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IFAI news
IFAI launches online community CONNECT
June 18, 2021
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has launched CONNECT by IFAI, an online community that will facilitate valuable networking among industry peers and support industry-wide conversations. “One of many things the last year has taught us is the importance of connection and networking. With this in mind, we’re excited to launch our newest IFAI member benefit, CONNECT …
EcoNote
New funding supports a garment recycling push
June 14, 2021
Resortecs® announces that it has raised €960k for industrial disassembling ovens and dismantable rivet buttons, as part of its effort to increase clothing recycling by making it more cost-effective and efficient. The company currently produces a stitching thread that dissolves in high temperatures, replacing the need for more labor-intensive and expensive processes. The dissolvable sewing …
My Take
Essentially hidden
June 14, 2021
by Janet Preus Several years ago, IFAI Expo co-located with the composites show, JEC. The IFAI board chair took me around the JEC show floor, introduced me to some of the company representatives there and explained a bit more about why these two shows were a fit. “All composites have textiles in them,” he said, …
Feature
Textiles’ role in a growing energy industry
June 14, 2021
European collaborations lead the way in sustainable wind energy production. by Marie O’Mahony The Biden administration is wasting little time putting plans in place to achieve the goal of a carbon-free energy sector by 2035. Offshore wind energy is an important part of a vision that seeks to combine environmental, employment and industrial benefits. Danish companies …
EcoNote
New fabric harvests and stores energy
June 14, 2021
Bioengineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and their colleagues have developed and successfully demonstrated a wearable fabric that can harvest and store solar energy from the sun. Their study, published by the journal Matter, shows a path to developing lightweight, smart clothing and wearable tech gear outfitted with unobtrusive bioelectronics sensors that can be used to …
What's New?
Super elastic sensor developed
June 14, 2021
The laboratory of photonic materials and fibre devices (FIMAP) department of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne [EPFL]) research institute recently proposed a new, patented way of preparing flexible sensors. Led by EPFL associate professor Fabien Sorin, the project team developed a method that can embed different types of microstructures in “super-elastic” fibers, forming fibers …
In the Industry
Lectra completes acquisition of Gerber Technology
June 11, 2021
Lectra recently finalized the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Gerber Technology. This strategic combination, of which all stages have now been successfully completed, has led to the creation of a global Industry 4.0 player for the fashion, automotive and furniture markets, the company reports. “The union of our respective innovative expertise, our state-of-the-art offers …
What's New?
HeiQ launches antiviral surgical mask
June 9, 2021
Global materials innovator, HeiQ, has launched HeiQ MetalliQ, a surgical mask technology that destroys viruses and bacteria tested, as much as 100 percent efficacy. The mask contains an ultra-thin pure copper coating applied via a high-tech vapor deposition process, which converts a minute amount of copper into vapor, allowing it to be deposited evenly to surround …
EcoNote
Scientists succeed in plastics degradation
June 7, 2021
Most compostable plastics, made primarily of the polyester known as polylactic acid (PLA), end up in landfills and last about as long as any other plastic. But University of California, Berkeley, scientists have now invented a way to make them break down more easily within a few weeks using just heat and water. The new …
In the Industry
Solmax finalizes TenCate Geosynthetics acquisition
June 3, 2021
by Todd R. Berger Montreal-based geosynthetics manufacturer Solmax has finalized the acquisition of TenCate Geosynthetics, headquartered in Pendergrass, Ga. Jean-Louis Vangeluwe, president of Solmax, spoke with IFAI’s Geosynthetics magazine about the acquisition and what he envisions from the newly formed company, which will be the largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of geosynthetics in the world. The questions and …
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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
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
Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE
November 13, 2020
The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …
Expo News
The larger issues in respiratory protection
November 12, 2020
Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …
Expo News
Surgical gowns require extra manufacturing considerations
November 11, 2020
All surgical gowns are not created equal, and a Nov. 11 presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 helped sort out the differences. The finer points of surgical gowns were discussed by Dr. Martin King, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, and Jing Liang, president of Medical PPE Consulting LLC. …
Expo News
Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM
November 11, 2020
How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie …
Expo News
E-textile testing and standards are evolving
November 11, 2020
At the 2020 Virtual Expo session, “Ask the Expert: Textile Electronics Testing and Standards,” Jesse Jur, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, discussed how standards and testing continue to evolve due to the evolution of textile-based electronics (e-textiles). Jur said that standards have long been a vital resource for …
Expo News
Guidance offered in commercial insurance market
November 10, 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
How to make your business attractive to a buyer
November 6, 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
Overcoming Murphy’s Law yields pain-relieving yarns for socks
November 6, 2020
“Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, repeat,” became the mantra of Matt Komes, CEO at VOLT, when his company took on the challenge of making CBD-infused socks for pain relief. Komes presented the VOLT product development process Oct. 5 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. VOLT, a division of Supreme Corp., has expertise in military and medical …
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Feature
Textiles’ role in a growing energy industry
June 14, 2021
European collaborations lead the way in sustainable wind energy production. by Marie O’Mahony The Biden administration is wasting little time putting plans in place to achieve the goal of a carbon-free energy sector by 2035. Offshore wind energy is an important part of a vision that seeks to combine environmental, employment and industrial benefits. Danish companies …
Feature
Helmets and impact resistance
May 24, 2021
Material and design improvements offer better head protection in sports activities. By Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., and Janet Preus According to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), about 1.6–3.8 million concussion cases arise every year due to sports and related activities. These are caused by impact or hard blows to the head. According to AAN, helmets …
Feature
Giving gloves their due
May 10, 2021
Specialized hand protection covers a range of work environments. by Dr. Marie O’Mahony The specialty glove market is highly diverse, ranging from disposable products to ones that protect against extreme environments, or cuts and other trauma dangers. In addition to the technical challenges, which are to be expected, the market is increasingly dealing with issues …
Feature
Gaining warfighter advantage with flexible hybrid electronics
April 26, 2021
FHEs and advanced textiles are a natural fit for sensing applications. by Ed Hendricks Flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) technology combines the flexibility and low cost of printed electronics technology with the performance of semiconductor devices to create a new category of electronics. No longer constrained by rigid, bulky and non-conforming printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), …
Feature
Electronics and materials: an integrated approach
April 12, 2021
Flexible hybrid electronics show progress with advances in sensory yarns and fabrics. by Dr. Marie O’Mahony Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) bring together capabilities from electronics, printing and material sectors including textiles, offering an alternative to product assembly with a more integrated approach for electronics and materials. Textiles-based FHE offer some unique solutions that are attracting …
Feature
U.S./international textile trade
March 22, 2021
The top five challenges and opportunities facing the industry in 2021. by Nate Bolin The list of trade issues facing Washington policymakers in 2021 is long and growing. Indeed, from the ongoing U.S.–China trade dispute, to new trade and investment rules for U.S. manufacturers, importers and exporters, there seems to be no end to the …
Feature
Manufacturing revival: a timely necessity
March 8, 2021
The U.S. is shaping its future in the international textile market. by Seshadri Ramkumar In the past two decades, most advanced nations have focused on advanced technology, paying specific attention to sectors such as information technology and biotechnology. While these fields are vital to the economy, COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in the manufacture of products …
Feature
Nonwovens and the “new mobility”
February 22, 2021
The evolution of electric vehicles relies on innovative nonwoven textiles. by Debra Cobb Nonwovens are playing an increasingly important role in automotive components as the evolution of electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs) create an imperative for transportation textiles that are lighter, quieter, stronger, cleaner and easier to recycle. Often unseen, nonwovens are found in backings …
Feature
Transportation textiles on the move
February 8, 2021
Major changes in vehicles will offer opportunities to innovators in this market. by Marie O’Mahony Recent reports illuminate key factors influencing tomorrow’s automotive textiles segment. Most notably, the automotive lightweight material market is expected to reach $247 billion by 2026, according to Global Market Insights. “In 2010 almost 40 percent of an average car’s weight …
Feature
A year like no other
January 25, 2021
Examining the past year and looking ahead to a new normal. by Janet Preus Editor’s note: What our editorial calendar intended to cover and what we actually covered in 2020 presents an interesting perspective on the larger picture, overwhelmingly impacted by a worldwide pandemic. This article is a brief retrospective of the “year like no …
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Industry News
Brown and Manning call for Biden to prioritize American manufacturers and bolster domestic PPE
January 29, 2021
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC) wrote to President Biden calling on the Administration to prioritize purchasing fully made in America Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), according to Textile World in a January 24 article. The lawmakers outline four steps the Administration can take now to ensure our frontline workers have products needed …
Industry News
Industry and union coalition outlines PPE recommendations to Biden and Congress
January 29, 2021
A broad coalition of industry organizations and labor unions, representing a broad spectrum of manufacturers and workers who stepped up to make essential PPE and other products throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, sent a letter today to President Biden and congressional leaders outlining recommendations on specific policy initiatives that must be adopted to re-establish a permanent …
Industry News
Take IFAI’s survey: COVID-19’s Business Impact in 2020
December 22, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered as one of the most challenging and unprecedented periods ever for the specialty, technical and engineered textile industries. As 2020 comes to a close, Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) would like your help in understanding how businesses in our industries were affected by the events of this year and …
Awards
2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients announced
November 12, 2020
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is very fortunate to have so many volunteers who give of themselves selflessly, helping every day by serving on different boards, task forces and committees. These volunteers judge competitions, provide education and impassioned leadership to others day-in and day-out. To acknowledge their service, IFAI developed a program in 2012 called …
Awards
2020 Honored Life Member Award Recipient announced
November 12, 2020
Honored Life Member status for Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is designed for individuals who have shown a commitment to the association. Honored Life Membership is bestowed by special request only, and at the discretion of the IFAI Board of Directors to candidates based on the following criteria: Meritorious or outstanding work accomplished for the …
Awards
Meet the Newly Elected and Re-elected 2021 IFAI Board of Directors
November 12, 2020
Each year, Industrial Fabrics Association International’s (IFAI) Leadership Development Committee follows a detailed process outlined in our bylaws for electing board members. It is IFAI’s pleasure to announce the newly elected and re-elected individuals who were chosen to serve on the 2021 IFAI Board of Directors. Newly Elected Directors Jennifer Fennell, Polo Custom ProductsJennifer Fennell …
Industry News
APPI explains energy contracts
September 3, 2020
By Kathryn Allen, APPI Energy (Editor’s note: APPI energy services are included in the membership benefit package offered by Industrial Fabrics Association International. The following information was compiled by APPI to help explain their services.) APPI Energy provides our clients a comprehensive way to reduce energy expenses and create budget certainty. Unbiased and independent, we …
Industry News
New fabric for U.S. Army to destroy nerve agents
February 10, 2020
Nerve agents are some of deadliest substances on the planet. From Sarin gas, which turns the human nervous system against itself, to mustard gas, which burns on contact and disrupts respiratory function, these chemicals, often unseen, are ones the U.S. Army is working to protecting against and destroy. A new fabric, generated by Omar Farha’s …
Industry News
New IPC standard reflects growth of e-textiles industry
January 27, 2020
by Chris Jorgensen During a meeting at IPC APEX EXPO 2017, members of the e-textiles industry approached IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries) to help achieve their goal of developing international standards for their burgeoning field. IPC standards are open international standards, meaning anyone can participate in the process and can influence IPC standards, and because …
Industry News
Global yarn and fabric production figures released
October 21, 2019
Global yarn production has increased by 17 percent between the final quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, according to the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), a recent article in knittingindustry.com said. Higher output levels were observed in Asia (+18 percent), Brazil (+18 percent), the U.S. (+3.2 percent) and Europe (+1.6 percent). The …
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Out There
Solar desalination unit tested
May 24, 2021
Although a large percentage of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, most of it is undrinkable. Removing the salt, compounds and microbes that make it unsafe to drink could expand the world’s supply of safe drinking water and address many human health concerns. Desalination is an important technology that could help accomplish this, and …
Out There
Researchers create a stretchy “biological battery”
March 22, 2021
Researchers at Colorado University (CU) Boulder have developed a new, low-cost wearable device that transforms the human body into a biological battery. The device is stretchy enough that it can be worn like a ring, a bracelet or any accessory that touches the skin. The device taps into a person’s natural heat, employing thermoelectric generators to …
Out There
Soft actuators used to create an insect-sized drone
March 22, 2021
Video: MIT. If you’ve ever swatted a mosquito away from your face, only to have it return, you know that insects can be remarkably acrobatic and resilient in flight. Those traits help them navigate the aerial world, with its wind gusts and obstacles. MIT Assistant Professor Kevin Yufeng Chen has built a drone system that …
Out There
Collaboration yields bio-based garment
March 8, 2021
Designer Phillip Lim has partnered with New York-based industrial designer Charlotte McCurdy to create a dress made of a biodegradable base layer and covered in algae-grown bioplastic sequins. Dezeen.com reports that the collaboration is part of the One X One project, an incubator organized by the Slow Factory Foundation that pairs high-profile designers with sustainability innovators. “Sustainability in fashion is not …
Out There
ShadowSense gives robots a sense of “touch”
February 22, 2021
Touch-sensitive electronic skin for robots is a project under development by a number of groups. Cornell University reports that scientists there are pursuing a simpler approach, however, using shadow-imaging cameras to let robots know when they’re being touched. Known as ShadowSense, the experimental system incorporates a USB-powered laptop-connected camera, located beneath a non-electronic translucent “skin” on a soft-bodied …
Out There
Researchers create thread that senses and tracks movement
February 8, 2021
Engineers at Tufts University in Massachusetts have created and demonstrated flexible thread-based sensors that can measure movement of the neck, providing data on the direction, angle of rotation and degree of displacement of the head. The discovery raises the potential for thin, inconspicuous tatoo-like patches that could, according to the Tufts team, measure athletic performance, …
Out There
Absorbent film could lead to sweat-powered wearables
January 25, 2021
Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a new film that can absorb sweat and potentially use the moisture to power wearable electronics. For sweat to cool us down properly, it needs to evaporate, which carries the heat away. The new film is designed to speed that process up, with the research …
Out There
MIT researchers send sensing fabrics to the ISS for testing
December 21, 2020
A team of MIT researchers has sent samples of high-tech fabrics, some with embedded sensors or electronics, to the International Space Station (ISS). According to information released by MIT News, the samples will be exposed to the space environment for a year to determine a baseline for how well these materials survive the harsh environment of …
Out There
Fruit fly eye study could impact future textiles
October 26, 2020
Russian and Swiss scientists have learned how to replicate a nanocoating with antimicrobial, anti-reflective and self-cleaning properties, based on the structures covering the corneas of fruit fly eyes, that could find applications in the textile industry. Researchers from Far Eastern Federal University teamed with colleagues from the University of Geneva, the University of Lausanne and Zurich’s Swiss …
Out There
Solight Design launches the SEEUS95 self-adhering mask
September 14, 2020
Known for its solar-powered and origami-inspired lighting, Solight Design, based in New York, N.Y., has ventured into the mask design arena with the SEEUS95 clear, self-adhering, earloop-free mask, which the company says can provide better protection than masks made with nonwoven polypropylene, woven or knit fabrics. The mask features a natural filter made of bamboo, silk, …
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What's New?
Super elastic sensor developed
June 14, 2021
The laboratory of photonic materials and fibre devices (FIMAP) department of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne [EPFL]) research institute recently proposed a new, patented way of preparing flexible sensors. Led by EPFL associate professor Fabien Sorin, the project team developed a method that can embed different types of microstructures in “super-elastic” fibers, forming fibers …
What's New?
HeiQ launches antiviral surgical mask
June 9, 2021
Global materials innovator, HeiQ, has launched HeiQ MetalliQ, a surgical mask technology that destroys viruses and bacteria tested, as much as 100 percent efficacy. The mask contains an ultra-thin pure copper coating applied via a high-tech vapor deposition process, which converts a minute amount of copper into vapor, allowing it to be deposited evenly to surround …
What's New?
Microneedle patch shows promise in treating MRSA skin infections
May 24, 2021
Assoc. Prof. Georgios Sotiriou and Ph.D. student Jill Ziesmer at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet have created a microneedle device that provides a localized treatment for MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) skin infections. These potentially serious infections are usually treated by an antibiotic injection. However, injecting the medication sends it throughout the patient’s bloodstream, which can cause side …
What's New?
A “smart foam” could give machines a sense of touch
May 24, 2021
As smart as robots and machines are becoming, the sense of touch and the ability to feel complexities in the machine’s surroundings is still reserved for humans. But a team of researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have now invented a “smart foam” that can give machines more than a human touch. Called …
What's New?
Shape.Care sensor gloves support weightlifting goals
May 10, 2021
A new smart device has made it possible to ditch the notebook and pen in the gym and turn the tracking of an exercise regimen over to personal training gloves with sensing technology. Shape.Care is a comprehensive system designed to support amateurs and professionals in weightlifting training by monitoring all aspects of a workout, to …
What's New?
Thermoelectric device charges itself with body heat
May 10, 2021
Despite the continued development and commercialization of various wearable electronic devices, such as smart bands, progress with these devices has been curbed by one major limitation: they regularly need to be recharged. However, a new technology developed by a South Korean research team shows significant potential to overcome this limitation for wearable electronic devices. The …
What's New?
Huvis mass produces graphene fiber
April 26, 2021
South Korean fiber producer Huvis has begun to mass produce a dyeable graphene fiber. Until now, high-purity graphene fiber has been possible only in the research phase, and most of the graphene fiber commercialized so far has either had substandard graphene content, or it is fiber that’s coated with a graphene material. Working with its …
What's New?
PolyU develops super-elastic conductor for wearable electronics
April 12, 2021
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a highly permeable and super-elastic conductor that can be used for wearable electronic devices and withstand wearing for a long period of time. This novel conductor is fabricated by coating or printing liquid metal onto an electrospun elastomeric fiber mat, which offers high permeability, stretchability, conductivity and electrical …
What's New?
Swiss scientists to launch a self-disinfecting mask
April 12, 2021
Scientists from Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Swiss research and development company Osmotex AG have developed a mask that disinfects itself at the push of a button. According to information provided by ZHAW, the prototype of the mask made from electrochemical textiles has an antiviral effect of more than 99 percent. Prof. Chahan Yeretzian, …
What's New?
‘Smart bandage’ can detect infection
April 12, 2021
University of Rhode Island (URI) assistant professor Daniel Roxbury and former URI graduate student Mohammad Moein Safaee have created a continuous, noninvasive way to detect and monitor an infection in a wound by imbedding nanosensors in a “smart bandage.” “Single-walled carbon nanotubes within the bandage will be able to identify an infection in the wound by detecting concentrations of …
