From Silk to High Tech

Dr Shafiul Islam, CText FTI, ITS Vice President, chaired the 194th Board of Directors’ Meeting of ITS, held in Brew Pub, Kingston on 7 October 2003. Erhardt Schumann of DuPont Canada, ITS Past President, and Peter Aspley of Invista, ITS Secretary sponsored the ITS Board of Directors’ Supper Meeting. Among the ITS Board of Directors, Peter Aspley, Shafiul Islam, Peter Marsh, Jerry Bauerle and Erhardt Schumann attended the 194th BODs meeting.

The 95th Scientific Session ‘From Silk to High Tech’ of the Institute of Textile Science was held on 8 October 2003 at Invista in Kingston, Ontario. ITS Past President, Erhardt Schumann, welcomed distinguished speakers and participants.

ITS Vice-President, Dr Shafiul Islam, CText FTI, of TexTek Business Solutions, chaired the 95th Scientific Session: ‘From Silk to High Tech’. Four distinguished speakers made their resourceful presentations with an insightful interactive questions and answers session. Dr Islam welcomed two new members of ITS: Ian Maclean of DIFCO Performance Fabrics and Helena Vaderweerd of Tulmar Safety Systems Inc.

Ekaterina Pasnak, Master of Art Conservation Program, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario presented her research, “Role of Alum in Gelatin Sizing of Silk Supports” – explores whether the alum in sizing accelerates degradation though it makes the silk painting more vibrant and more resistant to decolouration. Ms. Pasnak earned her BA in Art History from the University of Moscow. Her art conservation internships include work at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver; the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto and other international museums.

John Winship, Canadian Marketing Manager, Gentex Corporation, Carbondale, PA, presented, “From Silk Manufacturer to High Tech Military Life Support”. Gentex has evolved as a leading developer of military life-support and protective systems. Deeply rooted in textile technology, this presentation highlights over 100 years of product innovation, which includes specialty fabrics and protective devices. Gentex specializes in electro-acoustic products, helmet systems, performance materials and respiratory products span a range of specialty featured products including casualty care systems, flight helmet with nuclear biological and chemical protection and altitude oxygen mask.

Barney E. Bangs CMA, President, Tulmar Safety Systems Inc., Hawkesbury, Ontario, presented “Coated Fabrics to the Rescue”. Tulmar specializes in high quality, well-designed products for aerospace and defense. These include rescue systems, assault boats, inflatable shelters and military vehicle assemblies. The specialized CAD and computerized cutting systems were the key highlights of this high tech product presentation.