Nearly 5,000 participants engage with global leaders at IDEA 2022

Industry participants at IDEA 2022, the 21^st edition of the world’s preeminent event for nonwovens and engineered fabric professionals, expressed their business confidence through the floor exhibits and the return to face-to-face business interaction. Scott Beir, executive officer, CFM Global, called IDEA 2022 an exceptional show.

Bob Usher, technical director, US Fibers, added that his company made valuable business connections. According to Rolk Kammermann, head of sales and marketing, Innovative Swiss Made Nonwovens, “The size and scope of IDEA and FiltXPO have been excellent for us as both exhibitors and as visitors.”

Organised by INDA, IDEA also featured five essential nonwovens training classes; market presentations from China, Asia, Europe, North America and South America; industry recognitions with the IDEA Achievement Awards and the IDEA Lifetime Achievement Awards; and a welcome reception celebration.

“While most professionals have now become accustomed to the greater flexibility working from home provides, and conducting Zoom or Team meetings, there’s no substitute to meeting face-to-face and in person,” INDA president Dave Rousse said. “The event attracted a high level of participation among key decision makers despite lingering travel restrictions, which is a testimonial to the show’s importance within the international nonwovens and engineered materials industry.” 

A highlight of IDEA was the announcement of the IDEA Achievement Awards by INDA, in partnership with Nonwovens Industry magazine. Moderated by Rousse and Karen McIntyre, editor, Nonwovens Industry, the awards recognised the leading introductions in equipment, raw materials, short-life, long-life and nonwovens products, and sustainability, since the previous IDEA Exposition in 2019, INDA said in a press release.

In addition, INDA presented the IDEA 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award to Val Hollingsworth, board chair and CEO of Hollingsworth & Vose, and Nonwovens Industry presented the IDEA Entrepreneur Achievement Award to Doug Brown, president of Biax-Fiberfilm/5K Fibres at the event.

Elastic Thread Anchoring (ETA) Sonotrode – Herrmann Ultrasonics, Inc. won the IDEA Equipment Achievement Award, IDEA  Raw Material Achievement Award  was bagged by ODOGard – Rem Brands, Inc., IDEA Short-Life Product Achievement Award was won by LifeSavers Wipes – LifeSavers LLC, IDEA Long-Life Product Achievement Award  was bagged Nanofiber Cabin Air Filter – MANN + HUMMEL GmbH, IDEA Sustainability Advancement Award  was won by Fiber-based Screw Caps – Glatfelter Corp. and Blue Ocean Closures and IDEA Nonwoven Product Achievement Award was bagged by HYDRASPUN Aquaflo – Sustainable Nonwoven Substrates – Suominen Corporation

IDEA will next be held on its new 24-month schedule on April 23-25, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. FiltXPO, North America’s only exhibition and conference dedicated exclusively to filtration and separation, will make its return on its new 18 month-schedule, October 10-12, 2023 at Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)