#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2020-06-25

RISE® conference presents “What’s next” in sustainability

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has announced that registration is now open for the 10th edition of Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics (RISE®) Conference on the RISE® website. RISE® will be held at Talley Student Union, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Sept. 29-30, and co-organized with The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) and North Carolina State University.

The Development Event for New Technologies and Opportunities Sept. 29-30

Developed for technology scouts and product developers, this insightful two-day conference will focus on visionary technologies, future-needs and market opportunities in material science, forward-looking research in sustainability, and critical shifts in nonwovens growth.

Highlights include: sustainability developments in polymers, fibers, additives, and fabrics from sourcing and disposal to reuse amid trends that are driving nonwoven advances.

A sampling of speaker presentations include:

Development & Use of a Biopolymer for Disposable Hygiene Products

Bryan Haynes, Ph.D., Senior Technical Director, Global Nonwovens,

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

How Innovation & Teamwork Supported a Large-scale Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

John Roberts, Strategic Marketing Executive – Polypropylene-Vistamaxx –Adhesion (PVA),

ExxonMobil Chemical Company

New Developments in PHA Fibers

Isao Noda, PhD, DSc, Chief Science Officer, Senior VP of Innovation,

Danimer Scientific

Sustainable Polymers and Fibers for Nonwovens: Current Status and Future Potential

Gajanan Bhat, Ph.D., Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors,

The University of Georgia

Biobased Fibers for Nonwovens: Trends and Future Outlook

Alexander Koukoulas, Ph.D., Managing Director,

A2Z Consulting, LLC

Sustainable Materials and Their Processing for the Future Nonwovens Industry

Orlando Rojas, Ph.D., Professor,

University of British Columbia

Using Biobased Superabsorbent Materials to Dramatically Increase Biobased Content of Hygiene Products

Ryan Chan, Ph.D., VP of R&D,

Tethis, Inc.

The Future of Performance Fabrics

Seth Casden, President,

Hologenix LLC

A New Performance Enhancing Additive for Nonwoven Applications

Christian Lenges, Business Development Manager, DuPont Industrial BioSciences, and Kyle Kim, Application Engineer,

DuPont

Ultra-Pure Recycling of Polypropylene and Going Beyond

John Layman, Ph.D., Section Head – Corporate R&D and Chief Technologist/Founding Inventor, PureCycle,

The Procter & Gamble Co.

Calcium Carbonate for Increased Sustainability in Nonwovens

Lee Clapp, Ph.D., Director of Market Development and Innovation – Technical Polymer Applications,

Omya Inc.

New Horizons with Eco-friendly and Flat Specialty Viscose Fiber

Helmut Lauterbach, Business Manager Textile and Nonwoven,

Kelheim Fibres GmbH

Nonwoven Materials Update

Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., William A. Klopman Distinguished Professor, and Executive Director,

North Carolina State University, The Nonwovens Institute

Moving from “Cradle to Grave” to a Closed Biobased Economy

Steve Sikra, Vice-President and Chief of Staff,

The Alliance To End Plastic Waste

Plastics and a Socially Responsible Future

Paul Harmon, VP of Product Development & Product Marketing – HHS,

Berry Global

Sustainability: Narrowing a Wide Scope

Jessica Dahle, Product Development Scientist,

Fitesa

Driving Production Efficiency and Performance in N95 Face Masks

Robert Green, Director of Fibers & Nonwovens,

NatureWorks LLC

Sustainability from the Perspective of a Nonwoven Supplier to Disposable Personal Care Products

Thomas Broch-Nielsen, Senior Scientist, and Mette Due, R&D Manager,

Fibertex Nonwovens A/S, and Khrum Hussain, Supply Chain Director,

Unifi, Inc.

Simplifying Nonwoven Manufacturing Using the Reicofil Data Reporting System

Tristian Kretschmann, Manager for R&D Projects,

Reifenhauser REICOFIL GmbH & Co. KG

Picking Up the Pieces: The World After COVID

Jon Devine, Senior Economist,

Cotton Incorporated

The State of the North American Nonwoven’s Market and Its Response to COVID-19

Brad Kalil, Director of Market Intelligence and Economic Insights,

INDA

RISE® Innovation Award

Nominations are now being accepted online for the RISE® Innovation Award that recognizes innovation in areas within and on the periphery of the nonwovens industry that use advanced science and engineering principles to develop unique or intricate solutions to problems and advance the use of nonwovens. The finalists will be announced in September and conference attendees will have a vote in selecting the winner that will be announced at RISE® 2020.

In 2019, the RISE® Innovation Award was presented to Surfaceskins, from Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute for its innovative antibacterial door push pads and pull handles, engineered to kill germs and bacteria in between one user and the next, thus helping prevent the spread of healthcare associated infections.

For complete program information and the latest speaker additions, visit the RISE® 2020 website. Hotel accommodations for registered attendees are offered at the nearby State View Hotel Autograph Collection by Marriott. Follow #rise20 and @RISE360.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

INDA announces finalists for the 2025 RISE® Innovation Award

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, is pleased to announce the three finalists for the 2025 RISE® Innovation Award. A highlight of the RISE® (Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics) Technology Conference, this award recognizes groundbreaking nonwoven-based innovations with the potential to advance the industry.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Cinte Techtextil China proves to be dynamic international platform and launchpad for new market potential

After three days of facilitating meaningful exchange for numerous applications of technical textiles and nonwovens, Cinte Techtextil China 2025 concluded on 5 September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Feedback across the fairground was highly positive, especially from first-time exhibitors and buyers who valued the platform’s capability to create new opportunities both in China and overseas markets.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.