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

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

Farer will serve as professor in the Wilson College of Textiles’ Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS). As executive deputy director with NWI, Farer will join the institute’s leadership team, working closely with Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi and Tom Daugherty to manage the implementation of NWI’s strategic vision.

Farer joins TECS and NWI following a 24-year career with Freudenberg Performance Materials with various assignments in Germany, Spain and the United States. Farer brings extensive knowledge in textile technologies with a specialization in nonwovens.

During his time with Freudenberg Performance Materials, Farer held roles of progressive responsibility, covering research and development, production, operations, management, and technology. He has intricate knowledge and specialized experience in numerous nonwoven technologies, including wet laid, dry laid, meltblown and spunbond, as well as various nonwoven bonding technologies, including thermal bonding, chemical bonding, hydroentanglement and needlepunching.

Throughout his career, Dr. Farer has led and championed investments in new equipment and upgrades in technology to improve the uniformity of nonwovens, optimize and modernize technologies to help reduce energy consumption, and allow for increased usage of recycled materials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Farer and Freudenberg partnered with NWI and NC State to build a full-scale FDA-approved face mask production facility in Durham, North Carolina, while at the same time he was tirelessly championing the successful merger of Freudenberg with the nonwovens manufacturer Low & Bonar in Asheville, N.C.

Farer has also served on NWI’s Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), most recently as chair of its Executive Committee (2022-2024).

“Raoul brings immense value as a leader and faculty member with extensive industry experience,” said Dr. David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “I look forward to the new insights and innovation he will bring to NWI, to our students, and across NC State. We are eager to welcome him back as a two-time alumnus with a deep knowledge of both Wilson College and the NWI. I’m excited to see the transformation of student lives his new role will enable.”

Farer began his journey in textiles and nonwovens in the early 1990s, earning his Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering at Philadelphia University in 1994. Farer then served as a research assistant and teaching assistant at NC State, while earning a Master of Science in Textile Management and Technology (1996) and a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science (1999). During this time, Farer also participated in NWI’s fundamental nonwovens research program, studying novel dispersion technologies for wetlaid nonwovens and the formation of 3D meltblown structures via a robotic system.

Farer has published numerous peer-reviewed papers related to his research in the areas of fiber science and nonwovens, and he has sponsored several students working through NWI’s fundamental nonwovens research program.

“Having worked with Raoul from the time he was a student researcher at NC State and watching him progress in his career with Freudenberg Performance Materials, I am thrilled to have him join us here at NWI,” said Pourdeyhimi. “I look forward to working with Raoul once again and seeing NWI continue to grow with the benefit of his contributions.”

“Returning to my alma mater and NWI is a dream come true,” said Farer. “After a long career in industry at one of the world’s leading nonwovens manufacturers, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to give back to the students, NWI, the Wilson College of Textiles and NC State. Nonwovens have been my passion from the moment when I first took an introductory course as an undergraduate student. I feel very fortunate to be able to join the teams at NWI and TECS and look forward to helping our students learn and grow in their journeys toward becoming future researchers and innovators and to further strengthen our industry partnerships to help build the NWI of the future.”

Posted July 23, 2024

Source: NWI

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)

ITMA 2023 exhibitors in the nonwovens arena embraced the show’s sustainable theme.

By Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Technical Editor

In North America and Europe, spunmelt nonwoven technologies— spunbond and meltblown technologies and their composites — dominate, while in the rest of the world, staple fiber process technologies dominate. Note that the spunmelt technologies are becoming significant in Asia Pacific as well. Europe, North America and Asia Pacific are responsible for more than 75 percent of the world’s nonwovens production.
Today, most lightweight, disposable products are produced using the spunmelt process. No other technology can compete easily in this domain in terms of speed, quality and cost. These machines are multi-beam spunbond/meltblown/spun-bond systems, where six or seven beam machines are common — producing multi-layered composites that weigh between 8 and 50 grams per square meter (gsm), with each beam laying down 1 to 2 gsm. Naturally, this high rate of production is intended for disposable applications such as medical and hygiene products. However, for geosynthetics, where the basis weight is often more than 100 gsm, spunbond and carding technologies are used. Here, the spunbond often is a single or dual beam unit. In heavier products, carding technology dominates; an example would be nonwovens used in the automotive sector.

Recent and continuing advances in the high-speed carding and high-volume carding production technology will allow this technology to continue to dominate these market segments, and the advances in crosslapping technology and higher weight nonwovens through chute-feed systems will encourage the use of such technologies for heavier weight products. It is the author’s opinion that the high-speed carding technology and its associated processes are not maturing technologies that are holding their own. Another key difference between textile machinery makers and nonwovens machinery makers has been the degree of vertical integration in these two segments. Starting in the late 80s and early 90s, alliances and mergers began within the industry. Some of these deals took the form of horizontal integration — buy-out of parallel or competing technologies. Some deals took the form of vertical integration, which encouraged one-stop shopping where the buyer could purchase complete manufacturing lines to produce nonwovens for specific markets. In the latter case, the machines from different parts of the alliance, merger, or partnership were better integrated as well.

Nonwovens At ITMA 2023

ITMA 2023 was another phenomenal success. In the style of previous ITMAs, the event was thoughtfully organized and comprehensive. The nonwovens machinery industry con-tinues to embrace increasing participation in ITMA, although many key players were not present with exhibits including Reicofil, Parkinson and Hills, for example.

These noticeable absences are partly due to the fact that historically, the nonwovens industry has been organized differently and separately from the textile industry. What differentiates the nonwovens and the textile industries is primarily in the product sector. Nonwovens are not used in fashion and apparel. Further-more, to compete in a global economy and offer competitive products — disposable, but not always — requires that the labor component of the total cost be very low. Therefore, high speed, large volume and full automation is required in nonwovens production. This in turn, means that short runs and flexibility in offerings becomes limited. The nonwoven industry has grown to present a broad array of engineered fiber and polymer-based products that are driven by high-speed, low-cost, innovative, value-added, fully automated processes. This has led to a separation from the more traditional textiles which has been primarily focused on apparel and customization.

ITMA Themes, Exhibits

Many visitors came from India, Pakistan, the Middle East and Gulf countries, and North and Latin America. The attendance from Europe and Asia was as expected, with a much higher number of Chinese customers present at the event.

A number of themes were evident at ITMA 2023. Sustainability continues to be a major theme and that dominated some of the sessions, discussions and awards. Almost entirely, the nonwovens exhibitors had a very high degree of focus on sustainability including recycling, lower energy consumption and use of natural fibers such as cellulose. Another theme that was evident was automation, and the adoption of machine leaning for process control and optimization.

Once again, most companies exhibiting at ITMA were primarily those focused on the conversion of staple fibers into nonwovens through carding/crosslapping, pseudo airlay, and associated bonding technologies. Often, those exhibiting companies also have offerings for the textile industry and see an opportunity in specific areas.

The nonwovens machinery industry continues to go through massive changes — reconsolidation together with product differentiation has resulted in many advanced systems — changes that only benefit their customers.

Today’s sectors of the industry include raw material suppliers, roll goods producers, the converters/fabricators of the end use products, machinery industry supporting the previous three categories, auxiliary material suppliers, winding, slitting, and packaging equipment makers, among other sectors. With more consolidation, some of this segmentation is rapidly changing.

In terms of market segments, nonwovens products are used in medical and hygiene, filtration, wipes, automotive, industrial and interlining — the only segment directly related to apparel — applications.

The nonwoven section at ITMA continues to grow, but will likely not grow too rapidly. The customers in attendance at ITMA are often not the same as those customers from the nonwoven machinery sector — although that line is becoming increasingly fuzzy. In 2019, the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) ran a program at ITMA focused on the use of nonwovens as a way to make the broader textile community aware of opportunities in nonwovens sectors. In 2023, ITMA organized the ITMA Nonwoven Forum in collaboration with organizations including NC State’s Nonwovens Institute, The University of Leeds, Deutsche Institute für Textil (DITF), and others, who helped ensure that the topics were relevant and timely. The talks were well received, and the session was a success.

Impressions, Significant Process Technologies

This report is not intended to be an exhaustive review of the process technologies offered for the nonwovens segment. Note also that the following is presented in no particular order, and merely tries to catalog the recent innovations reported at the show and focuses on companies that have established themselves as leaders in the nonwovens machinery industry.

Germany-based Dilo Group had a very prominent booth at ITMA 2023. Dilo has been a major innovator in the area of process technologies for staple nonwoven products. Dilo also has offered complete systems for some time and continues to be a major innovator in the field of machinery for forming staple fibers products from hygiene to industrial. It was the first to introduce the HyperPunch followed by the CycloPunch and now the MicroPunch technology. Its velour and pile needle  looms also represent major developments in this arena.

Dilo introduced this completely new concept for intensive needling, referred to as MicroPunch, in part to allow the formation of entangled, lighter weight webs intended for use in products such as wipes.

The MicroPunch technology is potentially a gamechanger. Needling historically has been used in the production of heavier felts. The Micro-Punch changes this tradition and webs as light as 30 to 100 gsm can be produced using needling.

The concept was developed to provide an alternative to hydroentanglement, which is an energy intensive process but is incredibly effective for lighter weight webs. Coupled with Dilo’s Spinnbau carding technology, intensive needling is a completely new paradigm. The technology uses small needles — approximately 20 to 40 microns in size — with perhaps a single barb, where many more needles are required to effectively needle the web. This design required a completely new approach to how needles are constructed and how they can populate the needle board.

Another industry giant, Germany-based Groz-Beckert KG, took on the needle challenge and created a completely new way of making the needles while making it easy to populate the board by creating needle modules. The MicroPunch technology features up to 45,000 needles per meter (m) per board and can achieve stitch densities of 800 to 900 stitches per square centimeter at a line speed of 140 meter per minute (m/min). The previous record in terms of the number of needles/m/board was 20,000 — introduced at ITMA 2007 in Munich by Dilo.

In the new Groz-Beckert felting needle module X22, needles are embedded as a module in a plastic mold. The felting needle modules are characterized by very high deformation resistance and offer new dimensions in needle density. The assembly and replacement of the modules are said to be fairly economical. The new needle “container-board” has the same features as a classical needle board and can be exchanged on the needle beam as in the past within a few minutes by a pneumatic clamping system. Cleverly, the needle board patterns are designed to mimic the look of hydroentangled fabrics with lines along the machine direction — jet streaks — or a random pattern that removes the appearance of the lines. Dilo reports that the MicroPunch reduces energy consumption by 75 percent compared to hydroentangling.

The MicroPunch line at ITMA consisted of DiloTemafa fiber preparation, opening using a BALTROMIX bale opener, carding willow and dosing opener of the latest design followed by DiloSpinnbau MultiCard fed by a universal card feeder including the new IsoFeed system for reduced weight variation. IsoFeed can improve the overall CV value by approximately 4 percent. The high degree of uniformity of the web results in a reduction of the average weight by approximately 10 percent leading to savings. The MicroPunch line on display at ITMA was shipped back to Dilo’s research and demonstration center where DiloGroup will use it for product development and customer trials.

Dilo also announced partnerships with Italy-based companies Dell’Orco & Villani S.r.l. and TechnoPlants S.r.l. The collaboration allows the supply of complete turnkey lines for recycling. Dell’Orco & Villani is an innovative company specialized in tearing and shredding equipment, and TechnoPlants’ aerodynamic web forming technology is particularly suitable for reclaimed fiber processing.

Groz-Beckert is a global supplier of needles and precision parts. as well as systems for the production and joining of fabrics. Its products support knitting, weaving, needlepunching (felting), tufting, carding and sewing. The company also manufactures and distributes process-critical textile precision tools, industrial cutting solutions, and reinforcement solutions made from high-performance technical fibers for composite materials.
In the felting/needling area, two new products were showcased at ITMA — the needle module for Dilo’s MicroPunch, and a new notch felting needle specially developed for needling highly abrasive fibers to minimize wear and reduce notch clogging.

Groz-beckert offers jet strips for hydroentangling — HyTec —which are known for their significantly improved wear resistance and handling properties. The company also showcased innovations in new gauges of tufting needles for products such as floor coverings and artificial turf. In the carding area, Groz-Beckert is a relative newcomer to the field of clothing wire. Its new SiroLock plus is reported to enhance web uniformity.

Austria-based ANDRITZ AG had a significant presence at ITMA showcasing its existing technologies— including carding technology together with a dynamic crosslapper that reaches speeds of more than 200 meters per minute (m/min), as well as the use of wetlay techniques coupled with hydroentangling and other bonding technologies that is an enabler for the next generation of products, notably, wipes. With the acquisition of France-based Laroche, Andritz now offers a full line of machinery for processing staple fibers, and short cut and recycled fibers including turnkey solutions for carding, spunlace, needlepunch, wetlaid/wetlace and airlaid. Andritz also now offers pulp-based airlay technologies with its acquisition of Denmark-based Dan-Web Machinery A/S. Andritz also offers nonwoven and textile finishing solutions, and components such as belts for hydroentangling, and spunbond and meltblown — as a result of its acquisition of Xerium Technologies Inc., Youngsville, N.C. — and now can offer PGI’s Apex drum technology for hydroentangling for staple fiber-based nonwovens. Note that PGI is now a Berry Global Inc. company.

Andritz Nonwoven pools the expertise of all its companies in technology, research and development, manufacturing, service, and automation, to fully benefiting its customers. The technologies offered complement one another in process solutions for a great variety of applications and contribute to opti-mized and efficient use of resources.

ANDRITZ’s focus at ITMA was on sustainability. This is not a new area for ANDITZ because in the past, it has focused on various sustainable solutions including a reduction in energy consumption with its neXecodry— an energy-efficient drying solution for the spunlace industry.

However, its sustainability innovations at ITMA 2023 went beyond simple energy consumption. Andritz showcased new textile recycling solutions, which are particularly targeted at textile companies that have an interest in recycling textile waste streams to help clients achieve sustainability goals and reduce the overall carbon footprint.

Andritz showcased its spunlace, needlepunch, and Laroche airlay lines; and most importantly, its ability to process 100-percent biobased or natural fibers, as well as reclaimed fibers and/or recycled fibers.

One of the highlights was its PA.3000 elliptical cylinder pre-needler, which is said to be ideal for creating very even and uniform fabrics, especially when used with the Andritz ProWin web profiler. Another innovation by Andritz is its high-performance Wetlace process for flushable, dispersible and biodegradable wipes. The original Andritz Wetlace process combines wetlaid and hydroentanglement technologies, proven for producing flushable wipes from 100-percent natural and/or renewable raw materials without chemical binders. Another feature of its technology is the ability to now apply detailed artwork to flushable wipes using the Apex Drum technology, which offers the ability to create an unlimited range of designs, patterns and apertures. Andritz continues to be the leader in thermal calendaring as well. Andritz also showcased its textile recycling processes. One highlight was the ADuro shredder and fine grinder, used for fine grinding of preshredded textile feedstock down to a very accurate granulate size, while keeping dust to a minimum. These technologies can play an essential role in chemical recycling of textile waste. Another highlight was the Jumbo tearing module, designed for recycling a high volume of textiles, whether post-consumer textile waste or industrial textile waste.
For some time now, Andritz has been focused on digitalization. The company offers a broad range of innovative products and services under the brand name Metris. It combines a complete set of production management, simulation and optimization by using the latest AI technology. A live demo was available at its booth.

In addition, Andritz announced that it had teamed up with Pellenc ST and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles, both based in France, to set up the very first industrial line in France to combine automated sorting and recycling technology.

The Germany-based Trützschler Group SE has become a dominant player in nonwovens through organic growth, through acquisition — Erko and Fleissner — and more recently, through a partnership with an Italy-based company that offers needlepunching and crosslapping in conjunction with Trützschler carding technology. Trützschler also has been a leader in processing cellulosic fibers, which is becoming more significant in the light of the European Union directives and the concerns around the use of synthetic materials in this age of sustainability. The company’s new developments capable of dealing with recycled materials allow Trützschler to offer complete turnkey systems from “cradle-to-cradle” production, sales and service globally in the staple fiber nonwoven markets.

Trützschler Nonwovens focuses on the variety of manufacturing processes, especially dealing with web bonding, in addition to total integrated turn-key systems. The company now offers a full array of process technologies for staple-fiber nonwovens including, but not limited to, fiber preparation and blending, carding, air card, crosslapping, needlepunching, hydroentangling, thermal bonding (through-air), and coating. The four groups of tech-nologies on display included yarn spinning, nonwovens, man-made fiber extrusion and card clothing.

Trützschler has been a leader in the preparation and processing of cotton and other cellulosic fibers, which was very clearly illustrated at the show. It showcased various new and improved cotton processing technologies including the BO-P bale opener; CL-X two-step cleaning process; and TC 30 card, which features the T-GO gap optimizer for higher quality and productivity.

Trützschler also unveiled the new Modular High-Performance Dryer (MPD). Today, hydroentangled nonwoven producers — especially those using cotton, viscose or pulp fibers as raw materials — are under increasing pressure to keep energy costs low and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Trützschler Nonwovens has responded to this need with the innovative through-air MPD dryer that can be adapted and constructed to meet each plant’s, nonwoven’s and customer’s unique requirements. The modular design features a patented, separate intermediate chamber between the drying and heating chambers. This design allows water-saturated circulation air to be extracted before fresh air is sucked in and heated. The result is significantly reduced the amount of energy needed for the drying process compared to dryers without a separation of circulation and fresh air flows.

MPD is available as either a stand-alone single drum dryer or a two-module, space-saving vertical dryer. It is designed for both classic heating systems such as natural gas, electric, steam or thermal oil, in addition to environmentally friendly hydrogen and biogas burners. The two-module configuration is even capable of using two different heating systems. Gas burners in the first module are for instance accompanied by electric heating in the second module, allowing for a customer-specific heating solution.

At ITMA 2023 Trützschler also announced its partnership with the Italy-based textile machinery manu-facturer Texnology S.r.l. to offer complete production lines for needlepunched nonwovens under a new brand called T-SUPREMA. A first joint project has already been successfully completed, implemented and is in operation.

Texnology offers a number of sys-ems for the nonwovens industry. The company develops and manufactures needle looms, web drafters, profiling systems and high speed crosslapper systems. The Texnology site in Fontaniva, Italy, offers a show room with a complete needlepunching line for customer materials.

Autefa Solutions, Germany, also had a significant presence at ITMA. It showcased several key technologies including its fiber recycling solutions together with the V12/r aerodynamic web forming technology coupled with various needling solutions. Interestingly, it also offers a wetlaid/hydroentangling line in collaboration with Slovenia-based PAMA Paper Machinery for processing 100-percent cellulosic materials, including pulp, viscose or lyocell fibers. Autefa offers a full range of turnkey machinery including carding, crosslapping, airlay, needling, hydroentangling and thermal bonding. Higher productivity, sustainability and Industry 4.0 compatible solutions were the highlights of AUTEFA presentations at ITMA 2023.

Bematic, Italy, has been developing and manufacturing nonwoven production lines for almost 50 years. The company provides turnkey solutions customized to specific production requirements. Bematic showcased its new carding line and new airlay technology at the show. Bematic has been collaborating with the Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (Fraun-hofer ITWM) and Switzerland-based Siriotek GmbH to develop the next generation of airlay machines to ensure performance and quality in processing with staple fibers whilst reducing energy consumption, waste generation and carbon emissions.

CL Nonwoven, a China-based manufacturer of spunbond and meltblown machinery also exhibited at ITMA 2023. It had a wide range of fabrics on display including spunbond, meltblown and SMS structures mostly made from polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). The quality of the fabrics was surprisingly good. CL Nonwoven has been aggressively marketing its capabilities and is present at many exhibitions globally. CL Nonwoven is a company to watch.

France-based Spoolex S.a.s. offers efficient converting equipment and components including ultrasonic cutting and welding equipment, and industrial rollers. Its Converting Machinery division has offered unwinding, slitting, rewinding equipment since 1955 for a wide range of markets. Spoolex’s range of products includes slitter-rewinders, turret winders, spooling lines, but also, non-stop-winders, splicing benches and slitting benches, from simple equipment to fully automated cells. Their modular design allows the machines to be fully customizable and they may be fitted with different unwinding, slitting and rewinding technologies for materials ranging from thick, lofty materials to thin materials. Spoolex’s Decoup+ ultra-sonic technology performs clean and soft edges; and its Industrial Rollers division has been offering industrial idler rollers, chill rollers and winding cores since 1991.

Oerlikon was at the show but was showcasing its new staple fiber process and did not focus on its non-wovens machinery.

Cormatex S.r.l., a well-known Italy-based company, presented its horizontal airlay machine nicknamed Lap formair H, a high-speed cross-cutting machine, and a water recycling gallery. Cormatex’s airlay technology is capable of processing different types of fibers — virgin or recycled — as well as various waste materials for different applications in furniture, mattress, automotive, thermal and acoustic insulation, and agriculture among other applications. A key feature of this machine lies in its capability for processing fibers as well as non-fibrous materials including very short fibers down to 1 millimeter in length. The webs can range from 100 gsm to more than 5,000 gsm at throughputs approaching 500 kilograms per hour per meter. The machine is capable of processing powder resins as an alternative to low-melt fibers.

Its cross-cutting technology is designed to perform a very precise and straight cut without stopping the line at cutting cycles lower than 2 seconds.

In addition, Cormatex’s gallery of various nonwoven samples show-cased a wide range of materials from recycled leather waste or recycled paper products, to various types of vegetable and wood fibers.

Ramina S.r.l., another innovative Italy-based company, also had a large presence at ITMA. It showcased the Leonardo 1.0 technology in spunbond, meltblown and composite lines. It had samples of materials on hand made using PP, PE, polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate, polyester and polylactic acid. The company also offers carding and needling lines, airlay lines and thermobonding lines. Ramina is relative newcomer, but one that is growing rapidly and expanding its portfolio of products. This is another company to watch.

Vertical Lapping

An interesting surprise was the rebirth and growth of vertical lapping technology. Australia-based V-Lap exhibited its new vertical lapping system. The company first exhibited at ITMA 2011 but did not get any traction partly because it was a start-up. It clearly is not a start-up any longer!

Vertical Lapping is not new. Known in the industry as STRUTO, many are familiar with vertical lapping. Struto is a nonwoven structure where all the fibers are orientated in the vertical position. This gives the highest possible resilience and recovery after repeated compression at varying levels of thicknesses. This differentiates it from lapped webs or high loft airlaid products. These nonwovens are superior in resilience and their higher porosity results in better performance in critical applications such as automotive and filtration.

V-Lap offers turnkey systems with complete fiber processing, carding, lapping and bonding up to 3 meters in width. It had a portfolio of products on display including automotive parts — door panels, thermoacoustic materials and seating materials — full sized mattresses, pillows, various forms of air filters, performance clothing, among other products.

Vertical lapping is an interesting technology that will undoubtedly have many niche applications where the unique properties of the structure warrant their use. This is a development worth watching.

Future ITMAs

While the nonwovens sector had a significant showing at ITMA 2023, participation was still less significant than at other nonwoven specific trade shows such as INDEX, IDEA and ANNEX. ITMA is dedicated to textile machinery; consequently, show attendees typically are interested in “textile” products. Most nonwoven users do not consider themselves to be part of the textile community and therefore these customers are not drawn to ITMA. Perhaps this customer division will change in the future as the line between the nonwovens and traditional textile industry continues to blur.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi is the executive director of The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at NC State University, a consortium of stakeholders spanning the breadth of the nonwovens value chain from raw materials to end-use products. Dr. Pourdeyhimi also serves as the associate dean for Industry Research and Extension at the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State and is a distinguished professor of textile materials and an adjunct professor in Biomedical Engineering, also at NC State. Dr. Pourdeyhimi can be reached at bpourdey@ncsu.edu, +1 919.515.1822.

January/February 2024

Jointly organized courses include 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. Each course is designed to be accessible and valuable to those who are new to the nonwovens industry and/or come from a non-technical background, as well as seasoned nonwovens professionals.

2024 INDA/NWI Training Course Schedule:

• Elementary Nonwovens – January 23-24, 2024
• Intermediate Nonwovens – February 6-9, 2024
• Meltblown Technology – February 27-29, 2024
• Spunbond Technology – March 19-21, 2024
• Intermediate Nonwovens – April 30-May 3, 2024
• Elementary Nonwovens – May 7-8, 2024
• Nonwoven Fabric Property Development and Characterization – June 4-7, 2024
• WIPES Academy – June 17-18, 2024
• Fiber and Filament Extrusion Fundamentals – July 24-27, 2024
• Nonwoven Product Development and Innovation – August 13-16, 2024
• Absorbent Hygiene Course – August 27-29, 2024
• Elementary Nonwovens – September 10-11, 2024
• Carded Nonwovens Technology – October 3, 2024
• Intermediate Nonwovens – October 15-19, 2024

Dr. Matt O’Sickey, INDA director of Education and Technical Affairs, said: “INDA is committed to being a ‘must-have’ resource for nonwovens continuing education. We are delighted to continue our partnership with NWI to meet the development needs of nonwoven professionals. This suite of courses provides organizations serving the nonwovens industry a vital resource to ensure their employees have the knowledge and skills to continuously contribute to the success of the business.”

Short Course Value Packs

New this year, INDA and NWI are offering a Short Course Value Pack program, enabling 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.

Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, NWI 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/nwi-inda-short-course-value-pack-program/

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

Posted: December 12, 2023

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

RALEIGH, N.C. — October 3, 2023 — The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is excited to announce its newly expanded Filtration Testing Lab, featuring services for facemasks and respirators, along with filter media for automotive, HEPA and HVAC applications. Importantly, NWI’s Filtration Testing Lab is A2LA Accredited for ISO 17025*, enabling it to meet NIOSH requirements for testing materials used in respirators, and it is outfitted with equipment to perform ASTM F2299 testing for the measurement of Particle Filtration Efficiency (PFE) at 0.1 microns.

Testing equipment available in NWI’s Filtration Testing Lab includes:

• PALAS MFP-3000-S fractional aerosol filter test;
• Two TSI 8130 machines for filtration efficiency;
• Two TSI 3160 machines for filtration efficiency;
• Two offline charging and discharging units;
• Two environmental chambers for aging and conditioning masks and filter media;
• TSI Portacount respirator fit tester;
• Testex TN 139 synthetic blood tester;
• Testing apparatus for the measurement of fluid resistance for surgical masks; and
• Prototyping facility to produce masks per NIOSH Standard Test Protocol.

NWI’s Filtration Testing Lab is managed by Amy Minton, who has more than 20 years of experience in administering a wide variety of analytical, physical and filtration test methods for nonwoven materials.

“NWI’s Filtration Testing Lab is an important addition to the Institute’s impressive nonwoven fabrication and testing capabilities,” said Minton, who also manages the NWI Analytical and Physical Testing Lab. “Having an ISO 17025 accredited lab for the testing of nonwoven filter media allows us to serve the needs of nonwovens companies who are targeting the fast-growing filtration market. ISO 17025, our decades of testing experience, and our strict adherence to GMP and Standard Operating Procedures provides our industry partners assurance that the tests they conduct at NWI will be executed with the highest level of quality and accuracy.”

Why test your filter media at NWI?

• Decades of in-house material testing experience;
• A2LA accredited for ISO 17025;
• ISO 9001 accredited;
• ASTM F2299 testing capability;
• Strict adherence to GMP and SOPs;
• Highly competitive pricing model; and
• Quick turnaround times.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited test methods include:

• TEB-APR-STP-0059: N95;
• TEB-APR-STP-0058: N99;
• TEB-APR-STP-0057: N100;
• TEB-APR-STP-0056: R Series;
• TEB-APR-STP-0051: P Series;
• ASTM F3502;
• ASTM F1862;
• ASTM F3407;
• ASTM F1980;
• ASTM F2299;
• BS EN 14683:2019 Annex C; and
• 16 CFR Part 1610.

In addition to NWI’s Filtration Testing Lab, NWI offers a fully equipped Analytical and Physical Testing Lab with more than 60 tests available for nonwoven materials. NWI also offers lab- and pilot-scale capabilities for Fiber Spinning, Meltblown, Spunbond and Hydroentangling, Staple/Carded Nonwovens, among others.

NWI will be exhibiting at FiltXPO 2023, October 10-12, Navy Pier in Chicago. Visit us at Booth No. 826 to learn more about our Filtration Testing Lab and capabilities.

* The Nonwovens Institute’s ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation is administered by A2LA. Accredited test methods are shown in the list above. Certificate No.: 6402.01.

For more details about NWI Filtration Testing Lab, visit https://thenonwovensinstitute.com/filtration-testing-lab/.

For more details about NWI’s Fabrication and Testing capabilities, visit https://thenonwovensinstitute.com/fabrication-testing/.

October 3, 2023

Filtration and separation professionals from the global supply chain will connect at FiltXPO 2023 for advancements, innovations, and business development. The conference portion of the FiltXPO event will focus on advanced filtration technologies and science for products that create a cleaner, healthier, and safer world. More details about the conference will be released at a later date.

“We are excited to partner with INDA on the FiltXPO Conference,” said Dr. Christine Sun, president, Waterloo Filtration Institute. “WFI’s technical experience and reach will bring an added dimension to the event. Our team has already begun planning the conference and we look forward to sharing more details soon,” Sun added.

“INDA is proud to partner with WFI as they bring a wealth of filtration knowledge to the table,” said Tony Fragnito, president, INDA. “We are very fortunate to have their technical expertise in planning the FiltXPO Conference. Filtration professionals can expect a robust program developed with the industry expertise of WFI,” Fragnito continued.

The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is a valued partner to INDA in bringing educational offerings to the nonwoven and engineered material industry. Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi,  professor and executive director, The Nonwovens Institute, and his team will teach the two-day Filter Media Course in conjunction with FiltXPO, October 9-10, at Navy Pier in Chicago.

Professor Pourdeyhimi and his team will share the latest insights in the development, testing, and application of nonwovens in air, aerosol, and liquid filtration. Participants will gain knowledge about the physics of filtration, how nonwoven filter media is designed and used in air, aerosol, and liquid applications, testing standards, unmet needs in filter media, and the latest market trends and intelligence.

For more details about FiltXPO and the Filter Media Course, visit www.filtxpo.com. For a complete list of INDA and NWI educational offerings, visit www.inda.org/training. For questions, contact the Registrar, registrar@inda.org

Posted: August 17, 2023

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Each workshop will consist of one day of classroom discussion covering technical information on materials, processes, products, classification and testing, followed by a second day of hands-on construction and characterization of prototype products in a laboratory workshop setting.  The workshops will feature NWI’s state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and staff expertise to deliver a unique experience for attendees. Due to the format of these workshops, attendance will be limited in order to provide the best environment for insight and learning.

Cost per session per attendee:

• $1595 for non-NWI members
• $1295 for NWI members (please contact us directly for your discount code)

Workshop #1:  Respirators and Facemasks – June 7-9, 2022

Topics:

• Nonwovens structures and fabric performance;
• Basic nonwovens processes and materials – meltblown and spunbond fabrics;
• Aerosol filtration basics;
• Products and markets;
• Product performance;
• Classification and testing protocols; and
• Workshop experience – prototyping and characterization.

Registration Information:

https://reporter.ncsu.edu/link/instanceview?courseID=NWI-WBR-09&deptName=NWI&instanceID=000001

Workshop #2:  Wipes – July 19-21, 2022

Topics:

• Nonwoven structure and fabric performance;
• Nonwoven processes and materials for wipe fabrics;
  • Carding and hydroentangling
  • Spunbond and coform
  • Wetlaid
• Products, markets and trends;
  • Sustainability issues
• Product performance and functionality;
  • Single use vs. multiple use
• Testing and classification;
• Workshop experience – prototyping and characterization

Registration Information:

https://reporter.ncsu.edu/link/instanceview?courseID=NWI-WBR-10&deptName=NWI&instanceID=000001

Workshop #3:  Protective Gowns and Garments – August 16-18, 2022

Topics:

• Nonwoven structure and fabric performance;
• Basic nonwoven processes and materials for gown and garment fabrics;
• SMS and lamination;
• Products, markets, and trends;
• Single use vs. multiple use;
• Sustainability issues;
• Product performance and functionality;
• Testing and classification; and
• Workshop experience –  prototyping and characterization.

Registration Information:

TBD

Posted: April 22, 2022

Source: The Nonwovens Institute

Part two of Textile World’s two-part feature on textile education focuses on alternatives to the college and university offerings

By Jim Kaufmann, Contributing Editor

The need for well-trained men and women to meet the demands of a growing textile industry…” are the first words of a Textile World article published some 20 years ago (See “Making the Grade,” TW, January 2002). If written today, that sentence likely would conclude with words reflecting a heightened awareness and fast-growing urgency for training options in order to generate viable candidates to fill the numerous textile industry job openings. As both the United States and global textile industries re-emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with an invigorated economy, but faced with an aging workforce (see “What Do We Do When All the Old Guys and Girls Are Gone,” TW, September 2017) coupled with what some are referring to as the “great resignation,” human resource and plant managers are scrambling to find, hire and train able bodied workers for their locations. As a result, affirmed by Sam Buff, vice president and general manager at the Manufacturing & Textile Innovation Network (MTIN), Gastonia, N.C., “training is getting hot!”

Training needs are indeed getting hotter specific to today’s textile industry. This realization has prompted many of the colleges and universities referenced in part I of this feature (See “A Textile Education, Circa 2022, TW, Jan/Feb 2022), as well as several textile industry organizations to build upon their current program offerings specific to textiles. What follows is a brief discussion of alternatives for gaining a targeted knowledge of textiles and the industry without the need to acquire a formal textiles degree.

So Many Types And Options

By definition, training relates to the act of teaching people a particular skill set. Perhaps reflecting the ever-growing breadth of the textile industry, today’s iterations of training can range in scope from how to properly drive a forklift to a basic introduction of the textile industry or more detailed specifics of how to operate precision equipment such as complex spinning or high-speed knitting machines.

The variety of topics and training available can accommodate someone who is completely new to the textile industry, someone looking for a refresher on one aspect of the industry, or someone knowledgeable about the textile industry who is looking to learn about a different industry sector or piece of equipment. As alternatives to a formal textile degreed program, these offerings include casual programs or presentations at trade shows; training courses offered by industry organizations; classes offered by colleges or universities; and highly detailed operator and technician training offered by major textile machine manufacturers. Most training is offered in the form of webinars, online tutorials, workshops, formal classwork ranging from a one-hour class to multiple several week-long courses, and apprenticeships and hands-on lab work with personalized trainers and mentors.

Government Interest

The U.S. Government, and in particular the Department of Defense (DOD) — a major customer and consumer of untold amounts of textile products — has in recent years taken an interest in maintaining and even upgrading the U.S. textile industry. The Berry Amendment — a statutory requirement restricting the DOD from purchasing textiles produced outside of the United States — certainly invigorated segments of the textile industry. More recently, the DOD through numerous Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants and by providing grant funds to establish the Cambridge, Mass.-based Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) organization in 2016, has worked to advance textile technologies as well as revitalize U.S. textile manufacturing.

AFFOA’s charge involves building a rather complex, yet collaborative ecosystem “across academia, industry and government partners” that addresses the many “grand challenges” presented to the U.S. textile industry. Segments of focus include developing systems-level solutions, rapid prototyping and transitioning technologies, many geared towards developing advanced e-textiles products. An important component of these endeavors includes “inspiring, preparing and growing the future advanced textile workforce pipeline in the U.S.” As a result, AFFOA is developing programs specific to education requirements, working with the textile industry and establishing partnerships with various universities — including NC State, U Mass – Lowell, Drexel, Cornell and MIT — to align educational opportunities and industry recognized credentials.

College, University Non-Degreed Offerings

It is fair to say that most colleges and universities currently offer some form of training specific to textiles, fashion, design and engineering. “Jefferson does offer a more traditional ‘textiles 101’ type class, but the bulk of our training requests currently are more customized to a company or group’s specific needs,” offered Marcia Weiss, director, Textile Design Programs at Thomas Jefferson University. “Because of our history as a textile institution and our on-campus lab facilities, training courses can be patterned to include weaving, knitting, nonwoven and jacquard design and execution, digital printing and physical testing elements.” These offerings are mostly non-credit courses focusing primarily on the skill sets and technologies targeted for learning.

According to Weiss, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restricted access to college campuses temporarily impacted the extent of textile training. “With COVID, a lot of in-person trainings were slowed, cancelled or moved on-line,” Weiss noted. “There are on-line training apps that span all facets of textiles, but it’s really just not the same as hands-on, in-person training. There’s truly no substitute for hands-on learning when it comes to textiles.”

While expanding on different resources available at Jefferson and possibly of potential interest to those involved in biomedical textile applications, Weiss referenced Jefferson’s Institute of Bioprocessing (JIB). “JIB is also a full-service development and training organization for biotechnologies. It offers product development, testing and evaluation capabilities as well as training and credentialed programs. And we can certainly complement it from a textiles perspective or vice versa.”

The Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), an element of NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles, offers an assortment of training and certification classes in textiles and Lean Six-Sigma methodologies. It also provides prototyping and pilot production services through the school’s textile laboratories, which include spun yarns, knitting, weaving, nonwovens, dyeing and finishing, and physical testing.

“We also are developing a new textile fundamentals course consisting of 16 micro courses broken down into different modules that is expected to launch formally in the fall,” noted ZTE Director Andre West. “We’ve seen some gun-shyness throughout the industry due to employee turnover during present times. Companies are asking, ‘Do we invest in an employee’s training knowing they may shift to another position or leave the company?’ So, we’re breaking this program down into component parts because you may just need specific areas, which will make it faster and easier to obtain with a reduced commitment of time and investment.”

A big impediment continually facing the textile industry is labor and identifying new population segments to tap into for new employees, which directly affects training efforts. ZTE, through a research grant funded by a DOD/AFFOA, is working to build workforce development ecosystems in order to increase employee counts and commitments. “We’re being driven by industry needs which directly feed into DOD needs,” said Melissa Sharp, ZTE’s associate director. “Through this grant and working with Gaston College’s Textile Technology Center, we are employing gap and needs analysis techniques to identify non-traditional labor pools. After identifying these segments, we’ll be able to broaden who we reach out to and better understand their needs towards providing stable employment foundations, an element of which will likely include building more flexibility into our training methods.”

Gaston College recently introduced the Textile Academy, which along with its Textile Technology Center, is revamping all textile-related programs and training classes. “Initially, the curriculum will be driven by our ‘champion companies’ and their pain points, but as we progress, we’ll be able to adjust the curriculum and content thru feedback from the participating companies and individuals to make sure we’re addressing their collective needs,” said Emily Hansley, Gaston’s director of Customized Training. “Textiles require rather specific skill sets and the demand for training is certainly there. Our goal is to provide a feeder system for better trained, more qualified talent to the industry.” College track programs kick off in June and the general training options with a variety of class offerings, available through the Textile Academy, are slated to begin in the fall.

In addition to its training activities, Gaston College also offers a unique alternative — the Apprenticeship 321 program. Established in 2015, the program’s goal is to “cultivate highly skilled workers for small to large companies who can enter the workforce immediately upon completing the program.” To date, 108 individuals have completed the program. There are currently 68 apprentices and 25 youth apprentices in training at Gaston, ranging in age from 18 to 62. The youth apprentices are typically high school juniors and seniors who gain exposure to companies looking to hire while also learning specific skill sets.

“The program really offers the best of both worlds,” suggested Jill Hendrix, Gaston’s director, Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning. “The company selects the individual, hires them and enters them into our apprenticeship program, also identifying a ‘mentor’ for the employee to ‘keep them safe.’ Collectively, the program is selected with related instruction, then we manage it through completion including handling the paperwork, associated standards and documentation.” Successful apprentices can qualify for nationally recognized certifications, academic credentials from Gaston College and a National Career Readiness Certificate. A variety of occupations are currently being offered and a textile-based occupation track is in development.

It should be noted that for many of the options mentioned, costs can vary depending on the content and complexity. There may be scholarships, grants, financial assistance and possibly company sponsorships available to lessen any tuition concerns.

Industry Organization Offerings

Several industry organizations also have established a variety of branded offerings specific to their membership’s interests. The Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is involved from both the academics and professional/industry perspectives. AATCC sponsors student chapters at several universities, which provide members with access to digital labs, discounts for conferences, scholarships and grants. On the industry side, AATCC hosts a variety of conferences, workshops and other textile events, each of which provide avenues for education and training activities.

Offerings include digital labs focused on textile and color technologies, processing equipment, quality systems and testing standards. Workshops are more in-depth programs and target those looking to learn something new or refresh their knowledge. Formal conferences tend to be topic specific, which include its annual conference and participation in other organization’s conferences. Also, in 2020, AATCC held its first Textile Discovery Summit, an annual event covering a broad range of textile related topics. The next summit will be held in Charlotte, October 4-6, 2022.

The Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) also offers an assortment of training and education offerings to  those interested in learning more about nonwovens. “Education and training in general are critical to textiles and nonwovens,” said Chris Plotz, INDA’s director of Education and Technical Affairs and an Adjunct Professor at MIT. “We offer on-demand, virtual and in-person training options on topics specific to nonwovens technologies and applications. Onsite classroom training is conducted at our Cary, N.C., location and we partner with the Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at NC State for hands-on training options.”

INDA, AATCC and other related organizations are basically full-service development sources with subject matter experts and a real world understanding of industry segments. These organizations, as well as the colleges and universities involved in textile industry segments, are generally able to provide a great source of industry knowledge, trends and opportunities through their conferences, white papers, professional services, education/training and apprenticeship offerings. “We’re all always looking to expand interest in the textiles and nonwovens industry and coursework that can spur your senses is always better!” concluded Plotz.

March/April 2022