Industry News

ARA Foundation to award $128,500 in scholarships

January 20, 2022

Each year, the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation awards numerous scholarships in effort to attract talent to the equipment and event rental industry. For the 2022-2023 academic year, $128,500 will be available to students seeking higher education through trade schools, universities and community colleges. In total, 66 individual scholarships are available with amounts ranging from …

IFAI news

Tent Expo this week in Daytona Beach

January 18, 2022

Tent Expo 2022 kicks off today in Daytona Beach as the tent rental gathers to celebrate the industry in-person. Tent Expo is the biggest show of its kind in North America for the tent rental and supply industry. Every two years, hundreds of CEOs, colleagues, installer and suppliers come together to network, learn, stretch their …

IFAI news

Latest episode of Talking Textiles features Sollertia’s Claude Le Bel

January 17, 2022

The latest episode of IFAI’s Talking Textiles podcast is now available. From the circus biz to the fabric biz, learn how Canadian architectural textile firm Sollertia built its business. Sollertia has taken on and completed some of the most ambitious fabric structure projects in the country.  In this episode, “If You Build It, They Will Come,” …

IFAI news

Ask Me Anything with IFAI chair Amy Bircher January 31

January 13, 2022

The Industrial Fabrics Association International will be hosting an “Ask Me Anything” with new IFAI board chair Amy Bircher. The event will take place from 2 to 3pm EST, Monday, January 31, in CONNECT by IFAI’s Open Forum. Bircher will be answering member questions about the future of IFAI and challenges currently facing the industry. …

Industry News

ARA hosting first Rental Innovation conference

January 11, 2022

The American Rental Association (ARA) will host its first-ever Rental Innovation Conference & Exhibits in March. The event, scheduled March 9-10, will feature two full days of education sessions, networking and exhibits focused on the latest technology and innovations to advance the equipment rental industry. “We are so excited for ARA’s only live conference in 2022, …

Industry News

Oeko-Tex Association releases annual updates

January 10, 2022

Oeko-Tex Association has released its annual updates to test criteria, limit values and requirements. In addition, its new Impact Calculator is now available for STeP by Oeko-Tex customers. The industry-specific tool will provide carbon and water footprint data essential to meeting climate goals. Later in 2022, Oeko-Tex will also introduce a new certification for corporate …

Industry News

Tent industry remembers Kevin McBride

January 7, 2022

Industry leader Kevin McBride, 68, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Sun City West, Ariz. McBride, the former owner of PJ McBride Inc., West Babylon, N.Y., was a longtime leader and member of the Industrial Fabrics Association International and the Tent Rental Division and was the TRD chairman from 2004 to 2006. He was …

Industry News

IFAI hosting product diversification workshop in February

January 6, 2022

With the supply chain challenges facing the industry today, it’s more important than ever to be thinking about changing your product offerings. IFAI will be holding a workshop February 23-24 at Sharp’s Tarps Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah, with education and networking focused on product diversification. Join others in the industry working across numerous …

Industry News

Tates Rents raises $8,085 for charity camp

January 5, 2022

Tates Rents recently donated thousands of dollars to a local camp supporting families facing pediatric cancer through a holiday raffle. The Boise, Idaho-based company presented Camp Rainbow Gold with a $8,085 check to support their efforts. Tickets were sold at all eight Treasure Valley locations for $5 each. “The Tates Rents employees showed up in …

Industry News

NACE, FON welcome new boards

January 3, 2022

The National Association for Catering & Events (NACE) and the Foundation of NACE (FON), which supports the catering and events industry through education and investments that support NACE chapters and members, have welcomed their 2022 Boards. NACE National Board President: James Filtz, CPCE, CMP, Cvent, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania President-Elect: Amber Allen, CPCE, Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, Arizona Vice President: Michelle Dunnick, …

Expo News

IFAI Expo 2022 call for presentations

December 20, 2021

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: Leveraging rental tents during and after the pandemic

November 4, 2021

Jim Reyen, business director at Johnson Outdoors Inc./Eureka! Big Tents Division, presented the campfire session “Leveraging Rental Tents During and After the COVID Pandemic” at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn. During the session, Reyen explained the changing demands for tents throughout various stages of the pandemic. “The first wave of tent demand ran from March …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: How to outsell your competition

November 3, 2021

During the education session “Outselling Your Competition: Four Activities Your Sales Team Must Be Doing Post-COVID” at IFAI Expo 2021 in Nashville, Tenn., James Auerbach, vice president—event segment for the American Rental Association, shared four measurable and respectable pillars that all salespeople must excel at in order to outsell their competition. Referred to as the …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: Shade sail engineering software

November 2, 2021

On Nov. 2, 2021, at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn., Timothy Akes, representative for the Americas, MPanel Software Solutions, and Andrew Askwith, senior software developer, MPanel Software Solutions, presented the education session “Shade Sail Engineering—It’s Not Just a Bunch of Numbers.” According to Akes, there is a tendency for shade sail engineering to be relegated …

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, …

Feature

Peaks of perfection: installations that wow

December 1, 2021

If invitations create a first impression of an event, the tents and structures used at an event make a lasting impression. Here’s a look at four eye-popping tent projects that wowed clients, astonished event attendees, and had tent installation teams exclaiming “veni, vidi, vici!”  Big demands, big rewards At a recent wedding held at a …

Feature

Workforce challenges and solutions

December 1, 2021

In 2020, the challenge was figuring out how to keep business doors open when the pandemic was forcing global-wide shutdowns. But now that life—and the tent and event rental industry—is approaching a semblance of normalcy,  there’s a somewhat unanticipated problem flummoxing businesses: the workforce.  “Finding new, capable employees is like finding a unicorn in today’s …

Feature

InTents Premier Product Showcase: Part 2

December 1, 2021

Customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—these are the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the annual InTents 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 profit. We …

Feature Members only content

Bright ideas

October 1, 2021

Although not typically the star player when it comes to tented events, lighting nevertheless plays a strong supporting role, capable of adding to, or detracting from, the overall ambience of an event. Make the wrong lighting choice and the result can be an event that is somehow off, where the decor’s impact is lessened, the …

Feature Members only content

Winter wonderlands: advice for successful winter tenting

October 1, 2021

Most news having to do with climate change focuses on climbing global temperatures. But those in the tenting industry who work in northern climates know that shifts in weather patterns also bring unexpected cold—and that working in frigid temperatures is simply part of the business. For example, in January 2019, according to the Yale Climate …

Feature

InTents Premier Product Showcase 2021, Part 1

October 1, 2021

Customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—these are the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the annual InTents 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 profit. We …

Feature Members only content

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 Members only content

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 Members only content

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 …

Industry News

ARA Foundation to award $128,500 in scholarships

January 20, 2022

Each year, the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation awards numerous scholarships in effort to attract talent to the equipment and event rental industry. For the 2022-2023 academic year, $128,500 will be available to students seeking higher education through trade schools, universities and community colleges. In total, 66 individual scholarships are available with amounts ranging from …

IFAI news

Tent Expo this week in Daytona Beach

January 18, 2022

Tent Expo 2022 kicks off today in Daytona Beach as the tent rental gathers to celebrate the industry in-person. Tent Expo is the biggest show of its kind in North America for the tent rental and supply industry. Every two years, hundreds of CEOs, colleagues, installer and suppliers come together to network, learn, stretch their …

IFAI news

Latest episode of Talking Textiles features Sollertia’s Claude Le Bel

January 17, 2022

The latest episode of IFAI’s Talking Textiles podcast is now available. From the circus biz to the fabric biz, learn how Canadian architectural textile firm Sollertia built its business. Sollertia has taken on and completed some of the most ambitious fabric structure projects in the country.  In this episode, “If You Build It, They Will Come,” …

IFAI news

Ask Me Anything with IFAI chair Amy Bircher January 31

January 13, 2022

The Industrial Fabrics Association International will be hosting an “Ask Me Anything” with new IFAI board chair Amy Bircher. The event will take place from 2 to 3pm EST, Monday, January 31, in CONNECT by IFAI’s Open Forum. Bircher will be answering member questions about the future of IFAI and challenges currently facing the industry. …

Industry News

ARA hosting first Rental Innovation conference

January 11, 2022

The American Rental Association (ARA) will host its first-ever Rental Innovation Conference & Exhibits in March. The event, scheduled March 9-10, will feature two full days of education sessions, networking and exhibits focused on the latest technology and innovations to advance the equipment rental industry. “We are so excited for ARA’s only live conference in 2022, …

Industry News

Oeko-Tex Association releases annual updates

January 10, 2022

Oeko-Tex Association has released its annual updates to test criteria, limit values and requirements. In addition, its new Impact Calculator is now available for STeP by Oeko-Tex customers. The industry-specific tool will provide carbon and water footprint data essential to meeting climate goals. Later in 2022, Oeko-Tex will also introduce a new certification for corporate …

Industry News

Tent industry remembers Kevin McBride

January 7, 2022

Industry leader Kevin McBride, 68, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Sun City West, Ariz. McBride, the former owner of PJ McBride Inc., West Babylon, N.Y., was a longtime leader and member of the Industrial Fabrics Association International and the Tent Rental Division and was the TRD chairman from 2004 to 2006. He was …

Industry News

IFAI hosting product diversification workshop in February

January 6, 2022

With the supply chain challenges facing the industry today, it’s more important than ever to be thinking about changing your product offerings. IFAI will be holding a workshop February 23-24 at Sharp’s Tarps Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah, with education and networking focused on product diversification. Join others in the industry working across numerous …

Industry News

Tates Rents raises $8,085 for charity camp

January 5, 2022

Tates Rents recently donated thousands of dollars to a local camp supporting families facing pediatric cancer through a holiday raffle. The Boise, Idaho-based company presented Camp Rainbow Gold with a $8,085 check to support their efforts. Tickets were sold at all eight Treasure Valley locations for $5 each. “The Tates Rents employees showed up in …

Industry News

NACE, FON welcome new boards

January 3, 2022

The National Association for Catering & Events (NACE) and the Foundation of NACE (FON), which supports the catering and events industry through education and investments that support NACE chapters and members, have welcomed their 2022 Boards. NACE National Board President: James Filtz, CPCE, CMP, Cvent, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania President-Elect: Amber Allen, CPCE, Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, Arizona Vice President: Michelle Dunnick, …

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 …

Inspired!

Inspired! Reception with a view

December 1, 2021

In June, Stamford Tent & Event Services, Stamford, Conn., installed a Spinnaker sailcloth tent for a wedding. The client requested that the tent be elevated to provide guests with a view of the water from the reception. The floor had to be raised to 22 feet in one corner to elevate it over the trees. …

Showcase

Foundation of a holiday festival

December 1, 2021

McCarthy Tents and Events puts community first with a holiday event—despite the risks of the day.  by Sigrid Tornquist To plan an event today means taking more risk than ever. Given COVID-19 and its known and unknown variants, the stakes are particularly high. Before plans are set in motion and before a single stake is …

Installation Spotlight

Redefining resilience

December 1, 2021

Mississippi Tent & Party Rental installs a field hospital in a parking garage. In August 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state of Mississippi hard. As the virus spread rapidly throughout the region, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, located in Jackson, Miss., turned to Mississippi Tent & Party Rental for a solution to house …

Installation Spotlight

An elevated wedding

October 1, 2021

When it comes to a remote location for a wedding, nothing says seclusion like the top of a mountain.  In 2018 Diamond Event & Tent, a full-service rental company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, was contacted by Silver Summit Event Design, a boutique event design firm in Utah, about a client who desired a …

Showcase

Fore! Arena Americas builds structures at the Ryder Cup

October 1, 2021

When the PGA of America released a request for proposal for an experienced tent and event rental company to handle structures for four of its ongoing major tournaments until 2025, Arena Americas in Oak Creek, Wis., submitted a bid and ultimately won the contract. Three of the events take place each year—the PGA Championship, the …

Inspired!

Inspired! A sweet 16 to remember

October 1, 2021

It’s Your Party Events Inc., an event and wedding planning, consulting and design company based in Boca Raton, Fla., ensured an Arabian Nights-themed sweet 16 party in Wellington, Fla., was a smashing success. Accounting for the height of a tree that was in the center of the space, the company installed a pole tent over …

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

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! 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: …