#Associations

2022-06-02

INDA promotes Tony Fragnito to President

The Board of Directors at INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, elevated Tony Fragnito from Chief Operating Officer of INDA to President of INDA effective May 31. Fragnito will assume the position currently held by Dave Rousse, who will become President Emeritus and provide support and assistance to Fragnito as needed until Rousse fully retires in January, 2023.

Succeeding Dave Rousse Who Will Retire in January, 2023

Fragnito joined INDA November 29, 2021 as Chief Operating Officer and has been leading INDA’s implementation of its new Strategic Plan, as well as updating INDA’s technology platform. This follows decades of leadership experience assisting trade and professional organizations in realizing their organizational and operational potential. A certified public accountant, Fragnito brings strong financial acumen in addition to extensive information technology, human resource and program management accomplishments from organizations representing a variety of professions and industries.

“Promoting Tony to President of INDA completes the transition plan put in place by the INDA Board in 2021 to provide continuity through Dave’s impending retirement in the development and implementation of the new Strategic Plan,” said Bryan Haynes, Ph.D., INDA Board Chair and R&E Technical Director at Kimberly-Clark. “Dave has led INDA since 2012 and developed a successful, professional organization that now needs to be taken to a new level through the new Strategic Plan.”

“It is an honor to be chosen to lead INDA during this important time for the industry,” said Tony Fragnito, INDA’s new President. “The INDA Board and membership, led by Dave Rousse, have demonstrated the industry’s growth potential and innovation possible through strong collaboration. It is my goal to continue this collaborative model, expand the industry by reaching new markets, and improve the systems, resources and technical content available to INDA staff and industry participants.”

“The INDA Board has worked through a thoughtful and smooth transition plan, leveraging the new operational talents Tony brings to the organization alongside the industry contacts and issue management experience I have developed over the last ten years,” said Dave Rousse, outgoing INDA President. “I look forward to continuing to contribute as needed to Tony’s leadership of INDA.”

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.

Keeping products moving with Swedish automation at FILTECH 2026

At FILTECH 2026, taking place in Cologne from June 30th to July 2nd, members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery association – will highlight how the country’s engineering expertise is enabling filtration manufacturers to increase productivity, improve traceability and reduce dependence on labour-intensive manual processes.

Results of the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey

The global textile industry appears to be turning a corner, but this is more likely a fragile and possibly temporary improvement than the start of a durable recovery. According to the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey, conducted worldwide during the second half of May 2026, business sentiment, order intake, order backlogs and capacity utilization all improved versus March — yet every indicator remains weak by historical standards, and rising costs cast doubt on how long the upturn can last.

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

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

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.