Eighteen months ago, when the nonwovens industry gathered in Geneva, Switzerland for INDEX 2020, the world was very much still in the midst of a global pandemic. Travel restrictions kept many people from attending the event, which had been postponed several times before finally being held about 18 months after its intended date in October 2021.

Three years after the start of the pandemic—and INDEX 2020’s originally scheduled date—the world has by and large returned to normal. While the Coronavirus is still very much around, its threat has receded. Travel is back to pre-pandemic levels and everyone is eager to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.

So, what will this mean for INDEX 2023?

Right now, it’s hard to say. If the organizers are to be believed, the event will be similar to pre-pandemic exhibitions with similar exhibitor numbers and attendance levels. It will be four days not to be missed by anyone doing business in nonwovens. INDEX will remain one of the largest events in nonwovens, but does being “one of the largest events,” look different after Covid-19, particularly in nonwovens?

While the world shut down, the nonwovens industry ramped up, doing more business than ever before to serve booming demand for products like face masks, medical gowns and disinfectant wipes. Covid-19 ushered in an unprecedented level of investment in and awareness of nonwovens.

As we prepare for INDEX, the nonwovens industry is facing a number of challenges like overcapacity, raw material fluctuations, trade difficulties, single-use plastics legislation and more. Will more people choose to stay home and do business remotely using the tools we all came to rely on during lockdown or will the event give the industry a chance to meet face to face and weather these challenges together?

So, whether you are going to Geneva or not, this issue of Nonwovens Industry gives you all the information you need either on the show floor or from the comforts of your home or office. From our complete exhibitors list on page 26 to our look at what some exhibitors plan to present (page 90) to our look at the finalists of the event’s INDEX Innovation Award competition (page 106), we hope we are providing everything you will need to benefit from the show. And, don’t forget to check out our daily newsletters, coming straight to your inbox daily, during the show.

See you in Geneva.


Karen McIntyre
Editor
[email protected]