While new boat sales were up for the first quarter of 2010, one month later, at the end of April, year-to-date new boat sales were down 6.8 percent from last year, based on the average dealer tracked by Spader Business Management. The report did include several positive indicators. New boat inventory levels at the end [...]

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, along with CNN’s Randi Kaye, toured the oil spill-affected estuaries of Grand Terre aboard the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries newest patrol boat, the 40 Fearless. Manufactured by Metal Shark Boats in Jeanerette, La., a company specializing in commercial and military-grade aluminum boats, the patrol boat is specifically designed to withstand [...]

Contender UK announced that it is now distributing the Q-SNAP fastener in the United Kingdom. This innovative fastener combines a secured connection that won’t pop loose with a lever action to tension the cover. Made entirely from marine-grade 316 stainless steel, it was developed for boat covers, marine covers and spray hoods. The cap is [...]

Centek Industries, a manufacturer of custom marine exhaust systems, released a new downloadable catalog on the company’s website. The catalog features new products, such as thruster tunnels and ANSI flanges, as well as worksheets where customers can provide information to company engineers. The website highlights the company’s line of 14,000 products.

A growing number of foam manufacturers are offering flexible polyurethane foams (FPF) that meet the stringent guidelines established by the voluntary CertiPUR-US program. The program offers testing, analysis and certification standards for emissions, content and durability for foam used in upholstered furniture and bedding. To achieve certification, foams undergo laboratory examinations including tests for VOCs [...]

Textile manufacturers are able to obtain immediate on-site, no-cost materials analyses of suitability for finishing, marking and other detailing with laser die cutting from Spartanics Laser Die Cutting Materials Applications Laboratory engineers. The mobile laboratory, which will be attending a series of worldwide trade events in the coming year, will provide a detailed engineering analysis [...]

As a producer of multi-filament polyester and nylon textured yarns, Unifi Inc., Greensboro, N.C., has positioned itself as a leader in sustainability and green initiatives. The company reinforced its reputation in June when it invested in two new projects focused on recycling and biomass energy. The recycled chip used to make Unifi’s Repreve polyester fibers [...]

In its 2009 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reported that an estimated $30.8 billion was generated in boating sales and services in 2009, a decrease of nine percent from 2008. The abstract also highlights boating sales and participation data compiled on behalf of the recreational boating industry throughout calendar year [...]

Sta-Kleen from the Mitchell Group is an erasable urethane that withstands stains, drips, marks and drops, and stays like new for the life of the furniture. A proprietary bonding process cross-links a stain shield into the upholstery. Sta-Kleen resists marks like pen and permanent marker that can ruin other fabrics. SOURCE Sta-Kleen

Silvertex is an antifungal, anti-stain and abrasion-resistant line of upholstery vinyl available from Spradling. The vinyl is made out of 100-percent polyester and features Silverguard technology, which uses silver ions to defend against bacteria, mold and other micro-organisms and is released as needed in the presence of moisture. Silvertex is available in 25 colors. SOURCE [...]