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Expo News
IFAI Expo and R+T Show Organizer, Messe Stuttgart, to Co-locate Trade Shows Starting in 2021
September 21, 2020
ROSEVILLE, MN—Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and Messe Stuttgart, organizers of R+T in Stuttgart, Germany; R+T Turkey in Istanbul, Turkey; R+T Asia in Shanghai, China and R+T South America in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are pleased to announce that they will co-locate IFAI Expo with Messe Stuttgart’s new U.S. show named Sun Shading Expo North America …
People
Wall joins New York Tent
September 18, 2020
New York Tent has welcomed Diane Wall as its new vice president of sales and marketing. Wall, formerly with Florida-based Tentlogix, will be responsible for the continued growth of New York Tent as the leader in tenting and temporary structures in the New York Metro region and beyond. In conjunction with Wall’s hiring, New York Tent has promoted Matthew Koprowski to vice president of operations. As a seven-year veteran of the company, Koprowski has been instrumental in our recent success and growing the operations team.
Company News
Granite Industries releases Party Pods
September 15, 2020
Granite Industries has released Party Pods, a new special event product designed specifically for socially distanced events. The Standard Pod Package includes three 8-foot fence panels and the Plus Pod Package adds Dura-Trac™ flooring. In the VIP Pod Package, each frame is constructed from steel scaffolding panels on four base plates for a sturdy and …
Industry News
APPI explains energy contracts
September 3, 2020
By Kathryn Allen, APPI Energy (Editor’s note: APPI energy services are included in the membership benefit package offered by Industrial Fabrics Association International. The following information was compiled by APPI to help explain their services.) APPI Energy provides our clients a comprehensive way to reduce energy expenses and create budget certainty. Unbiased and independent, we …
Industry News
How the TRD Ballasting Tool and other IFAI safety resources have benefited the tent rental industry
August 24, 2020
The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) would like to take a moment to explain the TRD Ballasting Tool, why and how it was developed, why it produces the results that it does, and how it benefits the industry. The goal of the Ballasting Study was to determine the friction …
Company News
Pvilion awarded $1.5 million USAF contract for autonomously deployable structures
August 19, 2020
Pvilion, a market leader in fabric structure technologies, has been awarded a Phase II, $1.5 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) to deliver its rapidly deployable, flexible Hands-Off Expeditionary Tent, known by the acronym HEXT. The RSO was created to increase mission readiness …
Company News
Aggreko launches Clean Air solutions for temporary and permanent structures
August 11, 2020
Aggreko has launched Aggreko Clean Air, a multi-solution approach to quickly and cost-effectively address air quality issues for facilities that must implement health and safety measures in temporary or permanent structures where people need to gather. Formulated to help employers, community response teams and event producers meet new air quality guidelines, Aggreko Clean Air solutions …
Company News
Eight promotions announced at Glen Raven
August 7, 2020
Glen Raven Inc., has announced the promotion of eight executives in its Technical Fabrics operating division. The moves will support the continued growth of its diverse business segments, particularly its GlenGuard brand of high-performance flame-resistant fabric. Glen Raven Technical Fabrics creates technical solutions that help keep people safe from military and protective work wear to …
Products
Germ-fighting hand sanitizer stand
August 1, 2020
McCarthy Fabrication’s hand sanitizer stand is suitable for high traffic areas and comes fully assembled. Portable or permanent, the aluminum station ships at 11 pounds. Two holes (64 mm on center) on top of the vertical plate allow certain hand sanitizer pumps to be mounted or 3-inch strips of double-sided adhesive tape can be used …
Inspired!
Inspired outdoor seating
August 1, 2020
When the governor of Illinois announced in May that restaurants in the state could reopen for outside dining if able to meet COVID-19 safety regulations, Blue Peak Tents, Batavia, Ill., was bombarded by phone calls from restaurants looking for tents to cover parking lots and patios. This particular project was for a Naperville, Ill.-based wine …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
Expo News
IFAI Expo and R+T Show Organizer, Messe Stuttgart, to Co-locate Trade Shows Starting in 2021
September 21, 2020
ROSEVILLE, MN—Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and Messe Stuttgart, organizers of R+T in Stuttgart, Germany; R+T Turkey in Istanbul, Turkey; R+T Asia in Shanghai, China and R+T South America in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are pleased to announce that they will co-locate IFAI Expo with Messe Stuttgart’s new U.S. show named Sun Shading Expo North America …
Expo News
Registration opens for IFAI Expo
June 15, 2020
IFAI Expo Nov. 3–6, 2020 in Indianapolis, Ind., will mark the event’s 100th anniversary. IFAI has announced that it is moving forward as planned, and registration is now open. Safety protocols are in place and will be coordinated with host hotels and the Indiana Convention Center (ICC). The registration area at IFAI Expo will be …
Company News
IFAI president responds to Coronavirus, adjusts upcoming events
March 17, 2020
As concern over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) grows, I want all IFAI members to know we are closely monitoring developments and following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We will follow their recommendations to keep our employees, their families and our members healthy and safe. With this in …
Awards
IFAI’s 2019 Outstanding Volunteer Awards
October 8, 2019
At this year’s annual meeting during IFAI Expo 2019, IFAI presented the Outstanding Volunteer Awards, recognizing members who generously gave of their time to serve on different boards, task forces and committees, judged competitions and provided education and leadership to others in the industry. This year’s winners: Amy Bircher, president, MMI Textiles Inc. Jonathan Chakales, …
Expo News
2019 Chairman’s Award winner: Scott Campbell, Rainier Industries
October 8, 2019
The Chairman’s Award (originally, the President’s Award) is an honor bestowed by the chairman of IFAI to an individual that has had an extraordinary and meaningful impact on the association. It is rarely given, and awarded at the sole discretion of the IFAI chairman. At IFAI’s annual meeting at IFAI Expo 2019, IFAI chairman Steve …
Expo News
Award breakfast transforms into a networking event
October 4, 2019
Keynote speaker Thom Singer hosted IFAI’s annual award ceremony October 3 at Expo 2019, continuing his message to “see people.” As Expo exhibitors and attendees entered the breakfast event, Singer encouraged people to separate from familiar colleagues and sit with new people. This year’s award ceremony was infused with an additional goal—that of networking with …
Expo News
Puerto Rico pups steal hearts at IFAI Expo 2019
October 3, 2019
Amid the latest fabrics, equipment, technology and services for the specialty fabrics industry, Lorenzo, Lilo, Lolo, and Lulo stole hearts, and, according to some dog lovers—the show—at IFAI Expo 2019 in Orlando, Fla. For this Expo, the Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) and the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando came together to promote two great causes. …
Awards
2019 Show Stoppers at IFAI Expo
October 3, 2019
All the best from Florida: Thursday morning, Oct. 3, at IFAI Expo led off with lists of winners for the year, including the most popular products on the show floor. The eighth annual Show Stopper competition was designed to showcase the best of the best in the industry, from fabrics, equipment and chemicals to services …
Expo News
Follow the right steps to successfully bid on military contracts
October 2, 2019
The U.S. government is the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, and there are enough opportunities available for everyone to participate in military contract bidding, if you follow the right steps, according to Jennifer Fennell, CPM, director of procurement for Polo Custom Products, Topeka, Kan. Fennell and Jeff Papalia, textiles program manager …
Expo News
IFAI Expo 2019 Keynote: ‘Choose people’ to make effective connections
October 2, 2019
Thom Singer, the keynote speaker at IFAI’s annual meeting on Wed., Oct. 2, at IFAI Expo, is clear about one thing: People want to do business with people they know, like and trust. And that connection won’t happen through second-hand tools offered on social media or other electronic sites. Singer, a consultant to executives and …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
Feature
How to ease the heavy burden of ballasting
August 1, 2020
Ballasting done right means going heavy, but industry-developed tools help to ease the burden. by Jeff Moravec Ballasting may seem a necessary evil in the world of tented events. All tents need to be anchored in one way or another, of course, with ballast (weight) being a common method. It requires a lot of planning, …
Feature
Maintenance practices to extend the life of your tents and equipment
August 1, 2020
by Darcy Maulsby The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” takes on new meaning in times like the current challenging business environment. When tent rental operators are counting every penny, the need to get the longest possible life out of tents and the equipment used to install them is …
Feature
Tackle difficult projects to elevate your company’s portfolio
August 1, 2020
When a complex and difficult install comes along, resist the temptation to decline. by Pamela Mills-Senn A willingness to tackle tough installs requires steely nerves, can-do attitudes, experienced and talented crews and lots of planning. But when it all comes together, challenging projects not only bring a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, they enhance a …
Feature
Members only content
Disaster shelter design competition tests engineering students
June 1, 2020
John Brown University’s disaster shelter contest challenges students to develop and demonstrate solutions for emergency scenarios. by Holly Eamon Global economic losses from natural disasters topped $232 billion last year, rounding out a decade that cost the world nearly $3 trillion, according to the 2019 Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight Annual Report published by global …
Feature
Members only content
Establishing your wedding expertise
June 1, 2020
It’s one thing to install a tent for a wedding. It’s another to create an event venue that honors a couple’s values, heritage and dreams. by Laurie F. Junker Tented weddings never go out of style. Tents are both practical and romantic, sheltering guests from the elements and providing a blank canvas for all kinds …
Feature
Members only content
Going upscale with luxury restroom trailers
June 1, 2020
As customer awareness and demand grows, luxury restroom trailers are a “must-have” inventory item for tent rental companies. by Jeff Moravec It may not be possible to determine exactly when the very first luxury restroom trailer was cobbled together, but based on conversations with manufacturers and the event companies that rent them out, it’s not …
Feature
2020 Reader’s Choice Awards: Products and services that go above and beyond
April 1, 2020
Many industry suppliers go more than the extra mile to help tent rental companies thrive—and the voters in the 2020 Reader’s Choice Awards have stories to tell about the products, services and suppliers that support them day after day, from the warehouse to the installation site. by Pamela Mills-Senn The annual Reader’s Choice Awards, launched …
Feature
Members only content
The next generation: Assuming leadership of a family tent rental business
April 1, 2020
Thinking about taking over your family’s tent rental business? Be prepared to learn every job, initiate delicate conversations, ask questions and respect the previous generation’s work. Oh, and don’t expect special treatment. by Jeff Moravec Young people entering their family’s tent rental business as a career can look forward to a sense of satisfaction and …
Feature
Members only content
The big business of music festival installations
April 1, 2020
Music festivals have become big business, and temporary structures are integral to the festival-goer experience—from small ticketing and concession tents, to custom products for high-end activations and immersive experiences, to glamping tents, where music lovers can take a break or keep the party going all night long. by Sigrid Tornquist Noise Pop. Crush. Pot …
Feature
Go big and bold with tent graphics
December 1, 2019
The latest printing technology offers better options than ever to make your clients’ tents stand out in a crowd. by Laurie F. Junker Big event tents and bold graphics go hand in hand because customers recognize the importance of branding, particularly at trade shows and public events. In these settings, custom graphics serve both logistical …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
People
Wall joins New York Tent
September 18, 2020
New York Tent has welcomed Diane Wall as its new vice president of sales and marketing. Wall, formerly with Florida-based Tentlogix, will be responsible for the continued growth of New York Tent as the leader in tenting and temporary structures in the New York Metro region and beyond. In conjunction with Wall’s hiring, New York Tent has promoted Matthew Koprowski to vice president of operations. As a seven-year veteran of the company, Koprowski has been instrumental in our recent success and growing the operations team.
Company News
Granite Industries releases Party Pods
September 15, 2020
Granite Industries has released Party Pods, a new special event product designed specifically for socially distanced events. The Standard Pod Package includes three 8-foot fence panels and the Plus Pod Package adds Dura-Trac™ flooring. In the VIP Pod Package, each frame is constructed from steel scaffolding panels on four base plates for a sturdy and …
Industry News
APPI explains energy contracts
September 3, 2020
By Kathryn Allen, APPI Energy (Editor’s note: APPI energy services are included in the membership benefit package offered by Industrial Fabrics Association International. The following information was compiled by APPI to help explain their services.) APPI Energy provides our clients a comprehensive way to reduce energy expenses and create budget certainty. Unbiased and independent, we …
Industry News
How the TRD Ballasting Tool and other IFAI safety resources have benefited the tent rental industry
August 24, 2020
The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) would like to take a moment to explain the TRD Ballasting Tool, why and how it was developed, why it produces the results that it does, and how it benefits the industry. The goal of the Ballasting Study was to determine the friction …
Company News
Pvilion awarded $1.5 million USAF contract for autonomously deployable structures
August 19, 2020
Pvilion, a market leader in fabric structure technologies, has been awarded a Phase II, $1.5 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) to deliver its rapidly deployable, flexible Hands-Off Expeditionary Tent, known by the acronym HEXT. The RSO was created to increase mission readiness …
Company News
Aggreko launches Clean Air solutions for temporary and permanent structures
August 11, 2020
Aggreko has launched Aggreko Clean Air, a multi-solution approach to quickly and cost-effectively address air quality issues for facilities that must implement health and safety measures in temporary or permanent structures where people need to gather. Formulated to help employers, community response teams and event producers meet new air quality guidelines, Aggreko Clean Air solutions …
Company News
Eight promotions announced at Glen Raven
August 7, 2020
Glen Raven Inc., has announced the promotion of eight executives in its Technical Fabrics operating division. The moves will support the continued growth of its diverse business segments, particularly its GlenGuard brand of high-performance flame-resistant fabric. Glen Raven Technical Fabrics creates technical solutions that help keep people safe from military and protective work wear to …
Showcase
Tenting supports medical facility expansions to combat COVID-19
August 1, 2020
by Sigrid Tornquist When state and federal government officials made the decision to expand medical facilities in response to the anticipated surge of COVID-19 cases, they turned to tent professionals across the country to make it happen. Among the many companies that used their expertise to help the efforts were Laurel, Md.-based Select Event Group …
News
Tent rental industry CARES Day
August 1, 2020
The tent rental industry is sponsoring a nationwide “CARES” day on Aug. 29, 2020, to show appreciation for the frontline medical workers who have supported the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The intention is to help inspire the creation of dozens if not hundreds of events nationwide. The events will be independently put together by …
Profile
A V Party Rentals: where family get-togethers happen daily
August 1, 2020
by Cathy Broberg In 1973, Pat and Roger Parr purchased a five-year-old rental company in California’s Santa Clarita Valley. Chances are, the couple could not have predicted what that transaction would lead to. More than 40 years later, A V Party Rentals (originally All Valley Rental Center) remains in the family, is led by three …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
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 …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
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 …
