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IFAI Expo keynote speaker Mark Scharenbroich: “acknowledge, honor and connect” with employees and customers
October 16th, 2018
Keynote speaker Mark Scharenbroich has straightforward advice for growing a business: Make a true connection with employees and customers and positive results will follow. Scharenbroich shared his humor and motivational wisdom with a packed room at IFAI’s 2018 Expo annual meeting October 16. Rain, wind and cold outside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in […]
Textile testing for comfort
October 16th, 2018
IFAI’s Pre-Expo Conference Oct. 15 in Dallas offered a range of presentations—many of them focused on topics of particular interest in the advanced textiles area. Textile testing is one topic that will be addressed in more than one session. At the beginning of his talk yesterday on testing and evaluating fabrics’ human comfort, performance and […]
Useful social media for companies of all sizes
October 15th, 2018
Should you bother with social media? Most definitely yes, says Luke Gusman, marketing manager for Sta-Lok Inc., a longtime manufacturer of marine and architectural rigging hardware. Gusman says that no matter how large or small your company, there are five social media platforms that can increase engagement with your product or service and raise your […]
Successful multigenerational workplaces
October 15th, 2018
This is the first time in history that five distinct generations are working in a single workplace, says J. Karl Sherrill Jr., a certified risk manager with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, in his 2018 Expo session “Leading Successful Teams in a Multigenerational Workplace.” “It’s a trend affecting every business,” says Sherrill. “You have people […]
Sewing tips and tricks
October 15th, 2018
One of the trickiest things facing the sewing industry is finding qualified workers. Many new employees may be unfamiliar with the basics of sewing machine operation, says Faith Roberts, owner of Banner Canvas in Ham Lake, Minn. In her IFAI Expo session “Sewing Tips and Tricks,” Roberts points out that many young people didn’t grow […]
European Spinning Group and Thai Acrylic partner to create outdoor yarn range
October 12th, 2018
European Spinning Group (ESG) has partnered with Thai Acrylic Fibre Co. Ltd., to develop solution dyed acrylic yarns designed for outdoor applications. The yarn range is marketed under brand name ESG RA Outdoor powered by Durashine™ fibre. ESG is a specialty yarn producer for weaving and knitting fabrics for various markets and applications such as […]
Marine Fabricator magazine looking for tool ideas
October 12th, 2018
IFAI’s Marine Fabricator magazine is looking for expertise from the marine community for its new last-page feature “Fabricator Favorites.” Each issue of the magazine will ask fabricators to share a specific tip, tool, idea or technique. The topic for the January/February 2019 issue is What’s your favorite tool and why? Answers will be published (as […]
IBEX Honors 2018 Innovation Award Winners
October 10th, 2018
The 2018 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) Innovation Awards were presented to 13 winners and included three honorable mentions. The winners were selected from among dozens of entries submitted by marine trade companies. The Innovation Awards are managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judged by Boating Writers International (BWI). The winners […]
Sunbrella® debuts shade solutions at IFAI Expo
October 4th, 2018
Sunbrella® brings innovation to shade structures at IFAI Expo, October 15-18, in Dallas, Texas, demonstrating ways to make shade do more no matter what the challenge. Alongside its portfolio of shade fabrics, Sunbrella will feature textiles that elevate the design, function and customization of shade structures. This year, two new pattern additions to Sunbrella Decorative […]
New powerboat registrations up in July
October 4th, 2018
Preliminary data for July 2018 show new powerboat registrations were up 3.5 percent on a rolling 12-month year-over-year basis (R12M YOY). These new data have been updated and are currently reflected in the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) New Powerboat Registrations Report. Highlights from the report include: Cruisers, tow boats and outboard-propelled runabouts were up […]