Over 170 professionals in materials science, product development and new technologies participated in the ninth conference edition of RISE—Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics, September 24-25th—at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. The event was co-organized by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, The Nonwovens Institute, and North Carolina State University.  

Participants gave high praise for the focus of the three major sessions—Sustainable Additives & Polymers, Circular Innovation, and Market Data & Intelligence Trends. 

“I learned a lot,” says Basak Ozturk, senior researcher, Hygiene, HYAT Kimya San A.S…”This conference provides valuable new nuggets of information and I always make six to eight strong connections,” commented Darryl Fournier, Vice President, North America, Fibertex Nonwovens…“I like the diversity; this is my sixth time at RISE making connections,” says Sanjiv Malkan, Ph.D., engineering principal, Textile & Adhesive Engineering, Hunter Douglas…“It’s an excellent conference,” says Lee Clapp, Ph.D., director of market development and innovation, Americas, Omya Inc…“I come to learn,” says Harish Patel, R&D Director, Cardinal Health.

Highlights of the event included keynote presentations on CiCLO Sustainable Textile Technology, a technology that allows polyester to biodegrade in marine environments, wastewater treatment plants and landfill conditions, by Andrea Ferris, CEO, Intrinsic Advanced Materials; The U.S. Economic Outlook, by John Connaughton, PhD, Barings Professor of Financial Economics, UNC-Charlotte; and Biodegradation-Promoting Additions for Plastics – Questions You Should Ask, by Susan E. Selke, Ph.D., Director and Professor – School of Packaging, Michigan State University.
 

The program included presentations on Sustainable Additives, Innovations, a poster exhibition presented by The Nonwovens Institute highlighting 15 examples of new research from graduate students, and the presentation of the RISE Innovation Award winner.