The term “excellence” is frequently used to describe the qualities of being superb, first rate and exquisite. Whether or not your projects reach a state of “excellence” (as you describe it for yourself), attempting to reach it is a worthy goal. But this attempt is often thwarted by the common enemies of excellence: fatigue, overwork, [...]

The Advanced Textile Association’s annual State of the Industry survey shows that price pressures have eased somewhat, and inflation and labor are still the top concerns for most respondents. More than 120 respondents took the survey, representing a variety of markets. The largest segments were end-product manufacturers at 34%, suppliers at more than 16%, engineering/architecture/design [...]

The Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) provides resources and programs for marine fabricators and establishes standards of excellence for business practices, products and craftsmanship. The MFA is a division of the Advanced Textiles Association, formerly known as IFAI. Join the only trade association today that represents the entire specialty fabrics and advanced textiles industry in the [...]

All calendar events are subject to change. Please check websites for updated information. Sept. 24–26, 2024Advanced Textiles Expo 2024 Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim, Calif.advancedtextilesexpo.com Oct. 17–18, 2024MFA Southeast Regional Workshop Great Lakes Boat TopsVonore, Tenn.marine.textiles.org/marineworkshops Nov. 15–16, 2024MFA Great Lakes Regional Workshop Marine Tops UnlimitedOmro, Wis.marine.textiles.org/marineworkshops Jan. 9–11, 2025Marine Fabricators Conference Omni Corpus Christi HotelCorpus Christi, Texastextiles.org/marineconference

The characteristic feature of 100% solution-dyed acrylic LUMERA Leaf is the smooth surface created by combining staple fiber in the warp and Clean Brilliant Acrylic (CBA) yarn in the weft. The result is a smoother and denser fabric structure that makes colors shine brighter and improves the fabric’s self-cleaning effect, ensuring its durability.  sattler.com

skai® Toronto EN with staynu® technology is a high-quality upholstery material for many applications, especially in the hospitality industry. Highly stain-resistant and very easy to clean, the fabric retains an elegant leather appearance for a long time regardless of wear and tear. Dirt, bacteria and viruses can be easily removed, and even very stubborn stains [...]

With its strength, cleanability, UV protection and a seven-year warranty, the new MarineTyte® Banyan Lite offers yachting protection with workability and versatility. It’s a lighter-weight version of MarineTyte Banyan commercial-grade composite PVC and is available in 59-inch and 80-inch widths. Works well for enclosures, chair covers, table covers, equipment covers and sunflys.  miamicorp.com

Enduratex has added four new patterns available in its ChromaCool™ Sonar product line: Monitor (pebble grain), Compass (faux-perf), Triton (Surrey fabric grain) and Niagara (twill). ChromaCool Sonar keeps coated fabrics cooler over an extended period, which is especially useful when using darker colors in outdoor or marine applications. Each pattern comes in 13 colors.  enduratex.com

The chief benefits of HSXV Vectran® Hybrid Sailcloth lie in its strength, durability and performance. The incorporation of Vectran yarns in both warp and fill directions makes it incredibly strong. The UV protection provided by the Bainbridge finishing process shields the cloth from harmful UV rays, ensuring longevity. bainbridgeintusa.com

Trivantage recently launched the Seamstick Taper, a tool that makes it easy to apply ¼-inch seam tape to the edges of many different sizes of zippers, webbing and trim. Designed by a fabricator, this tool makes quick work of a seam tape application, providing placement on one or both edges with no bleed over. It’s [...]