#Index 2017

2017-04-07

Winner of the FILTREX Innovation Award 2017 announced

The first ever FILTREX Innovation Award was won by Freudenberg Filtration Technologies. Votes were submitted confidentially by industry professionals attending FILTREX™ Europe, the leading nonwovens filter media conference and tabletop exhibition, being held in Geneva on the 5th and 6th April 2017 in conjunction with INDEX™17.

Sector officially recognizes innovation in the filtration industry for the first time.

The FILTREX™ Innovation Award recognize the efforts of all manufacturers of nonwoven based filtration products/elements and celebrate their continuous efforts for excellence and innovation. The occasion marks the first time the sector has officially recognized innovation in the filtration industry.

The five nominees each presented a 10-minute showcase of their innovation during the FILTREX™ conference. Freudenberg were then announced as winners at an award ceremony at the Château des Bois, Geneva, where they received a specially commissioned trophy featuring an artist’s view of a filter media performance. It was noted at the event that the award carried significant merit as it was voted for exclusively by industry peers.

Freudenberg were honoured for their brand new micronAir® blue filter. The filter is a highly efficient four-layer particle filter that features a patented two layered filter media focusing on PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles as well as a combi-filter that protects against harmful gases and an anti-allergen filter layer. The new product, to be used principally in cars, eliminates almost 100% of occurring allergens and protects against microorganisms such as bacteria and fungal spores.

Alexander Oelsner stated "There is immense pride in this achievement. I hope this initiative will further innovation and collaboration across our industry. Together we can achieve so much"

Award nominees, in alphabetic order, were as follows:

Ahlstrom Tampere Ahlstrom Statguard™: A filter media suitable for bag filters that reduce the explosion risk, because of added conductive properties.

Europlasma Nanofics®: A high-tech finishing process which improves filter performance but reduces the consumption of energy and chemicals in manufacturing.

Freudenberg Filtration Technologies microAir® blue: A cabin air filter consisting of four filter layers for total protection against air pollution, including allergens.

Johns Manville A 3-layer hybrid filter media for the production of bag filters

Sandler sawasscreen® enAIRsave®: A new pocket filter media with improved energy efficiency.

25 years in the room: EDANA’s OUTLOOK™ returns to Cascais to shape a changing industry

The market does not wait, and it does not grant easy answers. Across the absorbent hygiene, personal care, and wipes sectors, business is undergoing a period of intense, necessary adjustment. New European rules on packaging, single-use items, product safety, and end-of-life are forcing companies to drop old assumptions about materials and performance. At the same time, producers must keep their goods safe, reliable, and affordable for the babies and aging adults, who rely on them every day.

Sustainability: European industry calls on EU to keep Single-Use Plastics Directive unchanged

A broad coalition of European industry associations, including EDANA, Euratex and Plastics Europe, has urged EU institutions to maintain the current legal framework of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). In a joint statement, the organisations argue that reopening the Directive at this stage would create legal uncertainty, increase regulatory complexity and undermine investment, while its implementation across the European Union is still incomplete.

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

SHIMA SEIKI to showcase digital product creation at Apparel Sourcing Week

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Apparel Sourcing Week 2026 in Bengaluru, India next month. The exhibition provides a platform for the entire apparel value chain, bringing together manufacturers, brands, suppliers and solution providers in one location.

SNA GZ accelerates its on-demand production strategy with Kornit Digital

SNA GZ is leveraging the Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS to expand its music merchandise production, streamline e-commerce order fulfillment, and grow its print-on-demand business across Europe. This investment increases SNA GZ's textile production capacity by 150% (2.5×), enabling the company to meet growing demand and support its continued expansion.

NEUMÜHLE launches mono-material hoodie designed for textile recycling

With the Circular Mono Hoodie, Zurich-based label NEUMÜHLE introduces a new essential designed around a single-material principle. The textile construction is cotton throughout, right down to the sewing thread. Entirely free from elastane, the hoodie launches as a Limited Drop for CHF 139. Take-back, collection and existing recycling partnerships complement its circular design.

New Cotton Review examines competitiveness, market risk, and opportunities

From moving record volumes of Brazilian cotton to market, to managing price volatility, unlocking Ethiopia’s production potential, and strengthening African textile trade, the latest edition of Cotton: Review of the World Situation examines some of the most consequential opportunities and challenges facing the global cotton industry.