Advancing Wipes

Leaders Do Business at the 2024 World of Wipes® International Conference

John Iarocci, Vice President of Research and Development, Nice-Pak, addresses WOW attendees.

In a special recognition, INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, presented the 2024 Lifetime Service Award to David Powling, Technical Leader, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (retired), and the 2024 Lifetime Technical Achievement Award to Paul Latten, Director of Research & Development & New Business, Southeast Nonwovens, Inc. INDA is pleased to honor both Powling and Latten for their decades of contributions to the nonwovens industry as well as being strong advocates for INDA.

They were honored at the as wipes leaders across the supply chain convened for new connections, intelligence, sustainability strategies, and business at the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, June 17-20 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“I met many first timers at the event which is great to see,” says Steve Gallo, Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Wipes International. “I found the content on innovation to be particularly useful this year. The lunch around was a very nice touch. That provided a business intimacy that is difficult to achieve in any other format. And the coffee area with the high tables was perfect. We literally got to meet with every company that we needed to, due to the ease of just texting people to connect in that area!”

“There is no better conference than WOW to hear nonwoven industry thought leaders views on such a wide range of important topics impacting the nonwovens industry such as innovation, legal/ legislative and sustainability trends,” notes Jeff Klimkowski, DUDE Wipes®. “It would take our team months to learn and/or get access to everyone I spoke to over a busy four days.”

The winner of the World of Wipes Innovation Award® was Rockline Industries

David Powling, Technical Leader, Kimberly-Clark (retired), center, is the recipient of the 2024 INDA Lifetime Service Award for his contributions and advocacy for the nonwovens industry and INDA. Tony Fragnito, CEO, left, and Matt O'Sickey, Director of Education and Technical Affairs, right, bestowed the honors. INDA

Paul Latten, Director of Research & Development & New Business, Southeastern Nonwovens receives the 2024 INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award, for his service to the industry and INDA. INDA for their Facial Care Wipe with Glycine Amino Acid Complex. This new skin care wipe contains a unique multifunctional complex of two medium chain glycine, a phospholipid and a blend of special glycol ingredients that provides for a multitude of skin care benefits as well as providing a unique preservation system for nonwovens. The skin care wipe provides substantiated improved skin smoothness, elasticity, and hydration alongside an antiageing claim. This innovation is amongst the first to use these unique glycine ingredients in a skin care wipe formulation.

As in past years, the 1.5-day WIPES Academy, led by Heidi Beatty, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Abbey, LLC, and Paul Davies, Ph.D., Consultant, Crown Abbey, LLC, preceded the WOW Conference June 17-18. This course focused on the essentials of wet wipes construction and ingredients. Participants learned how to bring nonwovens, lotions, and packaging together to launch a successful product. The next WIPES Academy will be held July 21-22, 2025 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, Columbus, Ohio in conjunction with WOW 2025.

The WOW conference program featured experts discussing these key topics:

• Sparkle & Shine: How Wipes Became WOW

• Wiping Smart: The Rise of Sustainable Practices in the Institutional and Industrial Wipe Markets

• Transformative Trends in Wet Wipe

Formulations: A Dual Focus on Skin Health and Sustainability

• Leading Alternatives to Traditional Plastics Used in Wipes

• Panel Discussion: Leading Alternatives to Traditional Plastics Used in Wipes

• Eclectic Perspectives: Unraveling the Threads of I&I Wipes and Scaling Strategies

• Putting $$ in Your Pocket

• Recycling & Regulations

In addition to the premium content in the conference program, WOW featured four pre-conference webinars (with recordings available for full conference attendees), tabletop exhibits, Lightning Talks, a Skin Care Formulation Workshop 101, and a mentorship program for participants who are new to the wipes industry.

"World of Wipes 2024 in Minneapolis materialized to be a landmark event for our organization this year,” says Sam

Nebel, Co-founder, Goodwipes. “We connected with industry peers, revisited with mentors, and engaged with partners to share insights and forge long-lasting, and meaningful partnerships. As an emerging brand, we felt right at home as industry veterans warmly extended their hand to us in an effort to ingratiate us further in the industry. This gathering not only fuels innovation and growth but also showcases the exceptional work of INDA in leading our industry forward."

For more information, visit www.worldofwipes.org.

Mark your calendars for WOW 2025 to be held July 21-25 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, Columbus, OH!

Nonwovens for a Healthier Planet.

The Intersection of Nonwoven Materials & Sustainability. Emerging Trends. Empowering Innovation. Enhancing Knowledge. Global Reach.

IDEA®25 is a gathering of the international nonwovens industry to discuss the future of nonwoven materials, their applications, and how they will shape both form and function in various market sectors.

Attend – Experiencing IDEA®25 provides a unique opportunity to see, touch and feel innovations in person. Meet and create new business with the professionals and companies behind these developments.

Exhibit – Showcasing your company at IDEA®25 inspires brand owners and brand marketers as they interact with your materials, technologies and processes. Partner with industry leaders to create new products with the intent of recycling, reusing and repurposing…for a healthier planet.

By Marie O’Mahony Smart & Advanced Textiles Correspondent & Feature Writer, IFJ

Dr. Marie O’Mahony is Smart & Advanced Textiles Correspondent for the International Fiber Journal. She is an industry consultant for a global portfolio of clients, and the author of several books on advanced and smart textiles published by Thames and Hudson. She can be reached at marie.consultant@gmail.com.