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Capitalize on innovations in specialized marine textiles.
Eco-friendliness is one of the biggest trends in any market. Whether or not you’ve jumped on the green bandwagon, doing so will most likely be inevitable and could help your business.
Although business has slowed in the marine fabric market segment, growth for fabricators in 2009 is possible.
Last September, former President George W. Bush signed an amendment to a 1995 Executive Order to protect recreational boating and fishing access on federal waters and marine protected areas.
On Nov. 4, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment that provides fair taxation to waterfront businesses.
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering grant funds up to $4,000 each for community non-profit groups to develop projects that address environmental problems on local waterways.
As a result of the current economic downturn, the board of the National Marine Manufacturers Association unanimously approved a temporary redirection of Grow Boating assessments to support immediate sales-driving efforts at the manufacturer and dealer level.
Although business has slowed in the marine fabric market segment, growth for fabricators in 2009 is possible.
North Winds Canvas, Portland, Ore., is offering services to marine fabricators, including pattern digitizing, nesting, automated fabric cutting, technology consulting, 3-D digitizing, and pattern creation.
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), and the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ), announced that the New Zealand-based organization has merged its organization into IFAI.
Skier’s Choice, the official towboat of the World Wakeboard Association, chose WeatherMax 80 from Safety Components for mooring covers for their entire line of Supra and Moomba towboats.
The performance fabric brand Sunbrella underwent a brand identity update, including a new logo, to acknowledge its 50-year heritage, while focusing on innovation and enhanced styling for today’s consumers.
Taylor Made Products has acquired the rights to the Boat Misters product line.
SodaBlast Systems appointed nine new contractors in the United States for its eco-friendly boat hull cleaning systems, raising the total to more than 180 worldwide.
Sunbrella sling, awning and marine fabrics from Glen Raven Custom Fabrics have received the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute’s (GEI) Children & Schools certification as low-emitting products, assuring architects, specifiers, building owners and homeowners that these fabrics contribute to healthy indoor air.
BondCote’s Marine One, for marine cover and top applications, is a 9.25-ounce coated polyester.
Fasnap offers heavy-duty polyester webbing that is ideal for outdoor applications.
Cooley Sign & Awning Products’ Weathertyte Lite is an 11-ounce, technically advanced waterproof material.
EZ-Dri polyether-polyurethane foam cushions from Crest Foam Industries Inc. are now available in densities of 1.2, 1.5 and 1.8 pounds per cubic foot, with a comfort range from “plush” to “ultra-firm.”
Bruin Plastics Co. Inc., Glendale, R.I., is proud to be the national distributor for WeatherMax all-weather fabric.
Vicar Intl. is now stocking UniSuede, a very fine microsuede fabric manufactured to exceed the most demanding of specifications, yet luxurious enough to appeal to the selective decorator’s eye.
J. Ennis Fabrics’ new Tempotest acrylic marine fabric collection has a full eight-year guarantee against color loss under normal exposure to sun, salinity and general atmospheric conditions.
Outdura and Outdura Trio from Shuford Mills is a full weight 9.25-ounce, 100-percent solution-dyed acrylic canvas that comes in 49 solid colors and tweeds.
OMNOVA Solutions introduces Torino and Torino Tradewinds to the Nautolex performance upholstery line for exterior and interior marine applications.
Using an innovative new coating chemistry, O’Sullivan Films introduces Ultrashield, a press polished clear vinyl sheet with superior chemical resistance and scratch resistant properties for the marine and auto markets.
Recasens USA redesigned its Nautimar fabric and introduced Nauti Plus.
Keyston Bros. Primal Instincts animal skin prints for interior and exterior seating applications feature Perth, an Ostrich grain embossing, and Dundee, a Crocodile emboss.
MarChem Coated Fabrics introduces Top Notch, a solution-dyed polyester fabric with up to 10 times the strength of solution-dyed acrylics and significantly stronger than other solution-dyed polyesters.
Glen Raven Custom Fabrics has introduced a “Next Generation” version of Sunbrella awning and marine fabric that offers a 25-percent increase in water repellency with no loss of breathability.
The unique collection includes faux leather designs that promote technical excellence without compromising the design standards of professional specifiers.
Sattler North America Corp. has expanded its line of NAUtex products to include the world standard Seamaster #341, the waterproof Yachtmaster #354 and new Yachtmaster Premium #344.
Herculite Riviera marine fabric, available from Tri Vantage, is specifically formulated with high-quality vinyl that features a soft, supple hand for easy fabrication.
Nilco Inc. developed a new marine upholstery product called Marina.
Sun & Sea from Vicar Intl. is a 15-ounce-per-square-yard waterproof vinyl laminate that offers resistance to mildew and UV rays, making it a perfect choice for awnings, canopies, golf-cart enclosures, boat-cover toppings, sail covers and commercial installations in sunny, humid climates.
Three new accent patterns in the Nautolex performance upholstery line from OMNOVA Solutions pair up-and-coming colors with the market’s hot metallics, providing a range of accent materials to make boats shimmer and shine.
Xtreme Seal's new Ultra Seal has a wide, flat profile with turned-down front and rear edges to provide flatter finished edge seals.
H2Ube from Morse Industries incorporates two channels within an extruded anodized aluminum tube, providing a stronger, tighter and cleaner look for canvas applications.
Fasnap’s nylon shell snap caps are offered in three colors: black, foliage green and sand.
Carmo weldable eyelets are available in PVC, polyethylene and urethane.
American Plastics now offers 100-percent biodegradable buckles.The corn buckle is made with 100-percent PLA, a material that fits all disposal systems including compost treatment.
MarineMate from YKK (USA) Inc. is a unique series of Vislon zippers especially engineered for marine applications.
TACO’s Ball & Socket top fittings are ideal for a variety of tube, deck and side mounting applications.
An innovation to the PTFE thread market, Solar Thread, from Pennsylvania Thread Co., is a twisted thread that sews neat and clean.
Completely waterproof, flexible and easy to pull, the MasterSeal 10 zipper from TIZIP is a perfect match with new lightweight and stretchable materials.
Designed to hold and guaranteed to last, Gore Tenara sewing thread is ideal for outdoor applications.
Ferrari Textiles Corp. Stamoid 4128 Light’s Nanotop treatment operates directly on every fabric fiber as a protective skin.
DIAX 2LP is an exclusive sail assembly technology that combines the durability and stability of the latest multi-directional laminated sailcloth with continuous load bearing fiber mapping to address sail loading.
Camie-Campbell B-404 is an all-purpose biodegradable lubricant, part of Tom’s Secret Formula Earth Friendly line.
In 1987, Carlson Design originated the affordable, high-performance, large-bed rotary knife plotter/cutter.
Smooth-Cut shears from Consew feature an ergonomic design with stainless steel blades and a solid core thumb handle and flexible bottom handle that works well for both left and right hands.
Sinclair Equipment Company’s versatile Triad Wedge Welding System for PVC, PE, PP, urethane and other weldable, flexible membranes, is ideal for welding tents, tarps, awnings, banners, liners, covers and tubes.
Fasnap introduced three die sets for its electric kick press.
Creative Companies of Kentucky Inc. offers a price competitive inspection, measuring and rerolling machine with automatic push-button cutting.
Vinyl-Pro of Western Pa. announces the availability of many new colors in aerosols for boat interior vinyl that refresh and blend over repairs to enhance the interior of your customers’ boats.
Now there’s a tool available to neatly cut holes into heavy fabric and vinyl, saving hundreds of hours of hand hammering with conventional cutters and mallets because all holes are punched neatly at the same time.
Bio-Solv from MAS Products is a 100-percent bio-degradable, corn-based blended solvent that can be used in place of acetone or xylene to clean and prepare surfaces to be painted or epoxied.
MAS Products introduces FlexBond 5000, a strong, fast-curing polyurethane adhesive and sealer that sets in 20 to 40 minutes and achieves 70 percent of its bond strength in two hours, allowing boats to be put back in the water the same day.
Dometic’s CoolBreeze air conditioning system is designed to provide cool relief for boat passengers in open spaces above decks.
Fasnap’s pneumatic foot press is capable of setting a variety of fasteners.
Rainier Windows is a premium semi-rigid and crystal-clear window system for yachts.
From Kendall Products, Dri-Dek’s anti-skid, self-draining surface keeps marine gear dry and safe while protecting fiberglass and wood surfaces.
One of the finest polycarbonates made, this specialized crystal-clear window from Ocean Clear is sewable and highly yellow, UV, and abrasion resistant.
Having 20 years of engineering experience and 20 years of canvas shop experience, I view frame design and construction from a unique perspective.
Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, manufacturer of Sunbrella fabrics, and Colonial Mills Inc. have launched a line of Sunbrella braided-texture rugs made from 50-percent recycled Sunbrella yarns that have the look and feel of wool.
SureShade from Rodan Enterprises is a power-driven, retractable canvas boat top that extends and retracts horizontally via motor-driven telescoping “tubes.”
Although business has slowed in the marine fabric market segment, growth for fabricators in 2009 is possible.
Capitalize on innovations in specialized marine textiles.
Eco-friendliness is one of the biggest trends in any market. Whether or not you’ve jumped on the green bandwagon, doing so will most likely be inevitable and could help your business.
Where to find vintage fabric to complete a repair on an older boat.