In the latest Forecast on U.S. Boat Building Production from ITR Economics, growth in boat building production is expected to be constrained through 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021, turn up in mid-2021, and hold steady through 2023, according to reporting by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The latest ITR forecast for [...]

How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie [...]

The second week of IFAI’s Virtual Expo 2020 advanced textiles educational sessions began with a presentation that illustrated the importance of collaboration. “Smart textiles for healthcare and wellbeing: a collaborative approach” had three presenters speaking from different perspectives, but with one, unified message about reaching across geographical distance and areas of expertise to create successful [...]

During IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, Jeff Sponseller, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Miller Weldmaster, led a campfire session titled “How to Select the Correct Welding Technology for Your Business.” “Essentially a good weld means that the fabric will tear before the weld does,” says Sponseller. Many types of different materials can be [...]

The Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Board and Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) announced today that the 2021 Marine Fabricators Conference, which was to be held in New Orleans in January 2021, has been cancelled. The MFA Board and IFAI leadership staff made the decision to cancel the in-person event based on the continuing COVID-19 pandemic [...]

Wildfires, hurricanes, a pandemic and civil unrest have wreaked plenty of chaos on the commercial insurance market in 2020. Steve Christenson, with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, offered guidance to business owners Nov. 9 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. “The business insurance market has been going through several changes this year,” says Christenson, with U.S. [...]

IFAI Virtual Expo announced the Show Stopper winners for the year, including the most popular products in the virtual exhibit halls. The ninth annual Show Stopper competition was designed to showcase the best of the best in the industry, from fabrics, equipment and chemicals to hardware and accessories.  Designed to recognize the most popular new [...]

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) recently announced the winners of the 2020 IFF Innovation Award. The IFF Innovation Award encourages companies around the globe to weave tomorrow’s ideas into the fabrics of today. The first-place winner was awarded to Propel LLC for their project “Propel LLC Smart Integrated Shirt”.  Propel’s U.S. Navy funded smart shirt [...]

Registration is now open for The Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Marine Workshop being held Feb. 18–19, 2021, at the Sheraton Jacksonville Hotel in Jacksonville, Fla. Co-located with the Fabricators Conference and Showcase, the MFA Marine Workshop 2021 offers hands-on training and marine fabrication education, networking opportunities with like-minded business owners, and opportunities to solve manufacturing [...]

Thinking about selling your business—either to an outside party or the next generation? Then it’s time to start considering how your equipment and processes fit into your succession plan. Jonathan Palmer, the second-generation owner and CEO of equipment supplier Autometrix, and Autometrix director of global sales Truy Pham, led an educational session at IFAI Virtual [...]