A team of scientists led by Professor Kripa Varanasi from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is testing super hydrophobic materials that work by reshaping the surface of textiles so water droplets can bounce faster and are 40 percent less likely to reach the fabric surface. If less water reaches the fabric, the surface dries much [...]

Flexible and rechargeable textile batteries developed by a research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology continued to hold 91.8 percent of electricity even after being folded 5,500 times in prototype testing. The flexible solar-recharged battery, which can be mass-produced on assembly lines, will enhance the use of wearable electronic devices in [...]

Earlier this year, the International OEKO-TEX® Association introduced its STeP certification, a voluntary, independent certification that evaluates a textile production facility’s sustainability in six key areas: quality management, environmental management, social responsibility, safety, environmental performance and chemical management. A webinar available for viewing at any time on the OEKO-TEX website describes the new certification for [...]

The Great Place to Work Institute ranks the world’s multinational companies by studying the workplace cultures, and in 2013 W. L. Gore & Associates, Newark, Del., ranked number five on the list of the best 25 businesses. The company’s non-hierarchical, team-based culture is responsible for Gore’s diverse and innovative products, including waterproof GORE-TEX® fabric, cardiovascular [...]

Professional Door Dealer, an independent management resource for garage door and access businesses, recognized TMI LLC, a provider of warehouse safety solutions and PVC products, as a winner of its 2013 Best of Business award for Best Dock Equipment. Professional Door Dealer polls industry leaders on their favorite door vendors in more than 20 categories, [...]

The Royal Society of the Arts (RSA), a London-based charitable organization working to bring innovation to 21st century problem-solving, recently recognized John Manuck, CEO of Techmer PM LLC, Clinton, Tenn., for his work as founding sponsor of Student Design Awards. The SDAs celebrate excellence in sustainable design, design innovation, materials science and interdisciplinary design. “We [...]

The Rivierenland Water Board, a Dutch entity responsible for dike safety in The Netherlands, teamed with TenCate Geosynthetics to develop a vertical sand-tight geotextile to prevent a specific threat of dike failure, piping. Piping occurs when the water pressure from the higher-water side of the dike seeps through sand to the lower-water (polder) side, creating [...]