Beyond the flak jacket

August 13th, 2013

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 textiles, it’s simply not accurate. There are no bulletproof fabrics. A better phrase is “soft […]

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Slingmax products made with Dyneema® cradle Trade Center spire

June 24th, 2013

Slingmax® Twin-Path® high-performance slings helped to complete the One World Trade Center Freedom Tower by cradling the spire while it was carefully lifted to its place at the peak of the building. The addition of the 408-foot silver spire brought Freedom Tower to its full height, a symbolic 1,776 feet, making it the tallest building […]

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Protecting outdoor workers from insects

June 24th, 2013

Insect Shield® has launched a workwear online store with expanded product offerings for people who work outdoors and need protection from insects and the diseases they carry. This makes protective clothing and gear available at locations across the globe. The new storefront offers the added functionality of zoom to reveal detailed product feature views, videos […]

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Teijin develops radiation-shielding aramid fabric

April 25th, 2013

Teijin Limited has developed a new aramid fiber fabric that protects users against X-ray and gamma ray radiation. Starting in May, the company will provide samples to selected customers for applications such as protective clothing and sheet materials used in areas with high radiation levels. The new Technora fabric is produced by blending radiation-shielding tungsten […]

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TenCate Protective Fabrics wins orders from Netherlands fire brigades

April 2nd, 2013

The IJsselland and northeast Gelderland fire brigades in the Netherlands have chosen the superior protection of inherently heat and flame-resistant materials from TenCate Protective Fabrics. The orders, totaling 1,850 uniforms, are from two European contracts. TenCate has developed new protective fabrics that provide permanent protection as well as a high degree of wearing comfort and […]

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Smart textiles for protective gear

April 1st, 2013

A new book, Smart Textiles for Protection, outlines how materials that sense and react to environmental conditions are being integrated into personal protective clothing—and examines a wide range of end-use protective applications. The book explores material types, surface treatments, nanofibers, smart barrier membranes, sensors, actuators and computers in protective wear, and also provides a discussion […]

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Tackling heavy-duty projects

March 1st, 2013

IAA award-winning safety and protective projects tackle unique challenges and succeed Imagine a 41,000-ton U.S. Navy vessel traveling at seven knots in choppy three-meter-high seas. It is carrying a heavy load of vehicles and container freight. Because of an emergency, the vehicles and containers need to be transferred from this vessel to a supply ship, […]

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Tragedy leads to production of bulletproof vests for children

February 1st, 2013

A Colombian maker of bulletproof clothing, Miguel Caballero Ltd., Bogota, Colombia, shipped its first U.S. order of 24 ballistic protection vests for children in January, following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. CEO Caballero once resisted manufacturing vests for children. “I thought, kids don’t need this protection,” he said. “After […]

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Hohenstein Institute offers protective glove testing and certification

February 1st, 2013

Protective gloves are important. For work in cold stores, on steel works, a building site or in a laboratory, people depend on perfectly fitting gloves to protect their hands. The Hohenstein Institute can now offer testing and certification of gloves in accordance with seven DIN standards. Some of the standards tested are for protective gloves […]

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Progress in protective products

October 1st, 2012

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 products that prevent illness and injury from germs, chemicals, fire, […]

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