Beyond the flak jacket

August 13, 2013  |  Features

With today’s high-performance fiber technology, soft body armor offers improved ballistic protection. The technical textiles industry that focuses on ballistic protection has made impressive technological advancements, but as much as the label “bulletproof” is in common use, when used with tex…
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Carbon fiber: A decades-long phenomenon

July 1, 2013  |  Features

High technology products and markets often have long and costly development times, areas usually left to large companies to pursue. Carbon fiber (CF) fabrics and products are such segments. Carbon fiber reinforced composites (CRFP) are replacing steel, aluminum and fiberglass composites in a growing…
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Carbon nanotube fabrics: A new nonwoven material

June 28, 2013  |  Features

Dry processed fabrics containing high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes could enable a new generation of products. Carbon nanotube (CNT) research has received a lot of popular press recently because of the amazing potential applications of these unique nanofibers. Carbon nanotubes have been highly studi…
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Lamborghini celebrates its anniversary with the Veneno

June 24, 2013  |  Features

Italian luxury sports car maker, Lamborghini S.p.A., is celebrating its 50th anniversary by taking its signature head-turning vehicles in a surprising new direction. The $4 million Lamborghini Veneno, with snake fang styled headlights and enormous tailpipes takes more than looks to the extreme. The …
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Manufacturers of aeronautics go above and beyond

April 2, 2013  |  Features

Manufacturers of aeronautics and aerospace products fill demanding and diverse performance requirements Sources remain mum on what it is about the fabric in Superman’s cape that allows him to fly faster than a speeding bullet. However, we know quite a lot about the Red Bull Stratos pressure suit t…
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Walking atop the O2 Dome

March 1, 2013  |  Features

A walkway above a fabric structure offers an adventurous experience—and a spectacular view of London This is no walk in the park. The “Up at The O2” adventurer is 53 meters above the ground—safely tethered to the structure—but still, on a walkway only 3 meters wide and 350 meters long, sus…
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Transforming inventions into innovation

February 12, 2013  |  Features

New forums for entrepreneurial environments must be established in order to help transform inventions into innovations. Historically the textile industry was the first sector that brought about the industrial revolution, and many world economies depended on the evolution of this industrial sector fo…
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Integrating coating technologies

February 1, 2013  |  Features

The coated textiles industry is currently in a state of flux as new markets are emerging and traditional processes (and partnerships) are being adapted in response A wide range of coating technologies and processes were showcased and explained at the 2012 International Conference on Textile Coating …
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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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