Posted March 3, 2015

 

CARY, N.C. – Leaders in materials research and innovative science found “what’s next” in engineered fabrics at the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics Conference (RISE®) and Nanofibers for the Third Millennium (N3M), held February 9-12 in Miami.

 

Changed in 2015 to a new winter time slot on the industry’s calendar and warm Florida location, the conference continues to draw increasing attendance since it started in 2010.

 

Dave Rousse, INDA President, said “RISE continues to bring together Technical Scouts in the engineered fabrics sector with fascinating new technologies to add features and value to their fabrics. We are delighted with its continued growth, even with the change in the calendar. And this year we added the N3M component for added value.”

 

“The 2015 INDA RISE Conference brought nonwoven industry leaders together over three days for a nicely balanced program with talks from both industrial and academic experts,” said Kaan Gunes, Ph.D., market development manager, Corporate Innovation-Polymers Technology, Eastman Chemical Company. “The multiple opportunities to engage socially with these experts was an added perk.”

 

First-time RISE attendee Karen Mertins, R&D chemist at ITW Pro Brands, said she appreciated the open, welcoming atmosphere. “Not every industry is so congenial,” she said. “The difference is immediately apparent and quite refreshing.”

 

In her presentation on Soft Active Materials for Soft and Wearable Robotics, Rebecca Kramer, Ph.D., assistant professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, told attending top researchers, scientists, academia and thought leaders from around the world she is looking for partners to work with on new products.

 

Among the other speaker presentations were:

 

• “Nonwoven Materials with Extraordinary Functions: From Tough Hydrogels to Graphene Supercapacitors” presented by Xuanhe Zhao, Ph.D., assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering and d’Arbeloff Career Development Chair, MIT;