Cos Camelio, a 40-year veteran of the nonwovens industry and the former Technical Director at INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, passed away  this week after suffering a heart attack He was 67 years old.
 
Mr. Camelio, who joined INDA in 2001 as Technical Director after working for most of his career with Freudenberg and Chicopee, retired in June 2007 to spend time traveling with his wife, Phyllis, and visiting his children. He leaves behind a legacy that will continue in the global nonwovens and disposable products industry.
 
“Cos was, above all, a good man and a great friend and his sudden passing leaves a void in the lives of all of his friends here at INDA,” said Rory Holmes, INDA President. “Cos touched the personal and professional lives of so many people in our industry and his professionalism, sense of humor and friendship will be missed by all of us.”
 
As INDA Technical Director for six years before his retirement a year ago, Mr. Camelio was heavily involved with the harmonization of standard test methods with INDA’s sister organization, EDANA. He was also involved with both ISO and ASTM standards committees, shared the responsibility for the programs at INDA technical conferences and chaired a number of INDA committees.
 
Mr. Camelio started his career in 1964 with Chicopee at the Chicopee Falls location in Massachusetts as a shift supervisor and management trainee. Cos eventually was promoted to plant manager of the Chicopee Falls location and then to northern operations manager responsible for a weaving mill plus the finishing plant.
 
In 1975, Mr. Camelio transferred to Chicopee’s nonwoven operations in North Little Rock, AR as plant manager of the staple fiber operations. In 1979, he was promoted to site manager with responsibility for both a wetlaid plant as well as the staple fiber operation.
 
In 1983, he joined Freudenberg Nonwovens as vice president of manufacturing with responsibility for two facilities, corporate engineering, capital budgets, and R&D. Between 1983 and 2000, Camelio held various positions within Freudenberg Nonwovens including COO and President. During this time, he guided the expansion of the Hopkinsville, KY plant to three times its original size, modernized the production equipment at both locations and oversaw the building of a new facility in Durham, NC.
 
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 3, in Raleigh, NC.