Decoding standards, regulation and certification
December 1st, 2021
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists’ testing methods are key components of industry certifications and labels. Photo: AATCC. With sustainability increasingly on consumers’ minds, textile end product manufacturers (EPMs) are tasked with ensuring that the eco-friendly claims they make about their products and production processes are valid. This can prove challenging, as can staying […]
Relocating your business
November 1st, 2021
Poised to move to a much larger, 125,000-square-foot space by the end of 2021, American Tent is currently operating out of relatively tight quarters, with some employees, such as this staffer shown sewing, working in a production area of about 12,000 square feet. The move to a nearby renovated and vacant mall will vastly improve […]
Covering climate change
August 1st, 2021
The MakMax TensoSport Sports Canopy is designed to provide protection to large-court sporting facilities, such as tennis or basketball (shown here). The canopies are fabricated with high-translucency architectural-grade PVC fabric with PVDF coating, or with high-translucency, long-life PTFE woven fiberglass with fluropolymer coating. Photo: MakMax Australia Pty. Ltd; photographer: Grant Kennedy, We Shoot Buildings. Broiling […]
The textile industry finds a path forward
April 1st, 2021
by Pamela Mills-Senn When the pandemic hit, Autometrix began offering live remote demos in the company’s Ohio office on its demo machine (shown here) to customers interested in its cutting machines. A large screen on the back wall allows for easy video conferencing to discuss details after the demo. Photo: Autometrix Inc. California was the […]
Closing the gaps in the textile supply chain
February 1st, 2021
A new area of focus for Value Vinyls is its Visiontex USA fabrics. The Visiontex outdoor mesh fabric range includes Visiontex View 85 (pictured here), Visiontex Plus 94 and Visiontex Ultra 99. The fabrics are designed for window, patio and other outdoor screening applications. Photo: Value Vinyls Inc. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased textile supply […]
The great escape: textile products for the outdoors
December 1st, 2020
As more people embrace outdoor recreational activities during the pandemic, textiles and fabric products are in high demand. by Pamela Mills-Senn After months spent hunkered down at home because of the pandemic, people have become restive. They want to participate in life again, yet still follow social distancing guidelines. As a result, many people have […]
The specialty textiles market copes with COVID-19
November 1st, 2020
While some industry suppliers and end product manufacturers have found ways to remain afloat, the economic effects of the pandemic have proven devastating to many, and the future can only be described as uncertain. by Pamela Mills-Senn The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall economy, and on the specialty textiles industry specifically, is […]
Smart textile and e-textile solutions for indoor environments
October 1st, 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, […]
Automation advantages
July 1st, 2020
Adding automation can prove challenging, with costs to consider, processes to change and nervous employees to reckon with. Still, fabricators who have taken the leap say there’s no other way to go. by Pamela Mills-Senn Wizard Screen Solutions began automating in 2017 using computerized TigerStop™ cutting guides at cutting stations, a customized testing station for […]
Textiles and Lifestyle
March 1st, 2020
Textiles have become more responsive, providing health and wellness benefits while creating worlds of possibilities for manufacturers and users alike. by Pamela Mills-Senn It wasn’t long ago that the demands placed on textiles were relatively straightforward. Whether apparel, furnishings, car seats, bedding, medical fabrics or others, textiles were tasked with meeting a generally standard set […]