#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2019-11-21

Successful Hygienix™ 2019 addresses sustainability in absorbent hygiene & personal care

Over 500 absorbent hygiene and personal care professionals from 30 countries and throughout the supply chain participated in the fifth edition of INDA’s Hygienix – the premier event for absorbent hygiene & personal care markets – held in Houston, Texas, Nov. 11-14.

The successful three-day conference delivered premium content, education, networking opportunities, awards, and a lively welcome reception at the Houston Downtown Aquarium.

Three enlightening keynote presentations kicked off the compelling program:

Marcus Eriksen, Ph.D., Co-founder and Director of Research of the 5 Gyres Institute – presented how companies can address their part of the plastic pollution problem and minimize the impact of plastics in the environment.

Karen Fingerman, Ph.D., Professor, University of Texas at Austin – presented how different generations impact societal norms based on characteristics such as education, communication, values, marital patterns, and childbirth.

Suzanne Shelton, President and CEO, The Shelton Group – presented research indicating 40 percent of millennial women who expect to have a period are using or considering reusable period products instead of single-use disposable products.

The event also included presentations from 33 other industry experts along with 13+ hours of scheduled face-to-face personal engagement.

“It is evident that Hygienix is well accepted and respected as an international event by the hygiene community. The program fosters innovation and is always supportive of key relevant issues,” said Pricie Hanna, Managing Partner of Price Hanna Consultants LLC.

“The program content is outstanding,” said Nick Vega, Scientist, Procter & Gamble.

The 2019 Hygienix program focused on the environmental impacts of AHP (absorbent hygiene products) inputs, changing demographics of AHP users, game changers in femcare, unwanted chemicals in AHPs, developments advancing productivity, market trends and industry statistics, sensor innovations in AHPs, and innovative components and concepts. Participants also had the opportunity to meet leading industry supplier companies at 53 tabletop exhibits held during two informal evening receptions. “We met important decision makers at Hygienix,” said Jeffrey Profio, Senior Account Manager, ISRA Vision and tabletop exhibitor.

“Hygienix once again provided valuable insights on the issues and developments that are challenging the status quo in the absorbent hygiene industry. The industry’s senior leadership convenes at Hygienix in one place at one time to advance their business interests,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President. “We are delighted with the turnout and the positive feedback from attendees.”

One highlight of the event was the presentation of INDA’s prestigious Hygienix Innovation Award™ to Vemarei, LLC for The FEUR System™, a new, discrete fecal incontinence protection product.

The winners presenting the award (c) 2019 INDA

EDUCATION:

Other highlights included a three-hour absorbent hygiene workshop which attracted 96 participants to take away the latest global trends, regional product launches, and differentiations in diapers, baby pants, and adult underwear. The workshop was led by Carlos Richer, CEO/Director, Richer Investment S.A. de C.V.

RECOGNITIONS: The Hygienix Conference presented the 2019 INDA Lifetime Technical Award to Stephen Chester, former Technical Service & Development Manager with Fitesa, for his long-established technical career and key innovations in the nonwovens industry. The 2019 INDA Lifetime Service Award was presented to Nick Hrinko, Business Development/Americas, Lenzing Fibers for his long service of record to INDA and the nonwovens industry as a whole.

Hygienix 2020 will be held Nov 16-19, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2026 World of Wipes Innovation Award® finalists revealed

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

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

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

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

ITM 2026 makes happy participants with its international and qualified visitor profile

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious meeting points of the textile machinery sector, attracted attention in its first three days, particularly with its diverse international visitor numbers. Industry professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to closely examine the latest technology machines and solutions displayed in operation. Thousands of visitors from approximately 100 countries, primarily Egypt, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, met at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center for new investment and cooperation opportunities.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.