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Welcome to Safety and Technical Products, IFAI
 Welcome to Safety and Technical Products, the website designed to help you find links and information about textiles used for safety, protective, interactive, medical and other high-tech applications. S+TP member companies will be important resources for your business, so consider joining this market segment of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI).
Current industry news is available here.
Read On... | 2011 Safety Products Student Design Challenge
The 2011 Safety Products Student Design Challenge projects for 2011 show innovation, skill, and research.
View the marvelous ideas here.
| 2012 Safety Products Student Design Challenge
Enter! Win money!
The Safety Products Student Design Challenge is in its 8th year, encouraging post-secondary students in the pursuit of functional design for safety. Click here for Challenge information.
You can enter the 2012 Safety Products Student Design Challenge now. 2012 Challenge ends May 31, 2012.
| Advanced Textiles Europe 2011
IFAI Advanced Textiles Europe 2011, held 26 - 27 September in Barcelona, introduced new technologies and processes to attendees, many of whom were in the city to attend the International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITMA). AT Europe conference is designed for sparking connections between NA and EU companies.
AT Europe '11 sessions covered market needs; new technologies and manufacturing processes; and new materials and products. Ample time was available for creating important netowrks for business opportunities.
AT Europe 11 was sponsored by Norafin and the Safety & Technical Products Division. In order to promote S+TP member companies, literature and samples of products were displayed at the conference.
The next AT event is AT Americas 11 in Baltimore, 24-25 October, in conjunction with ifai Expo Americas. Further AT events will be announced soon.
| Texas Tech’s Fibertect® Appears on New Innovations Timesaver List
 Fibertect®, a decontamination technology developed by researchers at Texas Tech University, was one of seven new innovations featured in National Guard magazine that already is proving its worth to improve National Guard response time to domestic incidents.
The July cover article, “New Gear,” described how the Georgia Guard tested Fibertect® and found that it cut down on time used to set up decontamination shower tents and scrub affected people with water and decontamination solutions. When fashioned into a mitt, Fibertect® could be used to quickly wipe away contaminants.
“To be recognized as an innovative product for our national defense is a milestone in our chemical countermeasures research at Texas Tech,” said inventor Seshadri Ramkumar, an associate professor of environmental toxicology at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH). “The need for decontamination wipes, such as the kind we’ve created here at TIEHH, were a top priority for the Department of Defense. Years ago, we began the research, developed a product and met a top national security issue. The uses for Fibertect® continue to expand.”
Using the Fibertect® decontamination mitts, Georgia’s CERFP members reported the dry decontamination removed 80 to 90 percent of contaminants they were likely to encounter in the field, the article stated. CERFP stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Packages.
After testing, one sergeant with the Georgia Guard urged the National Guard Bureau to add Fibertect® to the CERFP’s equipment inventory.
Currently, the Fibertect® wipe is under production by Hobbs Bonded Fibers of Waco and distributed by First Line Technology in Chantilly, Va.
The wipe tested features an activated carbon core sandwiched between absorbent layers. “This recognition provides validation that Fibertect® is a decontamination platform that has the potential to replace current technologies, which are expensive to maintain and deploy,” said Amit Kapoor, president of First Line Technology. “Fibertect®, however, is an affordable solution proven effective in response to decontamination disasters and this recognition from National Guard Magazine shows that Fibertect® has the potential to help countless organizations protect their communities.”
To read the article, go to this http://www.nationalguardmagazine.com/publication/?i=74054&p=29
CONTACT: Seshadri Ramkumar, manager of the Nonwoven and Advanced Materials Laboratory, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University, (806) 445-1925, or s.ramkumar@ttu.edu; Amit Kapoor, president, First Line Technology, (703) 955-7510 or akapoor@firstlinetech.com
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Norafin a Finalist in RISE Competition
Five deserving new products have been nominated as finalists for the inaugural RISE Durable Products Award that will be presented at the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics (RISE) Conference in October.
The inaugural RISE Durable Product Award will be awarded to a durable nonwoven product using nonwoven fabric and/or technology that is commercially sold and utilized in the consumer or industrial marketplace.
The five finalists will make presentations to attendees at RISE, which takes place October 3-6, 2011 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, Raleigh, N.C., and then attendees will vote on the recipient of the 2011 RISE Durable Products Award.
The five finalists are:
1. UltraTouch Denim Insulation, from Bonded Logic, Inc. Commonly referred to as “bluejean insulation,” UltraTouch is comprised of post-consumer recycled cotton fibers, sourced from denim. These fibers allow for improved thermal as well as acoustical performance over traditional insulations, with R values of R8 to R30.
2. Soft Binding Sole (SBS), from Intermedius. The SBS-binding sole is a multilayer ESD-conductive sandwich laminate made from two polyester needlepunched felt layers. The top layer is printed with a logo and the bottom part is treated with a heat resistance treatment, which allows the usage of hot tools in the lasting process. Both layers are made with polyester, bi-component and conductive fibers.
3. PIG Grippy Mat, from New Pig Corporation. Grippy Mat is an absorbent mat that reduces slip and trip hazards around workstations, walkways and machinery while helping prevent liquid from being tracked throughout the plant. Eight layers of fine-fiber polypropylene absorb and retain leaks, drips and overspray of oils, coolants, solvents and water to keep liquids from being tracked around and the poly backing creates an additional barrier to stop absorbed liquids from passing through to floors.
4. Norafin Komanda, from Norafin (Americas), Inc. Norafin Komanda is a range of custom engineered durable spunlace materials that offer an alternative to traditional textiles in the protective apparel market. End uses of the fabric include military uniforms, industrial FR workwear, arc-flash protective clothing, flash fire workwear and specialty non-FR apparel.
5. Aptra Elements, from RKW US, Inc. Aptra Elements is a metallic, highly reflective, breathable, air barrier membrane made of waterproof, UV-stabilized polypropylene and nonwoven. The material maintains strength and flexibility without metal surface rub-off or oxidation and can be used for multiple uses within the building, architecture, construction, marine, tent and upholstery industries.
RISE is organized by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry. Now in its second year – the inaugural RISE Conference took place last September in Baltimore, Maryland – the goal of RISE is to provide information and stimulation for both durables and disposables companies looking for strategies to compete in an increasingly challenging 21st century marketplace.
Association of Non Woven Fabrics Industry (INDA) is the leading global association of the nonwoven fabrics industry. Since 1968, INDA has provided a variety of industry focused networking events to help members increase sales and market share. INDA is the nonwoven industry’s premier source for market leading education, global forecasts, testing standards and trend reports which provides members the information and knowledge to better plan and execute their business. INDA - Association of Non Woven Fabrics Industry |
SSM Industries To Expand Plant, Add Jobs
August 2, 2011 Spring City, Tenn.-based SSM Industries Inc. — a manufacturer of flame-resistant (FR), cut-resistant and thermal fabrics for military, fire and rescue and industrial applications — will invest $3 million to add 45,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its plant and 13 jobs to its current workforce of 90, with an additional 12 positions to be added in the future. The expansion will allow the company to produce specialized yarns to enhance its protective fabrics portfolio.
"This expansion will take SSM Industries to the next level in the textile manufacturing industry, and we are excited about the opportunities this expansion will allow us," said Phil Chandler, vice president of development, SSM Industries. "I am grateful for the continued support from state and local officials and look forward to growing our company in Spring City."
Greg Watson, SSM Executive Vice President and General Manager is on the S+TP Board of Directors and the company has been a strong member of S+TP for many years. |
Supersoldier 2020 will have exoskeleton, robot helpers, pathogen immunity, doctor assisted regeneration
The new Captain America movie is out this weekend, so we take a look at the actual developments and research for enhancing soldiers in real-life.
Supersoldiers of the 2020s will be a little bit Iron man with HULC and XOS exoskeletons.
They will have some wall crawling (Spiderman like) capability from the Z-Man program (attachable pads with magnets and microsplines).
They will be using a lot more ground and flying robot support. They will have flying hummers.
They will have better guns with better range, smart bullets/grenades when needed and computers and sensors to improve the accuracy of soldiers and snipers.
They will have medical enhancement to be resistant to infections and to allow them to be restored from more severe injuries.
Read more: http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/07/supersoldier-2020-will-have-exoskeleton.html |
U.S. Air Force Honors Manufacturer
July 25, 2011 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time FONTANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
A&R Tarpaulins Inc. is flying high as it continues to grow its business and win awards. The United States Air Force will recognize A&R for its outstanding products and services July 28, 2011.
“We have been with ULA since it was founded more than four years ago and this recognition from one of its customers is an honor.” - Bud Weisbart, VP
“This recognition belongs to A&R’s dedicated staff whose commitment to excellence never waivers; it’s because of them that we are successful,” said Bud Weisbart, A&R vice president. “A company is only as good as the people it’s made of and I’m proud of our team.”
The Air Force accolade is a supplement to A&R’s recent 2010 Small Business of the Year award from United Launch Alliance LLC. Representatives from the Air Force will present A&R with the award during a presentation. The ceremony will be at A&R’s headquarters in Fontana July 28 at 9 a.m.
“The Air Force is a customer of United Launch LLC,” Weisbart said. “We have been with ULA since it was founded more than four years ago and this recognition from one of its customers is an honor.”
A&R Tarpaulins Inc. and its subsidiaries manufacture fabric products for the trucking, aerospace and architectural industries. A&R has manufactured fabric aerospace products for ULA since 2007. ULA provides all U.S. government aerospace launches.
About A&R Tarpaulins Inc. Vice President, Bud Weisbart and his wife of 44 years, Carmen, President of A&R, own and operate the 48-employee manufacturing firm in Fontana. A&R Tarpaulins is the parent company of AR Tech and AR Industries and provides products and services for flight hardware, ground support to various aerospace companies providing satellite launches, architectural products and services for homes and businesses and industrial products for the transportation industry.
The Weisbarts have been active members of the Safety & Technical Products group at IFAI for many years.
For more information, contact AR Tech Vice President Bud Weisbart at 909-829-4444 or visit http://www.artech2000.com. |
Indian Technical Textiles Sector to Reach $36 Billion
By: Seshadri Ramkumar, Texas Tech University, USA
(Lubbock, USA, July 27, 2011) The Government of India estimates the Indian technical textiles sector to reach $36 billion (Rs. 1,60,000 crores) by 2016-17 and the annual estimated growth is about 20%. Indian government is promoting the growth of technical textiles sector by creating new Centers of Excellence and market research and support programs.
Sujit Gulati, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles India, while inaugurating a one- day seminar on technical textiles in the South Indian city of Coimbatore, emphasized the need for inter-ministerial coordination involving Ministry of Textiles, Health and Highways to grow the nascent technical textiles sector.
The conference was jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Ministry of Textiles in Coimbatore on July 26th, 2011. During the conference, Anil Joshi, Textiles Commissioner of India, emphasized the need for implementing technical textiles to improve the hygiene and medical sector in India.
Govindhan Ramakrishnan, a professor of textiles and a delegate who attended the conference spoke to this scribe from Coimbatore and insisted that market awareness and the knowledge of converted products are essential for the growth of technical textiles sector in India.
India offers enormous opportunities for collaborators to conduct knowledge enriching workshops to boost the technical textiles sector.
In December 2011, USA based Texas Tech University and Coimbatore based Kumaraguru College of Technology are hosting an international conference on technical textiles, ATNT-2011. The organizers have provided more information on the international event at www.atnt2011.com.
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