October 2018

  • Published On: October 16, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 16, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 15, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 15, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 15, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 12, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 12, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 10, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 4, 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 [...]

  • Published On: October 4, 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 [...]