The IDEA Achievement Awards honor groundbreaking innovations introduced since IDEA22, recognizing excellence in six categories. Winners will be announced during IDEA25, which will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fla., from April 29 to May 1, 2025.

Award Categories:

• Raw Materials – Best new raw materials introduction
• Nonwoven Product – Best new nonwoven fabric introduction
• Short-Life – Best new short-life product introduction
• Long-Life – Best new durable product introduction
• Equipment – Best new equipment introduction

Sustainability Advancement – Recognizing sustainability and/or circularity advancements in raw materials, nonwoven fabrics, processes and equipment, and end-use products.

Entries must be submitted by December 16, 2024 for consideration. Finalists in each category will be selected by INDA’s Technical Advisory Board, with the top three in each category moving forward. Voting will take place on the Nonwovens Industry website, allowing industry professionals to determine the winners. Additionally, the recipient of the Entrepreneur Award will be chosen exclusively by Nonwovens Industry Magazine.

For detailed criteria and eligibility information, visit: https://www.inda.org/awards/IDEA-Achievement-Award.html

To nominate a product, visit: https://www.nonwovens-industry.com/idea-reg-achievement-awards

2022 IDEA Achievement Award Winners:

Equipment:

• Herrmann Ultrasonics, Inc.: Elastic Thread Anchoring (ETA) Sonotrode

Raw Materials:

• Rem Brands, Inc: ODOGard

Short-Life Product:

• LifeSavers LLC: LifeSavers Wipes

Long-Life Product:

• MANN+HUMMEL GmbH: Nanofiber Cabin Air Filter

Sustainability Advancement:

• Glatfelter Corp. and Blue Ocean Closures: Fiber-based Screw Caps

Nonwoven Product:

Suominen Corporation: HYDRASPUN® Aquaflo

Entrepreneur:

• Doug Brown, President of Biax-Fiberfilm/5K Fibres

IDEA25 will feature hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in nonwoven and fiber technologies, along with a dedicated, multi-day Sustainability in Nonwovens Conference. Attendees can also participate in “Nonwoven Essentials,” a series of expert-led training sessions designed to enhance industry knowledge and expertise.

For full details on the IDEA Achievement Award criteria and eligibility, visit: IDEA Achievement Awards.

Posted: October 21, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Harper Hygienics, Hello Hazel, and HIRO Technologies will present their groundbreaking absorbent hygiene products at Hygienix, taking place November 18-21 at The Renaissance Nashville Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.

Meet the 2024 Hygienix Innovation Award Finalists:

• Harper Hygienics S.A.: Cleanic Naturals Hemp – Sanitary Pads (Day & Night), Pantyliners
  Cleanic Naturals Hemp by Harper Hygienics S.A. is an innovative femcare line, crafted with sero regenerative hemp fibers produced by Bast Fibre Technologies and processed on our unique Hemplace technology platform. These sanitary pads and pantyliners are designed for women’s comfort throughout their cycle. Hemp’s antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties make it a natural solution for sensitive skin, ensuring all-day safety and comfort. Plus, sero hemp fibers are 100% natural, offering an eco-conscious approach to personal care.
• Hello Hazel, Inc.: Hazel High & Dry Briefs – Hazel’s High & Dry Briefs – the first and only disposable briefs for leaks designed to look, fit, and feel like real underwear. Engineered with a novel, ultra-thin, highly absorbent core seamlessly integrated beneath a unique elasticated cover that moves naturally with her body, offering unparalleled comfort, discretion, and reliable protection. Purposefully developed to reduce stigma and address both physical and emotional needs, the Briefs successfully attracted many new consumers who previously opted out of the category.
• HIRO Technologies, Inc.: World’s First MycoDigestable Diapers – Introducing the world’s first MycoDigestible diapers, powered by HIRO’s frontier fungal technology. HIRO’s MycoDigestible solution introduces plastic-eating mushrooms in a safe, user-friendly way that seamlessly integrates into everyday life. The HIRO Diaper combines exceptional absorbency with natural materials like unbleached TruCotton and Kraft softwood fluff pulp, offering 12-hour protection while being gentle on both baby and planet.

The 2024 winner will be revealed on Thursday, November 21 at 11:00 am.

The 2023 Hygienix Innovation Award went to Sequel Spiral Tampon, which features a unique spiral design engineered for enhanced fluid absorption and leak prevention. This breakthrough product received FDA clearance as a medical device and is available online and in a growing number of retail outlets.

Hygienix 2024 Conference Highlights:

• Three workshops on Monday (Absorption Systems including recent innovations for Adult Incontinence, Menstrual Care, and Baby and Infant Care Markets)
• Tabletop exhibit displays
• Networking receptions
• Two “Lunch Arounds” featuring boutique and small brand owners
• Engaging lightning talks from tabletop exhibitors
• Premium content on key industry topics, including market data and trends, circularity, sustainability innovations, FemTech, treatment advancements, mobile applications for absorbent hygiene products, and bio-based SAP innovations

For more information or to secure sponsorship opportunities, visit hygienix.org.

Posted: October 17, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

As two of the leading nonwovens industry organizations in the world, INDA and NWI are uniquely positioned to offer a nonwovens training program that combines classroom learning with hands-on activities in NWI’s state-of-the-art nonwoven production and testing labs on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University.

All courses are led by expert trainers with decades of experience in nonwovens applications and technology. Guest lecturers from industry will support the program and provide unique insights. The knowledge shared during the INDA/NWI short courses cannot be found elsewhere.

“Internal expertise, industry guest lecturers, state-of-the art equipment – this course has it all!” commented a recent INDA/NWI short course attendee.

2025 INDA/NWI Training Course Schedule:

• Elementary Nonwovens – January 28-29, 2025
• Intermediate Nonwovens – February 4-7, 2025
• Spunbond Technology – March 4-6, 2025
• Carded Nonwovens Technology – April 1-3, 2025
• Filter Media – April 28-29, 2025
• Fiber and Filament Extrusion Fundamentals – June 10-12, 2025
• Meltblown Technology – August 12-14, 2025
• Nonwoven Product Development and Innovation – September 9-12, 2025
• Intermediate Nonwovens – September 30-October 3, 2025
• Elementary Nonwovens – October 28-29, 2025

“INDA is excited to have reached a formal agreement with NWI earlier this year, building upon our long-standing partnership to deliver world-class training programs for nonwovens industry professionals,” said Dr. Matt O’Sickey, INDA’s director of education and technical affairs. “By solidifying our collaboration, INDA and NWI are focused on serving the training needs of our industry with the highest-quality content that delivers technical excellence and business intelligence to individuals working in nonwovens.”

“The 2025 schedule of training courses covers the key nonwoven platforms and technology concepts with an excellent mix of technical and business-minded content,” said Tom Daugherty, NWI’s deputy director. “The program is designed to provide value to experienced industry professionals, as well as those who are new to nonwovens. A new course for 2025 is Carded Nonwovens Technology. The addition of this course is based on direct feedback from our attendees, as we are committed to evolving our training program to meet the needs of the industry.”

Short Course Value Packs

As part of the 2025 short course program, INDA and NWI are offering a Short Course Value Pack incentive to provide maximum value to those organizations who are committed to workforce development. Value Packs are available in bundles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 registrations, with discounts ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent, depending on the size of the Value Pack.

Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, NWI’s executive director, said, “Workforce Development is a pillar of NWI’s service offering, and the INDA/NWI portfolio of training courses is unmatched in the value it offers to organizations operating in and/or serving the nonwovens industry. The Short Course Value Pack program represents a strategic opportunity for business leaders to invest in the knowledge and expertise of their workforce to achieve a competitive advantage in nonwovens, while doing so at an extremely favorable price point.”

For more information and to purchase a Short Course Value Pack, visit https://thenonwovensinstitute.com/short-course-value-pack/

Market Specific Courses

In addition to the slate of nonwoven fabric-focused courses, end-product-specific courses include Filter Media (taught in conjunction with NWI), Wipes and Absorbent Hygiene. NWI and INDA also offer workshops in conjunction with conferences and expos, on-demand content, customized training courses and webinars on hot topics.

For more information and to register for an upcoming INDA/NWI training course, visit https://www.inda.org/training/

Posted: October 15, 2024

Source: INDA, The Association Of The Nonwoven Fabrics Industry / NWI, The Nonwovens Institute

Co-hosted by INDA and The Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University, the event delivered cutting-edge insights into sustainability, focusing on advanced recycling methods, bio-based materials, circular economy strategies, potential plastics regulations, and packaging solutions. Attendees explored a comprehensive range of technologies aimed at recapturing the inherent value of fibers, nonwovens, and textiles. Breakthroughs in process technology and product design were showcased, emphasizing how manufacturers and consumers can achieve more with fewer resources. The event also spotlighted alternative, carbon-negative raw materials as a key innovation.

2024 RISE® Innovation Award Winner

Hempitecture Inc. won the RISE Innovation Award for its PlantPanel material. PlantPanel is a rigid continuous insulation material used in exterior above-ground applications. With an R Value of R3.25 per inch, PlantPanel adds to thermal and acoustic comfort and performance. Engineered with a density to resist compression and deflection, PlantPanel is used in split-insulation wall and roof assemblies with either a rain screen cladding or roofing material, depending on the application. With 100-percent biobased and recycled content, PlantPanel is a sustainable, low carbon continuous insulation solution that’s easy to install and safe to handle.

The RISE Innovation Award finalists included Ahlstrom for the Dual-Layer Filtration Media and Berry Global for their ENDURA rPP Spunbond & SMS.

TiHive won the 2023 RISE Innovation Award for their SAPMonit technology. TiHive’s innovation, SAPMonit — a technology breakthrough, inspects millions of diapers weekly. SAPMonit delivers lightning-speed inline inspection of superabsorbents’ weight and distribution, optimizes resources, detects flaws, and accelerates R&D. SAPMonit utilizes advanced see-through cameras, high-speed vision algorithms, and secure cloud integration, revolutionizing industry norms. SAPMonit has great potential for sustainability, cost reduction, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award

Arnold Wilkie, president and owner, Hills Inc. has a distinguished career in advancing yarn, fiber, and nonwoven technologies since 1970. Since 1988, he has been president and owner of Hills Inc. where he has sustained its innovative culture. Wilkie has more than 40 patents and applications covering yarns, bicomponent fibers, ultra-fine fibers, nanofibers, dissolvable filaments, meltblown nonwovens, and polymer processing innovations. He established Hills as a leading innovator in bicomponent fiber nonwovens and in the equipment to produce these materials. During Wilkie’s time leading Hills, its pilot capabilities have become well-known and highly regarded for enabling material innovations.

“I am extremely honored to receive this award, and to contribute to the nonwovens industry,” Wilkie said upon receiving the award. “Today’s nonwovens processes produce defect free fabrics at more than 5,000 square meters per minute. Multicomponent fibers produced from spin-packs with more than 35,000 holes and having more than 1 Million individually metered polymer streams have contributed to advanced commercial capabilities. Speaking with our neighbors in the high-tech Space Coast of Florida, I am proud to realize that the nonwovens industry has created a comparatively advanced technology.”

Graduate Student & Corporate Posters

During Tuesday evening’s reception, posters from 30 graduate students representing top nonwoven, textile, and fiber programs, along with corporate presenters, were displayed —significantly more than in previous years. Students, their faculty advisors, and industry professionals shared their latest research, engaging with attendees to discuss key findings and future goals. “Many of the posters showcase technologies that are immediately ready for market implementation,” noted one attendee.

Event Highlights

RISE® 2024 offered attendees a variety of networking experiences, including:

• A Golf Tournament on Monday, September 30;
• A tour of The Nonwovens Institute’s $65+ million pilot lines and analytical labs;
• The Reception at Lonnie Poole Golf Course; and
• 30 Graduate Student posters showcasing their latest research.

RISE 2025 Announcement

Mark your calendars for RISE® 2025, returning to Raleigh, NC, on October 14-15, 2025.

Posted: October 7, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

This marks a significant step toward leveraging their combined expertise and resources to address global challenges and drive new opportunities in the nonwovens industry.

As the nonwovens industry evolves, both associations recognize the need for a unified approach to navigate complex international markets. The potential alliance aims to deliver several key benefits:

• Enhance the scope and value to members: The increased integration of resources will enable both organizations to deliver greater value to members, offering an expanded range of educational programs, enhanced networking opportunities, and access to a wider breadth of industry insights.
• Joint advocacy and representation: The alliance will amplify both organizations’ collective voice, enhancing their ability to advocate for members’ interests at local, regional, and global levels, ensuring that their needs and concerns are effectively addressed.
• Operational synergies: The alliance will create efficiencies, strengthen the collective talent pool, and optimize the use of financial resources to better support member and industry initiatives.
• Innovation and growth: The alliance will drive joint initiatives and projects that foster innovation, enhance industry leadership, and support the long-term growth and sustainability of the nonwovens industry.

“This Letter of Intent underscores our commitment in exploring how we can better serve the nonwovens community and tackle industry’s evolving challenges,” said Murat Dogru, general manager of EDANA.

“Our purpose is to ensure that our members are well-positioned to thrive in a dynamic global environment. Reflecting on the Treaty of Rome signed decades ago, we hope that the signing of this Letter of Intent in Rome will pave the way for even greater achievements.”

INDA President and CEO Tony Fragnito added: “This potential alliance represents an opportunity to combine our strengths while openly engaging on the global issues affecting the industry. Better coordination will enhance our ability to serve the industry and our members while retaining our regionally focused support and representation.”

The organizations will conduct a thorough due diligence process over the coming months to evaluate the strategic benefits and operational efficiencies of a potential alliance. Both associations remain dedicated to advancing their members’ interests and exploring new growth avenues within the nonwovens industry.

Further updates will be shared as discussions progress.

Posted: September 24, 2024

Source: INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Finalists will present their innovations to RISE participants on Tuesday, October 1. The Award winner will be revealed on Wednesday afternoon, October 2.

Meet the 2024 Award Finalists

Dual-Layer Filtration Media by Ahlstrom Italia S.p.A. — Ahlstrom’s new dual-layer filter media technology enhances engine air intake filtration performances, offering up to double the dust holding capacity and extending filter lifetime by more than 50 percent compared to single-layer media. It also enables smaller, lighter filter designs, meeting current and future engine specifications, including fuel cells. Dual-layer filter media can be offered with flame-retardant functionality for various transportation and industrial applications, ensuring safety, improved performances and reduced environmental impact.

ENDURA rPP Spunbond & SMS by Berry Global — A pre-consumer recycled Spunbond and SMS product, recognized by SCS Recycled Content Certification. With Spunbond products containing up to 90 percent recycled content and SMS products containing up to 40 percent recycled content, customers/consumers are provided a product with greenhouse gas emissions benefits, validated with life cycle assessment tools assumptions based on the actual production. ENDURA Spunbond products have the opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions per kilogram of production by 70 percent, versus previous generation of product.

PlantPanel X by Hempitecture Inc. — PlantPanel X is a rigid continuous insulation material used in exterior above-ground applications. With an R Value of R3.25 per inch, PlantPanel adds to thermal and acoustic comfort and performance. Engineered with a density to resist compression and deflection, PlantPanel is used in split-insulation wall and roof assemblies with either a rain screen cladding or roofing material, depending on the application. With 100% biobased and recycled content, PlantPanel is a sustainable, low carbon continuous insulation solution that’s easy to install and safe to handle.

2023 RISE Innovation Award winner:

TiHive won the 2023 RISE Innovation Award for their SAPMonit technology. TiHive’s innovation, SAPMonit — a technology breakthrough, inspects millions of diapers weekly. SAPMonit delivers lightning-speed inline inspection of superabsorbents’ weight and distribution, optimizes resources, detects flaws, and accelerates R&D.

For more information or to register for RISE, visit https://www.riseconf.net/

Posted: September 5, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Submit Your Abstracts: Abstract submissions are now open and can be submitted through the AFS website.

Conference Highlights:

Key Topics:

• • Nonwovens and Filtration for Healthy Buildings
  • Nonwovens and Filtration for Data Centers
  • Nonwovens and Filtration for e-Mobility
  • Sustainability and Circularity in Filtration
  • Innovations Meeting Current Challenges of Filtration

Presentation Formats:

The conference will feature both oral presentations and technical posters. The Planning Committee will determine the appropriate format for each submission, with both formats considered equally valuable.

New Addition:

This year, the conference introduces technical posters, offering a platform for subject matter experts and research institutes to present their latest filtration innovations.

How to Participate:

To submit your abstract and for more information, please visit: https://www.afssociety.org/filtxpo-2025.

Deadline:

Abstract submissions are due by October 15, 2024. All submissions will undergo a peer-review process conducted by the Conference Planning Committee.

For any inquiries, please contact Deanna Lovell at dlovell@inda.org or Connie Rhea, connie@afssociety.org.

Posted: August 28, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

TW Special Report

Textile industry associations want the textile industry to know they are talking. With a desire to work more collaboratively on industry initiatives and events that are beneficial to all their respective members, 11 associations — Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), American Textile Machinery Association (ATMA), Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN), American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry (INDA), the Nonwovens Institute (NWI), North American Linen Association (NALA), SEAMS – The Association & Voice of the U.S. Sewn Products Industry, Southern Textile Association (STA), Sewn Products Equipment and Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA), and Synthetic Yarn & Fabric Association (SYFA) — recently got together to discuss ways to benefit the industry.

“We all represent various segments of the textiles and sewn products industry,” said Maggie McDonald, vice president, Communications, SPESA. “But we all agree that collaboration and building on synergies is what will propel our industry into its next chapter.”

This “Alphabet Soup Collective,” as the group has affectionately named itself, was officially launched during Techtextil North America held in Raleigh August 20-22, 2024. One of the first ideas for the collective was to co-host a social event open to all members of the textile industry including current association members as well as non-members wanting to learn more. The result, the inaugural Alphabet Soup Shindig, was held at the Whiskey Kitchen in Raleigh, Wednesday, August 21, 2024. This first-of-its-kind, sold-out event gathered people from all aspects of the industry in one place at the same time to network, learn and collaborate. Attendance far exceeded expectations, illustrating a hunger for these types of cross-industry networking opportunities.

Twelve sponsors were instrumental in making the shindig happen, and the organizers are very grateful to these companies:

• American & Efird;
• Asheboro Elastics Corp. (AEC);
• Baxter Mill Archives;
• Better Than Found;
• Coker & Associates;
• Contempora Fabrics;
• Danbartex;
• Gribbin Strategic;
• Itema America Inc.;
• MajorSage Business Coaching;
• MMI Textiles; and
• North Carolina Textile Foundation at NC State University.

Ben Talbert, president and CEO of Greenville, S.C.-based Better Than Found Search Group, one of the event sponsors, said: “Better than Found Search Group (BTF) was proud to sponsor this event. A big thank you to Devin Steele with STA and Maggie McDonald with SPESA for putting together one of the best trade show social events I have attended. The textile community is a family, and this felt like our reunion.”

Organizers also shared the following event feedback posted on Linkedin by Graham Page, co-founder and president of iAtelier Corp. and principal at AlchemyX LLC. “That was hands down, the best industry networking event I have ever attended,” Page said. “Where else can you connect with the entire industry from start to finish, from fiber to retail? The energy was palpable. This sort of thinking is exactly what is needed in these difficult times in our broader industry. Innovation happens when you mix people and ideas to address big challenges. Kudos to the team that pulled this together.”

As McDonald noted: “Good people, good networking, good vibes, AND good weather. Doesn’t get much better.”

The Alphabet Soup Collective will continue its conversations as it looks for ways to collaborate, streamline events and gather the industry in productive, beneficial ways for all involved. Questions, suggestions, feedback and ideas all are welcomed.

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August 27, 2024

“Securing a booth for INDA during the 2024 NCSL Legislative Summit provided numerous opportunities to speak directly with state legislators and policy stakeholders on wipes labeling and other issues prevalent in the nonwovens industry today,” Fisher said. “The high-level conversations and product demonstrations we had were instrumental in highlighting the crucial role of nonwoven fabrics in consumer households and industrial applications.”

The annual NCSL Legislative Summit hosts one of the nation’s largest and most influential gathering of state legislators, staff, corporations, government agencies, and trade associations. State and national media publications cover the event, disseminating news and stories across the country.

Posted: August 22, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

This agreement expands upon the ongoing partnership between INDA and NWI, whereby the two organizations have successfully presented training programs, covering the full spectrum of the nonwovens value chain from raw materials to processes to products.

Under terms of the agreement, INDA and NWI will develop and present a full roster of training courses, featuring a combination of classroom learning supported by hands-on activities in NWI’s world-class nonwoven production and testing labs on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. The two organizations will also work together to explore additional educational programming to serve the needs of the nonwovens industry as they evolve over time.

“This collaboration agreement represents a significant next step in the partnership between INDA and NWI, as we build upon our training course offering to ensure it is meeting the needs of the nonwovens industry now and going forward,” said Matt O’Sickey, director of education and technical affairs at INDA. “We are also committed to pursuing new avenues to expand the knowledge base of professionals working in areas related to nonwovens.”

“As we enter into this new phase of our partnership, NWI and INDA are excited to leverage our diverse perspectives and industry contacts to create an unmatched training and education program,” said Tom Daugherty, deputy director at NWI. “This will ensure the nonwovens industry remains competitive and is equipped with the latest skills. With the pace of change in our industry heightened due to the rapid rise of such mega trends as sustainability and machine learning, we believe continuing education in nonwovens is more important than ever — and NWI and INDA are well positioned to serve the needs of our industry in this regard.”

The current roster of INDA/NWI training courses include:

• Elementary Nonwovens
• Intermediate Nonwovens
• Fiber and Filament Extrusion Fundamentals
• Meltblown Technology
• Nonwoven Bonding Fundamentals
• Nonwoven Fabric Property Development and Characterization
• Nonwoven Product Development and Innovation
• Spunbond Technology

Course registration is open to INDA/NWI members and non-members. The INDA/NWI Short Course Value Pack program enables companies to purchase a block of registrations, which can be used by any combination of employees to register for any combination of training courses, at a discounted rate. Value Packs are available in bundles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 registrations, with discounts ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent, depending on the size of the Value Pack. For more information about the Value Pack program, visit https://thenonwovensinstitute.com/short-course-value-pack/.

For more information about upcoming INDA/NWI training courses, visit https://www.inda.org/training/.

Posted: July 15, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI)