#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2019-04-11

IDEA® 2019 successfully returns to Miami Beach

IDEA® 2019, the world’s preeminent event for nonwovens and engineered fabric professionals, welcomed 6,500+ participants and 509 exhibiting companies from 75 countries across the entire nonwovens and engineered fabrics supply chain to make business connections in Miami Beach, FL.

The 20th edition of IDEA® 2019, March 25-28 broke a display record for the event filling 168,600 square feet of exhibit space (15,663 square meters)within the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center. The new record represents a nine percent increase in display space over IDEA® 2016 as industry participants expressed their business confidence through larger exhibition booths.

The triennial event organized by INDA featured seven new nonwovens training classes, market presentations from China, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, industry recognitions with the IDEA® Achievement Awards, the IDEA® Lifetime Achievement Award, and a welcome reception celebration of INDA’s 50th anniversary.

Exhibitors and attendees noted the large number of industry senior leaders participating in the three-day event. “IDEA provided exceptionally strong metrics in leadership presence this year.

The event attracted a high level of key decision makers, a testimonial to the show’s importance within the international nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President.

“The quality of attendees and visitors was exceptional,” said Mark Steinbrecher, Sales Manager, OPTIMA Nonwovens. According to Pat Mahoney, Key Account Manager at Berry Global, the absorbent hygiene prospective activity was “more than expected.”

“The size and scope of the booths were impressive,” according to Pedro Camerena Torres, Chief Commercial Officer with Polimeros y Derivados of Mexico.

Other highlights of IDEA® 2019:

The presentation of the IDEA®?Achievement Awards – sponsored by INDA and Nonwovens Industry Magazine – recognized companies in five categories for the best new products introduced since IDEA® 2016. Competing among over 50 nominees, the winners of the IDEA® 2019?Achievement Awards were:

IDEA® 2019 Equipment Achievement Award:

A.Celli Nonwovens S.P.A. – A. Celli Vision System

IDEA® 2019 Raw Materials Achievement Award:

Lenzing AG – Veocel™ Lyocell Fibers

IDEA® 2019 Roll Goods Achievement Award:

Fitesa – Fitesa 100% Biobase PLA Soft

IDEA® 2019 Short-Life?Converted Product Achievement Award:

Callaly – Tampliner®

IDEA® 2019 Long-Life?Converted Product Achievement Award:

Soteria Battery Innovation Group – Soteria Battery Architecture

The IDEA® 2019 Entrepreneurial Achievement Award is selected by the editors of Nonwovens Industry Magazine. This year editors found a unique supporter and developer of the entrepreneurial spirit rather than a specific product invention.

P&G Venture Labs is the recipient of the IDEA® 2019 Entrepreneurial Achievement Award, first, for helping aging adults perform daily self-care activities and preserving personal dignity and independence, and secondly, for alleviating symptoms of menopause driven by the loss of estrogen over time.

Capping off the awards event, Rousse recognized the accomplishments of Robert Julius, President of Nice-Pak Products, Inc. in awarding him the IDEA®?Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Julius was recognized for his lifetime commitment to research, quality, innovation, and service. Nice-Pak and PDI have pioneered the development of wet wipe products and markets globally, that serve the consumer, commercial, healthcare, and contract markets.

IDEA® Training Opportunities:

For the first time IDEA® offered short course and refresher training. Over 260 industry professionals took advantage of INDA’s essential training on Nonwovens Basics, Wet Wipes, Absorbent Hygiene, and Filter Media for air and liquid taught by renowned industry experts.

INDA’s 50th Anniversary Welcome Reception:

Over 500 participants enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, beverages, live music, and video in paying homage to 1968, the year INDA was formed and a year when a gallon of gasoline cost 34 cents and a loaf of bread cost 22 cents. The anniversary welcome reception enabled INDA to express appreciation for the continuous support from its members and commit to continuing its mission to advance the success of the nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry and its members.

IDEA® 2022 will be held March 28-31, 2022 again at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida.

For more information, visit http://www.inda.org.

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.

Recover™ and Ünteks Group partner to scale recycled cotton in knitwear

Recover(TM), a global producer of low‐impact, high‐quality recycled cotton fiber, announces a new partnership with Ünteks Group, a vertically integrated textile manufacturer based in Turkey. The collaboration focuses on the development of circular knit fabrics and garments, combining Recover’s recycled cotton fiber with Ünteks Group’s integrated capabilities across knitting, dyeing, printing, and garment production.

STEELTOP®: A new benchmark in flat tops for spinning preparation

Modern carding generations achieve higher production performance, placing significantly greater stress on flat tops. Higher cylinder speeds and increased fiber density, combined with tighter carding gaps, create more demanding operating conditions. At the same time, poorer raw material quality and the increased use of recycled materials further intensify these challenges. With STEELTOP®, Trützschler introduces a new full steel flat top series developed for these demanding modern carding processes.

YKK develops concept EXCELLA® zipper tape using nonwoven fabric partially derived from used clothing

YKK Corporation has developed a concept version of its premium EXCELLA® zipper series made from nonwoven fabric sheets created by fiberizing used clothing and other textile materials. Based on a proposal by fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, this item was created as a result of collaboration between Nakazato, Seiko Epson Corporation and YKK. The concept zipper was incorporated as a material component for pieces in the newest YUIMA NAKAZATO Couture Collection, “INFERNO,” which was unveiled in Paris, France on July 8, 2026.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris highlights evolving global sourcing landscape

From 31 August to 2 September 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will bring together more than 1,000 international exhibitors at Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. This edition reflects the new global balance of textile and apparel sourcing, highlighting a strong diversity of sourcing countries — some unexpected.