May 1, 2018
Reprinted with permission from insidefashiondesign.net Industrial sewing has reached a critical point. An aging workforce combined with a lack of incoming talent has created a worker shortage that threatens to shutter long-standing American businesses and stifle growth in a billion-dollar industry. We spoke with someone on the front lines of the battle to save industrial …
Early in 2018, Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. and North Carolina State University (NC State) announced a strategic, multi-year partnership to “support student development at NC State and advance apparel and textiles innovation within VF,” the company says. It will also bring $1 million to the campus in the form of a gift from the VF …
Cash flow—the amount of money flowing into and out of your shop—is an easy concept to understand, yet not always well managed. Not every owner is aware of the impact skillful cash management has on net income, probably because the importance of managing revenue is far easier to recognize in some types of businesses than …
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded that 2.9 million workplace injuries occurred in 2016, more than half of which resulted in time away from the job. The cost to business? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), workplace injuries and subsequent absenteeism amount to well over $200 billion per year. One …
The Leadership Development Committee of the Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting applications to fill two (2) Director positions on the IFAI Board of Directors. Both of these positions are for three-year terms. All of IFAI’s volunteer leadership openings are being announced at this time, as well, in an effort to highlight the range …
Serge Ferrari Group has completed the acquisition of Plastitex, an Italian manufacturer of specialty composite materials for indoor and outdoor furniture. This acquisition strengthens Serge Ferrari’s positioning in the indoor and outdoor furniture market through the addition of complementary product lines and technical knowledge. Besides its expertise in new product design, Plastitex will also provide …
April 24, 2018
In August 2017, the President formally instructed the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to determine whether to launch a 301 investigation of “laws, policies, practices, or actions of the Government of China that may be unreasonable or discriminatory and that may be harming American intellectual property rights, innovation, or technology development.” After deciding …
April 20, 2018
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has named Steve Schiffman, the association’s vice president of media and sales, the new president and CEO of IFAI. He will replace Mary Hennessy, who is retiring June 1, 2018, after holding the position for the last six years. Schiffman had a long and successful career in publishing before …
More than 30,000 skyway pedestrians as well as thousands of street-level commuters and motorists are expected to view St. Paul, Minn., through new Americans’ eyes as they pass an exhibit dedicated to immigrants’ experiences. Photos: Peter Von De Linde. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. The call to “huddled masses, yearning to breathe free” …
April 1, 2018
Lilienthalhaus, a new building at the Braunschweig Research Airport in Braunschweig, Germany, is named after pioneer aviator Otto Lilienthal. Known as the “flying man,” Lilienthal was the first person to successfully carry out unpowered flights. The designation is fitting; the design of the four-story building embodies the same inventive spirit as the adventurous pilot. Designed …