Environmental Stewardship And Pro-Active Actions
(Andy Acho, formerly with Ford Motor Company)
ABSTRACT: This presentation will highlight the many environmentally responsible actions (including those in the area of recycling, manufacturing, waste minimization, energy and water) that have been (and can be) taken that also save money.

Raising The Bar On Nonwovens In Automotive Applications
(Dennis Beard, Beard Associates)
ABSTRACT: Typical nonwoven processing have several advantages that allow for easy recycling, blending of dissimilar materials, and high degree of product engineering. These advantages are allowing nonwovens in automotive applications to move toward more demanding and higher value products.

Different Carding Concepts For Influencing Quality And MD/CD
(Siegfried Bernhardt, Spinnbau GmbH)
ABSTRACT: The quality of different card concepts with reference to weight tolerances, tuft size and fiber orientation is described. Also the influence by the carding area for fiber position control is shown. Furthermore information is given on the influence possibility on the fiber position as regards the end product by means of using a number of layers, drafts by lap drafter, drafts by needle loom and/or by roller lap drafter between the needle looms. Via different line arrangements the difference of line concepts is described.

Ultrasonic Bonding And Embossing For Innovative Uses And Added Value
(Torsten Brieger, Herrmann Ultrasonics, Inc.)
ABSTRACT: Looking for product innovations? Ultrasonic bonding and embossing open a wide range of opportunities. Learn about the ultrasonic principles that will enable you to develop unique, value-added Needlepunch nonwovens and laminates for new applications and markets.

Technical Product Development Heuristics For Air Filtration Applications
(Robert B. Burkhead, Blue Heaven Technologies)
ABSTRACT: The nuances and specifics of pursuing air filtration market applications with needlepunched nonwovens can be a particularly awkward task if inefficient methods are employed. This paper visits some of the heuristic techniques often used to address the development of these products as well as outlining several methods used to judge the performance of the materials. Examples of recommended practices are shown based on experiences from a testing laboratory and product development consulting perspective.

Global Synthetic Fibers – Can The Growth Continue?
(Alasdair Carmichael, PCI Fibres)
ABSTRACT: A review of the global synthetic fibers market. Does China grow for ever? What is the future for the US producers? Is the price of oil the key influence on fiber prices, or is supply/demand going to change the dynamics?

PLA: A Responsible And Renewable Raw Material For Packaging And Nonwovens
(Sam Cawa, NatureWorks LLC)
ABSTRACT: Over the past few years the need for renewable raw materials has become an increasing priority to retailers and consumers. The growing economies of China and India, coupled with the political unrest in the Middle East, and the recent gasoline and raw material shortages caused by last year’s hurricanes, has brought this issue further to the forefront.
Simultaneously, NatureWorks LLC's recent commissioning of their world scale polymerization facility, has enabled their NatureWorks PLA resins and Ingeo fibers to begin meeting this need for renewable raw materials. These products are being adopted in a variety of packaging, textiles, and nonwovens products. Since PLA is derived from 100% annually renewable resources while also being melt spinnable, and compostable under the proper conditions, it is uniquely positioned as an alternative to petroleum based polymers in a broad spectrum of processes and applications.
This paper will discuss the range of packaging and nonwovens applications where PLA has either been commercialized or is currently in development.

Global Implications On The New Federal Flammability Regulations On Textile Products
(J. Thomas Chapin, UL Labs)
ABSTRACT: The issue of residential occupancy fires continues to command the attention of public safety officials due to the increasing number deaths, injuries and fire losses in these spaces. UL is highly active in improving public safety through the testing and certification of products and components and conducting fundamental investigations related to content flammability. The recent issuance of product flammability standards by the California Bureau of Home Furnishings and the CPSC related to mattresses, bedclothing and upholstered furniture will be discussed in detail.

Military Business Opportunities
(Scott D. Dorney, North Carolina Military Business Center-NCMBC)
ABSTRACT: Presentation will include: an overview of Department of Defense procurement nationwide and in NC; typical, recent and anticipated business opportunities relevant to INDA members; an overview of NCMBC services and resources available to connect INDA members to opportunities, to assist with proposal development and to win military and federal contracts; and strategic activities to influence the federal marketplace in favor of NC firms. Questions and discussion are welcome.

New High Temperature Polymers Provide High Fire Retardency
(Youssef Fakhreddine, GE Advanced Materials)
ABSTRACT: New development of high temperature and inherently flame retardant fiber based on the Ultem (R) PEI resin. In this paper, we will explore nonwoven applications of the new fiber, discuss the textile performance and highlight advantages of this new fiber.

Fiber Shortages In The NAFTA Region: Update On Pending “Commercial Availability” Petitions
(Jessica Franken, INDA)
ABSTRACT: As the U.S. fiber sector undergoes significant transformations, some North American fiber producers are either shifting their operations outside of the region, scaling-back or ceasing production altogether. Changes in the availability of things like rayon and acrylic have forced some nonwoven product manufacturers to source these fibers from outside of North America region, precluding their ability to qualify for preference under the U.S.-North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Using the “commercial availability” mechanism (i.e. “short supply” process) included in the pact, however, firms may petition the government to use non-qualifying fibers and still qualify for benefits if they can demonstrate that the source materials “ cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner.” Since late 2005, several U.S. firms have filed commercial availability petitions addressing the shortage of North American rayon and acrylic fibers. This presentation will report on the status of those petitions.

What’s Happening In The World Of Fire Retardency?
(Larry Goldstein, GloTex International, Inc)
ABSTRACT: How to test for and meet the new mattress bedding and home furnishings’ regulations. It’s a huge market for nonwovens…approximately 100 million pounds and that’s just mattresses alone.

Niche Market for ePTFE Coated Needle Felt
(James W. Griffin, Donaldson Membranes)
ABSTRACT: A niche market for the replacement of filter bags with pleated bags. Pleated bags are made from conventional spunbond or from needle felt. Most recently from high temperature needle felt such as PPS and Aramid.

Providing Functionality To Polyester
(Jon Hurd, Wellman, Inc.)
ABSTRACT: Polyester has moved way beyond the days of the double-knit suits. It plays a role in filtration, automotive, geotextiles, medical, hygiene, industrial, home furnishings, hosiery, and apparel markets. Today, polyester not only can provide manufacturing performance, but can provide a wide range of different functionalities that can create a value-added proposition through out the supply chain. Affordable antimicrobial, Pesticidal activity, increased oxygenated blood flow: Who would of thought!

Filtration Requirements And Trends For Today And Tomorrow
(Kevin Lynch, Filtration Group, Inc.)
ABSTRACT: Trends, issues and needs for today and tomorrow’s air filters. Their impact on the media requirements as seen by a filter manufacturer.

Paving Fabrics – Where Do We Go From Here?
(Mark Marienfeld, Propex Fabrics)
ABSTRACT: This presentation will give some background on what a nonwoven paving fabric is, what it is used for and how it is installed. Discover the advantages of nonwoven paving fabrics and hear about applications and market forecasts in these products.

Bringing Fire-Resistant Mattresses Into The 21st Century
(Patricia Martin, International Sleep Products Association)
ABSTRACT: This paper will review how the industry engaged regulators, the research and safety community over the past approximate ten years in bringing forth a new open-flame mattress standard and how the SPSC approaches it’s mission.

How To Get From January 1, 2005 (TB 603) To July 1, 2007 (CPSC 1633) For Mattresses
(Mike Murray, Sealy)
ABSTRACT: What is needed from the suppliers. Inherent vs. topical treatments. What’s going on in the rest of the world?

Personal Care Wipes-Formulation, Trends And Concepts
(Sam Naggiar, Cognis)
ABSTRACT: An in-depth analysis of the various ingredients used in the make up of wet wipes for different applications.

Back To The Basics
(Mike Pate, Foster Needle Company, Inc.)
ABSTRACT: With some of the great “new equipment available, or if you are trying to compete in this very competitive market place with older equipment, it is still the same “basic” principles that create the best products. This session will look at needling principles that will help you make the best decision in determining the type of needles required for your product. We will look at different needles available and different settings on your line that will help you achieve your needling goals.

Are You Tired Of Feeling Sick & Tired? Is It Your Environment?
(Kalpana D. Patel, M.D., F.A.A.P., FAAEM, Environmental Health Center)
ABSTRACT: Indoor air pollution has become the most serious health danger many diseases of unknown etiology may be in part due to unidentified toxic effects of chemical agents encountered in personal or general environment.
EPA study has reported indoor air is 2-5X more polluted than outdoor air and in some regions 100 X more polluted. On average people spend 90% of their life indoors in the USA.
Pollutants released indoors are 1000 X more likely to reach the lungs than a pollutant released outdoors. Adverse effects of pollutants on human health will be discussed and followed by a case report of asthma related to mold and mycotoxin exposure.

State-Of-The-Art Opening And Blending Of Fiber Material
(Axel Philipps, Temafa GmbH)
ABSTRACT: State-of-the-Art opening and bending of fiber material from bale opening through to optimum fiber blending. The presentation will cover the component-depending as well as the component-independent blending system.

Crosslapping & Needling
(Terry Purdy, Ph.D, Dilo Incorporated)
ABSTRACT: Process arrangement options following the card involving crosslayers and needlelooms will be reviewed.
Felt weight uniformity can now be measured and controlled inline whilst overall quality is improved by the use of elliptical needling techniques

Nanofiber Composite Structures By Electrospinning
(Chris Shields, Finetex Technology, Inc.)
ABSTRACT: Electrospinning is the best available technology for producing continuous nanofibers Electrospun nonwovens have been limited in their commercial success in the past due to low throughput and high cost. Recent advances in electrospinning technology have resulted in cost effective non-woven webs with nano sized fiber diameters and long lengths.  Combining electrospun fibers with tradition nonwoven material produces composite media with unique properties.

Spunlace Nonwovens
(Stuart Smith, Jacob Holm Industries GmbH)
ABSTRACT: Originally seen as a process more suited to the manufacture of lighter weight materials; the spunlace process has evolved to be capable of also producing materials at the higher end of the basis weight spectrum, and is now competing in markets that have been traditionally served by needlepunch materials.
An overview of the spunlace process, its capabilities, fabric performance characteristics, advantages, and examples of different end-uses are discussed.

Needled Geotextile Producers Products Specification – A Survey from a Global View
(Peter Stevenson, International Geosynthetic Society)
ABSTRACT:  A survey of the Needlepunch geotextile industry with commentary on generic specifications, consolidation of producers, special applications, and opportunities for new entries in developing markets.

Development Of Nonwoven Fabric For Military Application
(Steve Szczesuil, US Army Natick Soldier Center)
ABSTRACT: The United States Marine Corps has taken the initiative to develop state-of-the-art nonwoven textile technology for use as alternate fabric application for Combat Utility Uniforms (CUU’s), equipage, shelters and other applications. This effort is being conducted via a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract. SBIT’s are very competitive and offer the perfect medium in which to conduct what may be termed, “High-Risk-Technology”.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Current Flammability Projects
(Allyson Tenney, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
ABSTRACT: Mattress and bedding fires continue to be one of the major contributors to residential fire deaths. An overview of the development of federal flammability standards for mattresses and bedclothes, including a summary of current CPSC supporting research projects and methodologies, will be provided.

Applications For Needlepunched Nonwovens In Ballistic Armor
(Howard L. Thomas, Ph.D., Auburn University)
ABSTRACT: Nonwoven staple-fiber-based materials offer great potential for enhancing ballistic protection by using traditional, high performance fibers. These materials can be selected to provide very high fragment resistance both in stand-alone form and in applications where they are used in conjunction with conventional ballistic resistant fabrics and at lower weight than current materials and approaches.

It Is New! Nanofibers In Charged And Uncharged Commercial Filter Media
(Leonard B. Torobin, Nanofiber Technology, Inc.)
ABSTRACT : This paper presents a review of filtration performance of charged and uncharged commercial media incorporating bulk quantities of nanofibers.

Controlled Release Antimicrobial Materials For Long-Term Applications
(Jeff Trogolo, Ph.D., AgION Technologies, Inc.)
ABSTRACT: Several technologies exist to release antimicrobial ions for control of microorganisms in filtration systems. This presentation will discuss the importance of controlled release technology to the long term durability of antimicrobial technologies in nonwovens, especially in filtration applications.

Non-Woven Applications In Automotive Soft Trim
(Jeff VanBuskirk, Rieter Automotive North America)
ABSTRACT: Automotive applications for needlepunch, or more aptly the broad category of non-woven, products are wide and growing, and nowhere is more rapid evolution evident than in the area of soft trim, floor coverings, and acoustical parts. In recent years, improving non-woven technologies have enabled these parts, which account for a very large percentage of the surface area both inside and outside modern automobiles, to improve rapidly with respect to functionality, cost, and weight. Looking forward, increasing pressures upon highly efficient use of energy as well as recycled and more sustainable materials will drive non-woven products and production methods to new levels of performance.