#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2022-08-25

Fibertex Nonwovens announces organisational changes and new team members

Fibertex Nonwovens is further strengthening the organization in North America, to deliver ongoing operational excellence, and provide unparalleled service levels to the existing and potential customers, demanding sustainable products with unique properties.

Fibertex Nonwovens is therefore pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos Benatto into the position of President, Fibertex Nonwovens, North America. Carlos is a highly skilled, experienced senior executive, who has a proven track record within Fibertex as the Managing Director, Fibertex Nonwovens Brazil, over the last five years. Before that, his career developed in a multinational company, with 18 years of experience in Business Management, Sales, Marketing and Finance, and acting in several executive leadership positions in Latin America across several segments within DUPONT. Carlos is fully committed to the Nonwovens Industry, and has served as Chairman on the Brazilian Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics and Technical Textile Industry for over six years.

To increase the focus on the specific needs the businesses require, Fibertex Nonwovens has also reorganized the structure into two divisions, following the two technologies they currently operate in North America (Spunlace and Needlepunch).

Randy Blasczyk is appointed General Manager for the Needlepunch Division and Sales Director for Industrial Products and Needlepunch. Randy joined Fibertex in 2016 after spending approximately 24 years in Operations Management, Quality, and Sales. He started as a Sales Manager with Fibertex, and his most recent responsibilities included directing the Sales operation for Fibertex Nonwovens, North America, focusing mainly on the sales and business development of needlepunch nonwovens. Randy has an extremely deep knowledge of needlepunch technology, having been involved in this field for his entire career, including time with Voith Fabrics (Appleton Mills), and Foster Needle Company.

Carlos Benatto will take direct responsibility for the Spunlace Division, due to his extensive knowledge of this technology, product performance and market expectations.

Fibertex Nonwovens is also pleased to welcome Jonathan Layer as Director of Commercial Business Development and Marketing for Fibertex Nonwovens, based at the headquarters in Denmark. Jonathan brings 12 years of industry experience, including commercial roles at Rockline Industries, Mogul SC Nonwovens, and the Aditya Birla Group. He also previously led spunlace business development at Fibertex North America, and in his new role will be focused on the market strategy and development of Fibertex's sustainable solutions and product offerings across technologies. He is well known in the nonwovens industry, serving as the Chairman of INDA’s World of Wipes committee and is a featured speaker at industry events.

At the same time, Oscar Fontalvo has resigned from his position, and Fibertex Nonwovens thanks him for five successful years of service at Fibertex Nonwovens. The Fibertex Nonwovens team would like to thank Oscar for the service and accomplishments during his tenure as President, and particularly his passionate engagement and efforts to develop Fibertex Nonwovens North America.

Fibertex Nonwovens is absolutely committed to its customers, and their success, and looks forward to ongoing engagement to unlock value for their organisation. They believe that these organisational changes will enhance their ability into the coming years, and they are eager to explore new opportunities with their customers for the future.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

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.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.