Specialty Fabrics Review December 2021 - 6

[ FIRST IMPRESSIONS ]
[ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ]
Working together to
solve problems
A
n event like last month's Industrial Fabrics Association
International Expo in Nashville, Tenn., is a good way to check the
pulse of an industry. And if anything was clear at Expo, it was that
textile manufacturers are ready and eager to get back to work.
Exhibitors and attendees at Expo were clearly excited to be there
after a year of no face-to-face contact. There was a decided feeling of
optimism from exhibitors both large and small.
That optimism was tempered somewhat by the
reality that many of the attendees and exhibitors
face these days; even if they can make the goods,
the question of whether they will be able to get
them into customers' hands is unanswered.
Supply chain issues have brought more than
Tim Goral,
Senior Editor
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a few companies to a standstill, not just in the
textile industry, but in consumer electronics, the
auto industry, food and many others. If they are
unable to get the parts and materials they need,
manufacturers can't make and sell their products.
The reason, of course, is the exorbitant cost of
shipping goods across the country or across the
world. The cost of shipping containers has risen
from three to five times more than they previously
cost. On top of that the ports are so backed up
because of COVID-19 closures and labor shortages
that container ships may sit in the port for weeks
or months before they can be moved.
But even when faced with these problems,
Expo attendees showed their resilience and
determination. For example, we heard from several companies
that, faced with supply shortages, were able to find new partners on
the Expo show floor that will enable them to continue getting what
they need to fill orders.
And that's the real value and power of an event like IFAI Expo.
It's not just about seeing the latest machines and products on the
market; it's about connecting with peers to find answers to your,
and the industry's, problems.
January 2022
Marine Fabricators Conference
JAN. 13-15 / Wild Dunes, Charleston's
Island Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C.
www.ifai.com/marineconference
Tent Expo
JAN. 18-20 / ONE DAYTONA
Daytona Beach, Fla.
www.ifai.com/tentexpo
February 2022
MFA Workshop
FEB. 10-11 / Charlton's Marine Canvas,
Yorktown, Va.
www.ifai.com/mfa-workshop
Women in Textiles Summit
FEB. 16-18 / Chateau Elan, Braselton, Ga.
www.ifai.com/women
March 2022
Smart Fabrics Summit
MARCH 28-29 / Talley Student Union, North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
www.smartfabricssummit.com
April 2022
Outlook Conference 2022
APRIL 24-26 / The Omni Homestead Resort,
Hot Springs, Va.
www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2022
October 2022
Oct. 1-4, 2019
Orlando, FL
Orange County Convention Center
SAVE THE DATE
Oct. 12-14, 2021 | Education: Oct. 11-14
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, N.C. USA
www.ifaiexpo.com
All calendar events are subject to change.
Please check event websites for the latest information.
6 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / December 2021

http://www.ifai.com/marineconference http://www.ifai.com/tentexpo http://www.ifai.com/mfa-workshop http://www.ifai.com/women http://www.smartfabricssummit.com http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com http://www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2022 http://www.ifaiexpo.com

Specialty Fabrics Review December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Specialty Fabrics Review December 2021