#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2021-11-25

Hygienix™ draws nearly 400 participants to Arizona for premier absorbent hygiene & personal care event

Hygienix™ – the premier event for the absorbent hygiene & personal care markets – drew 390 enthusiastic global industry professionals for enlightening in-person conference sessions, workshops, award presentations, and tabletop receptions Nov. 15-18, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Among the event highlights were the presentation of the 2021 Hygienix Innovation Award™ to Kudos, the first 100 percent cotton disposable diaper, and the INDA Lifetime Service Award to Nick Santoleri, Chief Operating Officer of Rockline Industries.

In its successful post-pandemic return as a live event, participants from 17 countries enjoyed meeting face-to-face at The Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, AZ over three days of cutting-edge presentations at the conference and networking at the welcome and tabletop display receptions.

Kudos Diapers Wins 2021 Hygienix Innovation Award © 2021 INDA

“Hygienix is a very well-organized event where we can meet the industry’s thought leaders, get updates on the latest developments and make amazing networking connections,” said Anil Kirhalli, Sales and Business Development Director, Kansan Machinery Company.

The Hygienix conference featured 28 speakers on insightful topics including New Options for a Responsible End-of-Life; Product and Process Innovation in Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs); Haptics: Four Approaches to Assessing Feel, and E-Hygiene Advancements; Absorbent Hygiene Products Market Stats, Trends and Policy Insights; Feminine Care: Challenges to the Status Quo; and New Approaches and Unmet Needs in Baby and Incontinence AHPs.

“Hygienix provides an excellent forum for the hygiene industry with valuable information and data, as well as meeting new prospects and maintaining existing customer relationships,” said Mark Steinbrecher, Technical Sales Manager-Nonwovens, Optima.

To start the event, nearly 140 participants attended valuable short-course workshops on Absorption Systems for Absorbent Hygiene or Global Trends in Diapers, Baby Pants and Adult Underwear.

Innovation and Service Lauded

Dave Rousse, INDA President, presented INDA’s Lifetime Service Award to Rockline’s Santoleri for his industry leadership and advocacy for over 20-plus years. Named COO a year ago, he started with Scott Paper as a Drexel University co-op student and helped launch the first branded flushable wipes and refillable baby wipe packs. He has been involved with installing 16 new lines and four greenfield facilities and introducing over two dozen nonwoven-based products. Santoleri has also served on INDA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee as well as Chair of several industry event committees.

Amrita Saigal, Founder and CEO of Kudos Diapers, accepted the 2021 Hygienix Innovation Award™ for the pioneering plant-based earth-friendly diapers that are more natural for baby’s sensitive bottoms. The other finalists for the prestigious annual award were Expandable Core Wrap from Curt G. Joa, Inc. and GlatPure Back Sheet from Glatfelter.

INDA announced Hygienix 2022 will be held Nov. 14-17, 2022 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. To submit an abstract for a conference presentation, click here and visit the event website for developing details.

2026 World of Wipes Innovation Award® finalists revealed

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the three finalists for the 2026 World of WipesInnovation Award®. The finalists are The Clorox Company for their Clorox™ Refreshables™, Lenzing Fibers, Inc. for their Lenzing™ DualWipe, and Rockline Industries for their First Defense™ Fentanyl Detection Wipe.

INDA honors four industry leaders with 2026 Lifetime Service and Technical Achievement Awards

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has announced the four distinguished recipients of the 2026 INDA Lifetime Service Award and Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. Tom Daugherty, Pricie Hanna, Carey Hobbs, and CK Wong are being recognized for their exceptional leadership, innovation, and enduring contributions to advancing the nonwovens industry and strengthening the global community it serves.

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.

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.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.