INDEX17 came to a close with visitors and exhibitors both proclaiming it an all-round great success. The event, one of the most successful ever global nonwovens exhibitions, ran from April 4-7 at Palexpo in Geneva. With worldwide representation from across the nonwovens and related industries, displaying a diverse range of products and services, INDEX once again delivered on its promise to serve as a ‘global meeting point’ for the industry.

A total of 12,758 visitors made their way through the doors of the exhibition center (a rise of over 2% on the 2014 edition), eager to to see the 666 exhibitors (an increase of over 13% INDEX 2014) from 41 countries in nearly 24,000 m2 of stand space.

Those in attendance could engage with a larger portion of the industry than ever before and avail of a wide variety of presentations, demonstrations and tutorials. Additionally, the sector seminars on transportation, medical and geotextile nonwoven products were popular throughout the exhibition, with several editions offering standing room only.

“With more exhibitors and visitors than ever,” says Martin Rapp of Glatfelter (and chairman of EDANA), “INDEX truly stands as the flagship exhibition of the nonwovens industry and a vital business development tool for industry players of all sizes.”

“Our industry has evolved to a great extent,” says Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA. “Nonwovens and related materials are increasingly used in the automotive, filtration and construction sectors for example, illustrating how the sector offers innovative solutions for a wide range of purposes. This evolution was also reflected in the makeup of the visitors to this year’s show, with a wider range than ever before. The products and services they saw throughout the exhibition provide a snapshot of how our industry is developing – and it is a privilege to witness this first-hand and know that the success of our sector is in safe hands. Looking ahead to INDEX 20, we are reminded of how both resilient and innovative the nonwovens industry really is.”

Exhibitors shared their delight with the quality of the attendees visiting the show, alongside feedback from visitors who were pleased with the range of the exhibitors on offer, covering the entire chain from machinery and raw materials producers to converters and providers of added-value treatments and processes.

A first-time exhibitor proclaimed themselves “extremely pleased with both the logistics and content at INDEX” and that they would recommend the exhibition to their peers, a sentiment echoed by a visitor who commented that “INDEX really is the global meeting point for the nonwovens industry. It is now one of the most important dates in my calendar.” Several exhibitors also reported that the quality of visitors had significantly increased from previous editions, with efforts to engage visitors from broad industry sectors clearly paying off.