Dr Farer will serve as professor in the Wilson College of Textiles’ Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS). As executive deputy director with NWI, Dr Farer will join the Institute’s leadership team, working closely with Behnam Pourdeyhimi PhD, and Tom Daugherty to manage the implementation of NWI’s strategic vision.
He joins TECS and NWI following a 24-year career with Freudenberg Performance Materials with various assignments in Germany, Spain and the United States, bringing extensive knowledge in textile technologies with a specialization in nonwovens, to his new roles.
At Freudenberg Performance Materials, Dr Farer's roles covered research and development, production, operations, management, and technology. He has intricate knowledge and specialized experience in numerous nonwoven technologies, including wet laid, dry laid, meltblown and spunbond, as well as various nonwoven bonding technologies, including thermal bonding, chemical bonding, hydroentanglement and needle-punching.
Throughout his career, Dr Farer has led and championed investments in new equipment and upgrades in technology to improve the uniformity of nonwovens, optimize and modernize technologies to help reduce energy consumption, and allow for increased usage of recycled materials. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Farer and Freudenberg partnered with NWI and NC State to build a full-scale FDA-approved face mask production facility in Durham, North Carolina.
He has also served on NWI’s Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), most recently as chair of its Executive Committee (2022–2024).
“Raoul brings immense value as a leader and faculty member with extensive industry experience,” said David Hinks PhD, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “I look forward to the new insights and innovation he will bring to NWI, to our students, and across NC State. We are eager to welcome him back as a two-time alumnus with a deep knowledge of both Wilson College and the NWI.”
Dr Farer began his journey in textiles and nonwovens in the early 1990s, earning his Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering at Philadelphia University in 1994. He then served as a research assistant and teaching assistant at NC State, while earning a Master of Science in Textile Management and Technology (1996) and a PhD in Fiber and Polymer Science (1999). During this time, he also participated in NWI’s fundamental nonwovens research program, studying novel dispersion technologies for wet-laid nonwovens and the formation of 3D meltblown structures via a robotic system.
Dr Farer has published numerous peer-reviewed papers related to his research in the areas of fiber science and nonwovens, and he has sponsored several students working through NWI’s fundamental nonwovens research program.
“Having worked with Raoul from the time he was a student researcher at NC State and watching him progress in his career with Freudenberg Performance Materials, I am thrilled to have him join us here at NWI,” said Dr Pourdeyhimi. “I look forward to working with Raoul once again and seeing NWI continue to grow with the benefit of his contributions.”
“Returning to my alma mater and NWI is a dream come true,” said Dr Farer. “After a long career in industry at one of the world’s leading nonwovens manufacturers, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to give back to the students, NWI, the Wilson College of Textiles and NC State. Nonwovens have been my passion from the moment when I first took an introductory course as an undergraduate student. I feel very fortunate to be able to join the teams at NWI and TECS and look forward to helping our students learn and grow in their journeys toward becoming future researchers and innovators and to further strengthen our industry partnerships to help build the NWI of the future.”
Based 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.
