Advanced Textiles Expo Education

Erin Parker Tillery, Graduate Research Assistant, North Carolina State University

This research explores Technology Transfer (TT) in textile-based academic environments. Primary investigations include cultural and personal motivators behind TT and the current awareness of both students and faculty relating to TT processes and university offerings. Participants’ surveys and interviews provide information on the state of knowledge of faculty and students connected to the United States textile industry. The study’s results are expected to illuminate a gap in the motivations or knowledge of individuals in textile-based universities that can be remedied with new materials created specifically for textile disciplines. The effects of this research are a better understanding of the thought processes of textile academic researchers and innovators, allowing industry partners to better understand the mechanisms for collaboration. This understanding could lead to more successful TT, benefiting IP licensors and licensees and ultimately helping consumers get the most value from products.

Irmandy Wicaksono, Hybrid Electrical-textile Engineer, Artist, and Designer, PhD Candidate, MIT Media Lab

Textiles are omnipresent and some of the oldest forms of arts and culture in human civilization. They are our protective skin, the interface between our body and the environment, and artistic media for self-expression. As electronics become more soft, compliant, miniaturized, and low-cost, textiles provide an ideal technology integration substrate to further drive the ubiquitous computing and personalized telemedicine era. My research combines recent advances in functional materials, microelectronics, hardware systems, digital fabrication, and immersive technologies to develop sensate fabrics across scales.

In this talk, explore various methods in sensate fabric development using functional fibers, digital machine knitting, and printed circuits to create e-textiles with tunable electrical and mechanical properties and computational capabilities for applications in HCI, health, musical expression, and interactive environments.

This talk will discuss NASA’s approach to textile selection for high O2 environments including why we need to operate in high O2 environments and the associated flammability testing efforts.

Holly Morris, Consultant Hand Surgeon and Medical Textile Specialist

By generating almost 5% of the world’s carbon emissions, healthcare, if it were a country, would be the world’s fifth biggest polluter and for the UK in 2017, the health sector alone was responsible for 4.4% of its net global greenhouse gas emissions and 6.3% of that country’s carbon footprint. In 2020, the UK National Health Service became the first health service to announce its intention to achieve Net Zero emissions. Between 20% and 33% of health care waste is thought to originate from a hospital’s operating rooms and up to 90% of this is sent for unnecessary hazardous-waste disposal. Current practice allows the use of disposable or re-usable textile items but textile products can still account for up to 30% of the waste generated within an operating theatre.

This presentation, by one of the authors of the textile guidance given for the UK Green Surgery Report, explains the steps that those working in textile product development and those working in healthcare can take to reduce the textile-related carbon footprint and, in particular, to how medical textile items, such as gowns and drapes can be selected to produce a lower carbon footprint.  Attention is also paid to how reusable textiles can be microbiologically decontaminated and laundered in the most economical and ecologically-acceptable fashion. The presentation draws attention to the need for willingness to implement already-existing solutions for environmentally-acceptable personal protective equipment (PPE) and low carbon-footprint laundry processes for the cleaning and microbiological decontamination of all types of re-usable textiles employed within the operating theatre. Where redesign of PPE is required, the need is stressed for sensitive adjustment of standards to support the implementation of reusable forms, whilst maintaining the original high performance requirements expected in actual use.

Prateeti Ugale, Graduate Research Assistant, North Carolina State University

Flexible interconnects play a pivotal role in the development of electronic textiles, enabling the creation of wearable systems with integrated electronic functionalities like sensing, data processing, communication, and actuation for various applications like smart clothing for healthcare monitoring, sports performance tracking, augmented reality interfaces, and interactive fashion. Vertical flexible interconnects unlock several capabilities like compactness, comfort, scalability, and modularity, enhancing the user experience and expanding the possibilities of wearable technology.

Frank Keohan, Senior Technology Manager, Bolger & O’Hearn, Inc.

Liquid repellents based on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are under intense regulatory pressure both locally and globally.  Fluorine-free replacements often require process variation from conventional fluorochemical repellents and provide little oil repellency.  The choice of repellent and application conditions are critical for obtaining maximum performance.  This is especially true for critical applications in medical and military textiles.  Attendees will learn the basics behind fluorine-free repellents, PFAS detection, regulatory issues, and the evolving technology for increasing repellency performance.

Dr. Gozde Goncu-Berk, PhD, Associate Professor of Design, UC Davis

By leveraging transdisciplinary design innovations, this presentation will showcase how collaborative efforts across engineering, healthcare, and design fields can lead to textile based wearable solutions in enhancing health and wellbeing. The presentation will highlight electronic textiles and smart clothing to monitor health, provide sensory feedback, and adapt to various environmental and activity-based contexts

Lelia Lawson, Research & Development Specialist, Davey Textile Solutions Inc.

Why don’t we wear hemp? In terms of Canadian hemp, the primary reason is end-use application. The majority of hemp crops grown in Canada are grain/seed crops. These crops are cultivated at a lower seeding rate than traditional textile hemp crops to allow for a larger canopy. This results in a stalk that has a lower bast to hurd ratio, as well as varying width from the tip to the root. Furthermore, grain/seed crops contain higher lignin than traditional textile crops due to longer growing periods. The resulting bast fiber is extremely coarse and requires additional processing to make is useable in a textile application. An alternative is to utilize hemp as a feedstock to manufacture regenerated cellulosic fibers. The research presented will demonstrate the validity of using Canadian-grown hemp as a primary feedstock in manufacturing regenerated cellulosic fibers using the environmentally-friendly lyocell process. Different pretreatments to the hemp stalk will be discussed, offering an opportunity to process hemp stalks both efficiently and economically.

Salman Chaudhry, Senior Technical Advisor for KBR Inc, partnering with Axiom Space to support the NASA Artemis III Mission

The presentation will highlight the harsh space environments on the Low Earth Orbit and the Lunar Surface. Flammability, extreme temperature swings, UV radiations and atomic oxygen influx, micro-meteoroid orbital debris risks and how it correlates to textile material performance for the space environment qualification.

How advancement in textile developments is pushing the limits for not only protecting the astronauts but enabling the next generation of space exploration.

Konrad Rykaczewski, Associate Professor, Arizona State University

Understanding how the human body is heated and cooled in extreme heat can inform the design of textiles and garments that can support thermoregulation. This presentation will cover new methods used to understand these processes in sunny and extremely hot conditions (up to 119F). It will cover radiative and convective body heating measured using the first outdoor thermal manikin and discuss evaporative skin cooling from the perspective of a single sweat pore.

Dr. Nic Brownless, COO / VP R&D, Eeonyx Corp

This is a general first hand account of the challenges faced by a small company in making customized coated sensor fabrics for a number of different applications. The presentation will discuss challenges faced in this endeavor, including but not exclusive to:

• Learning to speak the same language as the customer
• Bridging the Performance Specification gap
• Selection and/or creation of suitable testing methods and devices to truly evaluate fabric fitness for use
• Typical behaviors of sensor fabrics when placed under duress with compression
• Achieving consistency from batch to batch

Anirudh Sharma, Researcher, MIT Media Lab

Anirudh will delve into his journey evolving from research labs to startups on wearable computing, material science, AI and its impact on the fashion/and print industry. He will focus on climate impact and CO2-to-new-materials innovations developed at the MIT spinoff Graviky Labs. Later he will demonstrate novel approaches, and techniques using advanced sensing techniques combined with Artificial Intelligence, LLMs to interpret and understand information from the physical world.

Dr. Juliana Cherston, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian; Consultant on Emerging Technology

In this classroom session, Dr. Juliana Cherston will offer a case study on a partnership between her research group at MIT and collaborators from industry to bring the first electronic textile to the International Space Station. In addition to sharing details on the project itself, she will offer a retrospective on successes and challenges in how to structure partnerships, scope project timelines, and manage deliverables. Juliana will also offer a broad sense for the landscape of opportunity when it comes to textiles in space, both near term and far future.

Jamie Griggs, Senior Brand Partner, Hohenstein; Will Troutman, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

How do you balance risk and budget while protecting customers, workers and the environment? Complicated supply chains with global legal compliance? Reputations and performance with claim validation?

The challenges surrounding sustainability, regulatory and industry compliance require greener chemistry — proactively reducing or eliminating chemical hazards. This means predicting restrictions, preventing hazards from entering supply chains and strategic testing based on risk. Join us to discuss the legal and technical considerations that go into a greener chemistry approach.

Manu Venkataramu, COO and Todd Morgan, VP of Sales, InfoPine

Challenges: Identify and address common obstacles to implementing AI technologies in textile businesses like high initial costs, integration complexities, and resistance to change that can cause limited or no return on investment (ROI).

ROI Calculator: Learn how to use a ROI calculator to assess the financial impact and benefits of implementing AI technologies.

Strategic Advantages of AI in Maximizing ROI in Textile Manufacturing: AI can optimize key aspects of textile manufacturing to maximize ROI, including:

• Optimize Production Schedules
• Accurate Demand Forecasting
• Efficient Resource Allocation
• Targeted Reductions in Inventory, Errors, and Labor Costs

Real-World Examples: Delve into case studies and success stories that highlight how AI adoption within the industry helps manufacturers achieve expected ROI.

Actionable Insights: Receive advice on harnessing AI to drive innovation and achieve sustainable growth, all while focusing on maximizing your financial returns.

Session Outcome: Discover how AI can transform operations and enhance your competitive edge in the textile business by improving profitability through targeted reductions.

*Workshop is full, waiting list only

Eldy Lazaro, PhD Student , ATLAS Institute, CU Boulder
This workshop will teach participants biobased material development and implementation via hands-on explorations and brainstorming activities. We will discuss the material’s life cycle, design opportunities for disassembly, and end-of-life of soft electronics and interactive interfaces. Attendees will leave with the knowledge of being able to:

• Make agar-agar bioplastics and biofoams.
• Integrate biobased materials into woven structures to make interactive interfaces.
• Imagine applications of biobased materials in soft electronics or wearable technology.

Moderator: Wendy Gao, Aerospace Textile Engineer, NASA Johnson Space Center JETS II Contract
Panelists: Jason Smith, Customer Solutions and Business Development Lead, Aegis Aerospace, Inc.; Dr. Juliana Cherston, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian; Consultant on Emerging Technology; Ted Fetterman, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Bally Ribbon Mills

In this session, we will discuss how the panelists develop advanced textiles for the space environment. The discussion will cover concept development, partnerships, prototyping, and testing samples both on the ground and in space.

Aimee Heuschkel, Marketing Director, Lectra USA, Inc, Lenny Marano, President of the Americas, Lectra and Luis Magana

The protective wear and defense industry, vital for safeguarding American workers, is experiencing rapid growth, projected at 6.7% CAGR by 2030. This surge is driven by heightened workplace safety awareness, strict regulations, and global security concerns.

Embracing Industry 4.0 has become a game-changer. The integration of smart technologies, automation, and data analytics into manufacturing processes is enhancing efficiency, reducing production costs, and improving overall product quality.

Through this discussion, participants will gain an understanding of:

• Advanced Equipment Integration
• Industry 4.0: Exploring the impact of cloud-based solutions
• Innovative Applications
• Future Trends and Opportunities

Tim Akes, Representative in the Americas, MPanel Software Solutions, LLC

Unlock the potential of real-time design software to revolutionize your sales proposals. This session teaches how to quickly adapt designs during client meetings, ensuring proposals are both engaging and reflective of client needs.

Crystal Harrison, Vice President Of Business Development, SCL Equipment Finance

Securing capital is important for the growth and sustainability of your company. It enables you to acquire new technology, replace outdated systems, and implement automation. Join Crystal to learn how to acquire funding for your capital equipment purchases.

Holly Morris, Consultant Hand Surgeon and Medical Textile Specialist

Current practice allows the use of disposable or re-usable items in the operating room or a combination of the two, and as a consequence, between 20% and 33% of health care waste is thought to originate from a hospital’s operating rooms; up to 90% of this is sent for costly and unnecessary hazardous-waste disposal. The textile components can account for up to 30% of the waste from operating theatres and regionally-collected data from trauma and orthopaedic operations suggests that 6-8kg of the waste generated per procedure originates from gowns and drapes. The negative effects on the environment are significant. By generating almost 5% of the world’s carbon emissions, healthcare, if it were a country, would be the world’s fifth biggest polluter and in the UK in 2017 the health sector alone was responsible for 4.4% of its net global greenhouse gas emissions and 6.3% of the UK’s carbon footprint. In 2020, the UK National Health Service became the first health service to announce its intention to achieve net zero emissions.

This presentation, by one of the authors of the textile guidance given for the UK Green Surgery Report explains the steps which need to be taken to achieve a circular economy for the medical textiles used in operating theatres. It is intended to alert textile researchers to the most-urgent development priorities for more environmentally-acceptable workwear for healthcare personnel; it also draws attention to the consequent need for improvements in the quality of evidence, not only on infection prevention by both single-use and re-usable items of PPE, but also on the implementation of effective laundry processes for the cleaning and microbiological decontamination of re-usable textiles.

Jeff Post, Vice President / General Manager, CGPC America Corporation / Enduratex

Durable coated fabrics provide a balance of functionality and aesthetics, making them a versatile material for commercial upholstery applications. The manufacturers of durable coated fabrics, through membership in the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association, support a process of total quality management and continuous improvement in their products, processes, and services. These fabrics are engineered to meet a wide variety of requirements and customized for a wide range of colors and patterns to match specific design preferences. To that end, the durable coated fabrics industry developed standards that reference minimum performance criteria and test methods to promote product performance, facility quality control and assure customer satisfaction.

Mary Holt, Chief Design Strategist, Carnegie

The built environment contributes over 40% of all greenhouse gasses. Bringing this number down takes every avenue of creative thinking, and continued commitment from design professionals whose specification decisions have ramifications that last for decades. When it comes to commercial textiles, performance and durability are a baseline requirement, but this doesn’t have to come at the cost of sustainability. The last few years have seen tremendous innovation in combining new methodologies of textile production to drive high performance, innovative, sustainable solutions. This includes bio-based textiles, fabrics made from 100% recycled materials such as plastic bottles or wool, silicone hybrids and recycled PET, and more. In this session, you will learn about the currently available high performance sustainable textile options, understand how to interpret sustainability claims to cut through greenwashing noise, gain skills on educating your clients on the importance of responsible materials selection and learn about efforts being made to incorporate circularity into the commercial textile lifecycle.

Robin DuBroy, Director of Operations, Wholesale Shade

What makes a good shade sail? Shade sails are more present here in the U.S., but what’s the difference between a well-designed shade sail and a cheap ready-made one? In the world of custom-made shade sails, how do I know that I’m designing a good, or dare I say, perfect, shade sail? Join us as we walk you through Shade Sail Theory – aka – why do I need curves and other important questions.

Terry Kelm, President, Sunbelt Re-sales

Every business owner, regardless of tenure, should be planning for the eventual exit of their business.   Whether your potential exit is in the near future, or years away, it is an owner’s best interest to plan for that inevitable day.    In this session, we will talk about several aspects of both preparing your business for sale, and more importantly what business owners can do today to maximize the value of their business when they are ready to exit.   Included will be discussions: on how businesses are valued, what buyers look for when purchasing a small business, and time proven tips/strategies to maximize business value at exit.

Paige Mullis, Consultant

Join us on a journey into the future with ‘Tech Horizons: Innovations Shaping Our World.’ Discover the latest advancements from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that are revolutionizing industries and daily life. From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Mobility, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Smart Home technologies, explore how these innovations are reshaping our world. Gain insights into cutting-edge materials and trends that are driving the next wave of technological evolution. This talk is a must-attend for anyone eager to stay ahead in the dynamic world of technology.

Bruce Danziger, SE, Principal, Danziger Engineering Collaborative, Inc.

Lightweight structures should be more sustainable compared to conventional materials and methods of construction. How do we prove this? Lightweight Footprint are establishing a platform for the lightweight structures community to make embodied carbon reduction commitments. Attendees will leave with the knowledge of being able to:

1. Access current EPD data for tensioned membranes
2. Establish realistic and achievable embodied carbon targets for tensioned membrane structures
3. Declare your organization’s commitment to reduce embodied carbon

Moderator: Michael M. Woody, CEO, Trans-Tex LLC
Panelists: Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO/Founder, MMI Textiles, Inc.; Chad M. Twombly, Vice President – Direct Sales, Herculite Products Inc.

Industry experts will talk about  some of the top challenges on the trade front and with supply chain. We’ll also explore some of the potential solutions in this lively panel discussion.

Dr. Faisal Abedin, Post-Doctoral Researcher, North Carolina State University

This study invetigate into the exothermic and endothermic behavior of textile fibers, specifically wool, cotton, viscose, and polyester, under varying moisture conditions and their subsequent impact on human physiological responses. Traditional fabric testing methods, including the ISO 16533 standard, have limitations in accurately representing the transient conditions experienced by sportswear in real-world scenarios. To address this gap, our investigation introduces a comprehensive testing approach combining reliable fabric test methodologies, thermal manikin experiments, and human trials to characterize the fabric’s behavior under dynamic conditions.

By employing a thermal manikin subjected to step changes in relative humidity (RH) and a controlled environment for sweating manikin experiments, we were able to simulate real-life situations such as a sudden increase in activity levels. This method allowed us to observe the heat of sorption effects of hygroscopic fibers, notably demonstrating wool’s superior ability to maintain a thermal microclimate, thereby enhancing wearer comfort post-exercise.

Further validation was provided through human trials involving 12 male participants across five different outfits, under controlled climate conditions. The trials revealed significant differences in thermal comfort, with wool fibers providing superior temperature sensation during the post-exercise recovery phase, as opposed to polyester, which was noted as the least comfortable.

The findings of our research led to the development of a novel fabric test method capable of simulating changing environmental conditions in a single step. This method, utilizing a custom-made hot plate, offers a new perspective on fabric functionality under dynamic environmental conditions, potentially revolutionizing sportswear design by focusing on “dynamic breathability.”

Our findings not only contribute to the academic understanding of textile behavior under moisture variance but also offer practical implications for sportswear manufacturers, aiming to enhance athlete comfort and performance in fluctuating climatic conditions. This investigation sets the stage for future research on dynamic breathability and its incorporation into the design and marketing of high-performance sportswear.

Paul Armstrong, Principal, PACCS

This session will identify recent changes in the IBC, along with Federal Legislative actions affecting the industry. It will address the extension of time that a temporary structure can be installed and reduced loads in the IBC and federal bill affecting powered awning installations. Attendees are encouraged to bring up code-related concerns that impact your business during this session.

Elizabeth Denly, Vice President, PFAS Initiative Leader & Chemistry Director, TRC

PFAS are a group of more than 10,000 man-made chemicals resistant to heat, water, and oil that have been used in the manufacturing of a number of consumer products, including stain-, water-, and oil-resistant fabrics. The regulatory framework and science of PFAS are rapidly evolving, creating business and environmental risks related to storage, management and use of PFAS-containing materials.  Designed and formulated for persistence, PFAS resist decomposition and can migrate from manufacturing process, various waste streams and emissions to our drinking water and atmosphere. Health concerns have influenced many states to sample water supplies and establish guidelines and/or enforcement limits.

The textile industry is especially targeted due to their use of water, grease, and stain resistant chemicals such as PFAS on finished textiles, as these properties are often used and preferred by consumers. Currently, USEPA is planning to target approximately 2,200 textile manufacturing facilities within the United States with a mandatory information collection request (ICR).  This ICR is anticipated to focus on facilities that perform one or more of the following operations and discharge process wastewater to surface waters or to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs): Wool scouring; Wool finishing;  Yarn and unfinished fabric manufacturing; Woven fabric finishing; Knit fabric finishing; Carpet finishing; Nonwoven textile products of wool, cotton, synthetics, or blends of such fabrics.  USEPA may also require wastewater sampling from a subset of these facilities, based on the responses, to characterize wastewater discharges from the textile industry.  Ultimately, the responses may also support USEPA’s efforts to develop and propose new regulations if deemed appropriate. USEPA plans to estimate current pollutant mass loads and achievable reductions for available technologies for the industry and to determine if the effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) limiting pollutant discharges from industrial point source categories under the Clean Water Act should be revised.

This presentation is designed to give industry professionals a practical understanding of the complexities and challenges PFAS can introduce to strategic planning, risk liability evaluations, and environmental sites and approaches to manage these in an uncertain technical, regulatory, and legal environment. This presentation looks beyond the PFAS basics.

Moderator: Paige Mullis, Consultant

Panelists:
Jim Joyce, Chairman of the Board, Pleneri Inc.
Anirudh Sharma, Researcher, MIT Media Lab
Manu Venkataramu, COO, InfoPine

Explore the transformative power of AI in textiles with leading experts. This panel will delve into generative AI’s role in material development, AI-driven ERP systems tailored for the textile industry, and the innovative use of AI in design and manufacturing. Discover how AI is reshaping the textile landscape, enabling unprecedented customization, efficiency, and scalability.

Bruce Danziger, SE, Principal, Danziger Engineering Collaborative, Inc.

While membrane structures are not the panacea to address the global crisis of climate change, Shady Ventures believe that lightweight structures are an underutilized remedy to provide sustainable solutions, shade, and passive cooling. Attendees will leave with the knowledge of being able to:

1. Identify optimal locations and project scale for membrane cooling centers
2. Utilize shade and airflows to design membrane forms for cooling centers
3. Select appropriate membrane materials for cooling centers

Holly Bloom, Senior Managing Partner, Financial Advisor and Damien Cannaday, Senior Managing Partner, Financial Advisor, CB Wealth and Insurance Solutions

Maximize your ATA risk and asset member benefits by exploring strategies to safeguard your business’s future. Learn to assess your company’s value, develop succession plans, and retain top talent – essential steps for long-term success.

Apurba Banerjee, Textile Research Scientist- Innovation, Standard Textile

The landscape of the textile industry and workplace has undergone a profound transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Persistent lockdowns and the emergence of various variants have not only reshaped physical workspaces but have also propelled them into a realm of mobility, flexibility, and dynamic location shifts. This paradigm shift challenges the conventional notions of work, demonstrating that remote work not only sustains but can enhance productivity.

However, as organizations navigate this new era of work, it becomes imperative to invest more deeply in their employees. The adaptability demanded by the prolonged pandemic has tested the resilience of young professionals. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in a significant exodus of talent, termed “”The Great Resignation,”” driven by burnout and pandemic fatigue. The integration of work and personal life has blurred, with a staggering 90% of young professionals reporting burnout.

This presentation strives to shed light on how textile industry workplaces can proactively redefine their practices and foster behaviors conducive to a post-pandemic world. It aims to provide concrete suggestions for cultivating more inclusive, sustainable, and supportive work environments tailored to the needs of young professionals.

Adam Penner, Owner, AP Consulting and Technical Services

AI is more than just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. But what exactly is AI, and how can it help your small business thrive? In this dynamic session, we’ll demystify AI, explore its evolution, and showcase how cutting-edge tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are revolutionizing the way we work. You’ll learn how AI can streamline operations, boost productivity, and drive profits. Whether you’re eager to fully embrace AI or just curious about its potential, this session will provide you with practical insights and real-world examples to get you started. Don’t miss out on discovering how AI can transform your business!

Xochil Herrera Scheer, Apparel Engineer, Product Development Expert | President & Founder, The Chicago Pattern Maker (XOCHIL INC)

Product development happens in the background in the textiles and apparel industry, making it a bit mysterious and even intimidating for someone looking to start their own brand. Xochil Herrera Scheer, president and founder of The Chicago Pattern Maker, built her successful business from the ground up, creating opportunities for growth by utilizing multiple social media platforms along with in-person networking to reach her audience and educate on how the technical side of the business really works.

By sharing her day-to-day experiences, highlighting the “behind-the-seams” work that actually goes into producing a garment, and providing her insights on current news and industry topics online and at events, Xochil has leveraged her network and marketing efforts to connect with people in a way that is authentic and genuine, and translate that into real business. Xochil has helped small businesses to realize the benefits of investing in their development, as well as providing core services to larger organizations in a way that allows them to be as nimble as smaller ones.

Learn strategies that can help you craft your online presence and expand your network both virtually and IRL (in real life).

Allison Murmello, Business Development Engineer, Arkema Inc.

The textile industry’s pursuit of sustainable, robust, and durable solutions mirrors a global shift towards responsible production, consumer preferences, and the urgent need to protect our planet. In a quest for more sustainable practices, the creation of products that can be effortlessly recycled or repurposed has become crucial. However, we face persistent challenges, including the complexity of mixed-material products that impede efficient recycling processes. This presentation will delve into high-performance material solutions in textiles that may provide a way forward.

This presentation will explore material solutions for textiles and how they compare with next best alternatives. Derived from the castor bean, these high-performance polyamides offer sustainable alternatives for textile and consumer applications. We’ll discuss the importance of monomaterial design in facilitating recycling and reducing waste. Additionally, an end user example of a recyclable sneaker design will provide a glimpse into a journey towards a circular recycling stream.

Liz Davis, STSC, Construction Operations Manager, Sunbelt Temporary Structures

Elevated work is an unavoidable part of installation in many sectors of the textiles industry. In this session, review primary hazards introduced to your workforce while working at heights during awning and tent installations. We will discuss best practices in building your company’s fall protection policy and take a close look at personal protective equipment selection and maintenance.

Auggie Tantillo, President, SRG & Associates

Auggie Tantillo will update attendees on a range of federal policy and legislative matters that are of direct interest to the technical and industrial textile sector. Policy issues to be discussed will include international trade matters, defense procurement, and the growing controversy over PFAS, better known as “forever chemicals.”

Dr. Faisal Abedin, Post-Doctoral researcher, North Carolina State University

This presentation unveils an innovative technology that integrates electronics at the thread level within woven textiles, marking a significant advancement in the realm of smart fabrics and wearable electronics. Leveraging a unique conductive yarn, akin to copper, intertwined with polyester using a 3/1 twill pattern on a CCI weaving loom, we have crafted a foundational grid that retains 80-90% of the original fabric’s flexibility. This meticulously designed, electrically conductive grid exhibits a linear resistance of 1.91 Ω/m and is capable of handling currents up to 250 mA. Notably, the integration process also involves embedding in-fiber electronic components directly into the fabric’s weft, yielding a fabric width of approximately 10 inches—a scale previously unachieved on industrial weaving machines. The resultant smart fabric not only maintains its innovative electronic functions but also withstands multiple cycles of delicate washing, underscoring its durability and practicality for everyday use. This breakthrough demonstrates the seamless integration of electronics with textile manufacturing, propelling forward the capabilities and applications of smart textiles in various industries.

Justin Barnes, CEO, Tropical J’s Inc.

Join us as we share some invaluable insights we’ve gained from years of refining our large canopy frames. This session will guide you through key strategies for effective frame design, culminating in an exciting live demonstration.

1.    Unveiling Our Predesign Process: Gain a clear understanding of the crucial steps we take before diving into the design phase.
2.    Custom Rafter Sizing for Compliance: Learn how to accurately size custom rafters to ensure they meet  building codes.
3.    Designing Live: Watch as we create a frame in real time, showcasing our design techniques and answering your questions.

Moderator: Jonathan Palmer, CEO, Autometrix, Precision Cutting Solutions

Panelists: Dr. Bob Gazich, Vice President, Global Impex and Professor, College of Saint Benedict St John’s University
Rachal McCarthy, President, NTI Global

Navigate the future of your family business with confidence. This session offers vital insights, real-life examples, and open discussions on effective succession planning. Gain essential strategies to ensure a smooth transition, preserving your business legacy for generations to come.

Dr. Gozde Goncu-Berk, PhD, Associate Professor of Design, UC Davis

Key themes of this presentation include sustainability and customizability, emphasizing the importance of eco-friendly materials and processes, as well as the ability to tailor e-textiles to individual needs and preferences. Additionally, it will address the technical and practical challenges, including durability, washability, power supply, and data security. By examining current research, this presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential and hurdles in the development and adoption of e-textiles

John Loyer, Head of North America Govt. and Public Affairs, Somfy Systems Inc.

Earlier this year in the United Stated Congress, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed a bill that could have significant effects on the awnings industry. In response, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) wrote a letter to Underwriters Laboratories (UL) suggesting serious and onerous changes to UL 325, the Standard for Safety for Door, Drapery, Gate, Louver, and Window Operators and Systems.

Find out the status of this bill and how the CPSC and UL process will affect the industry.

Moderator: Apurba Banerjee, Textile Research Scientist- Innovation, Standard Textile
Panelists: Jennifer Guarino, President and CEO, ISAIC, Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center; Netia McCray, Mbadika Labs; Chris Semonelli, Owner, Coated Technical Solutions

Reaching students in high school and earlier is key to introducing them to the opportunities in the textile industry. From apprenticeships to interning opportunities to traditional classroom education, there are many ways to bring the industry to students. With concrete examples of successful programs, the panel will share how they planned and created new educational efforts, as well as how they found funding for the programs.

Join for an update on ATA’s member groups. Members and non-members are encouraged to join ATA staff for an update on how member programming and other offerings can serve your company. This is a chance to engage with your group leaders and learn more about the other market segments that ATA serves.

NEW for 2024!

Women’s Networking Walk

Join other women in the industry to connect before the Show Floor Opens at 7 am. Meet at the Hilton Anaheim.

Women’s Leadership Empowerment Session: Balancing Priorities for Success

Join us for an empowering Women’s Leadership session designed to inspire and equip women in the industry for success. The session kicks off with presentations by Connie Huffa, CEO, Textile Engineering & Product Innovation Expert, Fabdesigns, Inc. and Michelle Lea, Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer, NILIT Ltd. Following the presentations, engage in a dynamic Q&A session to gain valuable advice and perspectives from these industry leaders.

Then, transition into a development session focused on setting boundaries and priorities. Learn practical strategies and techniques to establish habits that promote work life balance, personal well-being, and professional growth.

Embrace this opportunity to connect with likeminded women and gain valuable tools and tips to thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Join us for a new marine fabrication topic every hour in the specialty fabrics campfire space on the show floor! Topics include, zipper installation, fabric selection, tips, tricks and more.

Schedule:
9:30 am – Marine Fabrics 101: Selecting the right material for your project | Mike Hendrix, Director, MFA Board
10:30 am – How to Build a U-Zip with a Built in Rain Flap | Keith Purves, Immediate Past Chairman, MFA Board
11:30 am –Tools, Tips and Tricks | Julie Tinsman, Director, MFA Board 

Join us for a live recording of Talking Textiles. We will cover topics on being a part of the textile business on the West Coast and member experiences at the Advanced Textiles Expo. Gain perspectives and insider views from our featured guests!