Friday 6 May 2011

EDANA's INDEX 2011: Geneva 12th - 15th April

Introduction

This was the largest nonwovens show ever both in terms of exhibitor numbers and total content.  In addition to the main exhibits, EDANA had arranged a Special Features and Events programme comprising a Global Nonwovens Summit, the INDEX Awards, a Management Innovation Workshop, Nonwovens Tutorials, and Exhibitor Product Presentations.  Your correspondent had to focus, and chose to focus on the Exhibition stands and conversations with the exhibitors, the emphasis being on seeking out new and interesting developments, especially those from the East.  The notes are roughly classified according to whether they relate mainly to Raw Materials - Natural or Synthetic, Nonwovens - Spunlaid or Carded, Machinery - Spunlaid or Other and Miscellaneous. 

Natural Raw Materials


Birla Cellulose (India), the largest viscose rayon producer, had no fibre available and nothing they  wanted to sell.  They thought what Courtaulds used to call the Cellulosics Gap had finally arrived.  Demand for cellulosics was now much higher than even cotton could reasonably be expected to fill without serious encroachment on food-growing acreage, so Dissolving Pulp capacity and rayon production were now expanding as rapidly as possible.  They hoped to start up another 150,000 tonnes viscose plant