Lectra, an integrated technology company producing software for the textile, leather, industrial fabric and composite sectors, has named Philippe Ribera marketing director of group software at the company’s Paris, France, headquarters. He will define and implement software marketing plans for all industries, with special emphasis on the Lectra Fashion PLM (product lifecycle management) strategy. Ribera [...]

Howard B. Ausema, owner of Chesterfield Awning Co. in South Holland, Ill., passed away Jan. 22 at the age of 73. He was a longtime member of the Advanced Textiles Association and the Midwest Fabric Products Association. Ausema is survived by his wife Tekla, son David, daughter Susan, and six grandchildren.

Wayne Industries president Franklin A. Milnes passed away Jan. 17 after a long battle with cancer. He began his career at Wayne Mills Co. in 1957, becoming president in 1987; in 1998 he took over as president of parent company Wayne Industries. A longtime contributor to the narrow fabrics industry, Milnes was also a member [...]

The iQuote Xpress Quotation System helps businesses improve sales force productivity and information. The web-based SaaS application enables sales personnel to generate detailed, accurate sales proposals that include complete marketing information, images and “intelligent relationship” product-tree management. With iQuote, sales management is provided online access to securely stored client contact and proposal information, sales forecasting [...]

Custom digital graphics create value-added opportunities for customers and new economies for manufacturers. By Barb Ernster Personalized, customized, made-to-order, tailor-made—everyone wants their brand to stand out in the crowd. Upselling to that need is easier with digital capabilities that are becoming more accessible and affordable. Fabric companies weighing these new possibilities against hesitant customers with [...]

An updated national consensus standard for high-visibility safety apparel from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) now provides criteria and test requirements for garments marked as flame- or water-resistant, and includes service-life guidelines. The American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear (ANSI/ISEA 107-2010) is the authoritative document for the design, performance specifications [...]

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) encourages creativity in textile and product design by offering cash and prizes to top student designers. The Concept 2 Consumer® Student Design Competition for 2010—themed “Summer Bling!”—garnered 70 entries from 16 schools. The Summer Bling! Competition gives students the challenge of creating a fabric or product [...]

Based on a joint resolution adopted by its 14 member institutes, the Oeko-Tex® Association has revised and expanded applicable test criteria, limits and by-laws of the product certification process for Oeko-Tex Standard 100, effective January 1, 2010. As of December 2009, the Oeko-Tex certificate contains a note advising that the “certified articles meet the requirements [...]

Compiled by Juli Case When we’re cleaning our tents, which are made out of vinyl laminate, we sometimes notice something odd. The tents are dirty with this brown-looking film that takes a lot of work to get off with a brush, but if one of the guys walks across it with his boots on, it [...]

Grab—and keep—media attention by following a few simple guidelines. By Janice Kleinschmidt When flu season hit and H1N1 vaccines grabbed top-of-the-news, above-the-fold status, Mahaffey Fabric Structures stepped up to help and gained valuable name recognition. The Memphis, Tenn.-based company set up a tent outside a children’s hospital for the influx of patients. First used as [...]