The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) has announced the winners of its fifth annual design competition, “Color Concepts.” Winners receive cash awards of $1000 for first place and $500 for second place in each category, as well as complimentary student registration for the 2010 AATCC International Conference. Fabric Design First place: “Let [...]

Making fabric the medium for the message By Janice Kleinschmidt A stone tablet may have served the early Viking explorers well, but the 21st century demands more flexibility—and certainly more mobility. That’s why soft signage continues to evolve. “You are seeing people’s needs for messaging change,” says Jason Amidon, 3M product marketing supervisor, noting a [...]

Transparent, colorless polyethylene film protects carpeting and textiles from wear and soiling, and offers a new, solvent-free adhesive mass and more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Novacel 9357 film can also be printed with a logo, trademark or any advertising message. As long as the film has not been soiled during use, it can be safely [...]

A new InLine Cutting System for HeatWave direct-to-fabric printers increases productivity, making production faster and easier by cutting printed fabric on the vertical axis. System uses cold knife technology to make sharp, flawless cuts, and can be stopped or paused without creating defects in the printed fabric—a significant advantage over traditional hot knife systems. The [...]

Compressed air condensate, an oil/water mixture, is classified as hazardous waste and cannot be discharged into wastewater systems unless the oil and contaminants are removed. The Kaesar Condensate Filter (KCF) is designed to filter out these contaminants, making the water safe for disposal. Units are easy to install, require no electricity and little maintenance, and [...]

Inspired by the high-fashion runways, Silver State Inc. has introduced the Celebrity vinyl collection of faux leathers: they put on a show, but also offer comfort, durability and cleanability. From a signature basketweave to an exotic boa, a high-gloss python and vintage leather-looking solids, the collection has the variety to suit any application and aesthetic. [...]

A North American first shelters shoppers and diners in “Kansas City’s living room.” By Lynn Keillor When sprinter Muna Lee ran in the 200-meter finals at the Beijing Olympics, she competed beneath the same membrane that she may have dined under in her home town of Kansas City, Missouri. The single-layer ethylene tetrafluorethylene (ETFE) membrane, [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I’m in the U.S. and am exporting some product to Canada. Where do I get a NAFTA Certificate of Origin? The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico that eliminates duties and eliminates or reduces tariffs on certain products. Under NAFTA, [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I have a customer specifying Nyco fabric. What is it? NYCO is an abbreviation for a fabric that is a blend of nylon and cotton. The nylon adds strength and abrasion resistance, while the cotton adds breathability and moisture absorption. To date, it’s being used for military uniforms and high-performance sportswear. [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I’m installing a 40 x 120 foot tent, and my client is not allowing me to use stakes. If I use cement barrels, how many will I need? This is a tricky question, and as you’re probably already aware, is fraught with liability issues. What you’re describing is called “ballasting” and [...]