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Company News
Birdair announces global restructuring
October 1, 2020
Birdair Inc., a specialty contractor for custom tensile membrane structures, has announced an international reorganization as it expands its worldwide presence through its network of organizations. A subsidiary of the Taiyo Corporation in Japan, Birdair—along with a number of MakMax Group affiliates—has completed more than 1,300 tensile architectural projects in more than 30 countries and six continents. …
Case Studies
Roland-Garros gets a retractable roof with Serge Ferrari fabric
October 1, 2020
Like virtually every other major sporting event, the French Open postponed its 2020 tournament, with play now tentatively set to begin in late September. And when the world’s greatest tennis players set foot on the world’s most famous red clay, they’ll play regardless of weather, under a new retractable roof featuring a translucent, waterproof composite …
Feature
Smart textile and e-textile solutions for indoor environments
October 1, 2020
Technology and fabric advancements are fueling the development of smart textile and e-textile solutions for indoor environments. by Pamela Mills-Senn As the quest to add more functionality to interior spaces continues, smart fabrics and e-textiles are poised to make their own contributions, serving as platforms that can capture data, heat and cool, adjust lighting, entertain, …
Feature
Geography and climate drive Australia’s technical textiles industry
October 1, 2020
Developments in geotextiles, renewable energy and recreation stem from Australia’s extreme environment. By Marie O’Mahony Australia’s geographic isolation puts the country and its technical textile industry in a novel position. The country is rich in natural resources, mining and exporting coal, iron ore, petroleum gas, zinc ore and other materials. The mining industry directly and …
Case Studies
Big Span Structures completes covered walkway for Jacksonville transit users
October 1, 2020
An eye-catching pedestrian bridge with a tensile membrane roof is keeping Jacksonville, Fla., transit users protected from the elements. Jacksonville Transit Authority’s vision of a regional multimodal hub is coming to a reality with the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC). Located in the heart of the downtown LaVilla area, the JRTC will integrate key local, …
Expo News
Registration for IFAI Virtual Expo is open
October 1, 2020
IFAI Expo is going completely virtual and will be hosted online Nov. 2–12, 2020. By registering for IFAI Virtual Expo, attendees can attend education sessions, virtual networking events, keynote speakers and browse through a virtual show floor filled with exhibitors displaying their latest products and services. What can you expect from an IFAI Virtual Expo? Find …
Case Studies
School design in New Zealand embraces sustainability
September 21, 2020
The Green School campus in New Zealand showcases a relatively new material, Mehler Texnologies’ Lodge de Luxe membrane, a fabric often used for safari lodges. The Green School is a collaborative design developed by international and local designers, architects and engineers, according to a recent Mehler announcement. The structures were designed from the most organic …
Expo News
IFAI Expo and R+T Show Organizer, Messe Stuttgart, to Co-locate Trade Shows Starting in 2021
September 21, 2020
ROSEVILLE, MN—Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and Messe Stuttgart, organizers of R+T in Stuttgart, Germany; R+T Turkey in Istanbul, Turkey; R+T Asia in Shanghai, China and R+T South America in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are pleased to announce that they will co-locate IFAI Expo with Messe Stuttgart’s new U.S. show named Sun Shading Expo North America …
Industry News
APPI explains energy contracts
September 3, 2020
By Kathryn Allen, APPI Energy (Editor’s note: APPI energy services are included in the membership benefit package offered by Industrial Fabrics Association International. The following information was compiled by APPI to help explain their services.) APPI Energy provides our clients a comprehensive way to reduce energy expenses and create budget certainty. Unbiased and independent, we …
Feature
Members only content
Innovating products for a COVID-19 marketplace
September 1, 2020
The word pivot will go down as an industry buzzword for 2020, but in sailing, the equivalent term is tack or jibe. Dimension-Polyant (DP), a leader in the production of technical sailcloth, has “tacked” to meet the urgent demands of the PPE market, with a number of manufacturers tapping the company to provide films and …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles
Case Studies
Roland-Garros gets a retractable roof with Serge Ferrari fabric
October 1, 2020
Like virtually every other major sporting event, the French Open postponed its 2020 tournament, with play now tentatively set to begin in late September. And when the world’s greatest tennis players set foot on the world’s most famous red clay, they’ll play regardless of weather, under a new retractable roof featuring a translucent, waterproof composite …
Case Studies
Big Span Structures completes covered walkway for Jacksonville transit users
October 1, 2020
An eye-catching pedestrian bridge with a tensile membrane roof is keeping Jacksonville, Fla., transit users protected from the elements. Jacksonville Transit Authority’s vision of a regional multimodal hub is coming to a reality with the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC). Located in the heart of the downtown LaVilla area, the JRTC will integrate key local, …
Case Studies
School design in New Zealand embraces sustainability
September 21, 2020
The Green School campus in New Zealand showcases a relatively new material, Mehler Texnologies’ Lodge de Luxe membrane, a fabric often used for safari lodges. The Green School is a collaborative design developed by international and local designers, architects and engineers, according to a recent Mehler announcement. The structures were designed from the most organic …
Case Studies
Big Span Structures outfits PGA Tour Headquarters with ETFE skylights
September 1, 2020
Big Span Structures, Summerfield, Fla., has announced the recent completion of an ETFE skylight installation on the roof of the new PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Big Span specializes in concept-to-completion solutions for signature lightweight tensile membrane structures. The project consists of a two-layer ETFE application, known as a cushion system, where …
Case Studies
An architecturally significant performance hall gets a new canopy
September 1, 2020
When Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida in 2017, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Fla., was one of many buildings damaged. In particular, the fabric of the hall’s front canopy needed to be replaced. The new canopy needed to protect visitors from inclement weather and complement the roof of the main building, which …
Case Studies
Redesigned tent for COVID-19
August 1, 2020
While numerous end-product manufacturers have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by fabricating products that they have never made before, others looked to past products and designs to apply to today’s challenges. Rainier Industries’ commercial tent division brought back a tent design that was historically used in agricultural applications. With a few minor tweaks …
Case Studies
Solar-powered canopy captures the rhythm of Miami
July 1, 2020
The Rhythm Foundation exists to bring international music to the U.S. It focuses on music from cultures that connect to South Florida including Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. In 2015, the Miami, Fla.-based nonprofit was awarded management of the North Beach Bandshell, an open-air amphitheater in Miami Beach’s North Beach Historic District …
Case Studies
Shading to lower energy consumption
June 1, 2020
The Sandton district in suburban Johannesburg, South Africa, is home to an exciting new mixed-use development known as The Central. It’s also home to the sleek, modern 96 Rivonia Road, a low energy certified building that is the new headquarters of Werksmans and Partners, a 100-year-old law firm. Designed by architects Boogertman & Partners, the …
Case Studies
Revitalizing area culture with a cozy NOOK
May 1, 2020
In the city of Taitung in Taiwan, there is a lot of history around an old train station, abandoned for more than a decade. At one time, it was central to the region’s growth. Recently, city leaders wanted to revitalize the area by creating an inviting cultural space. They commissioned Portuguese creative studio FAHR 021.3®, …
Case Studies
Mood art at the Microsoft Research Center
May 1, 2020
An art installation that smiles back Walk into the atrium of Building 99, a Microsoft Research center in Redmond, Wash., and you can’t miss the two-story architectural installation. Depending on your mood, it greets you with different levels of color and light. The structure is named Ada in honor of Ada Lovelace, a gifted 19th …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles
Expo News
Registration for IFAI Virtual Expo is open
October 1, 2020
IFAI Expo is going completely virtual and will be hosted online Nov. 2–12, 2020. By registering for IFAI Virtual Expo, attendees can attend education sessions, virtual networking events, keynote speakers and browse through a virtual show floor filled with exhibitors displaying their latest products and services. What can you expect from an IFAI Virtual Expo? Find …
Expo News
IFAI Expo and R+T Show Organizer, Messe Stuttgart, to Co-locate Trade Shows Starting in 2021
September 21, 2020
ROSEVILLE, MN—Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and Messe Stuttgart, organizers of R+T in Stuttgart, Germany; R+T Turkey in Istanbul, Turkey; R+T Asia in Shanghai, China and R+T South America in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are pleased to announce that they will co-locate IFAI Expo with Messe Stuttgart’s new U.S. show named Sun Shading Expo North America …
Expo News
Expo unveiled: HGTV stars do well by doing good
July 1, 2020
by Rebecca Post When daughter-mother team Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E Laine rehabilitated their first house in 2007, they began a journey that morphed into a successful business and a binge-worthy series on HGTV. Their business, Two Chicks and a Hammer Inc., and their TV show, “Good Bones,” thrive today while benefitting neighborhoods in …
Expo News
Registration opens for IFAI Expo
June 15, 2020
IFAI Expo Nov. 3–6, 2020 in Indianapolis, Ind., will mark the event’s 100th anniversary. IFAI has announced that it is moving forward as planned, and registration is now open. Safety protocols are in place and will be coordinated with host hotels and the Indiana Convention Center (ICC). The registration area at IFAI Expo will be …
Company News
IFAI president responds to Coronavirus, adjusts upcoming events
March 17, 2020
As concern over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) grows, I want all IFAI members to know we are closely monitoring developments and following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We will follow their recommendations to keep our employees, their families and our members healthy and safe. With this in …
Awards
IFAI’s 2019 Outstanding Volunteer Awards
October 8, 2019
At this year’s annual meeting during IFAI Expo 2019, IFAI presented the Outstanding Volunteer Awards, recognizing members who generously gave of their time to serve on different boards, task forces and committees, judged competitions and provided education and leadership to others in the industry. This year’s winners: Amy Bircher, president, MMI Textiles Inc. Jonathan Chakales, …
Expo News
2019 Chairman’s Award winner: Scott Campbell, Rainier Industries
October 8, 2019
The Chairman’s Award (originally, the President’s Award) is an honor bestowed by the chairman of IFAI to an individual that has had an extraordinary and meaningful impact on the association. It is rarely given, and awarded at the sole discretion of the IFAI chairman. At IFAI’s annual meeting at IFAI Expo 2019, IFAI chairman Steve …
Expo News
Designing with shade cloth for human protection
October 4, 2019
Australia has a very high rate of skin cancer, so it’s not surprising that the country has led the world in the development of shade cloth, Chris Nolan told attendees of a shade cloth educational session at IFAI Expo 2019 in Orlando, Fla. “Even in the temperate areas where most people live, we have an …
Expo News
Award breakfast transforms into a networking event
October 4, 2019
Keynote speaker Thom Singer hosted IFAI’s annual award ceremony October 3 at Expo 2019, continuing his message to “see people.” As Expo exhibitors and attendees entered the breakfast event, Singer encouraged people to separate from familiar colleagues and sit with new people. This year’s award ceremony was infused with an additional goal—that of networking with …
Expo News
Puerto Rico pups steal hearts at IFAI Expo 2019
October 3, 2019
Amid the latest fabrics, equipment, technology and services for the specialty fabrics industry, Lorenzo, Lilo, Lolo, and Lulo stole hearts, and, according to some dog lovers—the show—at IFAI Expo 2019 in Orlando, Fla. For this Expo, the Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) and the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando came together to promote two great causes. …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles
Feature
Smart textile and e-textile solutions for indoor environments
October 1, 2020
Technology and fabric advancements are fueling the development of smart textile and e-textile solutions for indoor environments. by Pamela Mills-Senn As the quest to add more functionality to interior spaces continues, smart fabrics and e-textiles are poised to make their own contributions, serving as platforms that can capture data, heat and cool, adjust lighting, entertain, …
Feature
Geography and climate drive Australia’s technical textiles industry
October 1, 2020
Developments in geotextiles, renewable energy and recreation stem from Australia’s extreme environment. By Marie O’Mahony Australia’s geographic isolation puts the country and its technical textile industry in a novel position. The country is rich in natural resources, mining and exporting coal, iron ore, petroleum gas, zinc ore and other materials. The mining industry directly and …
Feature
Members only content
Innovating products for a COVID-19 marketplace
September 1, 2020
The word pivot will go down as an industry buzzword for 2020, but in sailing, the equivalent term is tack or jibe. Dimension-Polyant (DP), a leader in the production of technical sailcloth, has “tacked” to meet the urgent demands of the PPE market, with a number of manufacturers tapping the company to provide films and …
Feature
Members only content
Staying agile in the time of COVID-19
September 1, 2020
Agility has emerged as the essential defining attribute of organizations able to respond to this crisis and chart a new, resilient course for the future. by Jeff Moravec Agility has always been something of a prerequisite for owning a company, and that skill set is clearly more valuable now than it ever has been. We …
Feature
Barry Adams on the science and art of the awning business
September 1, 2020
by Jill C. Lafferty “You have to be an exceptional artist. You’ve got to be able to create a vision for your customer,” says Barry Adams, owner of Peachtree Awnings in Norcross, Ga., and Tennessee Awnings in La Vergne, Tenn. “Where the customer lacks vision, we have to give them a vision about what we …
Feature
Members only content
Pivoting to the PPE textile products market
September 1, 2020
How the manufacturing of medical protective gear is challenging U.S.-based textile businesses—and throwing them a lifeline. by Debra Cobb The COVID-19 pandemic made it abundantly clear that the U.S. is unprepared to supply its health-care and frontline workers, as well as its general population, with the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed in such an emergency. China …
Feature
Jan Kellogg’s strategy for growth at CCP Manufacturing
August 1, 2020
Jan Kellogg looks at the big picture for each job that CCP Manufacturing takes on, leading the company into new markets. by Jill C. Lafferty “I love working with someone who turns to us with a new idea, saying, ‘Hey, can you make this work?’ We love taking the time to be able to do …
Feature
Fluid markets require flexible equipment
August 1, 2020
Custom manufacturers rely on equipment that multitasks across product lines and markets, with minimal downtime. by Maura Keller Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, every custom end-product manufacturer faced some type of financial challenge. Reduced or canceled orders, customer attrition and market changes always affect manufacturers’ bottom lines. Another commonality among manufacturers is their heavy dependence …
Feature
NECPA: A century of survival
August 1, 2020
Lessons from four member companies that have survived for a century and continue to thrive. by Cathy Broberg In January 2020, the North East Canvas Products Association (NECPA), a trade organization for the canvas and outdoor fabric industry, marked its 100th anniversary. Members celebrated at its annual conference with a gala and by touring a …
Feature
Kevin Greenwood and Stage Tops USA cover lives events around the globe
July 1, 2020
by Jill C. Lafferty “Everything is visual today,” says Kevin Greenwood, owner/CEO of Stage Tops USA, a Manchester, Tenn.-based company that manufactures and installs roof skins, wind walls, stage scrims and other fabric projects for major live events around the world. “[My clients] want to be seen. The bigger the better. They want to put …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles
Industry News
APPI explains energy contracts
September 3, 2020
By Kathryn Allen, APPI Energy (Editor’s note: APPI energy services are included in the membership benefit package offered by Industrial Fabrics Association International. The following information was compiled by APPI to help explain their services.) APPI Energy provides our clients a comprehensive way to reduce energy expenses and create budget certainty. Unbiased and independent, we …
Industry News
SergeFerrari Group acquires Verseidag-Indutex
July 29, 2020
SergeFerrari Group announced the acquisition of Verseidag-Indutex, a world leader in PTFE glass materials, from Jagenberg AG, in a press release on July 29. SergeFerrari designs, manufactures and distributes innovative flexible composite materials. The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, will strengthen the company’s position as a global leader in tensile architecture and modular structures and …
Industry News
Textile Roofs 2020 postponed to October
April 28, 2020
The 25th anniversary of the International Workshop on Design and Practical Realization of Architectural Membrane Structures—Textile Roofs 2020—has been postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis. The new dates are Oct. 8-10, 2020, and the location, Archenhold Observatory in Berlin, Germany, remains the same. This year’s event is programmed to combine its traditional workshop and educational formats …
Industry News
Serge Ferrari, Miami Corporation announce distribution partnership
March 3, 2020
Serge Ferrari North America (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) and Miami Corporation (Cincinnati, Ohio) have announced a distribution partnership. Miami Corporation, a distributor for the marine, awning and automotive industries, has added Serge Ferrari’s upholstery fabric line to its product offerings. Serge Ferrari’s Stamskin® One and Stamskin® One Allure are currently stocked and available in 24 colors, …
Industry News
En-Fold® provides all-weather solution at new Pier 17 restaurant
December 2, 2019
Pier 17 is a massive 300,000 square foot building at the waterfront along the East River in New York City. Encompassing retail, entertainment, architectural features and seasonal attractions, the area is intended to further the transformation of the Seaport district into a true destination. The new cocktail bar, R17, is located on the building’s rooftop …
Expo News
2019 Chairman’s Award winner: Scott Campbell, Rainier Industries
October 8, 2019
The Chairman’s Award (originally, the President’s Award) is an honor bestowed by the chairman of IFAI to an individual that has had an extraordinary and meaningful impact on the association. It is rarely given, and awarded at the sole discretion of the IFAI chairman. At IFAI’s annual meeting at IFAI Expo 2019, IFAI chairman Steve …
Industry News
New leadership for IFAI
October 2, 2019
Each year, the Leadership Development Committee of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) follows a detailed process outlined in association bylaws for electing new board members. As recently announced at IFAI’s annual meeting at IFAI Expo in Orlando, the following individuals have been chosen to serve on the IFAI board of directors: Ron Houle, president …
Industry News
Ulrich Tombuelt hired as CEO of Sattler Corp.
July 31, 2019
Sattler Corp. of Hudson, N.C., has hired 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 …
