#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2020-09-10

INDA announces the 2020 RISE® Innovation Award finalists: Changing the future with ingenious solutions in engineered materials

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the three finalists that will present their innovative material science solutions as they compete for the prestigious RISE® Innovation Award during the tenth edition of the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics Conference, (RISE®) to be held completely virtually Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2020.

The award recognizes novel innovations within and on the periphery of the nonwovens industry that creatively use next-level science and engineering principles to solve material challenges and expand the usage of nonwovens and engineered fabrics.

Meet your Finalists for the 2020 RISE® Innovation Award:

Leakproof Absorbent Nursing Pads – Pregnant women needed a better solution for managing breast milk leaks. FemTech nursing pads absorb 30ml of fluid leaving the consumer feeling dry and confident and are shaped, so they grip and stay in place in the bra.

– FemTech at MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd.

Pedilay® med – Pedilay® med is a ready-to-use foot bandage that encloses the foot up to the ankle and supports medical treatments. It saves valuable care time, since the bandage can be put on or taken off very gently within a few seconds.

– Pedilay® Care GmbH

Spunbond High Efficiency Filter – A completely new approach to creating filtration media with the right efficiency at low pressure drop at a throughput of 350 kg per meter per hour. The pressure drop with The Nonwovens Institute’s new filter is unmatched by any meltblown structure and doesn’t require electrostatic charging.

– The Nonwovens Institute

Virtual RISE™ conference attendees—technology scouts and product developers in the nonwoven/engineered fabrics industry charged with finding “what’s new and next” to help advance their businesses—will vote for the recipient of the 2020 RISE®?Innovation Award, on Wed. Sept. 30th. The winner will be announced Thurs., Oct. 1st.

The three finalists were selected by technical experts on INDA’s Technical Advisory Board. The 25-member board of technical professionals is represented by companies such as Absorbent Hygiene Insights LLC, Auburn University, Berry Global, Cotton Incorporated, Crown Abbey LLC, Fi-Tech, Inc. Freudenberg Performance Materials, Jacob Holm, Lenzing Fibers, Inc., Loftus Technical Consulting, LLC, Natureworks LLC, Nice-Pak Products, Nonwovens by Design, Norafin (Americas) Inc., North Carolina State University, Peter Wallace, LLC, Poccia Consulting, LLC, Rockline Industries, Smith, Johnson & Associates, Suominen, Texas Tech University, The Procter & Gamble Company, and Tredegar Corporation.

In 2019, the RISE® Innovation Award was presented to the Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI) for Surfaceskins, antibacterial door push pads and pull handles.

“Our Virtual RISE™ Conference promotes and rewards innovation across all nonwoven and engineered material sectors. Forward-thinking technology scouts and product developers will share invaluable information on new approaches and concepts to resolve their material science challenges. For any nonwoven professional charged with finding new technologies, Virtual RISE™ is a must-attend event,” said Dave Rousse, INDA’s President.

The conference program will cover timely and relevant industry topics including: Biosourced Polymers & Fibers; Sustainability – Plastics in the Environment; Material Science Developments; and Market Data and Intelligence Trends. The full program can be viewed on the link: https://www.riseconf.net/conference.php

“I like the diversity; this is my sixth time at RISE® making connections,” said Sanjiv Malkan, Ph.D., Engineering Principal, Textile & Adhesive Engineering, Hunter Douglas. “I come to learn,” said Harish Patel, R&D Director, Cardinal Health. “This conference provides valuable new nuggets of information and I always make six to eight strong connections,” commented Darryl Fournier, Vice President, America, Norafin (Americas) Inc.

For registration details, visit https://www.riseconf.net/register.html.

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.