The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA), based in Steinbach, Manitoba, held its 2009 National Hemp Convention Nov. 16–18 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Presentations and discussions ranged around product development, market opportunities and global perspectives on the future of hemp and hemp fibers used in the textile industry. Hemp production was legalized in [...]

Know your letters, and keep those conversations with customers focused on mutual advantages. By Richard G. Ensman Jr. When earnings and income fall, people talk. They complain about the lack of money, credit or sales. They worry aloud about their future. They wonder audibly when the economy will start to improve. But it’s another kind [...]

Delphi Automotive LLP, Troy, Mich., emerged from a four-year bankruptcy in October 2009 and divested a string of businesses, including its North American airbag, seatbelt and steering wheel manufacturing facilities. Swedish seatbelt and airbag maker Autoliv Inc. acquired those assets at the end of December, consolidating its formidable position in the automotive safety industry. Autoliv, [...]

ShadeLAB srl, an Italian designer and manufacturer of awnings, received an honorable mention in the small companies category at the 2009 Design Management Europe (DME) international competition in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. ShadeLab, the only nominee from the awning industry, was recognized for leadership, innovation and excellence in design management.

Eco Textile News, a business-to-business resource about environmentally sustainable fibers and fabrics, teams up with textile trade show giant Messe Frankfurt to publish The Eco-Textile Labelling Guide 2010, the second edition of this valuable tool for manufacturers and product buyers. The guide, which will be released in March 2010, updates more than 35 different eco-textile [...]

Reportlinker.com has announced the availability of a new report, “World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends: the U.S.A., Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, 2009 Edition” that describes market conditions in North and South America. No surprise, the struggling economy hit all markets hard in 2009. Among the highlights: a 10.6 percent drop in textile [...]

ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), has established voluntary technical standards for materials, products, systems and services. Businesses seeking a second opinion on whether their products meet ASTM standards can now request certification for entities that require products to have an independent, third-party check on standards compliance. Any [...]

In June 2007, the European Union introduced the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals (REACH) protocols, which have significant impacts for companies making, importing or supplying clothing and textile products in Europe. The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) developed a report answering key questions to help businesses meet legal obligations [...]

As risk managers put a higher priority on protecting workers from injury—including exposure to infections such as the H1N1 influenza and potential terror attacks—personal protective equipment sales continue to grow. A new report on this market, “Industrial Protective Clothing: A Global Market Perspective,” has recently been released by BizAcumen Inc. Among trends discussed: technological advances, [...]

Lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber can potentially save energy by making vehicles lighter, which improves fuel efficiency. Its promising energy-saving aspects landed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) $34.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to develop a new Carbon Fiber Technology Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Researchers at [...]