Know your fabrics, fabrication and flammability

December 2, 2012  |  Features

No matter where you are in the supply chain, a thorough knowledge of flame retardancy leads to well-informed customers—and safer environments If a fabric is going into a commercial space—whether used for a trade show banner, theater drapery or restaurant awning—it needs to be flame retardant (…
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Weather or not—fabric measures up

December 1, 2012  |  Features

With a great selection of materials available, fabric structures adapt to different climates and project needs Trying to find the right solution for the right application in a particular climate is generally foremost in architectural work. The issues to be addressed in developing building envelopes …
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The growing nonwovens market

November 1, 2012  |  Features

The increasing versatility and functionality of nonwoven fabrics is expanding their market reach with new technologies and new applications The constant drive to bring costs down and performance up has made nonwovens a key player in the textile industry, penetrating markets traditionally dominated b…
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Progress in protective products

October 1, 2012  |  Features

Fabrics offer better comfort and functionality, meeting growing demands for safety in a variety of environments and markets Work environments of many types pose hazards that can result in injuries. The safety and protective segment of the specialty fabrics industry works to develop high performance …
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Solar fabrics bring power to the people

September 1, 2012  |  Features

Commercial success for large-scale flexible solar fabrics may be just around the corner Fabrics that capture energy are gaining traction in the consumer marketplace. Solar backpacks, solar umbrellas, solar purses and even solar clothing can be ordered with a few mouse clicks. But what about awnings,…
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Profitable opportunities in safety and technical markets

May 1, 2012  |  Features

An IFAI survey shows increasing profit potential in the safety and technical markets The safety and technical clothing industry plays a crucial role in the protection of firemen, police officers, military personnel, construction workers, miners and industrial workers. Concerns for general worker saf…
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Incredibly smart textiles

October 1, 2011  |  Features

As understanding evolves and resources become available, interactive textiles could be headed into the mainstream Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak may be fiction, but it could be a reality in the not-too-distant future. That may be a matter of physics, but perhaps a smart textile will help it alo…
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Driving the future of fabric structures

June 1, 2011  |  Features

Today’s advanced technologies will drive the future of fabric structures Fabric is one of the oldest materials humans have used for shelter; it remains an important material with diverse applications in design and construction today, and it will play an even more important role in the constructed …
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Nanotechnology: It’s getting bigger

January 2, 2011  |  Features

Breaking the barriers to accepting—and selling—nano innovations in specialty fabrics markets There has been increasing momentum in recent years in the use of nanotechnology to provide textile products with new and enhanced properties, such as stain and water repellence, flame retardance, antimic…
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