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Stephen Ira

Owner and President

Expertise:

Hook-and Loop Product Engineering
• Product Innovation
• Mechanical Engineering
Stephen Ira worked as an inventor for a small manufacturing company where he developed several patents that included Velcro® brand products which led to his founding of HookandLoop.com in 1989, distributing Velcro® brand fasteners across the country. Stephen’s company has grown into a business that specializes in manufacturing hook and loop products that are used in the final products in many industries around the world. Stephen is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a BS degree in mechanical engineering and specialized in machine design and solar engineering. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida where he enjoys an avid outdoor lifestyle and spending time with his two daughters.
10+ Years of Experiences
180+ Articles Written
Organization
The association for Business Journalist

Stephen'S Picks

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How to Remove Hair From VELCRO® Brand Fasteners?

AI 4 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

The ability of VELCRO® Brand hooks to cling to fabrics makes the product both handy and versatile. However, like so many other useful tools, VELCRO® Brand hooks can sometimes need maintenance. In this case, their propensity to hold on to hair, lint and dust can be problematic, unless you know how to remove hair from VELCRO® Brand hooks. And, it can be much easier to do when you understand how it works.
Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira

How To Make VELCRO® Brand Hooks Stick Again?

AI 4 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

The hooks and loops we know as the VELCRO® Brand fastening system have a myriad of uses, ranging from hair curlers to spacesuits. Ironically though, the system’s mechanics make it vulnerable to failure. The hooks lose their ability to grip if they get clogged with hair, dust, or lint.
Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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Will VELCRO® Brand Fasteners Stick to Felt?

AI 4 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

We all know and love VELCRO® Brand hooks and loops for their versatility. The uses are almost limitless, as long as you pay attention to the way it works and what it likes to do. In this case, if you’re wondering will VELCRO® Brand hooks stick to felt, the answer is an absolute yes — as long as you’re using the right kind of felt, and the right kind of hooks.
Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
A screenshot of a backend content management system panel displaying fields for Title and URL-Key next to uploaded Featured and Mobile images of a roll of black heavy-duty polypropylene webbing material used for Hook and Loop Straps manufacturing.

Choosing the Right Webbing for Outdoor and Industrial Use

AI 5 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

Webbing has been around for a very long time, including for military and apparel purposes. Today, there are seemingly unlimited uses for webbing, particularly for outdoor and industrial workers. There are many different types though, so you want to be sure to choose the right one. Here’s how to select the appropriate webbing for tasks such as lifting, strapping, do-it-yourself projects with adhesive back Velcro, and more.

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
How to hang pictures using Velcro hook and loop.

Hanging Heavy Pictures Without Nails

AI 10 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

It’s commonly assumed that hanging heavy pictures without nails is basically impossible, which means damaging or pockmarking walls is inevitable. That is not true. While care must be taken, it’s possible to place pictures of any weight, shape, or size using a hanging strap.

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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Certificate of Conformance and other Documentation

AI 8 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

A certificate of conformance is documentation that certifies the material you receive meets a specific requirement. Also referred to as a certificate of compliance, these are sometimes shortened completely to just C of C. This documentation is requested for a variety of reasons and helps our customers keep track of their material while also being able to trace them back to the original source should they need to. Here are some reasons our customers have requested a C of C.

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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How Do VELCRO® Brand Fasteners Work? Maximizing Durability & Performance

AI 7 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

Velcro® brand fasteners are such an ingeniously simple product that we often take it for granted, assuming it will last forever. However, there are factors that will cause VELCRO® Brand's durability to fail. Protecting hook and loop fasteners from the following will maximize its useful lifespan.

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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What is Attach-A-Patch®?

AI 7 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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Hook and Loop in the Water

AI 8 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

Summer time is the best time to take advantage of the outdoors, which includes trips to the beach and plenty of other water-related activities. Hook and loop can be found on a variety of items used in the water, from life jackets to scuba gear and so much more. Hook and loop is especially useful on safety equipment in water applications because it is quick and easy to fasten and unfasten, yet its strong bond prevents it from coming undone.

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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How a Cinch Strap Is Used

AI 4 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

Cinch straps have a surprisingly long history. While these capable devices are commonly employed in modern applications, they go back to the days when beasts of burden were the primary means of human transportation. Although today's hook and loop cinch straps are vastly improved on their original predecessors, they still share some of the same basic design considerations.

Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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How to Remove Adhesive Backed Hook and Loop from Walls

AI 8 min read

Updated On: Jun 23, 2026

With hook and loop, many applications use adhesive backing. Adhesives are useful for applying fasteners to plastics, metals, and various other substrates. Now, sometimes these adhesives are applied with the expectation that they will be in place forever. In these instances, it happens from time to time that they need to be removed or replaced. So how do you do that?
Stephen Ira
by: Stephen Ira
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