provide a funding opportunity for $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the grants will target disadvantaged, underserved, low-income, and other hard-to-reach, …

Industry News

Oeko-Tex Association releases annual updates

January 10, 2022

Oeko-Tex Association has released its annual updates to test criteria, limit values and requirements. In addition, its new Impact Calculator is now available for STeP by Oeko-Tex customers. The industry-specific tool will provide carbon and water footprint data essential to meeting climate goals. Later in 2022, Oeko-Tex will also introduce a new certification for corporate …

Industry News

Steve Fredrickson joins Rainier Industries

December 21, 2021

Industry veteran Steve Fredrickson is joining Rainier Industries as the National Sales Director for Rainier Shade. Frederickson has more than 25 years of experience in the textile industry, with several different companies. Most recently, he was sales director at Sattler Corp. “I started working with Rainier Industries in 1997; loved my time here and am …

Expo News

IFAI Expo 2022 call for presentations

December 20, 2021

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …

Industry News

Pantone announces Color of the Year for 2022

December 17, 2021

Pantone, the global color authority and provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions for the design community, has introduced a new blue shade, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet red undertone as the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2022. Blending the faithfulness and constancy …

Industry News

R+T 2022 postponed

December 1, 2021

Messe Stuttgart is postponing R+T, a leading trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading systems, which was scheduled to take place in February 2022. “R+T is the most international event in Stuttgart. Three quarters of the exhibitors at the last edition of the world’s leading trade fair in 2018 came from abroad,” says …

Industry News

Global textile market outlook

October 21, 2021

According to the report “Global Textile Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Raw Material (Wool, Chemical, Silk), by Product (Natural Fibers, Polyester), by Application (Household, Technical), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028” by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global textile market size is anticipated to reach USD 1412.5 billion by 2028. The market is expected to …