EDANA announces winners of the INDEX™ 14 Awards

Winners for each section, together with summary comments from the judging panel were:

Nonwoven Roll Goods: Sandler’s Fibercomfort® tread- and waterproof roof insulation
This product expands the market for nonwovens in the construction sector, effectively and efficiently replaces wood by enabling a single solution for roof insulation based only on nonwovens, and is a product which is lighter than alternatives and potentially recyclable

Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens: Imeco Nocemi® MED wipes
A virucidal, bactericidal, alcohol free and disinfectant which offers a timely answer to help prevent Healthcare Associated Infections, and which will help reduce healthcare costs through more efficient cleaning of potentially contaminated areas.

Most original marketing campaign for a product made from, or incorporating nonwovens: Lenzing - TENCEL ®Skin promotion campaign

This is a highly aesthetic and artistic video which lends life to the fibre and connects it to people, and effectively conveys the main properties of the fibre.
Innovation in a raw material of special relevance to the nonwovens industry: Eastman Cyphrex™ microfibers

A useful way to provide custom microfiber blends, which enables a new level of flexibility in wetlaid nonwovens.

Innovation in machinery of special relevance to the nonwovens industry: ITW Dynatec - VectorTM Surge Applicator

This simple and compact piece of hardware enables the customised application of adhesives, while minimising waste.  Highly versatile, the device can be integrated into any line.

Sustainable Product: Ahlstrom Flow2Save™ filter media
An innovative filter media which saves energy (compared to conventional microglass media), and offers a low pressure drop at all efficiency levels, providing significant cost savings over the life time of the filter

Sustainable process or management practice: TJ Beall - True Cotton Greige Cotton Nonwoven for Wound Healing and Hygienic Product Applications
This is a paradigm change compared to cotton currently available for nonwovens, which efficiently exploits the natural properties of cotton fibre, and is an effective alternative to bleached cotton. A smart way to use ‘waste’ cotton In congratulating the winners, and recognising the outstanding efforts of the nominees, Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA said “If you’re looking for clues about how our industry will change and develop, look no further than the products and services of those winners and runners-up recognised here today.  It is products such as these which are helping to drive our industry forward, and create a stronger industry, with solutions in so many different product categories and sectors.”

The winners were presented with their specially commissioned bronze sculpture and a diploma at the Awards Ceremony, which was attended by the media, exhibitors and visitors to the show.

The INDEX™ 14 Awards jury, which was comprised of an official from the European Commission, a former senior nonwovens company business development and marketing manager, a representative of the nonwovens industry trade press, and top academic nonwovens R&D experts, met in February in order to select the nominees, and to choose, from this group.

In order to be considered, companies could submit only one application per category, and products must have been commercially available by the 31st January 2014.  Additionally, products or campaigns must not have been commercially launched before April 2011.

Starting today, the exhibition will bring together all the players in the nonwovens industry from raw material producers to manufacturers, finishers to converters, to environmental protection, measuring and testing equipment manufacturers, to trade associations and journals. Over 13,000 visitors come to INDEX™ to catch a glimpse of the future of nonwovens, to see first-hand what the leading experts in the field have to offer.

For more information about scheduled activities and exhibiting companies, please visit the dedicated INDEX™ 14 website: www.index14.org.