Mary Lynn Langraf, left, talks to an attendee of IFAI Expo 2017.] Business owners who want to pursue government contracts shouldn’t be discouraged, says Mary Linn Langraf, senior international trade specialist for the U.S. Department of Commerce/OTEXA. Langraf presented a detailed discussion Sept. 26 at IFAI Expo 2017, emphasizing that the textile industry [...]

“Shade Sails 2.0” was one of the opening presentations Sept. 26 at IFAI Expo 2017. The presentation featured Tim Koehler, Lawrence Fabric and Metal Structures Inc., and Tim Akes, MPanel Software Solutions, who discussed two projects that could handle wind and snow loads. The first project at Southwest Illinois Community College was an outside study [...]

Winners of the 2017 Innovation Awards were announced recently at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX). The Innovation Awards honor achievement in product development in 10 areas of the marine industry. The winners were selected by a panel of judges from Boating Writers International (BWI), a professional organization consisting of writers, editors, publishers, photographers, [...]

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the total economic loss from hurricane boat damage won’t be known for months, according to Scott Croft, spokesperson for Boat Owners Association of the United States, or BoatUS, an advocacy group for recreational boaters. The largest concentration of damaged boats and docks from Hurricane Irma is expected to [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) New Powerboat Registrations Report has been updated through July 2017, and advance data show new powerboat registrations were up 6.1 percent year-over-year for the rolling twelve-month period through July. Highlights from the report include: All boat segments were up through July. Growth in registrations was led by the following [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) will assist and continue to share news and tips for businesses impacted by hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Resources and tools for businesses and individuals in regions impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are being coordinated by FEMA here. A list of key NMMA staff contacts can be [...]

After speaking with vendors and service providers, and with no damage to the Tampa Convention Center or surrounding hotels following Hurricane Irma, the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) will go on as scheduled September 19 - 21. All hotel room blocks and reservations remain unchanged, as do the pre-event workshops on Monday, September 18, and [...]

The MFA Awards are now open for entries! MFA members are being notified in advance of non-member industry professionals. Submit your best fabrication projects for an opportunity to win a Fabrication Excellence Award. Participation is simple, so submit your projects today! The deadline to submit projects will be November 30, 2017. No exceptions. Fabrication Excellence [...]

SADIRA Marine Products will be launching SADIRA Teak Shampoo. The company says it removes tough stains from teak and exotic woods including coffee, wine, blood and oil. The 100 percent biodegradable shampoo is safe and gentle enough for regular use on boat decks and wood furniture. Despite its ability to clean tough stains, the company [...]

Safety Components has named Erich Schwieterman to its sales and marketing development team. In his new role, Schwieterman is responsible for sales and promotion of the company's award-winning WeatherMAX and BreakWater X performance fabrics in the marine, RV, automotive and aviation markets. Schwieterman has 12 years of experience working with outdoor fabrics. Most recently, he [...]