NEW ASTM PERFORMANCE STANDARD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC FACEMASKS AND THE DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGINEERED MATERIALS Tuesday, March 16, 2021 When the pandemic hit and supply chains for N95 respirators and medical/surgical facemasks were cut off overnight, there was a tremendous need for supply of these PPE items. US meltblown capacity was not robust enough to meet demand. The industry needed to conserve meltblown for the healthcare sector while using other nonwoven­­­­­ media to provide protection to the general public. INDA…

The Nonwovens Institute Introduces New Comprehensive Spunbond and Meltblown Course—Virtually—in Response to Urgent Manufacturing Needs Professionals in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry are invited to advance their technical skills in a new 2-day nonwoven short course in the “Virtual Introduction to Spunbond and Meltblown Technology”. This course was developed by North Carolina State University’s The Nonwovens Institute and launched by INDA, the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.  The all virtual course is designed to help manufacturers meet the demand for comprehensive…

An in-depth, virtual  experience for nonwovens professionals Class Dates: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 This intensive 2-day course provides a comprehensive understanding of spunbond and meltblown processes including raw material selection, basic science knowledge, testing, and the characterization used to create end use products. Attendees will gain insight into the nonwoven fabrics industry with market forecasts and will learn the significant role these engineered materials play in industry. The course is designed for professionals in the nonwovens business…

Thursday, March 25, 2021 The European Union has launched the Single Use Plastics Directive, which is intended to address plastic items found on beaches in Europe. This effort has resulted in a definition of “plastic” that fits within the EU’s REACH system for regulating chemicals. This definition will render viscose, a regenerated cellulose product and a key ingredient in many nonwoven products (especially wipes), as a “plastic”. In turn, viscose could be subjected to new taxes, labeling requirements, and outright bans. This webinar…

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. Federal Government response to it quickly upped the North American footprint for meltblown production. Tightness now is being seen in spunbond/spunmelt and in the wipes substrate often called “spunlace.”  As a result, several new capacity announcements have been made in nonwovens. INDA’s Brad Kalil has been tracking developments in these sectors and will present data from the 2020 North American Supply Report.  His presentation will include an analysis and insights on developments caused by the pandemic response for wipes, medical gowns, and…

Gain the edge in nonwovens and engineered materials: learn the basics in nonwoven manufacturing and process knowledge. With a focus toward professionals who are new to nonwovens, this 1.5-day course provides a platform for industry newcomers to recognize and appreciate the diversity of nonwovens and engineered materials. Participants learn the basics about nonwovens in simple, clear, concise language. The course reviews the basic nomenclature, production processes, fabric attributes, market uses and trends to understand products made with nonwovens and engineered…

Due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, as well as continued travel restrictions around the world, AFS Leadership has made the decision to shift AFS FiltCon 2021 to a fully virtual Conference & Expo. The health and safety of AFS conference attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and staff is of utmost importance to AFS. FiltCon 2021 will consist of two concurrent tracks, taking place over three days, April 19 - 21, 2021. The virtual setting allows for conference attendees to participate in a total…