Advanced Textiles Conference Virtual Education

Dr. Sasha Stolyarov, CEO, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America

Recent breakthroughs in fiber materials and processing now enable us to develop multi-material fibers endowed with sophisticated functionality. Integrated into fabrics, these multi-material fibers expand the application space of traditional textiles into highly functional systems with capabilities such as sensing, light emission, color change and more.

This presentation will provide an overview of recent technological breakthroughs in advanced functional fibers and fabrics and will introduce the role of the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a USA Manufacturing Innovation Institute focused on bringing novel advanced fabric capabilities to market for national security and commercial applications.

AFFOA’s role in helping the US respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic will be highlighted, and opportunities for improved preparedness in the future from a materials and product innovation standpoint will be discussed.

Sponsored by:

Jing Liang, President, Medical PPE Consulting, LLC

What tests should I conduct for my PPE products? Which are mandatory? Which are voluntary? Which tests should be included during product development phase? Which tests are recommended to have for regular mass production? The testing requirements and standards of gowns, coveralls, masks and respirators will be shared during this session. Attendees will leave with knowledge of being able to:

1. Identify mandatory and voluntary testing requirement of each PPE family.

2. Understand the basic methodology and results interpretation of each test.

3. Design a verification plan for your PPE product.

4. Apply recommended testing in your future production of PPE.

Justine Decaens, Head of Technical Innovation – Smart Textiles, Groupe CTT

Smart textiles technologies have existed for over a decade but are only recently starting to reach the market. Offering various active functions such as lighting, heating and sensing, smart textiles are mostly present in the protection, sports & leisure and medical sectors.

Despite few successful examples of commercialized products, the production process of smart textiles remains challenging for most manufacturers. Automation is a key element to getting easier access to the market, while better managing cost efficiency and lead time. Moreover, product reliability and performance are essential to earn customers trust and acceptance.

The presentation will review the key elements in smart textile manufacturing (conductive yarns and fabrics; technology blocks and functions; specialised processes) and outline some examples of success and failure through case studies.

Seth Casden, CEO and Co-Founder, Hologenix

Recent studies in the effectiveness of responsive materials have clinically proven they can enhance performance and recovery among healthy individuals by recycling InfraRed energy. Infusing fibres with certain minerals into the core gives products the ability to absorb electromagnetic light energy emitted by the body. These minerals then alter the wavelengths of this energy into InfraRed and reflect it, even through multiple layers of fabrics, making it possible for the tissue to absorb it. This process triggers vasodilation in the capillary bed and makes more oxygen available to your cells, allowing for more efficient use of it by the body.

This presentation will look at developments in responsive materials and the use of InfraRed technology for recycling human energy, with an emphasis on enhanced performance and recovery. We’ll review some case studies, outline some of the challenges made evident during research and development and discuss best practices for design and production. We’ll also discuss possible paths towards innovation concerning industrial methods, retail approaches and cultural education.

Thomas Stegmaier, PD Dr.-Ing, DITF Denkendorf

The tumultuous events of this year have forced our industry to look closely at how we can take great ideas from concept to commercialization.  Achieving this in the most time and cost effective way that does not compromise safety is the challenge.  The alignment of technological advances with testing and standards is of vital importance.

In this presentation we use our own case studies to show how this is achievable at different scales from SME through to million dollar programs involving multiple stakeholders across disciplines and geographical boarders.

Matt Kolmes, CEO, Supreme Corporation

When the Olympic committee announced it was endorsing CBD oil for pain relief in athletes VOLT Wearable Tech was already incorporating those yarns into products through their vendor. When their vendor pulled out of the project, and their customers were demanding pain relief yarns, VOLT sprang into action going from concept to fully developed product in record time. They now have phenomenal performance in pain relief previously unavailable in the Market. Come inside their Lab and discover how they got this product fast tracked and developed in 6 weeks.

Anne Toomey, Head of Programme for Textiles, Royal College of Art
Dr. Elif Ozden Yenigun, Senior Tutor in Textiles, Royal College of Art
Dr. Gozde Goncu-Berk, Assistant Professor, University of California Davis

This session presents some of the material platforms intertwined by craft and technology in smart textiles for healthcare and wellbeing. It describes the benefit of connectivity with international stakeholders through networked activities, using collaborative approaches to knowledge exchange and furthering cross-cultural understanding of smart textiles and Soft Systems.

Sponsored by:

Jordan Schindler, Founder/CEO, Nufabrx

No longer is the day where clothing purchase is based on color, price or brand; what if primary decision making is driven by what benefit we want our clothing to impart on our bodies. Consumer health and wellness totally reimagined, and simplified, by delivering medications, vitamins and supplements directly through the garments that touch our bodies every day. Welcome to the world where textiles are the next forefront in drug delivery; and learn how everyday clothing is actually one of the best ways to solve patient compliance.

Steve Schiffman, President, Industrial Fabrics Association International
Kim Glas, President and CEO, National Council of Textile Organizations
Dave Rousse, President, INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
Auggie Tantillo, Moderator

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented new challenges for the industrial fabrics industry: from personal health and wellness, supply chain disruptions, pivoting to new models of daily work, to staffing and financial concerns. Along the way, your industry associations have adapted and evolved to serve your needs by implementing a host of new virtual education, resources, and notably, a COVID-19 Response Textile-Related Supply & PPE Supplier Directory.

Join us for this exciting Q&A panel featuring the senior leaders of Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), National Council on Textile Organizations (NCTO) and INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.  Attendees will have the opportunity to directly ask questions and hear three unique viewpoints on the following topics:

1. The state of the industry 9 months into the pandemic
2. How industry associations have adjusted to support a fundamentally changed economy
3. Specific initiatives and programs developed to assist association members in thriving now and in the future

Andre Comitre, COO, Artisan Window Fashions

Smart Homes are everywhere and all industries somehow related to the home and commercial building are getting involved with these technologies. Motorized shades are now more important then ever and with that the ability to control them using APPs Voice and other smart home platforms is also growing.

Understanding the relationship between Home Automation and Motorized Shades from a technical and commercial perspective will be crucial for window treatment companies to succeed in this quick changing environment.

Sponsored by:

King Mukherjee, President and Professor, Global Impex USA and Saint John’s University
Bob Gazich, President, Tap Your Potential

Presenters will discuss how international business and supply chain are the most critical component in today’s global economy. Attendees will learn how to manage, source and executive a global supply chain strategy.

Find out how culture and leadership plays a role in the success of sourcing. Presenters will also share their combined 50 years of experience in global sourcing of industrial textiles and arts and crafts sourcing from Asia and other regions. We will examine the opportunities and threats and conclude with some future strategies, tips and predictions for global sourcing and supply chain management.

Reinhold Schneider, Dr., Teamleader Textile Printing, DITF

Traditional dyeing and textile finishing is marked by impregnation of textiles with diluted dyestuffs or finishing chemicals and subsequent thermal fixation. This processing requires a lot of energy. The use of UV-curable dyeing liquors and finishing chemicals would significantly contribute to energy saving and new textile products. UV-curable inks for inkjet-printing and UV-curable finishing chemicals were developed.

It will be shown that these UV-curable inks and finishing chemicals provide excellent functionality, very soft hand and excellent fastness properties on different textile materials. In addition, UV-curing was also successfully applied in the curing of composite materials, which reduces energy consumption significantly and enables new products.

Alan Stewart,  General Manager, MPanel Software Solutions

Shade Sails appear to be simple structures when in fact there is a lot of technology going on behind the scenes which is often unknown and underestimated. The result is that many shade sails fail long before their normal life expectancy. The right design and detail will ensure you avoid these problems.

In this session you will learn:

• The differences between the right and wrong design
• The differences between webbing and cable edge

Sponsored by:

Ed van Hinte, Lightness Studios
Marie O’Mahony, O’Mahony Consultancy (Moderator)
Panelists TBD

This virtual panel session, led by author Ed van Hinte, will provide a renewed view on lightness and how the world might benefit from it. Lightness concerns saving energy through weight reduction of just about everything, by rethinking structures with a sophisticated composite approach.

Jonathan Palmer, CEO, Autometrix, Inc.
Truy Pham, Director of Global Sales, Autometrix, Inc.

As business owners begin to dream of retirement, many small businesses are faced with the challenge of figuring out their succession plan.  While it might seem counterintuitive to invest more money into a business you hope to leave, investing in capital equipment and the processes they are a part of can be key to preparing your business for the next owners and building its value in their eyes.

Sponsored by:

Cindy Thompson, MFA, Founder, President, Transformit

An artist’s point of view of today’s interior architectural fabric opportunities. Cindy Thompson, MFA, of Transformit, will present several case studies illustrating the advantages of an artistic approach to shade, lighting and acoustics in interior projects. There will be pictures, of course, but also hands-on models and demonstrations.

Ms. Thompson is both an artist and a teacher. Questions will be encouraged. Be prepared to participate!

Stephanie Rodgers, Director of Product Research and Development, Apex Mills

Explosive growth in the wearables sector has advance textiles on the forefront of something BIG.  Women have embraced the technology opportunities of textiles and the science and engineering behind it. Many of the emerging functional fabrics are being developed by women empowered by cross-disciplinary approaches to manufacturing.

Join Stephanie for this session as she highlights a few women from different backgrounds that have used textiles as a platform for science and innovation, highlighting e-textiles and how we can encourage this new market sector.

Colin Blackford, Director of Strategy & Development, Mermet USA

Shading is an important piece of any sustainably-designed project. It is a necessary safeguard that enables a building to provide that critical connection with the outdoors, providing views and access to daylight, while protecting occupants and building performance from the discomfort and energy waste that can occur from glare and solar heat gain.

Understanding the basic material compositions of the majority of shading products in the market and comparing and contrasting how those materials perform in terms of view-through, dimensional stability, recyclability, and fire retardancy will help designers select a shade fabric that meets the sustainable demands of a project.

This presentation seeks to educate attendees on these points while challenging them to consider the energy that was used in the production of the shade materials found in their buildings, as well as the impact those materials will have inside the built environment.

Sponsored by:

Mar Ricketts, Principal, GuildWorks LLC
Sebastian Collet, VP, GuildWorks LLC
Beatriz Ferreyra, Lead Design, GuildWorks LLC
David Bowick, P. Eng., Principal – Blackwell

The US Pavilion was originally designed for the 1974 world’s fair in Spokane Washington. The pavilion shed its temporary skin after a couple winters but remained an icon as an early US cable net structure.

GuildWorks was chosen to lead the process of developing a new artistic shade system to integrate with the existing structure as part of a major renovation of the larger downtown Riverfront Park.  In order to do this, we were required to inspect, analyze, and reverse engineer this almost 50-year-old iconic structure. It was a very challenging process that pushed our capabilities and required lots of collaboration and innovation to succeed.

Join us as we walk participants through the process from design and analysis through engineering and installation including challenging problems we faced along the way. All of which led to the successful completion of the unique shade array at the new Riverfront Park Pavilion.

Participants will learn about:

• Design techniques
• Survey process
• Engineering process
• Fabrication and installation process