High-Quality products since 1949
Seaman© fabrics have several distinct advantages making them a popular fabric for architectural and industrial applications. Seaman Corporation© manufactures PVC-coated polyester fabrics in the USA. Due to domestic manufacturing, leadtimes to Lightweight’s warehouse are generally shorter than for overseas manufacturers. Seaman© also provides a number of their fabric styles in a version that meets the Berry Amendment (10 U.S. Code 2533a – domestically sourced fabrics).
Seaman provides both weft-inserted (warp-knitted) and woven fabrics, which each have distinct advantages and different behaviors when tensioned in both warp and fill directions. Thus, woven fabric exhibits a stronger crimp interaction, the property of fabric to shrink in one direction (or tighten when kept in place) while it tensions in the other direction.
Industrial applications of Seaman Fabrics
Seaman© publishes in-house produced bi-axial testing for most of their architectural fabric.
The popular architectural fabrics utilize various topcoats to protect the PVC surface and enhance the self-cleaning and UV-protective properties. This includes acrylic topcoats, PVDF (Kynar©), acrylic/PVDF blend and PVF (Tedlar©) applied as a laminated film. For the PVC coating itself, a number of coating options are available.
Whereas, for industrial use, Seaman© provides XR3 and XR5 fabrics which use different compounds to improve the properties of the standard PVC-coated polyester fabrics. Specifically, these fabrics have applications in potable water, chemically exposed panels, higher temperature requirements, geotextile, biogas, and other specialty applications.
The architectural fabrics reside under the Shelter-Rite® brand name.
This 28oz fabric is a type II fabric, used for larger tensile, air-supported, and frame-supported structures. It is weft inserted.
This is a woven fabric with various topcoats available. Used for frame supported structures in moderate exposure situations.
Visit our Literature section for a complete list of pdf versions of industrial fabrics and other products & services we offer.
Ready to start your project?
Click below to get in contact with us about your next project, questions about our products or for samples about our keder products.
Lightweight is proudly partnered with ESTA an organization that envisions a safer, stronger entertainment industry through connection, education, and empowerment. Where there is theatrical, architectural and engineering business production, ESTA is behind it.