Brussels, Belgium and Cary, USA – Jan. 28, 2015 – The two global nonwoven trade associations, EDANA and INDA, announce the joint posting of the final OUTLOOK Plus Latin America 2015 program to their respective websites.

The first two days of the inaugural three-day conference and exhibition, March 3-5, in São Paulo, Brazil, will examine market, product, and technology intelligence for hygiene and personal care. The third day caps the event with a unique new focus on durable nonwoven applications and future opportunities.

Keynote presenter, Roberto Macedo, Ph.D., leads the conference with global and regional economic prospects for the Mercosul Region (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela). The conference will also highlight latest developments in nonwovens and absorbent hygiene products for these markets and new trends and analysis of components and raw materials led by senior management and industry area experts.

OUTLOOK Plus Latin America 2015 offers a unique session and panel discussion on medical nonwovens, addressing why single-use drapes and gowns are not yet used extensively throughout Latin America. Panelists will address the prevailing sentiment in emerging markets that the cost for single-use Operation Room nonwoven products outweigh the benefits.

The third day’s focus on Latin American durable and industrial nonwoven markets features sessions on nonwovens for the shoe and automotive segments with an expert outlook on trends and drivers for growth.

“Product Stewardship is a critical element for companies and our Associations, and is therefore a key element of the program,” said Pierre Wiertz, General Manager of EDANA. “OUTLOOK Plus Latin America 2015 is in line with the expectation of our member companies for their trade association to provide leadership in helping them to address the regulatory, product safety, or sustainability challenges facing their business.”

“It is important that INDA reach out to our neighbors in Latin America and provide an appropriate forum to showcase opportunities and trends in nonwoven materials and their important end markets, “ said Dave Rousse, President of INDA. “Together with EDANA, we’ve gathered an impressive group of speakers with a unique expertise on this important and growing region.”

Conference delegates will find the same ingredients that have made the OUTLOOK series of conferences across the globe a success, with more than 4,000 delegates across Europe and Asia attending in the last 14 years.

Additional information about the event, including the full program, conference and hotel registrations can be found on the INDA and EDANA websites: https://www.inda.org/inda-events/events-calendar/event_items/outlook-latin-america-2015/?instance_id=1838 and
http://www.edana.org/education-events/conferences-and-symposia/event-detail/outlook-plus-latin-america-2015

About EDANA

EDANA serves more than 240 companies across 36 countries in the nonwovens and related industries, helping its members to design their future. The Association’s mission is to create the foundation for sustainable growth of the nonwovens and related industries through active promotion, education and dialogue. Information about upcoming events can be found at www.edana.org.

About INDA
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry in global commerce. Since 1968, INDA events have helped members connect, learn, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information, visit www.inda.org or,
download the INDA mobile app for immediate updates.

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For further information, please contact:
Joan Izzo, Marketing Director
INDA
Telephone: +1 919. 233. 1210 ex. 117
Email: jizzo@inda.org

Abby Bailey, Marketing and Communications Director
EDANA
Telephone: +32 2 734 93 10
E-mail: abby.bailey@edana.org

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CARY, N.C. — November 22, 2013 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announces the program for the VISION® 2014 Consumer Products Conference being held January 27-30, 2014 at The Westin Galleria in Dallas, Texas. Major trends and game changers affecting the nonwovens/engineered fabrics consumer products industry will be highlighted in the two and a half day program. 

Kicking off the 13^th consecutive year will be the Welcome Reception Monday night, sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Professional Partnership Products along with INDA. The conference leads off Tuesday morning with a diaper workshop led by diaper expert, Carlos Richer, Principal, Richer Investment SA de CV. The diaper workshop entitled “Progressive Diaper Design: Beyond the Basics” will build upon last year’s diaper workshop and assist attendees in understanding the needs of their customers. Diaper manufacturers and diaper parts suppliers will both benefit from this enlightening workshop. 

After the workshop, attendees will get a State of the Industry report from Dave Rousse, President INDA, and a detailed overview of the current economic status from Chad Moutray, Chief Economist, National Association of Manufacturers, as it relates to the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry and manufacturing. Sessions on flushability, hygiene, new materials, the challenges of being green along with capturing the attention of millennials as consumers will also be on tap this year. 

“For the past 13 years, the VISION Consumer Products Conference has kept the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industries abreast of the trends that impact business worldwide for consumer products,” says Dave Rousse, President of INDA. “VISION 2014 gives professionals the information they need to further their organization’s interests and product portfolios. From marketing to millennials to economics, VISION delivers the best in relevant strategic information.” 

VISION affords multiple opportunities for making business contacts via the Welcome Reception Monday night, table-top displays/receptions Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and the coffee breaks liberally scheduled throughout the conference. In addition to these networking events, there will also be a new feature for VISION. “Dinner with Thought Leaders” is scheduled for Wednesday evening and this provides several small groups of VISION attendees the chance to meet with industry opinion leaders from the end of the consumer product value chain to discover what is trending, fading and on the horizon for the industry. More information is available on the VISION website, www.inda.org/events/vision14/. 

Once again a highlight of VISION 2014 will be the presentation of the prestigious 2014 Visionary Award. The INDA Visionary Award recognizes and rewards innovation in new consumer end products that utilize nonwoven fabrics in a way that expands the usage of nonwovens. Finalists will be announced on the VISION website in mid-December. Companies chosen as finalists will make their presentations to VISION attendees Wednesday morning of the conference. The recipient of the Award will be announced on the final day of VISION 2014. 

Early registration for VISION 2014 ends December 20^th. For more information or to register, visit www.inda.org/events/vision14/. 

About INDA

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA events have helped members connect, learn, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information visit www.inda.org

The post VISION® 2014 Delivers Strategic Information appeared first on INDA.

“Nonwoven Market Opportunities: Hygiene and Beyond” is the headline title of the day-long event. Participants in the Symposium will learn about regional market and technical trends in the Asia-Pacific region, challenges and opportunities on doing business in China, as well as the market potential for nonwovens to be used in hygiene and other high-growth applications.

Dave Rousse, INDA’s President, said, “China is a large supplier of nonwovens with a promising domestic market for the many products made from nonwoven fabrics. INDA is pleased to co-sponsor this event, with our alliance partner CNITA, as it provides an opportunity for our members and the industry to learn more about the key market drivers and new technological developments that are occurring in this dynamic region.”

Program topics will include a discussion of high-growth markets such as hygiene and medical, filtration and transportation, along with key enabling technologies. More information, registration and hotel details can be found on the Symposium website: http://www.nonwovens-symposium.com/

About INDA

INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information visit www.inda.org

The post INDA and CNITA to Co-Sponsor WTiN/RISI Asia-Pacific Nonwovens Symposium appeared first on INDA.

July 29, 2013 — CARY, NORTH CAROLINA — INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry praised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the July 23 release of its long-awaited rule modifying the federal hazardous waste management regulations that apply to non-laundered and laundered wipes contaminated with solvents that are used in tens of thousands of industrial and other facilities across the United States.

Under the final rule, both types of solvent-contaminated wipes will be given the opportunity to be excluded from the definition of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In order to be excluded, wipes will need to be managed in closed, labeled containers and may not contain free liquids when sent for either cleaning or disposal. In addition, facilities that use these wipes will be prohibited from storing wipes for longer than 180 days and will be required to meet certain record keeping requirements. EPA estimates that these changes will result in a net savings of more than $20 million per year in avoided regulatory costs and other expected benefits, including pollution prevention, waste minimization and fire prevention benefits.

The completion of the rule, which is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register, caps off decades of efforts by INDA and others to revise the waste regulations for wipes, which were recognized by EPA as being overly stringent, burdensome and confusing to the thousands of small businesses that rely upon these products. EPA first released a proposal to alter the regulatory framework in November 2003, and published a revised risk assessment in October 2009. INDA provided input on both, and worked extensively with the agency and others throughout the years to see the rule completed.

“We believe this rule will enhance flexibility and increase the options available to the thousands of businesses that use these wipes, and are hopeful it will create new opportunities for nonwoven wipes,” said INDA President Dave Rousse.

“After so many years of hard work, we are extremely gratified that the EPA has finalized this common-sense regulation that will reduce unnecessary regulatory burden and simplify the landscape for those who use and make wipes,” said INDA Director of Government Affairs Jessica Franken. “INDA urges state officials to implement it as expeditiously as possible,” Franken added.

For more information about this rulemaking:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/wasteid/solvents/wipes.htm

About INDA

INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of members companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members success by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information, visit: www.inda.org.

The post INDA PRAISES RELEASE OF EPA SOLVENT-CONTAMINATED WIPES RULE appeared first on INDA.

“The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill is absolutely vital to the U.S. nonwoven fabrics industry and countless U.S. manufacturers’ ability to maintain global competitiveness, productivity, and employment,” said INDA Director of Government Affairs Jessica Franken.  “INDA commends this bipartisan group of House lawmakers for introducing this commonsense, pro-manufacturing legislation.”

The MTB is a package of thoroughly vetted bills that either eliminate or reduce import tariffs on raw materials and intermediate products needed by U.S. manufacturers that are not available domestically. The duty relief under the last MTB passed by Congress expired at the end of 2012, imposing significant costs on U.S. manufacturers since that time.

“The last MTB package Congress considered in 2010 was estimated to support 90,000 American manufacturing jobs and expand U.S. GDP by $3.5 billion. Failure to pass the current MTB measure will mean a tax hike on manufacturers of $748 million and economic losses of $1.857 billion over the next three years alone,” Franken said.  “INDA urges House and Senate lawmakers to act quickly on this bipartisan legislation to ensure U.S. manufacturers are able to maintain their global competitiveness.”

About INDA

INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of members companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members success by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information, visit: www.inda.org.

The post INDA Applauds Introduction of Miscellaneous Tariff Bill in House appeared first on INDA.

SM teams up with nonwovens industry experts Chapas & Chinai Associates to provide product innovation services

Cary, NC – April 19, 2013 – INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced today it has become a member of the Sustainable Minds Industry Sponsor Program. Sustainable Minds is the global leader in cloud-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software that enables companies in a wide range of industries to design greener products. The goal of this relationship is to enable manufacturers across the nonwovens value chain to credibly, efficiently and cost-effectively evaluate the environmental performance of nonwovens to design innovative greener products. The Sustainable Minds nonwovens solution will include a continually expanding dataset, example products, knowledge sharing, training and a platform for showcasing greener materials and products, their uses and applications.

The first offering, the expanded nonwovens lifecycle dataset, will be available in Version 3.0 of Sustainable Minds software due for release in May 2013. The 3.0 Release will include publicly available data for materials and processes and focus initially on several product categories. On an ongoing basis, to expand these and to add new categories, SM will create new data through its Custom Data Creation Program and publish existing data provided by nonwoven manufacturers and other industry sources.

To facilitate the rapid adoption of this solution, SM will be offering nonwovens manufacturers discounted access to the software. Additionally, SM has teamed with nonwovens industry experts Chapas & Chinai Associates to provide expert nonwovens benchmarking and innovation services.

“We have had a dialogue with Sustainable Minds for some time. Unlike other LCA software providers, they recognize the importance of expanding the nonwovens dataset for use by manufacturers globally,” says Dave Rousse, INDA President. “Designing greener products is becoming increasingly important in all industries. It is critical for raw material suppliers, roll goods suppliers, end product and process equipment manufacturers within the nonwoven industry to keep up with this trend to develop and showcase their products’ environmental performance. Operating with sustainable principles can also save costs. This relationship is yet another example of INDA’s commitment to advancing nonwovens globally by providing members access to the information and tools to better plan and execute their product development and sustainability strategy,” says Rousse.

“The nonwoven fabrics industry is growing worldwide and with the push for developing greener products, there is demand for knowledge and data from companies in other industries as well. To develop a unique solution for this industry with INDA, allows us to provide the marketplace with best in class industry expertise. This relationship aligns with our mission to help companies drive revenue and growth through greener product innovation,” says Terry Swack, CEO Sustainable Minds. “At the start, this will help companies speed up the development process by giving them a dynamic tool to rapidly evaluate, compare and improve their products’ environmental performance”.
“As part of INDA’s Sustainability Committee, we identified Sustainable Minds as the resource who can provide us customized data for the nonwovens industry. We are pleased to be working with INDA and Sustainable Minds to help members achieve leadership in developing more sustainable solutions”, says Rich Chapas, Prinicipal, Chapas, Chinai and Associates.

For more information about the Sustainable Minds nonwovens solutions, the new Version 3.0 and how to get your nonwovens product data into Sustainable Minds, visit www.sustainableminds.com/nonwovens.

About INDA
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information visit www.inda.org.

Press Contact:
Phil Pitt, Director of Marketing
919.233.1210 Office
ppitt@inda.org

Sustainable Minds®
Sustainable Minds is the #1 cloud life cycle assessment (LCA) software for greener product innovation used by industry and education in 600 locations in 60 countries worldwide. Sustainable Minds’ easy-to-use, standardized solution makes it possible for manufacturers across the value chain – large and small – to dynamically evaluate, compare and improve their products’ environmental performance by integrating life cycle thinking and LCA into their product development processes. The company has been recognized by Gartner® in its 2013 Cool Vendor Report as ‘innovative, impactful and intriguing.’ To learn why, visit www.sustainableminds.com or call 617-401-2269.

Press Contact:
Michael Potts, Director Sales & Business Development
617.401.2251 Office
617.290. 8573 Mobile
michael@sustainableminds.com

Chapas & Chinai Associates
Chapas & Chinai Associates provides consulting serves to the nonwovens industry in new product development, sustainability, and innovation. Their focus is the development of new and improved products based on expertise and experience in nonwovens, absorbent materials and products, biodegradable and renewable materials, adhesives, resins, composites, polymer technology, consumer and industrial disposable products, such as, wipes, filtration, and medical devices. Their capabilities include product design, data analysis from laboratory and consumer testing, raw material sourcing, sustainability and environmental conformance.
 

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