A free seminar on the major developments and latest trends in nonwovens for automotive applications took place during INDEX 14. The event was very well attended, showing the interest in nonwovens as solutions for the transportation industry, and was judged to be a great success by all who participated.
If you did not get a chance to see all the presentations live, or would like to watch these informative talks again, just click on the relevant video in the detailed programme below.
This forum was led by Vincent Stich, Managing Director of STICH Consult, Belgium

Speaker name Company name	Presentation title Abstract
Adrian Wilson Sustainable Nonwovens, UK	How Europe is retaining its lead in automotive innovation and the contribution nonwovens are making to it
	- All eyes are on the tremendous growth in car production in China and Asia - By 2010 China was the largest car producer in the world, outputting some 13.6 million units, but China is far from being the only success story. - Meanwhile, the traditional regions of Europe, the USA and Japan remain instrumental in the development of new vehicle concepts. - In seeking to reduce CO2 emissions through greater fuel economy, weight is an area in which nonwovens – often in combination with other engineered materials – can contribute significantly.
Detlev Käppel Tenowo, Germany	Nonwovens for automotive applications in the area of sound insulation, interior trim and car seats
	- A variety of different nonwoven technologies are used for the manufacture of engine acoustic sound insulation parts, interior trim and car seats. - Nonwovens are utilized in conjunction with different core material substrates to deliver these benefits. -The presentation focuses on physical characteristics of the nonwovens used with examples of current production, and market trends.
Gerhard Klier Sandler AG, Germany	Nonwovens - Making your drive comfortable and safe
	- Nonwovens are used in almost every part of the vehicle: From headliner to sears floor and underbody, from pillars, doors and side panels to instrumental panel and dash board, from the engine compartment and wheel arch liners to the boot. They dampen sound, insulate heat and increase driving comfort. - Single-polymer polyester nonwovens offer an additional advantage: they are fully recyclable and thereby contribute to the conservation of resources. - This presentation will focus on the recycling of polyester nonwovens, detailing how they may be reprocessed at the end of the vehicle’s lifetime and incorporated into closed material cycles.
Serden Müjdeci Hassan Group, Turkey	Automotive Nonwoven Components from Recycled Diaper Materials
	- Recovering huge amount of diaper scraps: Economical and environmental aspects. - Formulating the scraps: Preparation for carpet back extrusion. - Alternative cost effective raw material for thermoformable automotive nonwoven carpets like tailgates, trunks sides, and wheel arches, etc.
Bernd Brandt Denkstatt, Austria	The sustainability benefits of nonwovens in automotive applications
	- Lighter vehicles - Improved fuel and air filtration - Direct and indirect benefits