Index14, the largest global meeting place for the nonwovens supply chain and its customers, was launched today (8 April) , with a ceremony to showcase excellence in the nonwovens and related industries.
The Index14 Awards, organised by event planner Edana, are claimed to be the highest accolade for excellence in the industry and highlight some of the innovations from businesses of all sizes, and from all parts of the nonwovens supply chain. Winners for each section, together with summary comments from the judging panel were:
• Nonwoven Roll Goods: Sandler’s Fibercomfort tread- and waterproof roof insulation o 'This product expands the market for nonwovens in the construction sector, effectively and efficiently replaces wood by enabling a single solution for roof insulation based only on nonwovens, and is a product which is lighter than alternatives and potentially recyclable'
• Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens: Imeco Nocemi® MED wipes o 'A virucidal, bactericidal, alcohol free and disinfectant which offers a timely answer to help prevent Healthcare Associated Infections, and which will help reduce healthcare costs through more efficient cleaning of potentially contaminated areas'.
• Most original marketing campaign for a product made from, or incorporating nonwovens: Lenzing - TENCEL Skin promotion campaign o 'This is a highly aesthetic and artistic video which lends life to the fibre and connects it to people, and effectively conveys the main properties of the fibre'.
• Innovation in a raw material of special relevance to the nonwovens industry: Eastman Cyphrex microfibers o 'A useful way to provide custom microfiber blends, which enables a new level of flexibility in wetlaid nonwovens'.
• Innovation in machinery of special relevance to the nonwovens industry: ITW Dynatec - VectorTM Surge Applicator o 'This simple and compact piece of hardware enables the customised application of adhesives, while minimising waste. Highly versatile, the device can be integrated into any line'.
• Sustainable Product: Ahlstrom Flow2Save filter media o 'An innovative filter media which saves energy (compared to conventional microglass media), and offers a low pressure drop at all efficiency levels, providing significant cost savings over the life time of the filter'.
• Sustainable process or management practice: TJ Beall - True Cotton Greige Cotton Nonwoven for Wound Healing and Hygienic Product Applications o 'This is a paradigm change compared to cotton currently available for nonwovens, which efficiently exploits the natural properties of cotton fibre, and is an effective alternative to bleached cotton. A smart way to use ‘waste’ cotton' In congratulating the winners, and recognising the outstanding efforts of the nominees, Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA said: “If you’re looking for clues about how our industry will change and develop, look no further than the products and services of those winners and runners-up recognised here today. It is products such as these which are helping to drive our industry forward, and create a stronger industry, with solutions in so many different product categories and sectors.” The winners were presented with their specially commissioned bronze sculpture and a diploma at the Awards Ceremony, attended by the media, exhibitors and visitors to the show. The INDEX 14 awards jury, which was comprised of an official from the European Commission, a former senior nonwovens company business development and marketing manager, a representative of the nonwovens industry trade press, and top academic nonwovens R&D experts, met in February in order to select the nominees, and to choose, from this group. In order to be considered, companies could submit only one application per category, and products must have been commercially available by the 31 January 2014. Additionally, products or campaigns must not have been commercially launched before April 2011.
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