Retractableawnings.com attends IFAI Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada

Retractableawnings.com attended the October 2007 Industrial Fabric Association International’s symposium in Las Vegas. The IFAI expo is the largest fabric trade show in the world, and Retractableawnings.com has attended the expo for fifteen years, bringing the best design concepts back to their customers worldwide.

The finest retractable awning lines come from Europe, with a long awning history and a market 20 times larger than the US’s. Retractableawnings.com specializes in design and engineering excellence, and the strong international presence at the IFAI show provided ample ideas. “The number one reason to go is to see new products,” explained Eric Scop, vice president of Retractableawnings.com. “We’re continuously investigating new vendors, new designs.” All of the unique, high-quality concepts Scop approached at the Vegas expo will be integrated in the coming months with their existing lines.

This year, Retractableawnings.com is expanding their product line with three all-new styles of shade from both Europe and Australia, plus more options for their awnings:
• Telescopic retractable covering systems, elaborate systems of panels that fold similar to the sections of a telescope and a proprietary material provides true protection from snow – something not available with any other retractable system. The strength of the partitioned design means telescopic canopies withstand hurricane force winds, earthquakes, and damaging weather.
• Butterfly awnings, long, whimsically-suspended strips of fabric in formations like large pinwheels. “Aesthetically, they’re very unusual,” said Scop. “It looks almost like birds flying; it’s very airy and open.” This style is ideal for sunny climates, explaining their popularity in Australia.
• Retractable atrium canopies, an accordion-like design suspended by guide-wires as high as 60' or 70'. These are emerging in urban settings, covering courtyards or common areas for high-rises.
• New wireless, battery-run motion sensors, which were notoriously difficult to implement until now. Wind sensors determine wind speeds, but not gusts, meaning awnings can be damaged with sudden high force winds. The motion sensor retracts the awning immediately after any fast movement.
• A more durable commercial printing system with Sunbrella Graphics Printing System, guaranteed not to fade for 5 years, compared with 2 years for most traditional print methods.

The last change offers a psychological twist on fabric selections. “People always ask what’s the best fabric. Color is the most important thing,” Scop asserted. “Color affects the look aesthetically, heat protection, UV protection, and light transmission.” Retractableawnings.com is re-introducing lines from a German company, augmenting their fabric options with “psychoenergetic” analysis to help customers pick the right shade. “They’re trying to take people’s perception of color and translate it,” Scop said. “I think it’s interesting.” With this expansion, Retractableawnings.com offers over 500 solution-dyed acrylic fabric options.

Retractableawnings.com has been shipping all types of RETRACTABLE sun, wind and rain protection systems to residential, commercial and institutional customers worldwide since 1998. Products manufactured include but are not limited to retractable lateral arm awnings, retractable window awnings, retractable vertical drop awnings, retractable telescoping awnings, retractable patio cover systems, retractable canopy awnings and retractable side arm awnings. All products are available with wind, rain, motion and sun sensors.
For more information: 305-628-2424 or 1-866-GET AWNINGS (1-866-438-2964) or sales@retractableawnings.com or visit http://www.retractableawnings.com