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Shelter Structures America expands to the Midwest
June 29, 2022
Shelter Structures America, a provider of temporary clearspan tent structures and distributor of event furniture to the special event rental industry announced today the purchase of a new 15,000-square-foot distribution center in Chicago, Illinois. The new facility will offer clients access to premier products while reducing transportation costs and product delivery time to the Midwest …
Company News
Advantage Tent Fittings launches new website
June 28, 2022
Advantage Tent Fittings launched a new website with ecommerce capabilities at www.advantagetent.com. The new site, which is tailored towards tent and event rental professionals, features product specifications, availability, current pricing and the ability to obtain shipping costs when items are added to the cart. Advantage Tent Fittings is a manufacturer of commercial and military tent …
Industry News
OSHA administers $11.7 million in training grants
June 22, 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor will provide a funding opportunity for $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the grants will target disadvantaged, underserved, low-income, and other hard-to-reach, …
Industry News
Event rental industry legend Bick Jones retires
June 21, 2022
After 36 years of serving the event rental industry, Bick Jones, whose latest adventure in the event rental arena was serving as general manager of CommuniLux in Dallas, Texas, a subsidiary of InProduction, Chicago, Ill., decided to retire May 6, 2022. “I have tried to retire three times, but none of them lasted. I love the …
Industry News
Textile groups urge U.S. to maintain penalty tariffs on China
June 16, 2022
The Biden administration should maintain Section 301 penalty tariffs on finished textiles and apparel from China or risk reversing once-in-a-lifetime nearshoring trends and undermining critical investments and jobs in the U.S. and Western Hemisphere, three key American textile manufacturing groups said today. In a formal submission to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office, which is …
Industry News
REIC acquires Cahill Services
June 6, 2022
Rental Equipment Investment Corp. (REIC), Miami, a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, has acquired Cahill Services, Livonia, Mich. Cahill represents REIC’s second add-on acquisition under Kinderhook’s ownership and the company’s 14th since inception. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Cahill is a provider of specialty rental solutions for high-demand, critical applications across infrastructure, construction and industrial …
Projects
Moreton Hire builds a legacy
June 1, 2022
In 1969, Marlene and Kevin Morahan bought some chairs for their local school’s festival in Manly, Brisbane, Australia. Afterward, locals began asking to use the chairs for other events in the area and before long, their simple purchase transformed their family garage into “Moreton Bay Hire,” offering rental party and building equipment. Fifty years later, …
Business
The lighter side of OSHA
June 1, 2022
When most of us hear the word “OSHA,” we instantly conjure up images of ticket-writing cops invading our workplace. And these aren’t the $35 tags that grace our windshield when we linger in a parking spot too long. These citations can easily hit the four- or five-digit mark depending on the severity of the violation. …
Features
Storm Safety
June 1, 2022
Weather forecasting is one of the most maligned sciences around. Everybody has a story about the time they canceled elaborate plans because it was supposed to storm—and then not a drop of rain fell. What about when the forecast is right? “In my time, we’ve had all kinds of weather ruin events,” says Mitch Holt, …
Business
How to decipher Incoterms
June 1, 2022
Question: I’m buying some equipment, and the shipping terms in the purchase agreement refer to “EXW Incoterms 2020.” I’m generally familiar with “Incoterms,” but I don’t really have a lot of time to study what each one means. Can you give me a summary of what I’m dealing with when a contract I sign references …
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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, …
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Long-term rental success
June 1, 2022
When certain types of emergencies happen—think hurricanes, earthquakes, fires—tented structures often become an essential part of the response plan. In the case of COVID, several short-term rentals ended up as long-term rentals, becoming subject to permanent building codes. For the tent rental industry, considerations for when short-term installations become long-term must always come down to …
Features
Storm Safety
June 1, 2022
Weather forecasting is one of the most maligned sciences around. Everybody has a story about the time they canceled elaborate plans because it was supposed to storm—and then not a drop of rain fell. What about when the forecast is right? “In my time, we’ve had all kinds of weather ruin events,” says Mitch Holt, …
Features
2022 Reader’s Choice Awards
June 1, 2022
What tent rental industry supplier always comes through when you need them? Which piece of equipment saves time and labor? And what services do you depend on to run your business? Keeping reading to find out. Best Frame Tent Anchor Industries Fred’s Tents & Canopies Rainier Industries Honorable Mention: Aztec Tents, Eureka! Tents, Fiesta Tents, …
Features
2022 Wedding Trends
April 1, 2022
There’s a reason why so many weddings seem to be cookie-cutter productions. In addition to putting together the biggest party of a couple’s life, there are families to placate, funds to be allocated, guest lists to be trimmed and complex rules of etiquette to be followed. But one thing that can be modified to reflect …
Features
Working together
April 1, 2022
Can you count the number of moving parts involved in planning and staging a successful and memorable wedding? Maybe not, but you can certainly count how many need to go wrong to spoil the day—and it’s not very many. A critical component to making sure that doesn’t happen is the relationship between the companies that …
Features
Flooring and staging trends
April 1, 2022
Weddings began returning in 2021, picking up steam as the year wore on. But now they’re really making a comeback, foretelling a wedding season that could extricate the tent and event rental industry more fully from the doldrums of the past two years. “The tent companies are telling me they’re booked solid for the summer,” …
Features
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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 …
Features
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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 …
Features
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 …
Features
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 …
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Company News
Shelter Structures America expands to the Midwest
June 29, 2022
Shelter Structures America, a provider of temporary clearspan tent structures and distributor of event furniture to the special event rental industry announced today the purchase of a new 15,000-square-foot distribution center in Chicago, Illinois. The new facility will offer clients access to premier products while reducing transportation costs and product delivery time to the Midwest …
Company News
Advantage Tent Fittings launches new website
June 28, 2022
Advantage Tent Fittings launched a new website with ecommerce capabilities at www.advantagetent.com. The new site, which is tailored towards tent and event rental professionals, features product specifications, availability, current pricing and the ability to obtain shipping costs when items are added to the cart. Advantage Tent Fittings is a manufacturer of commercial and military tent …
Industry News
OSHA administers $11.7 million in training grants
June 22, 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor will provide a funding opportunity for $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the grants will target disadvantaged, underserved, low-income, and other hard-to-reach, …
Industry News
Event rental industry legend Bick Jones retires
June 21, 2022
After 36 years of serving the event rental industry, Bick Jones, whose latest adventure in the event rental arena was serving as general manager of CommuniLux in Dallas, Texas, a subsidiary of InProduction, Chicago, Ill., decided to retire May 6, 2022. “I have tried to retire three times, but none of them lasted. I love the …
Industry News
Textile groups urge U.S. to maintain penalty tariffs on China
June 16, 2022
The Biden administration should maintain Section 301 penalty tariffs on finished textiles and apparel from China or risk reversing once-in-a-lifetime nearshoring trends and undermining critical investments and jobs in the U.S. and Western Hemisphere, three key American textile manufacturing groups said today. In a formal submission to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office, which is …
Industry News
REIC acquires Cahill Services
June 6, 2022
Rental Equipment Investment Corp. (REIC), Miami, a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, has acquired Cahill Services, Livonia, Mich. Cahill represents REIC’s second add-on acquisition under Kinderhook’s ownership and the company’s 14th since inception. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Cahill is a provider of specialty rental solutions for high-demand, critical applications across infrastructure, construction and industrial …
Industry News
In memoriam: Frederick “Fred” Dupy
May 24, 2022
Frederick “Fred” Dupy, 69, of Round Rock, Texas, died May 15, 2022, in Austin, Texas, after a courageous, but brief battle with cancer. Dupy was the president of American Party Rental in Austin, Texas. All who knew him share the same sentiment: He had a huge heart and never let an obstacle get in the …
Company News
Sunbelt Rentals expands offerings
May 19, 2022
Sunbelt Rentals, Fort Mill, S.C., now is offering temporary containment walls that can be used for health care facilities, airports, data centers and office spaces. These reusable, modular walls can be placed in occupied areas during construction and remodeling to keep staff and visitors safe, the company said. The walls are a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution that …
News
IFAI selects Advanced Textiles Association as new name
May 17, 2022
The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will become the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) effective June 1. The name change was approved in April with 85.6 percent of association members casting their votes to do so. Association bylaws require the approval of two-thirds of those returning ballots. The results were audited by Clifton Larson Allen. “This …
News
Outlook® gives attendees exclusive insights to power informed decisions at the 2022 conference
May 17, 2022
Close to 100 attendees gathered at the Omni Homestead Resort (circa 1766) in Hot Springs, VA to engage, learn and connect with colleagues in the industry. A day and a half of informative business sessions, intermingled with several networking opportunities, were filled with knowledge and idea exchange as well as insights from various thought leaders …
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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 …
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Projects
An Olympian Task
June 1, 2022
It would have been a tall order for a less adept company. After all, the job wasn’t only extremely high-profile—the Beijing Winter Olympics—it involved providing and setting up more than 30 structures under extreme conditions and on some less-than-ideal terrain, all while adhering to strict COVID protocols. But as one of the largest installers in …
Projects
Montreal General Hospital Trauma Center
June 1, 2022
As the pandemic swept across Canada in 2020, Fiesta Tents, located in Saint-Laurent, Que., received many requests to help the Canadian health system cope with the influx of patients. The company would ultimately be involved in several projects ranging from remote Indigenous facilities to testing clinics in downtown Montreal. But one project stood out from …
Projects
Moreton Hire builds a legacy
June 1, 2022
In 1969, Marlene and Kevin Morahan bought some chairs for their local school’s festival in Manly, Brisbane, Australia. Afterward, locals began asking to use the chairs for other events in the area and before long, their simple purchase transformed their family garage into “Moreton Bay Hire,” offering rental party and building equipment. Fifty years later, …
Projects
Tenting the Grey Cup Championship
April 1, 2022
On December 12, 2021, the 108th Grey Cup decided the Canadian Football League (CFL) season championship for the 2021 season at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., Canada. Surrounding and supporting the championship game were tented structures by Premier Event Tent Rentals Inc., Brampton, Ont., Canada. Premier’s tents supported the event planner’s vision for an …
Installation Spotlight
Eventstar Structures engineers rooftop enclosure
April 1, 2022
In 2018, Eventstar Structures of Medley, Fla., was commissioned to cover the expansive pool deck at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. The casino wanted to enclose the roof deck to allow the Kaos Day Club and Night Club located there to remain operational during the winter season. However, the build was not …
Projects
Classical Tents satisfies savvy shoppers
April 1, 2022
Katherine Lockridge bought Classical Tents and Party Goods 27 years ago with co-owner Ben Naylor while completing her Master of Education degree. She didn’t pursue teaching in the traditional sense, but Lockridge has since educated herself on an industry she and Naylor knew nothing about at the time of sale. “Buying the company felt like …
Inspired!
Inspired: Skyline Events
April 1, 2022
Skyline Events staged this beautiful wedding in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., under an Aurora Sailcloth tent manufactured by Anchor Industries Inc. The floor was constructed with Bil-Jax 2100 and featured custom rounded corners, which were designed to mirror the profile of the rounded tents. Photo courtesy of Jay Hingeley.
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 …
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 …
