EDANA Announces Global Nonwovens Summit Speakers

Brussels-based EDANA, the International Association Serving the Nonwovens and Related Industries, has confirmed two speakers who will address attendees of the fourth annual Global Nonwovens Summit that will take place in conjunction with the INDEX 08 nonwovens exhibition in Geneva next month.

The 2008 edition of INDEX, a triennial exhibition sponsored by EDANA and organized by Geneva-based Orgexpo, will be held April 15-18 at Geneva Palexpo. The Global Nonwovens Summit, an invitation-only event sponsored by EDANA, the Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) and the Japan-based Asia Nonwoven Fabrics Association (ANFA) will take place Wednesday, April 16, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Colin Purvis, director general of the Brussels-based International Rayon and Synthetic Fibres Committee (CIRFS), will discuss expected feedstock and fiber developments related to nonwovens applications. Purvis will focus primarily on polyester, polypropylene and viscose; but he also will mention elastane, polyamide and polyethylene developments. In addition, he will consider the probable evolution in the balance of feedstock and fiber supply and demand, and the implications for availability and cost trends.

Dr. Joerg Rothermel, director of the Energy, Climate Protection and Raw Materials Sector Group within VCI, the Frankfurt-based Association of the German Chemical Industry, will make a presentation titled “Raw Material Change in the Chemical Industry — The General Picture.”

Following speaker presentations, summit participants will break out into discussion groups, arranged to include a mix of geographic and sectoral representatives, to discuss and propose three schemes for non-commercial joint efforts.

March 18, 2008