INDA, the association of the nonwoven fabrics industry based in Cary, North Carolina, has announced the finalists for the RISE Innovation Award.

RISE – the Research, Innovation and Science for Engineered Fabrics Conference, will take place from September 26-27 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The finalists who will present their product innovations on Tuesday, September 26th, are:

- Curt G. Joa’s electronic size change unit which enables unprecedented adult pant design flexibility with the ability to process nearly limitless combinations of insert and chassis sizes at high speeds. Additionally, the technology enables the production of more sustainable products.

- Fiberpartner’s BicoBio, a bicomponent fibre with a core-sheath construction, developed from low carbon footprint materials and designed to biodegrade in the environments where most plastics are found – landfills and the ocean. The fibre’s biobased PE is produced from sugar cane and its recycled PET is GRS certified. PrimaLoft Bio, a technology that enables polyester fibres to biodegrade, is utilized in the production of BicoBio. The fibres can be processed with a variety of nonwoven technologies.

- Reifenhäuser Reicofil’s RF5 XHL (extra high loft) which enables super soft and drapeable nonwovens to be produced. The outstanding soft touch is unique and intended for use in the hygiene sector. XHL focuses on low basis weight and high thickness with the best visual appearance. The high performance and efficient use of raw materials and energy ensure cost-effectiveness and environmentally-friendly production.

- TiHive’s SAPMonit which delivers the lightning-speed inline inspection of superabsorbent weight and distribution in diapers, optimises resources, detects flaws and accelerates R&D. SAPMonit utilises advanced see-through cameras, high-speed vision algorithms and secure cloud integration.

“The RISE Conference promotes innovation and technical achievements in the nonwovens and engineered materials industry,” said Matt O’Sickey, INDA’s director of education and technical affairs. “For me, RISE has been the proverbial crystal ball that gives me insight into technologies I or my competition will be using tomorrow. Events like RISE are integral to having a robust, multi-generational technology and product pipeline. In my prior roles as R&D director and product manager, having this glimpse into tomorrow provided an invaluable edge.”

www.riseconf.net