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Advanced Textiles Division membership growing
September 28th, 2017
The Advanced Textiles Division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) held an open meeting Tuesday at IFAI Expo. The division leadership announced that it is the fastest growing division at IFAI and has increased to 219 members – a significant jump in just the last year, said incoming chairman, Amit Kapoor. He credited the […]
2017 International Achievement Award winners announced at IFAI Expo
September 28th, 2017
This year’s winners in IFAI’s global International Achievement Awards (IAA) competition, recognizing design excellence in specialty fabrics applications, were announced on Sept. 28 at the organization’s annual meeting at IFAI Expo 2017 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. For more than 70 years, IAA has acknowledged innovation and excellence in design […]
Keeping employees engaged
September 28th, 2017
According to Barry Adams, President of Peach Tree Awnings in Norcross, Ga., “The reason people separate from their company is because they feel their contribution is not valued and they feel what they do isn’t making a difference.” Adams’ session, “How to Keep Talented Employees Engaged,” presented at IFAI Expo 2017, focused on ways to […]
Ooblecks and smart textiles
September 27th, 2017
What is an “oobleck”—and what does it have to do with smart textiles? According to children’s author Dr. Seuss, an oobleck is a mysterious sticky substance which threatened the kingdom in his 1949 book Bartholomew and the Oobleck. But as smart textile engineer, Connie Huffa of Fabdesigns told her audience at IFAI’s Advanced Textiles Conference […]
Biomimicry inspires medical textiles
September 27th, 2017
With much of the discussion of smart textiles focusing on e-textiles at present, it is good to be reminded that there are innovative developments emerging in non-digital yarns also. MedTextra is a filtration and health-giving yarn that uses a unique moisturizing process to deliver active ingredients to the body based on biomimicry principles. The brainchild […]
Expo panel discusses diversification
September 27th, 2017
A panel of three successful company leaders illuminated the keynote luncheon September 26 at IFAI Expo 2017. The theme of the panel was “Path of Diversification,” featuring Meredith Boyd, Unifi Manufacturing Inc.; Ben Cooper, IoClothes; and John Neely, Berry Global. The panelists shared ideas on how their companies leverage regionalization in the U.S. Cooper mentioned […]
Cutting room automation makes sense for many
September 27th, 2017
If automating your cutting room seems either too expensive or too difficult, you may want to think again. Panelists of the IFAI EXPO session on “Optimizing Your Cutting Room” gave a long list of potential benefits for why you might want to consider using an automated cutter. “Everyone’s ROI is slightly different,” says Thomas Carlson, […]
IFAI Expo 2017 offers e-textile ‘Hackathon’ design challenge
May 22nd, 2017
As part of the Advanced Textiles Conference, Smart Fabrics Track, IFAI Expo 2017 introduces its first “Hackathon,” challenging registrants to create the most innovative, new, e-textiles product – with only materials available in the show’s E-Textiles Workshop. Entrepreneurs, developers, designers, students, engineers and artists attending Expo 2017 are invited to participate. This year’s Expo takes […]
IFAI announces Smart Fabrics Program at Expo 2017
March 24th, 2017
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has announced an expanded Advanced Textiles Program for its annual Expo, scheduled for Sept. 26-29, 2017 in New Orleans, La. Among the additions is a Smart Fabrics Program designed to channel the excitement around smart fabrics into new product development, providing attendees with access to experts, materials and education. […]
IFAI Expo 2016 closes successful show with near-record attendance
October 31st, 2016
IFAI Expo 2016, the textile industry's show of record, attracted 5,023 participants to the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., from Oct. 18-21. IFAI Expo is the largest display of specialty fabrics and technical textiles in the Americas. Attendees were treated to four days of product demonstrations, education, networking, exhibits and awards recognizing industry achievement. "We […]