Infants born prematurely struggle with undeveloped lungs, inadequate digestive systems and other physical challenges associated with coming into the world too soon. Research now suggests that their early exposure to a mechanical, uncomfortable world may cause them to suffer from sensory or motor deficiencies as they develop. The womb is not an incubator; it is [...]

A motorcycle racer and a tropical pangolin (scaly anteater) would not seem to have much in common—until now. At the Dainese D-Store in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, U.K., riders can purchase the protective gear manufacturer’s latest design in back protection, named the Manis (the scientific name for the pangolin family) because its overlapping plate-like scales form [...]

Malaria affects more than 200 million people each year and killed more than 600,000 in 2010, most of them in Africa, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is on the front line of the fight against malaria, conducting research on biomedical [...]

How to develop future leadership and ensure a smooth transition for your business. Over the past eight years, I’ve had the opportunity to research hundreds of family businesses to better understand what makes some family businesses thrive over generations while others fail. One thing has become clear: active development of the next generation is critical [...]

A California start-up company testing an ultra-thin zinc-polymer battery may soon be printing money by selling the flexible, rechargeable batteries to manufacturers of wearable electronics, medical devices, smart labels and environmental sensors. Christine Ho, co-founder of Imprint Energy, Alameda, Calif., collaborated with a researcher in Japan to produce microscopic zinc batteries using a 3-D printer. [...]

Approximately 90 percent of total worldwide energy consumption relies on burning fossil fuels, and with finite resources of oil and gas, not to mention CO2 in the atmosphere accumulating at an alarming rate, the clock is ticking on finding renewable energy sources. The European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme provided a grant to a consortium of [...]

At the 25th Colombiamoda apparel and fashion event, guest speaker Juan Manual Santos Calderón, President of the Colombian Republic, vowed to extend a decree that increased apparel taxes on imports. The Decree 074 stimulated internal apparel production, discouraged the import of counterfeit products and generated jobs in the textile and apparel supply chain. The CEO [...]

Dr. Jean-Pierre Haug, general secretary of the International OEKO-TEX® Association, has announced a new application for product manufacturers. MySTeP is a step up from OEKO-TEX’s STeP certification process for all sectors of the textile supply chain that need to validate sustainability credentials. The secure database application facilitates private, transparent communication between customers and suppliers; ensures [...]

The novelty of 3-D printing is now giving way to widespread use by designers. Fenner Drives, Manheim, Pa., makes belts, hubs, chain guides and other equipment parts. The company’s expertise in urethanes led to the development of NinjaFlex® 3-D printer filament, launched in October 2013. The line was expanded within months of its introduction, as [...]

Trident Industrial Products, Sunrise, Fla., is deeply saddened to report the passing of company founder Jerry Schneider on July 20, 2014, at the age of 93. As a textile pioneer, his contributions to the industry have been immeasurable. He will be sorely missed.