The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) announces its signature trade show event, IFAI Expo Americas 2012, to be held Nov. 7 through Nov. 9 at the Boston Convention Center.
The IFAI Expo attracts thousands of registered participants from 60 countries each year. Nearly 400 top companies will showcase the latest developments in fabrics, fiber, films and chemicals, end products, components, equipment, and technology services. Major buyer markets represented include fabric architecture, shading, structures, construction, environmental, geosynthetics, safety, medical, military, marine, upholstery, transportation, filtration, agriculture, covers, sports and many other niche industries.
“This industry runs on innovation, enabling attendees to get a heads-up on emerging markets and products. The scope and depth of the specialty-fabric markets represented at IFAI Expo enables connections to be made throughout the industry’s value chain,” said Todd Lindemann, vice president, IFAI.
During the event, the IFAI will honor its 100th anniversary by showcasing a remarkable history of fabric advancements, from canvas to nanotechnologies, in an IFAI history museum on the show floor and celebration party. Some of the most innovative new products that point to the industry’s revolutionary future will be entered by exhibitors in a new “ShowStopper Awards” competition that will be voted on by show attendees.
IFAI Expo programming is designed to address widespread and niche industries, applicable to businesses from small manufacturing to multi-national corporations. As such, featured programs presented by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Fiber Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute will cover industry-specific topics. The “Architects Program” provides continuing-education credits on the use of specialty and technical fabrics for designing and building green roofs and fabric structures. The show also will present a series of professional business-building sessions followed by industry-specific roundtable discussions.
The IFAI Advanced Textiles & Safety Conference will be held in conjunction with the Boston fabrics tradeshow and is co-organized with the Safety & Technical Products division of IFAI. The conference provides valuable insights into new research and development, game-changing technologies and innovative applications that give a competitive edge in the textile industry. Top experts will present the best of present-day and forthcoming textile technologies on topics such as global trends impacting textiles, silicon-based technologies, wearable technologies for health and safety, and DNA-based authentication of textiles.
The IAFI is the largest and longest-running textile-trade organization in the world. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2012, IFAI publishes six market-specific magazines in print and online, organizes industry events and supports the growth of nearly 1,900 member companies located in 54 countries.
