A photo of Stephen Ira

Stephen Ira

SEO Auditor

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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A Complete Guide to Velcro Products for Home and Garden

AI 5 min read

Updated On: Apr 30, 2025

If you’re a weekend DIY’er, you may want to have on hand a stash of Velcro strips and other products for your home and garden. You may be surprised by the variety of ways in which you can take advantage of the strength, durability, and versatility of such products to make quick work of your to-do list. From Velcro strips for fabric to Velcro garden tape, here’s a complete guide to Velcro products for home and garden.

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Hanging Heavy Pictures Without Nails

AI 10 min read

Updated On: Oct 14, 2025

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.

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What is Attach-A-Patch®?

AI 7 min read

Updated On: Oct 1, 2025

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How to Remove Adhesive Backed Hook and Loop from Walls

AI 8 min read

Updated On: Oct 1, 2025

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?
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Certificate of Conformance and other Documentation

AI 8 min read

Updated On: Oct 1, 2025

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.

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How Do VELCRO® Brand Fasteners Work? Maximizing Durability & Performance

AI 7 min read

Updated On: Jun 27, 2025

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.

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Hook and Loop in the Water

AI 8 min read

Updated On: Oct 1, 2025

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.

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How a Cinch Strap Is Used

AI 4 min read

Updated On: Oct 1, 2025

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.

Free Velcro samples and strap samples for just $20.00

Try VELCRO® Brand Fasteners Before You Buy!

AI 2 min read

Updated On: Sep 19, 2024

We understand the importance of evaluating products firsthand before making a purchase. That's why we're excited to offer our new free sample product, offering customers the opportunity to experience the quality and versatility of VELCRO® Brand fasteners without any upfront cost.
Industrial Strength Velcro

Taking Hold of Tough Tasks: Industrial Strength VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners

AI 3 min read

Updated On: May 10, 2024

When it comes to securing items in demanding environments, industrial strength fasteners are a reliable solution. Industrial strength VELCRO® Brand fasteners, or high strength fasteners, offers a unique combination of holding power and versatility. These fasteners utilize the familiar hook-and-loop design to deliver an exceedingly strong grip.