The Nonwovens Institute

Professionals and researchers from across the nonwovens value chain visited The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) Mar. 4-6 for the Spunbond Technology Short Course. Several attendees highlighted the impact and value of this learning experience: “This course exceeded my expectations. The entire curriculum was relevant and engaging. I plan to apply a great deal of the learning to my work.” “Excellent content, really focused on true fundamentals and very well organized.” The Spunbond Technology Short Course, presented in partnership with INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, featured presentations by Benoit Maze, Ph.D., Director of Education and Administration at NWI and Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., Executive Director at NWI. Leveraging a combination of classroom learning and hands-on activities in NWI’s state-of-the-art fabrication and testing labs, course attendees gained: * A fundamental understanding of the spunbond process. * Insights into structure-property-process relationships to enhance material performance for specific applications. * Knowledge of common polymers like PP, as well as alternative polymers such as PET, PLA, and PBS, to run an efficient spunbond process based on polymer properties. * A deeper understanding of thermal profiles and extrusion parameters to optimize manufacturing efficiency. * How to leverage machine design, process design, and raw materials to develop new products and improve manufacturing efficiency. * Expert insight into nonwoven markets and applications for spunbond technology, including how to leverage biopolymers for sustainable impacts. Additional attendee comments included: * “I liked the amount of detail the course went into. Also, the instructors were open to answering questions and diving into deeper details to explain further.” – Senior Process Development Engineer * “Awesome mixture of hands on, theoretical background, and anecdotal experience.” – Senior Research Engineer * “Thank you for an excellent training course. I look forward to collaborating with NWI in the future.” – Senior Research Engineer * “Awesome job to everyone involved!” – Senior Research Engineer * “As someone with little experience in nonwovens, I was able to absorb the information very easily.” – Lab/QA Assistant Manager NWI offers a variety of workforce development programs, including custom and online training. For more details and a full schedule of upcoming NWI/INDA short courses, visit https://bit.ly/3YBXWkV. Based at the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University, The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is a consortium of stakeholders spanning the breadth of the nonwovens value chain. Operating on an “Open Innovation” platform and covering the full Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range, NWI engages industry, government and academia to enable next-generation nonwoven solutions to mission-critical challenges. thenonwovensinstitute.com ? #nonwovens #spunbond #polymerscience #training

We were thrilled to catch up with our friends from Freudenberg Performance Materials at today’s NC State Wilson College of Textiles Spring Career Fair! Raoul Farer had the chance to reconnect with Matthew Izzo and Nico Muenter, and we’re looking forward to an upcoming student visit to their Durham plant later this year. A huge thank you to the Wilson College of Textiles for hosting another fantastic event that fosters meaningful industry connections! ?? Photo credit: Sammy Taylor #CareerFair #WilsonCollegeofTextiles #Freudenberg #Networking #TextilesInnovation #StudentOpportunities #Nonwovens

Carding is a versatile process, offering the capability to blend a wide variety of fiber types and add finishes to achieve the desired functional characteristics. The following two-minute tutorial highlights key points of interest and factors to consider in the production of carded nonwovens. “While melt-spun processes like meltblown and spunbond have attracted a lot of attention in the nonwovens space in recent years, carding remains a strong platform option for a wide range of applications,” said Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., executive director of NWI. “Not only does carding provide the flexibility to blend many different fiber types, the process is also capable of producing lightweight webs from 10-100 grams per square meter along with heavier-weight industrial fabrics ranging to more than 1,000 grams per square meter.” This tutorial is based on a segment of material covered in the upcoming Carded Nonwovens Technology Short Course, which will be presented Apr. 1-3 at The Nonwovens Institute on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. For more details and to register for the Carded Nonwovens Technology Short Course, please visit https://bit.ly/3VsKGi2. For the full schedule of NWI/INDA short courses, please visit https://bit.ly/3YBXWkV. Based at the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University, The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is a consortium of stakeholders spanning the breadth of the nonwovens value chain. Operating on an “Open Innovation” platform and covering the full Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range, NWI engages industry, government and academia to enable next-generation nonwoven solutions to mission-critical challenges. thenonwovensinstitute.com #nonwovens #carding #cardednonwovens #hydroentangling #needlepunch #staplefiber

The latest installment of the Intermediate Nonwovens Short Course attracted professionals from across the nonwovens value chain for a week continuous education at INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. ? Several attendees commented on the value of this learning experience: ? “I enjoyed learning about the many different methods of making nonwovens because I work in an upstream role where we are always looking for new ways to do things. I also appreciated learning in a classroom setting and then going to NWI to see what capabilities are available there.” ? “Great job by all; good balance of topics and discussions.” NWI and INDA jointly presented the Intermediate Nonwovens Short Course Feb. 4-7, providing classroom sessions, hands-on activities and the opportunity to experience NWI’s state-of-the-art lab- and large pilot-scale nonwoven production lines and analytical testing capabilities. Featured Topics Included: * Fundamentals of Fibers and Materials * Web Formation Technologies * Fabric Bonding Technologies * Fabric Finishing and Converting * Testing and Characterization * Nonwoven Products and Markets * Future Direction of the Industry and Technologies The course was led by Ed Thomas, formerly head of research and product development at?First Quality Nonwovens (now PFNonwovens) and Fiberweb, and Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., executive director of NWI. The NWI and INDA teams also supported the training with supplemental presentations, demonstrations and lab tours. ? The next NWI/INDA short course is Spunbond Technology, which will be presented Mar. 4-6 at NWI. For more details about this course, please visit https://bit.ly/49D7lgV. For the full schedule of NWI/INDA training courses, please visit https://bit.ly/3YBXWkV. If your company views continuous learning/workforce development as a strategic investment, please consider the NWI/INDA Short Course Value Pack program. Bundles of 5, 10, 15 and 20 short course registrations are available at progressively discounted rates. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3MuN2Z4. #nonwovens #continuouslearning #training #workforcedevelopment

The Nonwovens Institute’s (NWI’s) Spring 2025 Industrial Advisory Board Meeting will be held May 13-14 on the Centennial Campus of NC State University. The semi-annual IAB meeting is where NWI’s member companies gather with faculty and student researchers to review the latest results from the consortium’s portfolio of industry-identified nonwovens research projects. This is an opportunity for member companies, government agencies, faculty and students to engage around some of the fundamental challenges facing the nonwovens industry today. The IAB meeting will feature the presentation of the latest findings from NWI’s pre-competitive nonwovens research portfolio, along with poster sessions, tours of NWI’s state-of-the-art pilot- and lab-scale nonwoven production and testing facilities, and a variety of networking events. 5 Reasons to Attend the IAB 1.????Review the latest findings from NWI’s industry-identified research portfolio. 2.????Network with leaders in the nonwovens industry. 3.????Help shape the consortium’s research project portfolio as it evolves. 4.????Connect with top talent in nonwovens subject matter areas to support your company’s recruiting initiatives. 5.????Gain a better understanding of the fundamental challenges facing the nonwovens industry today and as we look toward the future. For a full preview of the Spring 2025 IAB meeting, please visit https://bit.ly/3Q0aWNE. If you are an NWI member, we encourage you to register for this important event. For registration details, please contact Jimei Wang at [email protected]. #nonwovens #materialscience #polymerscience #openinnovation #research Based at the Center for Technology and Innovation on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University, The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is a consortium of stakeholders spanning the breadth of the nonwovens value chain. Operating on an “Open Innovation” platform and covering the full Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range, NWI engages industry, government and academia to enable next-generation nonwoven solutions to mission-critical challenges.

The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) is honored to announce three researchers who have been recognized with awards for their outstanding presentations at the institute’s Fall 2024 Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) meeting: * Best Technical – Christine Lee, “PLA Nonwovens,” Fiber and Polymer Science, NC State Wilson College of Textiles * Best Presentation – Lucille Verster Rivera, “Degradation Modalities of Synthetics and Bio-Based Fiber Nonwoven,” NC State Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and NC State Forest Biomaterials Department * Best Overall – Anicah Smith O’Brien, “Effect of Surface Coatings on Biodegradability and Functional Properties of Model Pure and Blended Biopolymer Substrates,” NC State Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering "NWI’s industry-selected fundamental nonwovens research program is led by a group of students who are doing remarkable work,” said Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., executive director of NWI. “Over the course of several years, our researchers focus on expanding knowledge around topics that are of significant interest to the nonwovens industry. Christine, Lucille and Anicah have made impressive progress on their research projects, and we are proud to recognize their efforts as part of the NWI Student Awards program.” NWI’s student researchers present their latest findings during the institute’s semi-annual IAB meetings. Representatives from NWI member companies evaluate each presentation for presentation style and technical merit. These evaluations are used to determine the NWI Student Award winners for Best Technical, Best Presentation and Best Overall. Each winner receives a plaque and a monetary award to recognize their achievement. To learn more about the NWI Student Award winners and their research projects, please visit https://bit.ly/40AcLpu. To learn more about NWI’s current group of student researchers and their research projects, please visit https://bit.ly/440d2S7. NWI is a membership-based fundamental research institute based on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. It serves?leading companies/organizations across the nonwovens value chain, from raw material to end-use. NWI research aims to enable strategic R&D efforts by member companies who are seeking to forge next-generation fiber- and polymer-based materials and products. At the end of this value-added research pipeline are revolutionary and often life-enhancing products for both industrial and consumer markets. Research thrust areas are industry-selected and research results are considered proprietary to the Institute and its member companies. To learn more about NWI membership and member benefits, please visit https://bit.ly/3Ub9B9S. #nonwovens #biopolymers #fiberscience #polymerscience #studentresearch #sustainability

The Carded Nonwovens Technology Short Course will examine the carding process from the bale opener to carding, cross-lapping, needle-punching, thermal bonding and hydroentangling. The course covers fibers and materials, the structure of nonwovens and how one measures properties such as formation, uniformity, fiber orientation, etc. Jointly presented by The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) and INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, the Carded Nonwovens Technology Short combines classroom learning with hands-on activities in NWI's state-of-the-art fabrication and testing labs on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. The bonding portion of the course is a critical piece, as it will consider structure-process-property relationships and how to optimize carded nonwoven materials to meet the requirements of the application. The course will also review fiber blending and composite formation. The training is led by NWI’s executive director, Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., who brings unmatched knowledge and experience in nonwovens applications and technology to the program. Pourdeyhimi will be joined by Benoit Maze, Ph.D., NWI’s director of education and administration, and Amy Minton, NWI’s analytical and physical testing lab manager. If you attend this course, you will: * Learn how to exploit machine design, process and raw materials?to optimize efficiency and improve the quality of end products. * Get expert insight into nonwoven markets and applications?for carded nonwoven technology. * Gain an understanding of the nonwoven fabrics industry?and the significant role carded nonwoven materials play in the world today. For more details about the Carded Nonwovens Technology Short Course, please visit https://bit.ly/3VsKGi2. #nonwovens #continuouslearning #staplefiber #fiberscience #training #workforcedevelopment

In compliance with the?The Global Food Safety Initiative?(GFSI), The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) has achieved certification as a producer of packaging materials for food-and-beverage applications. This certification, issued under the?Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standard?(BRCGS), demonstrates NWI’s processes and facilities for manufacturing food-and-beverage-related materials are quality assured, legally compliant and authentic. The first to be recognized by GFSI, BRCGS Packaging Materials is now in its 7th edition and has become the global industry benchmark for packaging excellence. The standard is applicable for operations that: produce packaging materials for conversion or printing; supply packaging materials from stock where additional product processing or repacking occurs; manufacture and supply other unconverted or semi-converted, used or incorporated materials. “BRCGS Certification is yet another example of how NWI is striving for optimum quality control and continuous quality improvement as an organization,” said Jamie Plummer, lab research specialist and quality management lead. “By adding this certification to our portfolio of quality management credentials, we ensure our partners that NWI is able to produce materials that consistently meet the requirements of the application.“ The BRCGS Packaging Materials certification applies to NWI’s Spunbond and Hydroentangling Lab. The certification process was performed by an independent auditor working on behalf of AIB International, Inc, which is a nonprofit organization that specializes in food safety certification and standards and is accredited to audit for the BRCGS Packaging Materials standard. For more on this story, please visit https://bit.ly/3WvvD7Q. #foodsafety #packagingmaterials #QMS #qualityassurance #qualitymanagementsystem #WeAreBRCGS

The Spunbond Technology Short Course provides a fundamental understanding of the process of forming spunbond webs, combining classroom learning with hands-on activities in the state-of-the-art fabrication and testing labs at The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. Jointly presented by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and NWI, this course focuses on the importance of controlling structure-property-process relationships to optimize spunbond materials for the requirements of the application. The training will cover common polymers, such as PP, as well as the use of alternative polymers (PET, PLA, PBS, etc.). Attendees will emerge from the course with an “algorithm” for running an efficient spunbond process based on polymer properties. The training is led by NWI’s executive director, Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., who brings unmatched knowledge and experience in nonwovens applications and technology to the program. Dr. Pourdeyhimi will be joined by other subject matter experts from NWI along with guest lecturers from industry. If you attend this course, you will: ? Learn how to exploit machine design, process design and raw materials to optimize efficiency and improve the quality of end products. ? Get expert insight into nonwoven markets and applications for spunbond technology, including how to leverage biopolymers for sustainable impacts. ? Gain insight into the nonwoven fabrics industry and the significant role spunbond materials play in the world today. For more details about the Spunbond Technology Short Course, please visit https://bit.ly/49D7lgV. #nonwovens #continuouslearning #spunbond #training #workforcedevelopment

Meet our Symposium Speaker! Meet Dr. Raoul Farer, Executive Deputy Director of the The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) and Professor at NC State Wilson College of Textiles. He holds a B.Sc. in Textile Engineering from Philadelphia University and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from NC State. During graduate studies, he contributed to pivotal nonwovens research, exploring new dispersion methods and creating 3D meltblown structures via robotic systems. Dr. Farer spent 24 years at Freudenberg Performance Materials, serving in R&D, production, and operations across Germany, Spain, and the U.S. His expertise spans multiple nonwoven processes (wet-laid, dry-laid, meltblown, spunbond) and bonding technologies (thermal bonding, chemical bonding, hydroentanglement, needle-punching). He also chaired NWI’s Industrial Advisory Board executive committee (2022–2024). We’re thrilled to have him at the ITS Symposium 2025, where Dr. Farer will share his insights on the future of nonwovens! Stay tuned for insights from one of the field’s leading experts! ITS Symposium 2025 registration link: https://lnkd.in/g3DycCN5