The second Asia Pacific Nonwovens Symposium was held this month in Shanghai and was proclaimed a success by delegates and organizers alike. The one and a half-day event attracted 150 attendees from 25 countries to hear presentations revealing trends affecting markets for nonwoven fabrics going into hygiene applications in China.

The symposium was jointly organized by RISI Inc., based in Bedford, MA, in the United States, and WTIN, based in Leeds, in the United Kingdom. It was co-sponsored by the Chinese and US-based nonwovens industry associations, CNITA and INDA. The presidents of the two associations, Li Lingshen and Dave Rousse, kicked off the symposium’s first session with welcoming remarks.

Among the presentations were a paper by Jiao Yong, general manager, Shanghai Fengge Nonwoven Co., Ltd., on “The Development Trends of Fabrics for Disposable Hygiene Products,” and one by Huo Yisong,PhD, Sr. Director, Product Development – Asia, for PGI  on “Asian Hygiene Market Trends & Nonwoven Solutions”. Marc Newman and Joanna Wang of Fitesa China offered delegates their perspectives on “Feminine Disposable Hygiene Market and Trends.”

In the area of raw materials,  Lenzing Group’s global director of business development for hygiene, Elisabeth Stanger, talked about “Tencel Short Cut in Dispersible NW Fabrics: Meeting Consumer Needs by Combining Strength in Use with Dispersibility.”  Young Sam Kim, Research Fellow, Basic Materials & Chemicals R&D at LG Chemical, discussed “The Role of Superabsorbent Polymer in the Development of Hygiene Products.” Evan Yuan, hygiene technical manager of H.B. Fuller, addressed the topic of “How Adhesives Contribute to Hygiene Product Development.”

Two fiber suppliers addressed their specialties, starting with Robert Green, global business director for Ingeo Fibers & Nonwovens for NatureWorks LLC, who spoke on “Ingeo Biofiber Innovations in Fibers and Nonwovens.” In the same session, Arthur Nonni, senior director of process and product technology for Georgia-Pacific, addressed “Golden Isles COTM Fluff Pulp: Cellulose With a New Purpose”.

Among equipment technology suppliers, Amy Qian, Business Development & Marketing Director of Coesia China, presented a paper on “How to Seize the Opportunity of Adult Incontinence Product Market Development?” Weng Wenchao, executive director of Dilo Shanghai, discussed the “New Development of Nonwoven Machinery for Hygiene Products.”

Themes relevant to the broad sector were addressed by several speakers. Among them was David Price, partner, Price Hanna Consultants, whose topic was “Key Nonwoven Technologies and Capacity Developments for Hygiene Absorbent Products in Asia”. Janet O’Regan, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Global Supply Chain Marketing for Cotton Inc., presented a paper on “Chinese Consumers and Hygiene Products: Shopping Behavior and Brand Decision Making”.

Du Jiaqi, senior research analyst for Euromonitor International (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, set the tone early on by addressing “Overview and Trends of China and Global Hygiene Market 2014”, while RISI Economist Yao Han offered his perspectives on “The Global Economy – Modest Improvement.”


The next edition of the Asia Pacific Nonwovens Symposium will take place in China in 2016. More information: www.inda.org.