New Zealand Textile Association Joins IFAI

Roseville, MN - Steve Warner, president of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), and Grant Clausen, president of the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ), have issued a joint-announcement recently revealing the New Zealand-based organization has just voted overwhelmingly to merge their organization into IFAI.

In making the announcement at a press conference at IFAI Expo 2008 in Charlotte, NC, Warner said, "We are truly excited to welcome into IFAI the OFPANZ organization. OFPANZ recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Their membership is comprised of the leading companies in New Zealand involved in the manufacturer of end-products which use specialty fabrics, including lightweight structures, and agricultural, transportation and protective products."

This merger now results in IFAI's third country sector, joining IFAI Japan and IFAI Canada. In noting this accomplishment Warner said, "There is truly no other organization in the textile industry nor in many other manufacturing industries, that has attempted what we are doing to make IFAI an organization representing the global interests of those in the specialty fabrics industry." Altogether, IFAI now has members located in more than 55 countries.

"Besides this expanding geographic representative reach, IFAI is unique because we have involved companies at all levels in the textile industry value chain - from fiber producer to the finished product. Further, we embrace the many diverse niche end-product markets for specialty fabrics. As a result, we have built an engaging, interactive network of the entire specialty fabrics industry," Warner said. "Our intent is simple. We want to be the representative organization growing the acceptance and applications for specialty fabrics."

IFAI supports a global membership with world-class trade shows and conferences such as IFAI Expo 2008, the Advanced Textiles Conference 2009 in Brussels, the IFAI Canada Expo, IFAI Japan Showcase, and recent specialty conferences in Australia, China and Mexico. In addition to the three country sectors, IFAI is organized into 12 niche end-market divisions including automotive, marine, awning, lightweight structures and protective products.

For more information about IFAI activities, visit www.ifai.com

SOURCE: IFAI