102715_IFAI Expo 2015 Review

Posted October 27, 2015

By Devin Steele (DSteele@eTextileCommunications.com)

ANAHEIM, Calif. – After what some consider a “down” show last year in Minneapolis, exhibitors, visitors and organizers seemed pleased with this year’s IFAI Expo held here this month, according to interviews, surveys and press releases.

The event, the largest exhibition of specialty fabrics and technical textiles in the Americas, attracted more than 5,500 visitors to 376 booths at the Anaheim Convention Center.

“The show was a home run,” said Mary Hennessy, president of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), which organizes the annual show. “Exhibitors and attendees raved about everything. Attendance was strong and steady, and the opening reception was awesome. We are hearing nothing but positives.”

“This has been a phenomenal show for us,” said Robert Hinsch, vice president of Top Value Fabrics. “It has really been a high-energy show, and we’ve had good, quality traffic.”

New additions this year seemed to be popular with visitors, including “Campire Sessions” that promoted informal dialogue around a number of relevant topics. In addition, a shade sail demonstration allowed for a close-up look at these popular architectural features.

Also new this year was a complete show floor area dedicated to shade and weather protection applications. This area was designed to attract a new spectrum of show participants. Similarly, a newly added Testing Area on the show floor and a complementary Testing 101 course addressed understanding what textile test methods are and how they apply to various products.

Keynoter Erik Weihenmayer, a blind adventurer who has climbed Mt. Everest, kayaked the Grand Canyon and has gone on adventures all around the world, filled a ballroom to capacity with his inspiring message.

Southern Weaving

Frequent exhibitor Southern Weaving, a Greenville, S.C.-based narrow woven webbing manufacturer, was among those pleased with this year’s run.

“This was probably the best IFAI Expo in which we’ve exhibited,” said Sandy Saye, sales and marketing director. “There was good attendance and interest from attendees.”

She added that company representatives answered numerous questions about all of its product lines, which include nylon, cotton and polyester webbing for cargo restraints, safety harnesses and sling webs, tubular woven protective sleeves for abrasion protection, hose and wire containment and woven rope technology, among others.

Exhibitors get maximum EXPOsure in Cali

Para’ Tempotest USA

Based in Carrollton, Texas, Para’ Tempotest USA exhibited its newest product, the Tempotest StarScreen, a PVC-free screen fabric made from a flame-retardant, solution-dyed PET yarn for roller and zipper screens.

“It has a nice textile hand as opposed to the plastic look and feel of what is currently in the marketplace,” said Jeff Jimison, national sales manager. “We had a lot of interest in this since it is so unique and adds a great, upscale look to a fast-growing market segment.”

As for traffic flow, Jimison said, “It was a good show, a nice bounce back from last year. IFAI is working hard to make the show more relevant to a wider audience and increase attendance and interest in the show for both exhibitors and attendees and, to that end, I think they are on the right track.”

Jason Mills

Jason Mills, a Milltown, N.J.-based manufacturer of polyester and nylon knit mesh fabrics and textiles, showcased its new style 413, a “no-see-um” screen with value-added characteristics such as fire resistance and water repellence. In addition to these values this material is also UV resistant, ensuring that exposure to sunlight will not degrade or fade the fabric, according to Brenda Stamboulian, director of Sales & Marketing. This material is intended for the tent and other outdoor accessory manufacturers who want ventilation but need to ensure that insects as small as tick nymphs do not penetrate the screen.

“Each year we look forward to catching up with existing customers, vendors and peers, as well as meeting new, potential business and this year proved to be successful for Jason Mills,” she said.

North East Knitting, Inc.

Established in 1986, family-owned North East Knitting, Inc. of Pawtucket, R.I., develops and manufactures narrow fabrics for apparel, orthopedics, ergonomics, safety, body armor, home furnishings and industrial markets.

Asked for highlights from his booth, Sales Manager Eric DaRosa deadpanned, “The highlights were seeing customers’ faces when they realized that there are still elastic textile manufactures like ours thriving and growing in the U.S.”

DaRosa, in the booth with his brothers Eric and Alex, said foot traffic was slightly better than traffic last year in Minnesota. “There were a fair amount of potential customers,” he said. “We are looking forward to the show in (Charlotte) North Carolina next year.”

Nike IHM

Nike IHM is the St. Louis area-based manufacturing arm of Oregon-based sportswear producer Nike, Inc. The company exhibited at IFAI to show its capabilities around its nonwoven TPU products, which are durable, stretchable fabrics that also breathe and are water resistant, according to Mike Barrett, director of Sales and Marketing.

“Nike has TPU in its product brands that it someday may bring out in other types of products, but with the equipment in our facility, we’re bringing it here to see how we can tailor it for customers,” he said. “We’re a custom outfit. I’m not selling out of a catalogue here. We’re showing our capabilities and showing some examples of what we’ve done. If there is an interest, we show them how they can tweak this product to fit heir specific needs, to solve a problem or to maybe develop a new product for you.”

Renson

Renson, a Belgium-based developer and manufacturer of sun shading and ventilation systems, had an interesting display of its products in its booth. At the show, the company, together with Skyco, exhibited the Renson ZipShade and Renson ZipShade Top exterior screen systems, which notably reduce the cooling load of a building or residence while maintaining maximum outdoor visibility for occupants, according to Gilles Vanpoucke, brand developer and sales manager for the West.

Designed to promote visual elegance for both new and retrofit residential and commercial projects, the sun screen sets the industry standard for robust wind resistance combined with effective insect obstruction, he said. Zipshade incorporates a sleek box design with a discreet bottom rail that seamlessly integrates into the box.

Shibata Technotex Co., Ltd.

Japan-based Shibata Technotex Co., Ltd. exhibited its basic conductive fabrics, or "e-textiles." Applications of an e-textile capacitance sensor are a pressure sensor and touch-sensitive lighting banner, along with a "sound-emitting fabric" as demonstrated on an electrostatic speaker.