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In memoriam: Roger Gant Jr.
July 27th, 2010
Former Glen Raven president Roger Gant Jr. has died at the age of 86. Gant served Glen Raven Inc. for 55 years in a variety of management positions and as president and board member. He also led the Glen Raven team that created Glen Raven’s Sunbrella® brand of performance fabrics in the early 1960s. “It […]
IBEX Innovation Awards’ call for entries
July 12th, 2010
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recently announced entries are being accepted for the 2010 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) Innovation Awards, one of the marine industry’s most prestigious honors. The Awards presentation takes place during the show’s annual Industry Awards Breakfast on September 28. IBEX Innovation Awards are judged by Boating Writers International […]
On the road again
July 1st, 2010
Being on site in a marina with a van, truck or trailer emblazoned with your canvas business' name on the side is one way to build business. It's a valuable marketing tool, one that people can see with their own eyes. The primary reason many fabricators set up mobile shops is to avoid wasting time […]
Tri Vantage breaks ground on new distribution center
July 1st, 2010
Tri Vantage began construction of a centralized distribution center in the North Carolina Industrial Center in Mebane, N.C. The 100,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will help the company serve customers throughout the United States. “This new facility will strengthen our operational controls and increase the efficiency […]
Make a wrinkle-free corner on a cushion
July 1st, 2010
I’m often asked about making a good-looking corner on a cushion. The answer depends on the cushion style and the materials you are using. Let’s start with the basic, no-frills cushion: square, no sew foam applied, but with a welt cord. I make all my own cord. I have tried to use a welt foot […]
Fabricating bimini enclosure corners
July 1st, 2010
I am going to discuss what we refer to in our shop as “natural intersections.” I have been on so many boats with gaps to the outside at the bimini corners. These gaps allow water to enter the enclosure, which is unacceptable in quality canvas fabrication. There are many acceptable ways of fabricating canvas to […]
Versatile marking tool
July 1st, 2010
Draw even, neat and accurate seam allowances and cut lines. Problem Drawing even seam allowances and sew lines on curved or odd-shaped pieces can be difficult and inaccurate. Solution Make a simple marking tool that has fixed pencil positions for predetermined seam allowances and cut line widths. This tool can be used with a straight-edge […]
Losses slow for powerboat segments
July 1st, 2010
As in the previous month, all boat segments were up in March, according to a recent Bellwether Report. Even with the gains, however, sales remain down compared to the prior 12 months. Losses have been decreasing since last summer, when they reached their lowest point of the recession. Unit sales of powerboats 15 feet in […]
Outdura launches new website
July 1st, 2010
Outdura fabrics manufacturer debuted a new 45–page website, designed to communicate the company’s competitive advantages. The site features more than 500 fabric swatches, which are available in cut yardage through distributors or directly by the piece through manufacturer Shuford Mills. Included are casual furniture fabrics, marine and awning collections, and Outdura Trio. New content includes […]
Sunbrella embraces social media to connect with customers
July 1st, 2010
Facebook and Twitter are helping Sunbrella fabrics connect with its customers in new ways. The company uses the popular social media platforms to encourage conversations with customers, consumers and fans, while offering insight into brands and products. Sunbrella can now share updates in real time. “Until recently, marketing was mostly a one-way dialogue between a […]