These days every new employee brings a possible threat to your business, including theft, sexual harassment, physical violence, identity theft, fraud and drug use. The potential for ruinous legal actions is higher today than ever before. That’s why a background check before you hire an applicant could save your business. It’s essential that background checks [...]

The Nopkehee, a 40-foot Andreyale yacht, is being readied for the start of a full cover. I was approached by Harry Smith, marina manager of the Peninsula Yacht Club in Cornelius, N.C., to review a project that required the expertise of a custom canvas designer. The project in question was a cover for [...]

Climate-controlled mezzanine seating was created by Bill Marriott from Extreme Upholstery Designs, Charleston, S.C., for a customer who requested both heat and air conditioning for fishing trips. When a customer requests an unusual type of seating for a boat, it’s a fabrication opportunity to begin a comfortable dialogue with that client. Instead of [...]

Mike Erickson, MFC, was named to the Marine Fabricators Association Hall of Fame January 21 at the 2017 MFA Conference award banquet in Jacksonville, Fla. Erickson is the owner of Canvas Designers® Inc. and EZ2CY Inc., both based in Riviera Beach, Fla. In the early 1990s, Erickson was instrumental in the development of IFAI’s Marine [...]

The new Sunbrella® Shift Collection by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics debuts with classic designs interpreted in a contemporary fashion. The collection is comprised of six patterns that cleverly layer texture, color and pattern, fusing traditional patterns with modern styling. Fabrics in the Shift Collection meet ACT standards for use in high-traffic areas, which means they [...]

Outdura, Hudson, N.C., has named Gloria Tsocos as the company’s design manager. She joined the company in 2015 in its contract fabric division. She began her career as a fabric designer in the home furnishing and hospitality markets, and over the years she has specialized in indoor and outdoor upholstery fabrics. She served as a [...]

Phifer Inc. now offers new color options in its popular SheerWeave Style 7500 blackout range. Dual-sided options are now available in Phifer’s R21 Orient and R22 Midnight colors. The new selections are referenced as S97 Orient x2 and R99 Midnight x2 Orient and feature the same back and face color, a variation from the product [...]

Steve Toth has joined the sales management team at J. Ennis Fabrics, Plainfield, Ind. Toth will serve as the U.S. specialty regional sales manager. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the specialty products market. Starting first with The Astrup Company (now Trivantage®) in 1984, Toth eventually took on various vice-presidency roles [...]

Iosso Products, Elk Grove, Ill., received an Excellence in Sustainability award at the Elk Grove Manufacturers Expo in October 2016. The award acknowledges Iosso’s bio-based formulas, which are alternatives to petroleum-based products. The products carry the USDA Certified Bio-based label, verifying that the amount of renewable bio-based ingredients in the products meet or exceed prescribed [...]

Palm Harbor has a leather-like look with a weave embossed pattern. Its topcoat, Forbid SRT, increases stain resistance while preserving the integrity of the fabric luster and softness of the faux leather textile. The collection is available in 15 SKUs and is recommended for use in marine, residential, hospitality, health care and restaurant seating. www.enduratex.com