TECHNICAL REPORT

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY ARE KEY INTC TOPICS

The most important technical issues facing the nonwovens industry in 2008 – ranging from increasing energy costs to nanotechnology to the need to pursue technologies with commercial applications – are part of the agenda recently announced for the 2008 International Nonwovens Technical Conference (INTC), scheduled for September 8-11, 2008, at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Tex.

Co-sponsored and organized by INDA and TAPPI, Technical Association of the Pulp an Paper Industry, the world's largest nonwovens technical conference will once again bring together hundreds of technical executives from all aspects of the nonwovens, textile and paper markets. It will feature presentations from dozens of researchers and experts from around the world during the four days of technical sessions, tutorials and networking.

Highlighting the four-day technical conference will be a keynote presentation from Karen Jones, Director of Fibers & Feedstocks at Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI). She will discuss how nonwovens manufacturers are facing an enduring squeeze as rising resin costs are quickly eating into margins. Jones will also provide insight into the current oil price dynamics that are having a major impact on the nonwovens industry.

Scheduled sessions and presenters are:

* Binders & Additives Tutorial, moderated by Michèle Mlynar, Rohm and Haas. Speakers: Andrew McKnight, Rohm and Haas; Ronald Pangrazi, Wacker Chemical; and Peter Wallace, Hexion Specialty Chemicals.

* Web Handling & Converting Tutorial, moderated by Michael Flannigan, Maxcess International. Speakers: Riccardo Arnaboldi, HIP-MITSU; J.K. Good, University of Oklahoma; Susan Stansbury, Converting Influence; and Jim Ward, Martin Automatic, Inc.

* Binders & Additives I, Moderator: John Norton, BASF. Speakers: James Robbins, OMNOVA Solutions; Kathrin Michl, BASF; Haksu Lee, Rohm and Haas; and Kenneth Greeson, Cotton Incorporated

* Polymers & Processes, Moderator: Bill Haile, Missing Octave Insights. Speakers: Ron Weeks, Dow Chemical; Laurence Chan, Strata America; Todd Williams, Eastman Chemical; Ron Weeks, Dow Chemical; and Mike Budai, ITW Dynatec.

* Filtration I, Moderator: Daniel Hennessy, Ahlstrom. Speakers: Da-ren Chen, Washington University in St. Louis; Kyung-Ju Choi, AAF International; Gary F. Ferrell, Bonavista Technologies; Lydia Boguslavsky, CSIR, MSM

* Binders & Additives II, Moderator: John Norton, BASF. Speakers: Shailesh Majmudar, Cytec Industries; Uwe Meisenburg, BASF SE; Stephanie Cottrell, Rohm and Haas; Jürgen Hanel, DyStar Textilfarben GmbH.

* Filtration II, Moderator: Dan Hennessy, Ahlstrom. Speakers: Yvonne Klawitter,  Nanogate AG; Behnam Pourdeyhimi, The Nonwovens Institute; Christine Stanfel, Ahlstrom Filtration; Christine Sun, Freudenberg Nonwovens.

* Nanotechnology, Moderator: Uday Raval, Pall Life Sciences. Speakers: Martin Smith, Pall Corporation; N. Anantharamaiah, The Nonwovens Institute; Dan Hayes, NanoHorizons; Seshadri Ramkumar, Texas Tech University - TIEHH; Juan Hinestroza, Cornell University.

* Melt Blowing & Spunbonding Technologies I, Moderator: Larry Wadsworth, University of Tennessee. Speakers: Joachim Bauer, Rieter Automatik GmbH; Asli Begenir, Hanes Brands; Daniele Bugada, Basell USA; Raja Dharmarajan, ExxonMobil Chemical.

* Insulation I, Moderator: Andrew McKnight, Rohm and Haas. Speakers: Marcus Bianchi, Johns Manville; Angus Crane, North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA); Helene Hardy Pierce, GAF Materials; Scott Miller, Knauf Insulation.

* Nonwoven Markets & Applications I, Moderator: Bob Averell, Wellman. Speakers: Karen Bitz McIntyre, Nonwoven Industry Magazine; Ian Butler, INDA; Steve Ogle, INDA; Matthew Pickett, BASF Corporation; Mark Snider, Smith, Johnson & Associates.

* Melt Blowing & Spunbonding Technologies II, Moderator: Larry Wadsworth, University of Tennessee. Speakers: James Luce, ExxonMobil Chemical; Larry McAmish, IMERYS Performance Minerals; Robert Shambaugh, University Of Oklahoma; Ralf Taubner, Sachsisches Textilforschungsinstitut.

* Insulation II, Moderator: Andrew McKnight, Rohm and Haas. Speakers: Kim Tutin, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals; Nazire Yilmaz, North Carolina State University.

* Nonwoven Markets & Applications II. Moderator: Bob Averell, Wellman. Speakers: Rory Holmes, INDA; Jan O'Regan, Cotton Incorporated; Robert Lovegrove, Eastman Chemical; Andrew Goodby, Ahlstrom.

* Flame Retardants. Moderator: Gajanan Bhat, University of Tennessee. Speakers: Ronald Dombrowski, TechTex Solutions; Gerald Keep, Missing Octave Insights; Stuart Smith, Norafin (Americas).

* Antimicrobials. Moderator: S.S. Ramkumar, Texas Tech University-TIEHH. Speakers: James D. Back, ÆGIS Environmental Management; Roy Broughton, Auburn University; Gerry Getman, BIOSAFE; Rodney Rees, THOR Specialties; Jeffrey Trogolo, AgION Technologies; Rajan Vempati, ChK Group.

* Modeling. Moderator: Hooman Tafreshi, Virginia Commonwealth University. Speakers: S. Jaganathan, North Carolina State University; Yujun Liu, Hongda Research Institute; Benoît Mazé, Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center, North Carolina State University; Dieter Mueller, University of Bremen; Eunkyoung Shim, North Carolina State University; Hooman Tafreshi, Virginia Commonwealth University.

To view the complete abstracts submitted by the authors, visit the INTC website: www.inda.org/events/intc08

Among the other highlights of INTC 2008:

• A unique addition to INTC 2008 is a full-day Nonwovens Enhancements session co-sponsored INDA and AATCC that will feature industry experts explaining the technologies and complexities of enhancing nonwoven fabrics. The one-day session will focus on innovative structure technology, coloring and printing techniques, performance finishes and surface treatments for product enhancement. A similar joint session was successfully held for the first time three years ago at INTC 2005.
• A Graduate Research Award will allow up-and-coming professionals to present papers detailing their research in nonwoven technology. The winner of the Graduate Research Award will be announced at the INTC Keynote & Award Luncheon.
• A Table-top Event & Reception will provide attendees with the opportunity to network with more than 30 corporate and university in an informal, relaxed setting.
• A number of TAPPI Committees will hold their annual meetings during INTC, including Nonwovens Binders and Additives, Building and Industrial Mat, Materials Characterization and Modeling, Fibers and Process Technology, and Nonwovens Insulation.
• The traditional Awards Luncheon will once again recognize the accomplishments of a number of industry professionals, including the presentation of the TAPPI Mark Hollingsworth Award.

For more information or to register online: www.inda.org.