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IFAI news
IFAI launches online community CONNECT
June 18, 2021
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has launched CONNECT by IFAI, an online community that will facilitate valuable networking among industry peers and support industry-wide conversations. “One of many things the last year has taught us is the importance of connection and networking. With this in mind, we’re excited to launch our newest IFAI member benefit, CONNECT …
Company News
Rental Equipment Investment Corp. acquires Rent Me Rentals
June 14, 2021
Rental Equipment Investment Corp. (REIC) has purchased all the assets and business of Rent Me Rentals Inc. (RMR), a two-location equipment sales and rental company based in Cle Elum, Wash., with an additional location in Yakima, Wash. REIC is an equipment rental holding company which now has 30 locations in eight states. “RMR is an …
Company News
AATCC launches call for presentations for Digital Textile Printing Conference
June 10, 2021
Presentation topics are now being accepted for the December 2021 Digital Textile Printing Conference co-sponsored by AATCC and PRINTING United Alliance. Now in its sixth consecutive year, the conference delivers relevant, cutting edge content. The 2021 conference program will focus on solutions-based topics in the following areas: Global market conditions and economic forecasts for digital …
Company News
FleetUp and Alert partner to provide new software integration
June 7, 2021
FleetUp and Alert have partnered to improve communication between rental companies and customers. FleetUp integrates into Alert’s software to automate the most important parts of the delivery process, giving dispatch, drivers and customers real-time shipment GPS locations and ETAs. “We’re delighted to partner with FleetUp to bring even more value to Alert’s Dispatcher Dashboard. Our …
Profile
Game-changing service
June 1, 2021
Customer service, collaboration and creativity spell success. by Cathy Broberg It turns out that tailgating can be a precursor to more than just a fun afternoon or a successful game on the field. Sometimes it can be the start to growing a business. That was the case for Tailgate Guys LLC, which started with a …
Editorial
Weddings are back
June 1, 2021
According to “The Knot 2020 Real Weddings Study [COVID-19 Edition],” 2021 is anticipated to be one of the busiest years on record for weddings. Of the 7,600 couples surveyed for the study, 47% of those who planned to wed in 2020 adjusted their schedules to instead say their “I dos” in 2021 or later. And, …
Feature
In-demand wedding decor
June 1, 2021
As more consumers turn to tents for outdoor soirees, the decor elements that enhance tent structures are getting special attention. by Maura Keller Gone are the days when consumers simply installed a plain white tent for a wedding or event, set up drab tables and chairs with little thought about the overall tent experience. Today’s …
News
Perspective: Scott Sutherland, Olympic Tent/Tacoma Tent & Awning
June 1, 2021
In the summer of 2020, Scott Sutherland was elated with record-shattering sales, but he was also in a situation he had never imagined: out of aluminum, out of fabric, out of nearly every component used to make tents. The pandemic roller coaster had sent the event tent industry from a bust to a boom, with …
Installation Spotlight
Putting the “art” in state-of-the-art
June 1, 2021
Rainier Tent designs and installs a custom tent for a historic museum. The Mercer Museum, a 6-story concrete castle located in Doylestown, Penn., is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and home to more than 40,000 early American artifacts. From horse-drawn carriages and a Conestoga wagon to thousands of pre-Industrial tools, the museum is visited …
Feature
The return of “I do”
June 1, 2021
As the country begins to reopen, weddings are back on the schedule. by Pamela Mills-Senn Although the guest counts are smaller compared to pre-pandemic times, the tent and event rental industry and event planners are seeing reasons to celebrate. As the misery of 2020 begins receding in the rearview mirror, tent and event rental companies …
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Expo News
Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021
May 10, 2021
Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …
Expo News
Standard for active illumination developed in Europe
November 16, 2020
In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries. Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …
Expo News
Rapid prototyping = faster market launch
November 16, 2020
A presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, titled, “Rapid Prototyping and Textile Product Development” urged attendees to use “sticks and glue … whatever method you have to get your idea out there.” The presenter, Dr. Andre West, director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University, may not have meant …
Expo News
Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE
November 13, 2020
The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …
Expo News
The larger issues in respiratory protection
November 12, 2020
Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …
Expo News
Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM
November 11, 2020
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 …
Expo News
Partnerships in smart textile products
November 11, 2020
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 …
Expo News
Welding technology for your business
November 11, 2020
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 …
Expo News
Guidance offered in commercial insurance market
November 10, 2020
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. …
Expo News
How to make your business attractive to a buyer
November 6, 2020
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 …
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Feature
The return of “I do”
June 1, 2021
As the country begins to reopen, weddings are back on the schedule. by Pamela Mills-Senn Although the guest counts are smaller compared to pre-pandemic times, the tent and event rental industry and event planners are seeing reasons to celebrate. As the misery of 2020 begins receding in the rearview mirror, tent and event rental companies …
Feature
Beat the heat
June 1, 2021
As summer temperatures rise, a climate-controlled tented environment will keep the party cool. by Jeff Moravec It’s easy to understand why the use of air conditioning has been increasingly common for weddings and other tented events. “Most people have been to that wedding without air conditioning where it was so hot you don’t remember anything …
Feature
In-demand wedding decor
June 1, 2021
As more consumers turn to tents for outdoor soirees, the decor elements that enhance tent structures are getting special attention. by Maura Keller Gone are the days when consumers simply installed a plain white tent for a wedding or event, set up drab tables and chairs with little thought about the overall tent experience. Today’s …
Feature
Members only content
Software solutions
April 1, 2021
As choices grow and features multiply, tent companies have more software options than ever. by Jeff Moravec Information is power” when it comes to running the daily operations of an event rentals business, says Jennifer Rodriguez, general manager of Marianne’s Rentals in Oklahoma City, Okla. However, as Rodriguez clarifies, that’s only true if a company …
Feature
Members only content
Women, tents and leadership
April 1, 2021
Five women leading different segments of the industry weigh in on what inspires them and how to forge a successful career in the tent and event industry. by Sigrid Tornquist Women have always played a vital part in the tent industry. They were part of family shops manufacturing and selling tents. They were sewers. They …
Feature
Members only content
To the rescue: tenting for disasters
April 1, 2021
When disasters strike, tent and event rental companies are ready to help. by Pamela Mills-Senn In mid-October 2019, as wildfires raged along the West Coast, it seemed to Donny Vasquez, co-owner of Made in the Shade Tent Rentals Inc., as if all of California was aflame. Located in West Sacramento, hours from the areas hardest …
Feature
Members only content
Tenting for the pandemic
December 1, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the tent industry finds new ways to survive. by Jeff Moravec There are all manner of seasonal ebbs and flows in the tent rental industry, but perhaps none as anticipated as the annual ramp-up to spring, summer and fall events. Staff is hired, inventory is refreshed and contracts are checked. Each …
Feature
2020 InTents’ Premier Product Showcase Part 2
December 1, 2020
It’s all about fast installation, more customization, easy handling and style—the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the InTents annual Premier Product Showcase, we asked our contributors to send us information about their latest products and services that help save tent rental companies time and labor, perform safer installations, and turn a …
Feature
Members only content
InTents “5 under 40”
December 1, 2020
An in-depth look at five young professionals who are helping the tenting industry move toward an innovative and vital future. by Pamela Mills-Senn You can’t discount the contribution of folks who have spent decades in the tenting industry, advancing it through innovation and hard work. At the same time, those at the start of their …
Feature
Members only content
Conduct thorough and proper site evaluations to avoid the unexpected
October 1, 2020
by Pamela Mills-Senn There’s a time and a place for surprises—a tent install isn’t one of them. Encounter the unexpected on one of these projects and you risk losing time, money and potentially a customer, not to mention incurring on-the-job injuries. Site evaluations offer the best protection against such unhappy outcomes. Although the unanticipated can …
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IFAI news
IFAI launches online community CONNECT
June 18, 2021
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has launched CONNECT by IFAI, an online community that will facilitate valuable networking among industry peers and support industry-wide conversations. “One of many things the last year has taught us is the importance of connection and networking. With this in mind, we’re excited to launch our newest IFAI member benefit, CONNECT …
Company News
Rental Equipment Investment Corp. acquires Rent Me Rentals
June 14, 2021
Rental Equipment Investment Corp. (REIC) has purchased all the assets and business of Rent Me Rentals Inc. (RMR), a two-location equipment sales and rental company based in Cle Elum, Wash., with an additional location in Yakima, Wash. REIC is an equipment rental holding company which now has 30 locations in eight states. “RMR is an …
Company News
AATCC launches call for presentations for Digital Textile Printing Conference
June 10, 2021
Presentation topics are now being accepted for the December 2021 Digital Textile Printing Conference co-sponsored by AATCC and PRINTING United Alliance. Now in its sixth consecutive year, the conference delivers relevant, cutting edge content. The 2021 conference program will focus on solutions-based topics in the following areas: Global market conditions and economic forecasts for digital …
Company News
FleetUp and Alert partner to provide new software integration
June 7, 2021
FleetUp and Alert have partnered to improve communication between rental companies and customers. FleetUp integrates into Alert’s software to automate the most important parts of the delivery process, giving dispatch, drivers and customers real-time shipment GPS locations and ETAs. “We’re delighted to partner with FleetUp to bring even more value to Alert’s Dispatcher Dashboard. Our …
Profile
Game-changing service
June 1, 2021
Customer service, collaboration and creativity spell success. by Cathy Broberg It turns out that tailgating can be a precursor to more than just a fun afternoon or a successful game on the field. Sometimes it can be the start to growing a business. That was the case for Tailgate Guys LLC, which started with a …
Showcase
Let there be lights
June 1, 2021
From hanging lamps to chandeliers, Milestone Event Rental adds elegance to a formal farm wedding. Imagine a Midwest landscape in autumn. Rolling golden cornfields, lush green grass, shade trees ablaze with yellow, orange and red foliage—this was to be the scenic backdrop for a September wedding in Iowa. Toward the end of 2018, Milestone …
News
Perspective: Scott Sutherland, Olympic Tent/Tacoma Tent & Awning
June 1, 2021
In the summer of 2020, Scott Sutherland was elated with record-shattering sales, but he was also in a situation he had never imagined: out of aluminum, out of fabric, out of nearly every component used to make tents. The pandemic roller coaster had sent the event tent industry from a bust to a boom, with …
Events
Women in Textiles Summit recap
June 1, 2021
Inspiring, engaging, empowering, collaborative and fun are just a few of the words that participants used to describe IFAI’s recent Women in Textiles Summit. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event for established and emerging leaders took place March 4–5, 2021, on a virtual platform with the enthusiastic participation of more than 100 attendees. …
Installation Spotlight
Putting the “art” in state-of-the-art
June 1, 2021
Rainier Tent designs and installs a custom tent for a historic museum. The Mercer Museum, a 6-story concrete castle located in Doylestown, Penn., is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and home to more than 40,000 early American artifacts. From horse-drawn carriages and a Conestoga wagon to thousands of pre-Industrial tools, the museum is visited …
Company News
Chair-man Mills Partners with Regal Tents & Structures
May 19, 2021
Advanced Tent Rental, a division of Chair-man Mills Corp., has merged with Regal Tents & Structures. The merger combines two leading tent rental companies in Ontario, Canada. “Regal is a leading sports, entertainment and industrial tent company and specializes in large, complex marquee events,” says Chair-man Mills’ president and CEO, Chris Doyle. “Our customers will benefit from …
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COVID-19
Recommendation for cleaning COVID-19 related tents
April 23, 2020
Brought to you by the Tent Rental Division The COVID-19 pandemic has created concerns with how to successfully disinfect and sterilize tent fabrics, framework, fittings, webs, ratchets, poles and anchoring devices including ballasts—basically any item or piece of equipment that may be on the job site. The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of Industrial Fabrics Association International …
Safety & Codes
Opioids and your workplace
December 1, 2019
A new toolkit from the National Safety Council aims to help employers and employees understand how opioid use affects the workplace—and what to do about it. For the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash. The numbers don’t …
Industry News
Working safely in hot weather
July 18, 2019
A new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alert offers information and resources to protect workers from heat-related illness when performing activities in high temperatures and humid conditions. Symptoms of heat-related illness include fainting, dizziness, nausea and muscle spasms. Keep workers safe by following these simple safety practices: Provide water, frequent rest breaks and shade. …
Industry News
Join the National Safety Stand-Down May 6−10
May 1, 2019
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in the U.S. in 2017 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data). The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country to stop fall fatalities and injuries. What …
On the Job
Codes set for adoption
December 1, 2016
Code revision process reaches final voting stage. A proposal to regulate outdoor events regardless of the presence of tents or special event structures was approved at the Public Comment Hearing of the International Code Committee (ICC) in October. This proposal (F310-16), submitted by the Fire Code Action Committee, had been disapproved at the code committee’s …
On the Job
Site survey equals site safety
December 1, 2016
A thorough site survey communicates event needs and flags potential safety issues. Ensuring the safety of tented event participants and the tent installation crew starts at the beginning of the job. Before a single rental item is loaded onto the truck, a site survey should be completed by a qualified professional with set-up experience. A …
On the Job
TopTec training goes on the road
December 1, 2016
TopTec Event Tents, Moore, S.C., is taking its long running tent installation and safety training program on the road in 2017. The first Tent School On The Road session will be held at Rent-E-Quip in Colonial Heights, Va., March 7–8. “Our goal was to make Tent School more accessible to our customers across the United …
On the Job
Tent inspections before events ensure safety
October 1, 2016
Inspections will help avoid disaster and add years to the life of a tent. The tent is up and the event is underway. But there may still be work to be done. Especially for installations that will be up for any length of time, inspection and maintenance are top priorities for keeping the tent as …
On the Job
IFAI’s Tent Rental Division works toward standard
October 1, 2016
IFAI’s Tent Rental Division looks to write an industry standard for tent anchorage. With final voting on tent-related code revisions for the 2018 Model Code set for late October, IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) is looking ahead to writing an industry standard that could be taken up in the 2021 code cycle. “As the 2018 …
On the Job
Moving on up with multiple locations
August 1, 2016
Expanding to multiple locations offers numerous benefits, if the timing is right and both will and cash flow are strong. Delores Crum didn’t see that she had a choice. Sure, her party, tent and wedding rental store in south Austin, Texas, opened in 2000, was doing well. But up in north Austin, another rental company …
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Projects
Fire-retardant clear vinyl
June 1, 2019
The Visilite™ collection of four clear vinyl options includes Visilite FR, a clear vinyl that passes the NFPA-701 Test Method 2 for fire resistance. The collection also includes double polished, extruded and interleaf styles. The vinyl offers lasting visual clarity and durability for a variety of outdoor applications including tents, patio and marine enclosures, car …
Feature
Getting educated on chair and tent rental for graduations
May 17, 2019
College and university campuses present myriad challenges when it comes to setting up chairs and installing tents for commencement ceremonies. By Pamela Mills-Senn The graduation season provides lucrative opportunities for tent and event rental companies, along with headaches that can try the steeliest of nerves. Take college and university graduation ceremonies, which often require massive …
Event Production
Museum of the American Revolution inspires with a clear top tent
June 1, 2017
For the April grand opening gala of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pa., EventQuip of Lansdale, Pa., installed a 12-by-76-meter Losberger P7 profile with a clear top for the gala dinner tent, a 9-by-6-meter Losberger P7 with a white top for the entrance tent, a 9-by-55-foot clear-top Aztec marquee for building access, …
Project Briefs
Long distance sprint
December 1, 2016
O’Neil Tent Co. installs several structures in a short timeframe 250+ feet from the unloading zone. When Ohio State University needed tenting structures for its fundraising campaign, “But for Ohio State,” an event that raises funds for students to study abroad, it called on O’Neil Tent Co., Columbus, Ohio, to make it happen. O’Neil Tent …
Event Production
Decadent masterpiece
December 1, 2016
A clear tent becomes a speakeasy with “The Great Gatsby” in every detail. Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby may have been left off the guest list, but every other detail of a “Great Gatsby”-themed birthday party under a tent recalled the glitter and grandeur of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece. Inspired by the client’s home and …
Event Production
Building a city
December 1, 2016
Classic Event and Tent Rentals prepared a scenic, suburban golf course for an invasion of hundreds of thousands of fans. When Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., was awarded the 2016 Ryder Cup, planners knew a temporary city would be needed to accommodate the anticipated 250,000 spectators who would descend on the picturesque course …
Event Production
Anything’s possible
December 1, 2016
Over the Top Tents and Events makes events happen in the wild and magnificent Alaska terrain. The largest state in the union is home to breathtaking landscapes. The mountains, rivers and glaciers provide stunning backdrops for unforgettable events—but along with the wild, untamed beauty of Alaska comes unpredictable climates and challenging accessibility for companies like …
Event Production
Creating A Distinctive Atmosphere for Multiple Events Using One Tent
October 28, 2016
There is a reason why so many tented events seem to be cookie-cutter productions. There are people to please and placate, funds to be allocated, tent design and layout to be developed, and complex lighting and flooring elements to be installed. It is no wonder that so many people end up with the same event …
Event Production
Installing a structure on a scaffold
October 1, 2016
New York Tent installs a rooftop structure that couldn’t be attached to the roof. When Citnalta Construction Corp. approached Long Island-based New York Tent to cover a roof that it needed to rip off and replace, the construction firm had one big caveat: because of the work that had to be done, the tent couldn’t …
Event Production
Amazon Originals interactive experience at Comic-Con
October 1, 2016
Choura Events creates an Amazon Originals interactive experience for Comic-Con enthusiasts. Comic-Con junkies are the tastemakers of tomorrow,” actress Kristen Bell once said—and she’s not alone in her enthusiasm for the event that celebrates comic books and other aspects of popular arts, such as films and science fiction/fantasy literature. Comic-Con International takes place each year …
