Company News

Glen Raven donates to NC State Wilson College of Textiles’ scholarship program

September 15, 2021

Glen Raven Inc., a global textile company based near Burlington, N.C., recently donated $250,000 to the NC State Wilson College of Textiles to support the college’s Textile Pioneer Scholarship Program as well as the Dean’s Textile Innovation Fund. The first needs-based scholarship program at the Wilson College, the Textile Pioneer Scholarship Program aims to identify and recruit …

News

IFAI launches first podcast

September 14, 2021

IFAI Talking Textiles The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) recently launched IFAI Talking Textiles, a podcast hosted by the IFAI Canada and the Advanced Textiles Products divisions.   One episode will be available each month featuring interviews with members in the Canadian and advanced textile markets. “The Canada division wanted to offer content specific to …

Company News

Gaffin named Point of Rental’s Director of Development

September 10, 2021

Matt Gaffin has been named Point of Rental’s Director of Development. Gaffin is one of the original members of Point of Rental’s Essentials team, and helped to build what was then called Point of Rental Cloud. In 2019, he was named the leader of the company’s mobile development team and helped to develop a framework …

Company News

HUESKER implements first high-performance robot

September 8, 2021

The HUESKER Group, a manufacturer of technical high-performance textiles for civil engineering, agriculture, industry and lightweight construction, along with ABB, a pioneer in robotics and automation, have developed a high-performance robot used for handling and palletizing heavy yarn reels. In one of its production plants, which produces base yarn also made from 100 percent recycled …

Industry News

Drexel University seeking volunteers for e-textile focus groups

September 2, 2021

The Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC) at Drexel University is recruiting for focus groups with e-textile professionals from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and challenges in developing and integrating e-textile applications. Researchers will be conducting focus groups with designers, engineers and manufacturing experts working in the e-textiles space to better understand the challenges …

Company News

Caldwell joins Sattler Outdura

August 30, 2021

Sattler Outdura, a division of The Sattler Group, Austria, has announced the addition of Chris Caldwell as product manager for Outdura casual furniture and Sattler shade fabrics. Caldwell will be responsible for the development, analysis and management of all furniture and shade fabrics and will work closely with sales and business development to enhance Outdura’s …

Industry News

Textile recycling market outlook

August 27, 2021

According to the report “Textile Recycling Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026,” the global textile recycling market reached a value of around US$ 5 billion in 2020. The global textile recycling market is expected to exhibit moderate growth during the next five years. Textile recycling refers to the method of …

Company News

In memoriam: Wayne M. Yonce

August 25, 2021

Wayne M. Yonce, 77, of Champaign, Ill., died on August 16, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease with dementia.  Yonce owned and operated Twin City Tent and Awning for more than 50 years until his retirement in 2018. He was considered a pioneer in the industrial fabrics industry. Throughout his distinguished …

Company News

Culp Inc. leads donation drive for Haiti earthquake relief

August 23, 2021

Culp Inc., a textile company with roots in High Point, N.C.’s furniture industry, is leading a community-wide “Hands in for Haiti” donation drive to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. Culp has production facilities in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. While the earthquake occurred in another region of the country and did not result in …

Industry News

Textile global market forecast

August 20, 2021

According to the report “Textile Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030” by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global textile market is expected to grow from $594.61 billion in 2020 to $654.57 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering …

Events

Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

July 7, 2021

Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …

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. …

Feature

Stake it to the limit

August 1, 2021

Demanding tent installations call for unique anchoring solutions. by Pamela Mills-Senn When it comes to tent installs and the anchoring required to keep everything safely in place, every project should be approached with respect since even the most seemingly straightforward can turn unexpectedly vexing. But the need for exact planning, preparation and execution becomes even …

Feature

Table talk

August 1, 2021

With events and celebrations back on the calendar, new trends and demands in tables and seating have emerged.  by Maura Keller Event planners are, once again, beginning to plan. Bridal couples are evaluating tables and seating options that will “wow” attendees, and corporations are busy envisioning what their next outdoor soirees will look like. As …

Feature

Just like new: keeping rental fabrics clean

August 1, 2021

Keeping rental fabrics clean is a top priority for event companies. by Jeff Moravec Chuck Shipp, owner of Shipp Cleaning Systems and Clean a Tent, based in Conyers, Ga., knows a thing or two about how to effectively clean tents, linens and other event fabrics, but he says that knowledge came the hard way: “I’ve …

Company News

Last call for submissions: InTents Premier Product Showcase

July 27, 2021

Get your products in front of thousands of customers in the October/November 2021 issue of InTents magazine, for FREE! The deadline to submit is July 30, 2021. Showcase your company’s most valued products and get maximum exposure during a time when many organizations are making their purchasing decisions for the upcoming season. Your company should be included …

Feature Members only content

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 Members only content

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 Members only content

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 …

Company News

Glen Raven donates to NC State Wilson College of Textiles’ scholarship program

September 15, 2021

Glen Raven Inc., a global textile company based near Burlington, N.C., recently donated $250,000 to the NC State Wilson College of Textiles to support the college’s Textile Pioneer Scholarship Program as well as the Dean’s Textile Innovation Fund. The first needs-based scholarship program at the Wilson College, the Textile Pioneer Scholarship Program aims to identify and recruit …

News

IFAI launches first podcast

September 14, 2021

IFAI Talking Textiles The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) recently launched IFAI Talking Textiles, a podcast hosted by the IFAI Canada and the Advanced Textiles Products divisions.   One episode will be available each month featuring interviews with members in the Canadian and advanced textile markets. “The Canada division wanted to offer content specific to …

Company News

Gaffin named Point of Rental’s Director of Development

September 10, 2021

Matt Gaffin has been named Point of Rental’s Director of Development. Gaffin is one of the original members of Point of Rental’s Essentials team, and helped to build what was then called Point of Rental Cloud. In 2019, he was named the leader of the company’s mobile development team and helped to develop a framework …

Company News

HUESKER implements first high-performance robot

September 8, 2021

The HUESKER Group, a manufacturer of technical high-performance textiles for civil engineering, agriculture, industry and lightweight construction, along with ABB, a pioneer in robotics and automation, have developed a high-performance robot used for handling and palletizing heavy yarn reels. In one of its production plants, which produces base yarn also made from 100 percent recycled …

Industry News

Drexel University seeking volunteers for e-textile focus groups

September 2, 2021

The Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC) at Drexel University is recruiting for focus groups with e-textile professionals from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and challenges in developing and integrating e-textile applications. Researchers will be conducting focus groups with designers, engineers and manufacturing experts working in the e-textiles space to better understand the challenges …

Company News

Caldwell joins Sattler Outdura

August 30, 2021

Sattler Outdura, a division of The Sattler Group, Austria, has announced the addition of Chris Caldwell as product manager for Outdura casual furniture and Sattler shade fabrics. Caldwell will be responsible for the development, analysis and management of all furniture and shade fabrics and will work closely with sales and business development to enhance Outdura’s …

Industry News

Textile recycling market outlook

August 27, 2021

According to the report “Textile Recycling Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026,” the global textile recycling market reached a value of around US$ 5 billion in 2020. The global textile recycling market is expected to exhibit moderate growth during the next five years. Textile recycling refers to the method of …

Company News

In memoriam: Wayne M. Yonce

August 25, 2021

Wayne M. Yonce, 77, of Champaign, Ill., died on August 16, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease with dementia.  Yonce owned and operated Twin City Tent and Awning for more than 50 years until his retirement in 2018. He was considered a pioneer in the industrial fabrics industry. Throughout his distinguished …

Company News

Culp Inc. leads donation drive for Haiti earthquake relief

August 23, 2021

Culp Inc., a textile company with roots in High Point, N.C.’s furniture industry, is leading a community-wide “Hands in for Haiti” donation drive to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. Culp has production facilities in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. While the earthquake occurred in another region of the country and did not result in …

Industry News

Textile global market forecast

August 20, 2021

According to the report “Textile Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030” by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global textile market is expected to grow from $594.61 billion in 2020 to $654.57 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering …

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 …

On the Job

OSHA fines increase

August 1, 2016

New law directs U.S. Department of Labor to “catch up” penalties to inflation. Fines assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) increased by 78 percent as of Aug. 1. OSHA’s top penalty for serious violations rises from $7,000 to $12,471, and its top penalty for willful or repeated violations rises from $70,000 to …

On the Job

Collaboration yields successful code revisions

August 1, 2016

F-CAC work group is a key factor in the code revision process for tents, membrane structures and outdoor assembly events. The International Code Council (ICC) Committee Action Hearings were held in Louisville, Ky., in April. During the International Fire Code (IFC) hearings, stakeholders representing IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD), the ICC Fire Code Action Committee …

On the Job

Ballasting for safety and safety when ballasting

June 1, 2016

Learning to ballast with concrete? Follow these steps to ensure safe and efficient jobsite practices. My crew has forgotten how to use a sledgehammer. Well, not really, but it could happen. In my local tent rental market, ballasting is common. So common that the top priority for my management team has been to figure out …

Showcase

Safely packing in the people

August 1, 2021

The Twin Cities Auto Show draws more attendees than ever to a new outdoor tented venue. by Sigrid Tornquist Perhaps an auto show is the perfect event to bring a shimmer of hope and usher COVID-weary people back into the practice of safely celebrating at large gatherings. And maybe it’s an idea whose time has …

Installation Spotlight

A dino-mite installation

August 1, 2021

Sandone Productions Inc. helps to create an immersive experience for Jurassic World fans. Sandone Productions Inc., a Dallas, Texas-based full-service event company that specializes in tents and awnings, was recently contacted by a client about a project of brachiosaurus-sized proportions—literally. NBC/Universal Studios needed a structure for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, an eight-month interactive exhibit located …

Inspired!

Inspired! Clear-top elegance

August 1, 2021

This November wedding reception took place at the Howey Mansion, a historic home in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. Rentaland Tents and Events of Orlando, Fla., provided leg drapes, market lighting and a magnificent 40-by-180-foot clear-top structure tent from Tent Renter’s Supply. Photo courtesy of Rudy & Marta Photography.

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 …

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 …

Inspired!

Inspired! An evening of celebration

June 1, 2021

For a January 2021 wedding, Orlando Wedding & Party Rentals, Lake Mary, Fla., supplied a 30-by-40-foot clear tent from Economy Tent International as well as tent leg drapes. The celebration took place at Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, a restored Spanish farmhouse that overlooks a golf course in the heart of Winter Park, Fla. Photo: …

Showcase

Word-of-mouth connections

April 1, 2021

A tented wedding installation in the time of COVID-19 confronts a pandemic, hot weather and communication barriers to create an event that makes the happy couple—happy. by Sigrid Tornquist Never underestimate the power of a good reputation well-earned—especially when operating an events-based company during a pandemic. When event planner JZM Events, New York, N.Y., was …

Installation Spotlight

Party Line Tent Rentals brings COVID-19 drive-through vaccination sites to its community

April 1, 2021

The race to vaccinate millions of people against the COVID-19 pandemic has been problematic in the United States. However, for people living in the New York Tri-State Area, the testing and inoculation process has gotten a little bit easier thanks to Elmsford, N.Y.-based Party Line Tent Rentals. The tent, event and production rental company has …

Inspired!

Inspired! Backyard celebration

April 1, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many tent and event rental companies have experienced an uptick in clients looking to host smaller events—baby showers, micro weddings, dinner parties—at their homes. New York Tent, Bohemia, N.Y., was contacted by a client in the Hamptons who desired a small backyard birthday party where friends could celebrate while social distancing. …

Inspired!

Inspired! Outdoor gym

December 1, 2020

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, much of California—most notably Los Angeles County—has not been able to break out of the “Tier One” phase of reopening as set forth by the state. Over the past several months, 24/7 Events, a party supply and rental shop based in Castaic Junction, Calif., has worked with a variety of …