| For Immediate Release
Contact:
JoAnne Ferris
+1 651 225 6923
PRESS PASSES FOR IFAI EXPO AMERICAS 2011
To register for a free Press Pass contact Melissa Dill at
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Supporting
· American Apparel Producers' Network (AAPN)
· American Association of Textile Chemists and
Colorists (AATCC)
· American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA)
· Business Co-ordination
House (BCH) · EDANA - International
Association Serving the
Nonwovens and Related
Industries
· IFAI/OFPANZ
· Indian Technical Textile
Association (ITTA)
· International Trade
Administration (ITA)
· Lightweight Structures
Association of Australia
(LSAA)
· Malaysian Knitting
Manufacturers Association
(MKMA)
· National Textile Association (NTA)
· The National Association for the Sewn Products Industry (SEAMS)
· The Nonwovens Institute · Synthetic Yarn and Fiber Association (SYFA)
· Textile Association of India
(TAI)
· U.S. Dept. of Commerce
· Connections Magazine
· Fabric Architecture
· FabricLink
· Future Materials
· Innovation in Textiles - Technical Textiles Online
· Marine Fabricator
· Specialty Fabrics Review
· Technical Usage
Textile (TUT)
· Technical Textiles International (TTI)
· TechTex India
· Textile Journal
· Textile Panamericanos
· Textile World
· Textile World Asia
· World Sports Apparel
(WSA)
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(Roseville, MN--July 27, 2011) IFAI Expo Americas 2011 promises to be the "main event" once again for the entire specialty fabrics industry in North America. Thousands of visitors will converge 25-27 October at the Baltimore Convention Center for a four-day event packed with the industry's largest trade exhibition, educational symposiums, top entertainment and speakers, and plenty of social-networking.
IFAI President and CEO Stephen Warner describes IFAI Expo Americas 2011 this way: "This is the main event, the key gathering of critical industry decision-makers. You don't send someone else--you have to come yourself. We've planned an exciting, constantly-moving show.
"Baltimore was chosen for the beautiful Inner Harbor waterfront district and its proximity to Washington, D.C. We expect strong government participation as well as international buyers. It has been a long time since we have held IFAI Expo Americas in the mid-Atlantic region and people are excited," said Warner.
IFAI Expo Americas 2011 has a well-earned reputation as the one-stop-shop featuring hundreds of exhibitors from the industry's top companies in fabrics, fiber, films and chemicals, end products, components, equipment, and technology services.
According to IFAI Expo Americas 2010 exhibitor Steve Wright, of Forest Group USA: "The IFAI show puts us in front of potential customers that we do not see during our typical sales process. We are now involved in several large quoting opportunities thanks to the show."
Last year visitor Jamie Parker, president of Shadys adds, "We attended our first IFAI Expo at the suggestion of one of our manufacturers as a 'must-attend' trade show to finalize our materials and parts selection. They said, 'If you can't find it at this show, then it doesn't exist--especially if you're searching for hard-to-find items.' We were exposed to so many new materials that it stimulated our imagination and we have since developed new drawings and designs for future products we never thought possible."
IFAI Expo Americas 2011 has also been designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) as an International Buyer Program (IBP) in 2011. Each year only a few trade shows held in the U.S. are determined by the USDOC to receive the IBP designation. This is the third time in the last four years that IFAI Expo Americas has been selected, a clear endorsement that this event means international business for the industry. Buyer delegations are expected from all over the world.
One of the convenient features for buyers in the exhibit hall is the Fabric Sourcing Center, where they can view samples of the exhibitors' materials, nicely organized into types of applications, with the exhibitor booth number conveniently listed.
IFAI's Advanced Textiles Americas 2011 technical conference will be held 24-26 Oct., in conjunction with IFAI Expo Americas 2011. A broad interest for this unique conference has developed within the specialty fabrics community because it gives voice each year to new opportunities and game-changing technologies in the textile industry. Debuting in Europe in 2008, this conference has continued to serve as a platform for presenting vital business insights into new research and development, balanced with actual application-based use.
Special Events
This year's distinguished keynote speaker, longtime U.S. political analyst Charlie Cook, Jr., will bravely present the political outlook for the important U.S. elections taking place in 2012--elections that will have a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy. Based on the current political climate in Washington, Cook's presentation promises to be pretty lively!
IFAI is also holding its Gala Welcome Reception and Chairman's Dinner on Tuesday evening for a grand finale to Day One. Special entertainment will be "The Kennedys" (pictured at right), one of the best folk/rock bands in America.
A highlight of the dinner program will be the announcement of the winners of the IFAI International Achievement Awards competition. This year there were over 350 entries from more than 125 companies in 15 countries. This prestigious competition provides high-visibility recognition of the best products within the specialty fabrics market.
The 6th Annual IFF Golf Tournament,
an IFAI Expo Americas pre-show event which helps raise funds for scholarships, will be held Monday, 24 October 2011, at the Mount Pleasant Golf Course in Baltimore, MD. For additional information contact the Industrial Fabrics Foundation office at +1 651 225 6545. Leading the way in specialty fabrics education 
Training is a hot button these days as one of the best ways to speed up a company's productivity and profitability. IFAI Expo Americas 2011 is offering targeted sessions which enable attendees to earn Continuing Education Hours (CEHs/CEUs). Kathy Mattson, vice president of IFAI Member Services, says the training sessions are always packed because of their high value. "Bring your shop crew! These professional development sessions generate new ideas to help your company break into new markets and new profits," she said. Special symposiums, programs and demonstrations include: - Marine Symposium: The Ins and Outs of Patterning
- Fabric Structure Symposium: A Practical Approach to LEED and CSI Fabric Structure Certification
- Fabric Graphics Symposium: Fabric Graphic Applications - Diversifying Your Products
- Architect Session: Fabric Architecture - Taking the Mystery Out of Fabric Structures. Co-organized with the Fabric Structures Association (FSA). 2.0 AIA/CES HSW, SD Credits.
- Awning Symposium: Is Your Cover Too Small? Expand and Diversify Your Awning Business
- Business Symposium: Essential Tools for Maximizing Your Business Through Technology
- Architect Session: Green Roofs for Designers. 2.0 AIA/CES HSW, SD Credits.
- Demonstration: The Bigger the Better - Sewing and Sealing Techniques for Large-scale Fabrication Projects
- Demonstration and Program: Tent Symposium: The Future of Temporary Fabric Structures
Note: Sessions are subject to change. Visit www.ifaiexpo.com for up-to-date details on speakers and program information. U.S. government experts present global textile overview,
exporting opportunities IFAI Expo Americas 2011 visitors will be able to attend a useful, high-level overview of everything from exporting opportunities to legislative and governmental issues facing the U.S. textile industry in several special sessions at IFAI Expo Americas 2011.  | |
Kim Glas, Deputy Assistant Secretary
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On Wed., 26 Oct., 8:00 am, Kim Glas, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Representative Larry Kissell (D-NC) (invited), will lead a discussion on "The global marketplace for specialty fabrics." In addition there will be a panel discussion providing insights into global trade issues, Berry Amendment extension and enforcement
initiatives, and global raw goods markets that affect the U.S. specialty fabrics industry. Joining Glas and Kissell will be Paul O'Day, President and Counsel, American Fiber Manufacturers Association; and Auggie Tantillo, Executive Director of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC).
A presentation entitled, "Exporting for Profit - if not now, when?" will be given Tuesday, 25 Oct., by Mary Lynn Landgraf, Senior International Trade Specialist, and Lawrence Brill, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), U.S. Department of Commerce. It will provide a useful overview of export marketing opportunities and procedures for U.S. specialty fabrics producers and suppliers.
Overview on IFAI Expo Asia 2012 Singapore
Your gateway to business opportunities in Asia Pacific
IFAI's highly successful specialty fabrics exhibition and conference returns 26-28June 2012 to the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre. More.
IFAI will present a special session at IFAI Expo Americas 2011 in Baltimore for companies interested in exhibiting at IFAI Expo Asia 2012 and exporting to the growing Asia Pacific market. To be held Tuesday, 25 Oct., time not yet set. Visit www.ifaiexpo.com for speaker and schedule updates.
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Closeup: IFAI Expo Americas 2011 Featured Technical Conference
IFAI Advanced Textiles Americas 2011 - 24-26 October
Blending technology and materials
Today businesses are looking for ways to gain a competitive edge, and sparking creating thinking is part of reaching that goal. IFAI's Advanced Textiles Americas 2011 is part of a series of technical symposiums which give attendees valuable insights on new research and development, with a balance of actual application-based use. Sessions include:
Transportation - Moving Forward - Presentations will feature what's on the horizon for enhancing product lines, showing materials used in public and private transport modes.
Speakers: John Wilson, The Quantum Group; Lee Woodard, R&D Director for Guilford Performance Textiles' North American Automotive Seating; Bert Miller, founder and President of Top-Line Automotive LLC; Robert Green, Ingeo Fibers and Nonwovens Global Business Director for NatureWorks LLC; and Hardy Sullivan, Crypton Inc.
The Science of Visibility - Discover the newest applications for low-light environments and the science behind how they work--reflective and fluorescent technologies, visibility standards in various industries, and human factor research.
Speakers: Tom King, President of King Tech Group; Shari Franklin-Smith, Manager of 3M Protective Apparel & Footwear Market Center.
Interactive Textile Systems - The latest design technologies and applications of e-textiles and smart fabrics will be explored. New classes of materials and products directly impact the future and sustainable developments in technical and bio-medical applications. Learn how the textile industry is responding to challenges of removing technical and customer barriers to market adoption.
Speakers: Dr. Uwe Möhring, Managing Director of TITV Greiz; Jesse Jur, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University; Dr. Eric Gans, Director, Systems Engineering, Physical Optics Corp.; Tom Martin, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineer, Virginia Tech.
Body and Technology Interactions - Increased body efficiency without sacrificing mobility is the goal of military and commercial textile solutions for personal protective equipment. Learn about the latest efforts to make specialty fabrics clothing and equipment more protective, comfortable and durable, enabling better security and health. Current research being done by and for the military drives many of these innovations.
Speakers: Stephen Fossey, Ph.D., Materials & Fiber Physics Division, Warrior Science & Technology Directorate, NSRDEC; Thamizhisai (Tamil) Periyaswamy, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Human Environmental Studies at the Central Michigan University; Guowen Song, University of Alberta, Canada; Dr. Hamid Benaddi, PhD, Director of Stedfast Research and Scientific Advisor at Stedfast Inc.; Sarah Brumbaugh Snell, EVA Engineer, MRI Technologies.
BONUS SESSIONS
The following two sessions are complimentary with the purchase of a full IFAI Expo Americas 2011 registration and/or a full Advanced Textiles Americas 2011 registration.
U.S. and Global Marketplace Perspective for Specialty Fabrics
Organized by the United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI).
Join U.S. Representative Larry Kissell (D-NC) (invited), and Kim Glas, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, for a discussion on the global marketplace for specialty fabrics.
Congressman Kissell will share Washington D.C.'s perspective on legislative and governmental issues facing the U.S. textile industry. In addition there will be a panel discussion providing insights into global trade issues, Berry Amendment extension and enforcement initiatives and global raw goods markets that affect the U.S. specialty fabrics industry. Joining Kissell and Glas will be Paul O'Day, President & Counsel, American Fiber Manufacturers Association; and Auggie Tantillo, Executive Director of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC).
Performance Textiles: Assuring Product Quality
Organized by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC).
This seminar will examine test methods used to evaluate performance textiles in order to assure product quality. Attendees will get a better understanding of how standardized tests allow them to compare products and learn what the results actually mean. An interactive session showing how testing can improve the reputation and bottom line of your business.
Speakers: W. Curtis White, SAS Global Inc. (and former founder, owner, CEO and director of R&D for ÆGIS Environments); Adam Varley, technical director and co-founder of Vartest Laboratories Inc.; James Gauntner, U.S. and Canadian Sales Manager, Q-Lab Corporation.
Sessions are subject to change. Visit advanced textilesconf.com for up-to-date details and presenter information.
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Upcoming IFAI Events & Important Deadlines
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Canvas Products Association Zone 7 2011 Conference - 30 Nov.-2 Dec. - Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, Akron, OH. For information visit www.canvaszone7.com.
IFAI Canada Expo 2012 - 29-30 March 2012 - Delta Meadowvale Resort & Conference Centre, Toronto (Mississauga, ON). Contact Deb Stender or visit www.ifaicanadaexpo.com. Outlook Conference 2012 - 7-8 May 2012 - Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA. Developed by USIFI and NFI. Contact Ruth Stephens or visit www.usifi.org.
IFAI Expo Americas 2012 - 7-9 Nov. 2012 - Boston Convention Center, Boston, MA - Come celebrate IFAI's 100th Anniversary! Contact Todd Lindemann | +1 651 225 6923. Will be co-located with JEC Americas 2012. Read more. IFAI Expo Americas 2013 - 23-25 Oct., 2013 - Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL - Will be co-located with SGIA Expo 2013. Read more. Contact Todd Lindemann | +1 651 225 6923.
For more information on workshops and other IFAI activities go to www.ifai.com and click on Calendar.
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