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IFAI selects Advanced Textiles Association as new name
May 17, 2022
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will become the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) effective June 1. The name change was approved in April with 85.6 percent of association members casting their votes to do so. Association bylaws require the approval of two-thirds of those returning ballots. The results were audited by Clifton Larson Allen. “This …
News
Outlook® gives attendees exclusive insights to power informed decisions at the 2022 conference
May 17, 2022
Close to 100 attendees gathered at the Omni Homestead Resort (circa 1766) in Hot Springs, VA to engage, learn and connect with colleagues in the industry. A day and a half of informative business sessions, intermingled with several networking opportunities, were filled with knowledge and idea exchange as well as insights from various thought leaders …
News
Eschenbach Temporary Architecture celebrates 50th anniversary
May 9, 2022
Eschenbach Zeltbau GmbH & Co. KG from Bad Königshofen looks back on 50 years of tent construction. It started when James T. Eschenbach founded the family business in 1972. At that time, the focus was on the sale and renting of simple marquees. Managing director Alexander Eschenbach has remained true to the classic marquee of …
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 …
Awards
International Achievement Awards submissions portal opens
May 1, 2022
For more than 75 years, the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has recognized outstanding and innovative projects representing the latest accomplishments in design and manufacture incorporating specialty fabrics by honoring companies through the International Achievement Awards (IAA). The 42-category competition, sponsored by IFAI since 1946, is an excellent opportunity for IFAI members and nonmembers to display work, …
Projects
Siersema office interior
May 1, 2022
When Amsterdam’s Siersema Interieur, a design studio specializing in fabrics, needed an identifying look for its new riverfront offices, it turned to architectural firm Beyond Space. “The space benefitted from high ceilings and lots of light, but frankly, was otherwise quite boring,” says Thom Uildriks, business development manager for Beyond Space. “We wanted to …
Features
The Four Crucial Habits of Successful Salespeople Part One
May 1, 2022
I regularly get asked what the most important factor is that contributes to building and managing successful sales teams. While there are many contributing factors, the most critical is engaged sales leaders who proactively identify the four bad habits that impede a salesperson’s ability to efficiently manage his or her time and exceed organizational goals. Failure …
News
U.S. sanctions compliance
May 1, 2022
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, new sanctions/restrictive measures have been issued by the U.S., EU, UK and several other countries. Violations of these sanctions are prosecuted as felony violations of federal criminal law, and it is vital that companies understand that the standard for prosecution of even indirect sanctions violations is not …
Features
An alternative to brick and mortar
May 1, 2022
Successful businesses know that eco-friendly practices are part of sustainability, but creating long-term value is also key. More companies are choosing durable fabric structures to manage operating costs and reduce their impact on the environment, without sacrificing functionality. Covering corn to fertilizer In rural areas, fabric-covered structures are also becoming more common to house …
Features
Expanding inflatables
April 1, 2022
The year has been a good one so far for David Abramowitch, Inflatable Engineer and CEO of Giant Inflatables, in Melbourne, Australia. “We’ve got two divisions: a sports marketing division and an industrial division. The sports marketing side is giving us a lot of work right now with projects for World Cup Cricket, Rugby and …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles 2021
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 …
Case Studies
Tasting the great outdoors
September 1, 2021
Across the country, the coronavirus pandemic has forced many food service businesses to offer outdoor dining, and sometimes that means reimagining how to use their parking lots. The city of San Marcos, Calif., revamped its outdoor dining permit process for restaurants to offer outdoor dining. Rip Current Brewing was one of those businesses that quickly …
Case Studies
SLO Architecture’s ‘Turntable’ contemplates Camden’s history and future
August 1, 2021
One of the many enduring reminders of the coronavirus pandemic is the sight of used, discarded masks littering public spaces. Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi of New York City’s SLO Architecture have taken on the idea of unearthing the discarded in “Turntable,” a public installation at Cooper’s Poynt Waterfront Park in Camden, N.J., that turns …
Case Studies
Opening up the classroom
August 1, 2021
For schools, the challenge of delivering quality learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic has generated numerous approaches to creating safe environments. Transformit Inc. was asked by the Portland, Maine, school district to provide quotes for dozens of outdoor classrooms. “The CARES Act had provided the township with a budget to work with, and they needed …
Case Studies
Portable solar ‘clouds’ designed for remote locations
July 1, 2021
An architecture and planning studio based in the U.K. has proposed an “ephemeral station” that could provide remote communities and other locations with energy, water and shelter. The project by OF. Studio, designed for the state of Nevada, takes its inspiration from the banyan tree and hot air balloons. Under the “clouds,” a steel frame …
Case Studies
Food for life
July 1, 2021
As with many food-related companies, the North County Food Bank in Vista, Calif., has had a need to utilize its parking lot due to COVID-19 restrictions. The food bank serves between 200–300 families per day, and the operation was forced out of the building. Volunteers serve a constant line of cars from 9 a.m. to …
Case Studies
Creating ‘The Canyon’
June 1, 2021
EDITOR’S NOTE: For the new terminal complex at the Salt Lake City International Airport, a specially commissioned public art installation involved architectural fabric. The visually stunning fabric sculpture “The Canyon” by public artist Gordon Huether was accomplished by a dedicated team of fabric engineers and fabricators who interpreted the artist’s vision. The scope of the …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles 2021
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 …
Events
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 …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles 2021
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 …
Features
An alternative to brick and mortar
May 1, 2022
Successful businesses know that eco-friendly practices are part of sustainability, but creating long-term value is also key. More companies are choosing durable fabric structures to manage operating costs and reduce their impact on the environment, without sacrificing functionality. Covering corn to fertilizer In rural areas, fabric-covered structures are also becoming more common to house …
Features
The Four Crucial Habits of Successful Salespeople Part One
May 1, 2022
I regularly get asked what the most important factor is that contributes to building and managing successful sales teams. While there are many contributing factors, the most critical is engaged sales leaders who proactively identify the four bad habits that impede a salesperson’s ability to efficiently manage his or her time and exceed organizational goals. Failure …
Features
Growing shade
April 1, 2022
The saying “sunshine is the best medicine” can be traced to public health pioneer Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), who observed the healing benefits of fresh air and direct sunlight in her patients. Since then, taking in the sun’s rays has been prescribed for a myriad of ailments, from skin rashes to depression and sleep disorders. But …
Features
Passion and pride
April 1, 2022
You may not have heard of Taiyo Kogyo Corp., based in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, but you probably have a tangential relationship with the company through one of its 37 subsidiaries spread across 13 countries. Or maybe you’ve seen one of its hundreds of fabric structure projects around the world. Founded in 1922 as the …
Features
Expanding inflatables
April 1, 2022
The year has been a good one so far for David Abramowitch, Inflatable Engineer and CEO of Giant Inflatables, in Melbourne, Australia. “We’ve got two divisions: a sports marketing division and an industrial division. The sports marketing side is giving us a lot of work right now with projects for World Cup Cricket, Rugby and …
Features
Members only content
Optimizing awnings
March 1, 2022
Last November the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA), a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) introduced a web-based tool that calculates the energy savings for residential and commercial awning products. The new Energy Savings Calculator app was designed as an IFAI member benefit to allow users to input a range of awning specifications …
Features
Exceeding expectations
March 1, 2022
Shari Albertson is vice president of sales at Austin Canvas & Awning, a commercial and residential awning manufacturer and installer in Charlotte, N.C. She has over 15 years of awning sales experience and is the qualifying representative for the company’s general contractor’s licenses in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Yet nearly every time Albertson …
Features
Members only content
Cutting through the fabric ceiling
March 1, 2022
Faith Roberts, Ltm, MFC, IFM, owner of Ham Lake, Minn.-based Banner Canvas, can think of several examples of gender-based discrimination she’s encountered over her 40-year career. Some struck her as blatantly offensive when she experienced them. Others were less obvious until she really dissected them years later. “Some things I didn’t know were discriminatory until …
Features
The Link
February 1, 2022
When the five-star Hotel Chadstone was built in Melbourne, Australia, developers wanted a visually stunning way to connect the hotel to the nearby Chadstone Shopping Centre, the largest mall in the southern hemisphere. They created The Link, a fabric-over-glulam (glued and laminated) timber structure that provides covered access for patrons between the hotel and the …
Sponsored Content
Company Profiles 2021
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 …
Industry News
Herculite Products promotes two employees to new roles
October 14, 2021
Herculite Products Inc., an innovator and manufacturer of high performance and custom fabrics, has announced that Paul Flaherty and Marco Angelone have received leadership promotions. Flaherty has been promoted to the newly created position of chief strategy officer. In the new role, he will be responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s long …
Industry News
Global technical textile market outlook
July 9, 2021
According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global technical textile market is expected to grow at CAGR of 8.0% within the forecast period of 2021 to 2029. The demand for textiles is increasing and consumers are expecting higher quality textiles with sustainable properties. These textiles are known for their superior characteristics over their traditional equivalents …
Industry News
WVU Davis College unveils Amy A. Bircher Textiles Laboratory
April 19, 2021
A gift to the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design will provide fashion, dress and merchandising students with enhanced educational opportunities in textile science. To strengthen textile science and curriculum, Amy Bircher, a WVU alumna and founder and CEO of MMI Textiles Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, donated more than $200,000 …
Industry News
Alpha Tubular Motors to host free motorization solutions webinar March 3
February 24, 2021
Alpha Tubular Motors will host a free webinar on Wednesday, March 3, that will focus on the advantages and offerings of intuitive motorization solutions for awnings, roller shutters and roller shades. The webinar “Alpha 101: The Alpha Advantage,” set for 4:30 p.m. EST, will be led by Alpha Tubular Motors CEO David Fezer, who will …
