This year, the focus is on sustainable, sourcing, and disposal technologies in engineered fabrics. © INDA

Innovations in material science, sustainability, and the factors driving nonwovens market trends will be presented at RISE, the conference on Research, Innovation and Science for Engineered Fabrics, coming to Raleigh, NC, from 24-25 September.

Focused on sustainable breaking developments in sourcing and disposal/reuse, the two-day in-depth technical conference will feature new solutions for sustainable additives, sustainable polymers, sustainable recycling, and new product developments amid market shifts and trends that drive advances in nonwovens.

RISE highlights include a keynote presentation from Andrea Ferris, CEO, Intrinsic Textiles Group, on the CiCLO technology that allows polyester to biodegrade in marine environments, wastewater treatment plants and landfill conditions at rates similar to fibres like wool.

A preliminary preview of presentations includes:

• Open Innovation and a Human-cantered Approach for the Nonwovens Industry, by Matthew Tipper, PhD, Business Director, Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute
• Environmentally Friendly Sourced Resins, Fibers & Polymers Under Development, by Behnam Pourdeyhimi, PhD, The William A. Klopman Distinguished Chaired Professor of Materials in the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University and Founding Executive Director of The Nonwovens Institute
• Recent Fibre Innovations to Reduce Single Use Plastics, by Tom Carlyle, Global Project Manager, Special Projects & Global Business Management, Lenzing Fibres
• Additive Technology to Enhance Biodegradation & Renewable Biopolymers to Replace Polyethylene and Polypropylene, by Teresa Clark, Vice President of Product Development & Sustainability, ENSO Plastics
• First 100% Recycled Biodegradable Performance Synthetic Fibre for Textiles, by Vanessa Mason, Senior Vice President of Engineering, PrimaLoft
• Nodax PHA Copolymers, by Isao Noda, Chief Science Officer and Senior VP of Innovation, Danimer Scientific
• Developments on Next Generation Latex Binders for the Nonwoven Industry: A Formaldehyde-free, Self-cross-linking Technology Platform, by Soren Butz, PhD, Global Head of Technical Service Textiles, Synthomer
• Sustainable Additives, by Susan Selke, PhD, Professor, Director, School of Packaging, Michigan State University
• Innovation in Developing Antimicrobials, by Nicholas Swain, CEO – Rep-L Antimicrobials
• Microfibers & Aquatic Environments, by Janet O’Regan, Director, Nonwovens Marketing, Cotton Incorporated
• Patent Landscape in Nonwovens, by Angela D’Orio, North Carolina State University, Principal Investigator: Behnam Pourdeyhimi, PhD
• Market Dynamics & Trends that are Driving Innovation in Nonwovens, by Brad Kalil, Director of Market Research & Statistics, INDA

Newest research advances

Co-organised with The Nonwovens Institute, the ninth edition of the RISE conference will take place on the Centennial Campus at North Carolina State University. Participants will also have the opportunity on 24 September to tour the Institute’s US$ 50 million-plus, 60,000 square-foot facilities featuring state-of-the art equipment, pilot lines and analytical facilities, and attend a networking reception.

More than 150 technology scouts will take a deep dive into the newest research and science advances, hear riveting presentations from industry experts, view poster displays by doctoral degree students from NC State, vote on the RISE Innovation Award, and network with other tech trailblazers.

RISE Innovation Award

Nominations are now being accepted online for the RISE Innovation Award that recognises innovation in areas within and on the periphery of the nonwovens industry that use advanced science and engineering principles to develop unique or intricate solutions to problems and advance the use of nonwovens. The finalists will be announced in September and conference attendees will have a vote in selecting the winner that will be announced at RISE 2019.

DiviDiaper won the award last year for its innovative design that helps to prevent and reduce both infant and incontinence-associated dermatitis in adults, urinary tract infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and other infections and pressure sores.

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