INDA Webinars
Explore the key issues in the global nonwovens industry.
Get the market and business insights you need to make better decisions. INDA’s 50-minute webinars are complimentary for everyone. Stay tuned for more 2025 webinars – more information coming soon!
RISE 2025: Pre-Conference Webinar
Enhancing Softness and Loft in Nonwoven Fabrics
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT
ExxonMobil has a longstanding commitment to supporting the nonwoven and absorbent hygiene industry through the supply of high-quality raw materials, including Polypropylene and Vistamaxx™ performance polymers. Among key attributes like comfort and leak protection that are highly valued by consumers in absorbent hygiene products, softness remains a top priority. Softness is inherently subjective and challenging to quantify, as it is primarily perceived through tactile interaction with the nonwoven fabric.
To address this challenge, ExxonMobil has developed innovative polymer solutions aiming to enhance the softness of nonwovens. This presentation will explore the role of Vistamaxx™ performance polymers which help enable superior softness in soft lean blend formulations. We will explore approaches to achieving a cushiony, high-loft feel—a critical sensory attribute that also represents a key dimension of softness valued by consumers. Through material science and formulation strategies, ExxonMobil continuously advances the performance and comfort of nonwoven fabrics in hygiene applications.
Paul E. Rollin, Jr., Ph.D.
Senior Principal Scientist – Global Hygiene,
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company
Speaker Bio
Dr. Paul Rollin holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Morehouse College and a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from The University of Akron. He began his career at E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., where he contributed to the development of Tyvek® nonwoven products and later supported the startup of DuPont’s SMS asset in Old Hickory, TN, focusing on bi-component spunmelt fibers and fabrics.
For the past 14 years, Dr. Rollin has been with ExxonMobil in Baytown, TX, leading the development of polyolefin-based products and nonwoven applications. His work also includes customer collaboration and technical support.
He serves on the Industrial Advisory Board of the Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University and the Board of Directors for INDA. With over 27 years in the nonwovens industry, Dr. Rollin holds multiple patents and continues to contribute to innovation in the field.
Thomas Cugnon
Hygiene Market Development Lead, Europe
ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company
Speaker Bio
In 2012, Thomas Cugnon gained a Master Degree Diploma in Chemical and Materials Science Engineering from Université Catholique de Louvain in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
Thomas started in Polymers Technology when he joined ExxonMobil in 2012. For 3 years, he was in charge of application and product developments in the European Technology Center in Brussels.
Since he moved to Marketing in August 2015, Thomas has been identifying and developing new applications to promote polyolefins from ExxonMobil, mainly focusing on Vistamaxx™ performance polymers.
As of May 2024, Thomas leads the Hygiene Application Development Team for Europe as Market Development Lead, promoting ExxonMobil polypropylene and Vistamaxx™ performance polymers in non-woven and elastic film hygiene applications.
Past Webinars
Exploring the Indian Nonwovens Market:
Capabilities, Opportunities, and Global Collaboration
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT
Join us for an insightful update on the rapidly evolving Indian nonwovens market. This webinar will explore the country’s growing technical capabilities, production scale, and capacity—particularly in the hygiene, filtration, and wipes sectors. Learn about emerging opportunities for U.S.–India collaboration, and how recent momentum is creating new avenues for partnerships. Drawing on global perspectives, the session will also examine how international trade continues to support efficient, high-quality production and market access across the nonwovens supply chain.
Ravi Bhushan Arora
CEO
Unified Knowledge Services Pvt. Ltd.
Ravi Bhushan Arora, an Engineer from Indian Institute of Delhi having more than 32 Years of Experience in handholding entrepreneurs for setting up new manufacturing ventures.
He is CEO and Founder of Unified Knowledge Services Pvt Ltd (UKSL), a company in the field of Knowledge Solutions for Textile, Technical Textile and Apparel Industry.
UKSL is also publisher of India’s First Dedicated Non-Woven and Personal Hygiene Magazine.
WOW 2025: Pre-conference Webinar
Advanced Cellulosic Solution for Disinfection Wipes
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM EDT
Disinfection wipes are typically made from nonwoven synthetic fibers like polypropylene and polyester, ensuring strength, flexibility, and controlled moisture release for effective cleaning. A key factor is achieving durability while maintaining softness and absorbency. With rising environmental concerns, there’s a shift towards environmentally-responsible cellulosic alternatives to mitigate microplastic problem. However, cellulose fibers, though eco-friendly, pose technical challenges: they absorb more liquid, reducing cleaning solution release, may weaken disinfection efficacy, and have lower wet strength, compromising durability.
Lenzing has developed an advanced cellulosic solution which can effectively address these challenges. Central to this approach is a specially designed Lyocell fiber, optimized for disinfection applications. These fibers not only deliver superior wet strength and durability compared to regular viscose but are also manufactured with a special profile that enhances the wiping performance. This design facilitates a consistent and increased release of disinfection agents, overcoming the typical adhesion issues associated with cellulosic fibers.
This presentation will detail our research and development process, highlighting experimental results and scalability potential. Our work represents a significant advancement in the nonwoven industry, offering a sustainable, high-performance alternative to traditional synthetic wipes, and paving the way for environmentally responsible disinfection solutions.
Axel Russler, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Lenzing AG
Axel Russler studied wood science and technology at the University of Hamburg, where he completed his doctorate on a viscose fiber topic in cooperation with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).
Over the past twenty years, he has held various positions in the cellulose fiber industry and related academia.
Axel Russler has been with Lenzing AG since 2016 and works mainly on fiber innovations fornonwovens and technical products.
WOW 2025: Pre-conference Webinar
Impact of the Fabric Type on the Type of Preservative Solution Efficiency
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM EDT
Preserving wipes is complex and known to be challenging. The microbiological risk is due to the unique product characteristics of wipes, which are composed of both a liquid formula (lotion) and a fabric.
The choice of fabric for wet wipes is influenced by several physicochemical properties that affect performance and safety. Nonwoven fabrics can be made from synthetic fibers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or more and more natural fibers such as viscose and cellulose, but most commonly – a combination of both in various ratios. However, biodegradable fabrics, while environmentally friendly, are likely to pose a higher contamination risk due to their hydrophilic nature.
Our research identified microbiological risk associated with the following two factors: the first one is the tendency of non-woven to promote the formation of a biofilm, and the second one is the type of fabric. The latter will be a key driver in selecting the right preservation approach. Indeed, the growing trend of using polysaccharidic natural fibers (wood pulp, viscose, etc.) requires a significantly more hydrophilic preservative system than most of the currently used ones. In addition, the industry is facing another hurdle: a strong trend of “free-from” claims, which limit the choice of ingredients and preservation systems.
In this presentation, we will display effective preservative avenues by establishing the quantitative correlation between different fabrics and the anti-microbial efficacy, as a result of understanding and optimizing the relationship of the couple fabric nature/preservative.
Noa Ziklo, PhD
Manager of the Microbiology Unit,
Sharon Personal Care
Manager of the Microbiology Unit of the Innovation department at Sharon Personal Care for the past 6 years. Leading our research projects to develop innovative, natural and green preservative solutions and skin care products, under the tight and restricted market demands, from proof of concept to the final product development stages.
Ph.D. from the Sunshine Coast University, Australia, and post-doctorate in microbiology from University of California, San-Francisco (UCSF). Specializing in women’s health, infectious diseases, immunology, host-pathogen interactions, and microbiome research.
When You Cannot Afford to Get It Wrong
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
11:00 AM EDT
Perhaps few decisions a manufacturing company will undertake is more important than choosing a location for a new facility or deciding where to expand production. To misjudge or overlook factors such as the availability of labor, the reliability and cost of electric service, prohibitive zoning or land use requirements, legal impediments, millions of dollars in financial incentives, or other conditions not acceptable to the manufacturing process to be undertaken could be disastrous. A company cannot afford to get this decision process wrong. This webinar will review a successful site selection process managed by the presenters. This will outline all of the considerations that fed into that company’s successful site selection decision. For any company which is now considering an expansion of manufacturing capacity, this is a “must see” opportunity.
Mark Jaros
Senior Manufacturing-Operations Executive/Project Leader
Ernest Pearson
Senior Counsel | Economic Development
Tom Johnson
Partner
Dale Carroll
Partner
Rocky Lane
Managing Partner
Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting LLC is a highly respected firm. Its partners have decades of experience as frontline economic developers, and in developing and managing manufacturing facilities in the non-woven industry sector, and industries supporting those companies. These partners have managed site selection and incentive negotiating projects which involved manufacturing facilities with capital investments from a few million dollars up to two billion dollars. The presentation will be coordinated by Ernest Pearson, Founding Partner of Sanford Holshouser Economic Development Consulting, and input will be provided by several partners with areas of expertise relevant to any company’s site selection process.
Pre-Conference Webinar
Filtration: ‘Bag’ to the Future?
Wednesday, April 16th, 11 am EDT
Fred Lybrand, President, Filter Holdings, Inc.
Overview: In filtration, greater surface area improves performance by lowering flow rates, boosting efficiency, and extending filter life—especially by promoting better dust cake formation in surface-loading applications. This principle has driven increasingly complex pleating methods, particularly in membrane cartridges for liquid filtration—one of the fastest-growing, highest-margin segments in the industry. Historically, adding pleats to increase surface area has delivered strong ROI for customers. However, that trend is now facing growing skepticism. In many applications—such as industrial dust collection, powder processing, food, beverage, and life sciences—there’s a noticeable shift toward simpler filter designs, like traditional filter bags. The “arms race” for more surface area is slowing, especially in processes where buildup can cause fouling and where long filter life is essential, such as in dairy, protein, and specialty chemical production. In environments where dust accumulation leads to spoilage or negative feedback loops, pleat-free, simplified filters are gaining ground.
Presenter bio: Mr. Lybrand is the President of Filter Holdings, Inc., based in Union, NJ – he has worked in porous materials since 2007, and previously held leadership roles at Elmarco and H&V. He has introduced award winning membrane, air, and liquid filtration products recognized by AFS and INDA; he previously served on the INDA board of directors. He has an undergraduate degree in biology from UVA, an MBA from UNC, holds the CFA designation, and has served as an author for the a National Academy of Sciences committee.
Pre-Conference Webinar
Hemp Fiber – A Domestic Supply Chain for Nonwovens
Wednesday, April 23rd, 11 am EDT
Trey Riddle, Ph.D., CFO, IND Hemp
Gregg Gnecco, Brand & Marketing Manager,
IND Hemp
Overview: Industrial hemp fiber is a sustainable and durable natural fiber appropriate for a variety of nonwovens systems and product applications. This presentation will share an overview of a functioning and growing American supply chain from farm production and raw materials processing to final product pathways. We will touch generally on material specifications and develop the basic understanding needed for inclusion of hemp fiber in nonwovens processes, including airlaid, carded, wetlaid, thermal bonding, needlepunching, chemical bonding, and spunlace systems. Whether it is the performance benefits of lightweighting auto parts, or the carbon sequestering and insulative benefits when used in building materials or as a highly absorbent, natural and durable fiber for use in wipes or hygienics and fem care, hemp fiber is the natural and sustainable fiber choice. Hemp fiber is compatible with nonwovens and available right now in the USA.
Presenters’ Bios:
Dr. Trey Riddle is an avid entrepreneur, having founded and run several businesses. He has worked as an engineer, manager and executive and has built factories as well as authored numerous peer reviewed papers. As the Chief Financial Officer of IND HEMP, Trey is responsible for overseeing the Sales, Marketing and Finance departments and is an expert in biofiber manufacturing and utilization. He holds a PhD from Montana State University in Polymer Composites and advanced materials and a Masters from Cornell University in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in automotive technology
Gregg Gnecco built his career in the outdoor and adventure sports product industries leading international branded sales and marketing strategies for technical products and new innovations in a variety of market channels, domestically and around the world. His enthusiasm for ‘doing it better’ and an understanding of product life from development to manufacturing through launch, sales, consumer use and end of life disposal shapes his ability to communicate the benefits of incorporating the sustainability and performance benefits of hemp across all steps of the supply and value chains
IDEA 2025/FiltXPO 2025 Show Services Overview
Tuesday, March 18th, 11 am EST
Cassandra Cothron
Exhibitor Education Manager, Freeman
Overview: Whether you’re a first-time exhibitor or a seasoned participant, this webinar is a practical guide on preparing for your event. Attendees will gain insights into accessing show information, vendor services, shipping and material handling, and cost-saving strategies. The session will also cover ways to streamline planning, minimize unexpected costs, and set yourself up for success.
Presenter Bio: Cassandra Cothron is an experienced Exhibitor Education Manager at Freeman, passionate about helping exhibitors navigate event logistics with confidence. With firsthand experience exhibiting at events, along with a background in customer service and training, she develops educational resources that simplify the exhibiting process and enhance exhibitor experiences.
2025: Unlock New Opportunities with Global Nonwovens Education
Thursday, January 16th, 10 am EST
Matt O’Sickey, Ph.D.
Director of Education & Technical Affairs, INDA
Marines Lagemaat
Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director, EDANA
Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D.
Executive Director, The Nonwovens Institute (NWI)
Your Path to Industry Leadership Starts Here.
2025 is bringing new opportunities and challenges to the nonwovens industry. Stay ahead with cutting-edge education from INDA, EDANA, and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at NC State University. Join our upcoming webinar to explore flexible learning options—in-person, virtual, and on-demand—including:
- Elementary & Intermediate Nonwovens Training (starting this January).
- EDANA’s Online Nonwovens Course.
- Exciting new programs for 2025!
Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your team and elevate your skills.
We encourage you to share webinar invitations with your peers, colleagues, and customers.
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Please note: All INDA Webinars will be recorded. By registering for an INDA Webinar, you consent to the recording.
