International Fiber Journal

IND HEMP is the leading supplier, processor and producer of industrial hemp in the United States, operating multiple hemp processing facilities in Montana that deliver sustainable natural fibers and nutritious foods worldwide. IH Fiber™ operates industrial scale decortication processing, cleaning and mechanical refining of hemp fiber. Additionally, this fiber is upgraded or ‘cottonized’ with either, or both mechanical refining and wet processes- scouring and bleaching options.

Wet wipes manufacturers operate under some of the most demanding packaging conditions in the industry. Packages must be hermetically sealed to preserve product effectiveness. Thin films, high moisture content, and continuous operation often push conventional, single jaw flow wrappers beyond their limits — resulting in leaks, inconsistent seals, and costly downtime. The Hayssen X850 flow wrapper was engineered to overcome these challenges.

Milliken & Company, a global leader in materials science, is delivering next-generation fabric whitening performance with Millibrite® technology, designed to meet the demands of modern laundry care formulations. As consumer habits, lighting environments, and sustainability expectations evolve, traditional whitening systems have struggled to keep pace.

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry leader in the design, development and manufacture of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announced the availability of advanced webbing solutions utilizing Kevlar® EXO™, a next-generation aramid fiber platform engineered for demanding performance and protection needs. The new Kevlar EXO offerings expand BRM’s portfolio of high-performance tapes and webbings for mission-critical applications in defense, aerospace and industrial safety markets.

In the dynamic and global textile fiber industry with its various manufacturing processes and end-uses, news and information is breaking on a daily basis. International Fiber Journal is tracking stories relevant to our industry from manmade to natural to bio-based fibers, innovations in nonwoven, woven, braided and technical textiles, technologies for additives, bonding, coatings and polymers, and applications from apparel to hygiene to transportation, and more.

Absorbent hygiene products continue to lead global consumption of disposable nonwovens, yet the healthcare and medical sector remains an essential market, underpinning steady growth and ongoing material innovation. Developments in polyolefin chemistry, biopolymers and closed-loop waste systems are creating promising options that point toward the increased use of sustainable medical nonwovens, while continuing to satisfy stringent infection control, regulatory and supply chain requirements.

The health and environmental impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will only become an increasingly important consideration for all those in the nonwovens sector. As much as action is driven by regulatory changes, public attitudes are also forcing the agenda.

Jack Eaton obtained a B.Sc. in Sports Materials Technology and a M.S.c in Advanced Textiles and Performance Clothing, both from the England-based University of Leeds. After graduating, Eaton gained extensive consultancy experience at NIRI over a seven-year period in various roles. He then went on to gain commercial experience in coatings, pigments and polymer processing for a diverse range of applications.

The nonwovens industry is undergoing a key transition — one that goes well beyond the adoption of new materials. For decades, innovation was driven by optimizing single-material systems, primarily fossil-based polymers such as polypropylene and polyester. These materials delivered unmatched scalability, consistency and cost efficiency. But today, that model is under increasing pressure, with two forces driving this shift.

In a joint project with Object Carpet GmbH, Denkendorf; the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA), Augsburg; and Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR), Feldkirchen, Austria, Barmag investigated the processing of recycled polyester for BCF yarn. The goal was to evaluate the fundamental suitability of 100% recycled carpet material for reuse in carpet yarn production to create a closed-loop system in carpet manufacturing.