INDA, the association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has acquired the Insight International Conference from Marketing Technology Service and will combine this popular nonwovens industry conference with its own Vision Consumer Products conference. Both events have focused on the absorbent product and disposable hygiene market and together, they will be the largest of its kind within the industry.

The deal will not impact other business activities at MTS, which include other nonwovens conference events, airlaid production facilities, consulting, testing equipment, product and material testing, market research and publishing.

“I started INSIGHT in 1979 and it has been held every fall since then at many locations in North America. It’s had a consistent following of senior-level international delegates that we consider to also be our friends. So, as we organize and look forward to INSIGHT 2014, we won’t be saying goodbye to the industry—just shifting our focus,” says Jim Hanson, director of MTS. “MTS will continue to sponsor executive short courses and absorbent product design symposiums in Michigan, as well as continuing its Nonwovens Technology and other absorbent product conferences located outside of the Americas.”

The final MTS Insight will be held as planned Oct. 19-23 in Indianapolis, IN and the event will be merged with Vision beginning in October 2015 in St. Petersburg, FL. INDA’s Vision 2015, scheduled for Feb. 6-9 in Miami, FL, will be replaced by RISE (Research, Innovation and Science for Engineered Fabrics. The RISE conference scheduled for Sept. 8-11 in Atlanta, GA will not be held.

“INSIGHT is a well-established, long-running event primarily serving the absorbent hygiene market, as is our own VISION conference,” says INDA president Dave Rousse. “We are delighted to be able to combine these two respected industry events to create a single, larger and more impactful conference that streamlines the event calendar, consolidates attendee travel dollars, and better serves our members and the industry.”

INDA’s executive committee and its board of director approved the purchase this week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.