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Glen Raven announces new chief marketing officer
August 13, 2019
Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, makers of Sunbrella®, announced the hiring of Steve Pawl as its first chief marketing officer. Pawl has a track record of developing growth strategies and strengthening brands for global companies including Husqvarna Group, Fruit of the Loom, Newell Brands and Pfizer. He will direct the global brand strategy, positioning and activation …
Case Studies
Memories and history in thread and paper
August 1, 2019
Berlin’s historic museum Gropius Bau was recently the setting for a distinctly modern exhibition. “And Berlin Will Always Need You. Art, Craft and Concept Made in Berlin” ran from March to June 2019 and featured commissioned works that explored crafts and handmade processes in Berlin’s contemporary art scene. The artists showcased works that engaged with …
Feature
Stylish dining space meets strict building codes
August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Owners of the new Caribbean restaurant and bar Lallo’s in Miami, Fla., knew their debut needed outdoor dining and indoor seating in order to succeed. Management turned to Miami Awning Co. for its expertise to provide stylish shade and weather protection over an outdoor bar that was shoe-horned into the …
Feature
Park shelter ‘stars’ in Taiwan
August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Longgang Forest Park is a treasured landmark in Taoyuan City in northwest Taiwan. As more people discover the calming effects of nature, the park’s use has increased to the point of needing more user-friendly facilities. One facility recently built by the local municipal government is a park shelter that sits …
Feature
A bright future: fabrics that generate electricity
August 1, 2019
Pvilion’s Colin Touhey is working to forge strategic partnerships to integrate photovoltaic technology into all kinds of fabric products. by Jill C. Lafferty Every time you are building what you think is a one-off project, you’re probably going to do something similar a second time, a third time, a hundredth time,” says Colin Touhey, CEO …
Case Studies
Laminated fabric for distinctive building design
August 1, 2019
The Horw Secondary School located in Lucerne, Switzerland, was ready for a facelift. Built in the 1970s, the dated building needed to join the modern world, including meeting the requirements of Minergie, the Swiss sustainable building standard, as well as improving its overall appeal. One key to meeting the sustainable building standards was to reduce …
Business
Common mistakes cost more than you think
August 1, 2019
There’s a high cost to being too busy to get work done. By Randy Westlund I was consulting for the owners of a company recently. They’d worked hard last year. They did a record number of jobs. They even had to hire two installers and a welder to get it all done. But at the end …
Feature
Protecting shoppers from monsoon rains
August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA The feeling is nothing short of amazing, say patrons of La Isla Mérida, the biggest shopping mall in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where the streets between stores are covered completely with a transparent membrane. The city of Mérida, located near the northern coast of the Yucatán facing the Gulf …
Industry News
Ulrich Tombuelt hired as CEO of Sattler Corp.
July 31, 2019
Sattler Corp. of Hudson, N.C., has hired Mr. Ulrich Tombuelt as its new CEO. Tombuelt has many years of executive management experience in the textile industry in the U.S. and in Europe. Sattler Corp., a division of The Sattler Group, Austria, is known for its high-tech fabrics.
Industry News
Bally Ribbon Mills Announces E-WEBBINGS® E-textile Product Base
July 29, 2019
Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry leader in the design, development, and manufacture of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces its proprietary E-WEBBINGS® e-textile product base, specifically designed to serve as a customizable base for a wide range of smart textile applications within the Internet of Things (IoT). These smart textiles are made from a …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles
Case Studies
Memories and history in thread and paper
August 1, 2019
Berlin’s historic museum Gropius Bau was recently the setting for a distinctly modern exhibition. “And Berlin Will Always Need You. Art, Craft and Concept Made in Berlin” ran from March to June 2019 and featured commissioned works that explored crafts and handmade processes in Berlin’s contemporary art scene. The artists showcased works that engaged with …
Case Studies
Laminated fabric for distinctive building design
August 1, 2019
The Horw Secondary School located in Lucerne, Switzerland, was ready for a facelift. Built in the 1970s, the dated building needed to join the modern world, including meeting the requirements of Minergie, the Swiss sustainable building standard, as well as improving its overall appeal. One key to meeting the sustainable building standards was to reduce …
Case Studies
Sustainable infrastructure and construction textiles
July 1, 2019
Infrastructure and construction textiles succeed with a focus on sustainable alternatives. By Seshadri Ramkumar and Marie O’Mahony Today’s advanced textiles offer new forms for use in infrastructure projects and in building design and construction. These “hidden” textiles may be found in small-scale applications such as home furnishings as well as in huge projects such as …
Case Studies
Chic retractable roofing
July 1, 2019
The trendy London restaurant Chotto Matte recently opened its first U.S. outpost in Miami Beach, Fla. Specializing in Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, the restaurant has a cool, modern aesthetic that combines an urban Tokyo vibe with the South Florida tropics. Colorful murals created by local street artists splash across the walls and contrast with the graphic …
Case Studies
Michele Quadri-Butterfield keeps Al’s Awning Shop up to date and focused on customers
July 1, 2019
by Jill C. Lafferty The mission of Al’s Awning Shop is to be the leading provider of quality fabric solutions and to be dedicated to providing professional customer service and exceptional products,” says owner Michele Quadri-Butterfield. “Fabric solutions is key for me. It’s about taking a fabric and helping the customer find the solution to …
Case Studies
Setting a high standard: Owens Corning
July 1, 2019
Owens Corning’s philanthropic efforts, charity work and progressive employee policies have produced impressive results. By Paul Johnson For more than 40 years, Owens Corning, a developer and producer of insulation, roofing and fiberglass composites, has been a supporter of a wide range of philanthropic endeavors and a key partner assisting charitable organizations across the globe. …
Case Studies
It’s time for metalwork and framing to move from being bit players to getting top billing
July 1, 2019
by Jeff Moravec Fabric is typically the star of the show in any fabrication project. What often gets overlooked, however, is the role supporting metal frameworks play—often behind the scenes—in fabric structures. The metal framework may frequently be an unheralded bit player, but it’s critical to any project and can often be used as a …
Case Studies
Retractable canopies keep concert-goers protected
June 1, 2019
Located in a forest setting between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., the Merriweather Post Pavilion is an historic outdoor music venue. Designed by architects Frank Gehry and N. David O’Malley, the venue opened in 1967 and has hosted the greats in rock, country, blues, jazz, hip hop and classical music. The amphitheater space was in …
Case Studies
Knitted textile supports thin concrete structure
June 1, 2019
A striking, double-curved pavilion recently on exhibit at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo in Mexico City showcased an experiment with the materials and processes used in construction. The installation was framed using a knit textile that supports its thin concrete structure. Dubbed KnitCandela, the piece is a tribute to Spanish-Mexican architect and engineer Félix Candela, who …
Case Studies
Are you ready for the new digital future?
June 1, 2019
Industrial Revolution 4.0 is here. by Connie Huffa Humans were born to learn and innovate. By nature, we constantly define, measure, analyze, improve and control our environments. Whether we know it or not, by wanting the latest and greatest we are changing not only how we make and buy things, but how we communicate our …
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Company Profiles
Expo News
2018 Fabric Structures Student Design Competition Winners Announced
October 18, 2018
The Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), recently announced the recipients of the 2018 Fabric Structures Student Design Competition awards. The winners were announced at IFAI Expo 2018, held Oct. 15-18 in Dallas, Texas. First Place Rafael Dias Simoes, Kevin Barthelmebs and Fabien Burgeat from ENSAVT University won …
Expo News
IFAI Expo 2018: Show Stopper winners on the floor
October 17, 2018
All the best from Texas: Wednesday morning, Oct. 17, at IFAI Expo led off with lists of winners for the year, including the most popular products on the show floor. The seventh annual Show Stopper competition was designed to showcase the best of the best in the industry, from fabrics, equipment and chemicals to services …
Expo News
2018 International Achievement Award Winners Announced
October 17, 2018
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has awarded this year’s International Achievement Awards (IAA) for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications, announced at the awards breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at IFAI Expo 2018. IFAI Expo is the largest specialty fabrics trade show in North America, held this year at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention …
Expo News
Sharpen your competitive edge
October 17, 2018
Asking yourself one simple question can help make your business a magnet for new customers, says marketing professional Madeleine MacRae, owner of MM MacRae Coaching & Consulting. “That question is ‘Who is your ideal client?’” In her Oct. 16 Expo session on distinguishing yourself in the marketplace, MacRae says answering this question is the key …
Expo News
Graphics for the small to medium fabricator
October 16, 2018
Bill McSpadden, owner of Capitol Awning, Richmond, Va., presented the education session “Graphics for the Small to Medium Fabricator—What I Wish I Knew” on October 15 at IFAI Expo 2018’s Pre-Expo Conference in Dallas, Texas. Sign permits and allowances are important factors to consider when it comes to graphics. While many businesses may want as …
Expo News
Digital presence is key to acquiring new customers in 2019
October 16, 2018
It’s no surprise the digital world means a company’s ability to attract and keep customers requires a dramatic shift in strategy, tools and resources. Ed Keough, vice president of sales for FutureGuard Building Products Inc. in Auburn, Maine, told business owners they need to embrace digital advertising or be “left in the dust” during his …
Expo News
IFAI Expo keynote speaker Mark Scharenbroich: “acknowledge, honor and connect” with employees and customers
October 16, 2018
Keynote speaker Mark Scharenbroich has straightforward advice for growing a business: Make a true connection with employees and customers and positive results will follow. Scharenbroich shared his humor and motivational wisdom with a packed room at IFAI’s 2018 Expo annual meeting October 16. Rain, wind and cold outside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in …
Expo News
Textile testing for comfort
October 16, 2018
IFAI’s Pre-Expo Conference Oct. 15 in Dallas offered a range of presentations—many of them focused on topics of particular interest in the advanced textiles area. Textile testing is one topic that will be addressed in more than one session. At the beginning of his talk yesterday on testing and evaluating fabrics’ human comfort, performance and …
Expo News
Useful social media for companies of all sizes
October 15, 2018
Should you bother with social media? Most definitely yes, says Luke Gusman, marketing manager for Sta-Lok Inc., a longtime manufacturer of marine and architectural rigging hardware. Gusman says that no matter how large or small your company, there are five social media platforms that can increase engagement with your product or service and raise your …
Expo News
Successful multigenerational workplaces
October 15, 2018
This is the first time in history that five distinct generations are working in a single workplace, says J. Karl Sherrill Jr., a certified risk manager with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, in his 2018 Expo session “Leading Successful Teams in a Multigenerational Workplace.” “It’s a trend affecting every business,” says Sherrill. “You have people …
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Company Profiles
Feature
Stylish dining space meets strict building codes
August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Owners of the new Caribbean restaurant and bar Lallo’s in Miami, Fla., knew their debut needed outdoor dining and indoor seating in order to succeed. Management turned to Miami Awning Co. for its expertise to provide stylish shade and weather protection over an outdoor bar that was shoe-horned into the …
Feature
Park shelter ‘stars’ in Taiwan
August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Longgang Forest Park is a treasured landmark in Taoyuan City in northwest Taiwan. As more people discover the calming effects of nature, the park’s use has increased to the point of needing more user-friendly facilities. One facility recently built by the local municipal government is a park shelter that sits …
Feature
A bright future: fabrics that generate electricity
August 1, 2019
Pvilion’s Colin Touhey is working to forge strategic partnerships to integrate photovoltaic technology into all kinds of fabric products. by Jill C. Lafferty Every time you are building what you think is a one-off project, you’re probably going to do something similar a second time, a third time, a hundredth time,” says Colin Touhey, CEO …
Feature
Protecting shoppers from monsoon rains
August 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA The feeling is nothing short of amazing, say patrons of La Isla Mérida, the biggest shopping mall in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where the streets between stores are covered completely with a transparent membrane. The city of Mérida, located near the northern coast of the Yucatán facing the Gulf …
Case Studies
Michele Quadri-Butterfield keeps Al’s Awning Shop up to date and focused on customers
July 1, 2019
by Jill C. Lafferty The mission of Al’s Awning Shop is to be the leading provider of quality fabric solutions and to be dedicated to providing professional customer service and exceptional products,” says owner Michele Quadri-Butterfield. “Fabric solutions is key for me. It’s about taking a fabric and helping the customer find the solution to …
Feature
Dramatic canopy offers protection high above the city
July 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA The Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, in Charlotte N.C., has a stunning 19th-floor lawn and event deck overlooking the city. The popular venue hosts weddings and other large gatherings, and the hotel needed a retractable canopy to protect patrons from sun, rain and high winds that may swirl about the 20-story …
Feature
Membrane structure keeps museum visitors cool
July 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA As marine museums go, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science goes the extra nautical mile to fully engage visitors with its message of sustainable ecology. Designed by the acclaimed British design firm Grimshaw Architects, the Frost Museum is a complex of four buildings located within view of the …
Feature
Mitigating heat and courting shade for shoppers in Hawaii
July 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Shade is often one of the most important design considerations for public venues in Hawaii, especially on the leeward (away from the wind) side of an island. Such is the case on Oahu, where the Ka Makana Ali‘i shopping center is located. A center court at the recently built Ka Makana retail …
Feature
Denver’s ‘boomerang’ bus hub keeps visitors coming back
June 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA There’s something about Denver, Colo., and the use of fabric structures. First came the Denver International Airport, with its iconic peaked fabric roof of the Jeppesen Terminal (1995) designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects. The conical skylights were reportedly inspired by the Rocky Mountains backdrop to the airport. Then, in 2014, …
Feature
Shade sails tackle solstice extremes
June 1, 2019
By Bruce N. Wright, AIA Arizona is known for stunning landscapes and a warm climate. Most homes in this area have some form of shaded outdoor living space, where Arizonians can enjoy the temperate weather. Working closely with a client with a request for her residence, Shade Industries® of Phoenix designed a custom, elegant structure …
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Ulrich Tombuelt hired as CEO of Sattler Corp.
July 31, 2019
Sattler Corp. of Hudson, N.C., has hired Mr. Ulrich Tombuelt as its new CEO. Tombuelt has many years of executive management experience in the textile industry in the U.S. and in Europe. Sattler Corp., a division of The Sattler Group, Austria, is known for its high-tech fabrics.
Industry News
Bally Ribbon Mills Announces E-WEBBINGS® E-textile Product Base
July 29, 2019
Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry leader in the design, development, and manufacture of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces its proprietary E-WEBBINGS® e-textile product base, specifically designed to serve as a customizable base for a wide range of smart textile applications within the Internet of Things (IoT). These smart textiles are made from a …
Industry News
IFAI Expo 2019 exhibitor Early Bird deadline is March 30
March 13, 2019
Exhibitors: Book your IFAI Expo 2019 booth by March 30 to take advantage of the Early Bird discount. Don’t be left out! IFAI Expo is the largest specialty fabric trade event in the Americas. Each year, more than 5,000 high-level decision makers, industry insiders and qualified buyers meet in an unrivaled face-to-face environment, where networking …
Industry News
Ennis Fabrics is committed to community support—from the top down
March 1, 2019
Ennis Fabrics in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has a history that’s steeped in community support. James Ennis Sr. launched Ennis Fabrics in 1972 with a goal to provide better industrial fabrics and service. From a modest 2,500 square-foot warehouse, the company steadily grew, and today it sells 9,000 products from a state-of-the-art office and warehouse that …
Industry News
Recasens expands distribution network
March 1, 2019
Recasens, a manufacturer of performance fabric for sun protection, textile architecture, screens, decoration and marine use, has added Industrial Solutions Inc. (IIS) as its newest U.S.-based master distributor. The new partnership will provide greater access to the Recasens line of European-designed fabrics for fabricators and designers in the awning, marine and decor industries. “The RECacril …
Industry News
Retractableawnings.com adds new features to website
January 18, 2019
Retractableawnings.com recently added an infographic to its website as a new feature to educate customers on retractable fabric awnings. This feature explains the value that retractable awnings add to a home or business, and the savings that can be realized on utilities bills. Customers can also find 20 fast facts about retractable awnings, frequently asked …
Industry News
European Spinning Group and Thai Acrylic partner to create outdoor yarn range
October 12, 2018
European Spinning Group (ESG) has partnered with Thai Acrylic Fibre Co. Ltd., to develop solution dyed acrylic yarns designed for outdoor applications. The yarn range is marketed under brand name ESG RA Outdoor powered by Durashine™ fibre. ESG is a specialty yarn producer for weaving and knitting fabrics for various markets and applications such as …
Industry News
Bally Ribbon Mills to display high-performance 3-D woven composites at CAMX 2018
October 8, 2018
Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of specialized engineered woven fabrics, has announced that it will showcase its high-quality, high-performance products at CAMX 2018, taking place October 15-18, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. BRM experts will be on hand in booth S49 to discuss the company’s 3-D woven joints, …
Industry News
IFAI announces new Textile Career Center
September 19, 2018
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has announced a new online career resource: the Textile Career Center. This new initiative will offer IFAI members, and the industry at large, an easy-to-use and highly targeted resource for online employment connections. For job seekers, the Textile Career Center will serve as a tool to find and apply …
Industry News
Joe Belli retires from Eide Industries
September 14, 2018
After a remarkable career of 37 years with Eide Industries Inc., based in Cerritos, Calif., Joe Belli has announced his retirement, effective September 6, 2018. Belli became part of the Eide team in 1981, ending as president of the company. From the start, he invested his time and abundant energy into building Eide Industries into …
