Specialty Fabrics Review November 2019 - 46

IFAI EXPO 2019

HIGH POINTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
PERFORMANCE PLUS
Rewarding innovation

Recognizing excellence

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) has
awarded Propex GeoSolutions, Chattanooga,
Tenn., first prize in the 2019 IFF Innovation
Award competition for its PETROMAT® Enviro
engineered paving fabric (at left).
PETROMAT Enviro was developed to solve
the milling and recycling issues associated with
traditional paving fabric: It offers the installation
flexibility, superior stress absorption and moisture protection of a
traditional paving fabric, and is nearly indistinguishable in recycled
asphalt pavement (RAP) once milled. Milled PETROMAT Enviro
comes in sizes up to one inch in diameter, allowing it to pass easily
through recycling machines. Unlike brittle glass-based geosynthetic
interlayers, Enviro can be placed directly on a milled surface without
fear of breaking or tearing, and allows for smooth, wrinkle-free
installation, even around curves.
Gerber Technology, Tolland, Ct., was
awarded Honorable Mention for its MCT Cutter
digital finishing system (at left), a versatile,
robust, accurate and easy-to-use flatbed
cutting table featuring a variety of sizes, a
universal tool head with 12 interchangeable
tools and high-powered laser, and industryleading print-to-cut capabilities to finish
digitally printed textiles with a clean, sealed edge.
Innovation is the heart of creating a specialty fabrics industry that
will inspire technology in the 21st century. The IFF Innovation Award
transforms that idea into action, working to foster the next generation
of specialty fabric industry innovators.
The Industrial Fabrics Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c) (3)
organization dedicated to education and research in specialty fabrics.
For more information, contact Linden Wicklund, IFF Managing
Director, at llwicklund@ifai.com,
or visit www.indfabfnd.com.

For seven decades, IFAI's International
Achievement Awards (IAA) competition
has recognized excellence in design and
innovation, highlighting truly spectacular
work in the specialty fabrics and technical
textiles industry. IFAI's goal is to promote
awareness of the specialty fabrics used
in thousands of products and applications
in the growing, $130 billion-plus global
fabrics marketplace.
This year, IFAI received a total of 255
entries from 24 countries in 42 categories.
Sixty-eight winners were selected based
on complexity, design, workmanship,
uniqueness and function. Judges included
industry experts, editors, architects,
educators and design professionals.
Judges also selected the "Best of
Category" winners in each of the six
major award categories (earning the
Transformit, Gorham, Maine,
highest total scores among the Award
won a Best in Category 2019
of Excellence winners within that major
IAA Award for "Serpentine."
category). The winners:
Fabric Structures: Taiyo Europe GmbH Sauerlach, Germany, for
Testing Tower, Rottweil, Germany; Awnings and Canopies: SHADE
Industries Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., for McKesson GORILLABrellas; Fabric
Environments: Transformit, Gorham, Maine, for Serpentine; Marine
Fabrication: Chicago Marine Canvas, Chicago, Ill., for A "Skater" with
Style; Tents: Eventstar Structures, Medley, Fla., for Ralph Lauren 50th
Anniversary; Geosynthetics: Hallaton Environmental Linings, Sparks,
Md., for Temporary Lined Stone Cofferdam.
For more information on all the winners and other entries,
with photos and detailed project descriptions, visit iaa.ifai.com.
The 2020 IAA competition will start accepting entries in March, 2020.

Behind the scenes at Disney World

D

isney World is celebrating its 48th year of operation in an
environment of old-fashioned customer service and ever-evolving
new technology. Expo attendees who registered for a day-long tour got
a look at how costumes, audio animatronics, laundry and other logistics
stay on track at the world-famous theme park, and how the employer of
76,000 "cast members" keeps visitors both entertained and safe.
A special highlight for attendees took place at the Creative Costuming
building: guests toured the CAD room where patterning and cutting take
place, and then visited the sewing area where 50 sewing specialists work
their magic. Costumes were displayed showing examples of 3D printing
and hundreds of fabric swatches, buttons and embroidery samples. The
only organization that requires more costumes than Disney is the U.S.
military, with its use of uniforms, linens and technical fabrications.
At the Textile Services Plant, three miles of track hold hundreds of
slings loaded with sorted laundry bound for washing, drying, folding and
ironing. Each sling holds 150 pounds of laundry, and it takes 30 minutes

to wash and dry each load. Each costume has an RFID tag sewn into
it so laundered items can be sorted and returned to the correct cast
member. Each performer has five costumes, to ensure clean clothes
for upcoming performances. No performance costumes are allowed
off site; this prevents a rogue Disney princess from showing up at an
unauthorized private birthday party.
http://iaa.ifai.com http://www.indfabfnd.com
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2019

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