INDEX 14 nonwovens exhibition in Geneva ends, attracts more than 12,500 visitors to see 586 exhibits, up 10% from last INDEX exhibit in 2011, says nonwovens trade group EDANA; INDEX 17 set for April 4-7, 2017, in Geneva

Debra Garcia

BRUSSELS , April 18, 2014 (press release) – Celebrating its 30th anniversary in Geneva, INDEX™, the ‘meeting point’ for the industry, closed its doors on Friday 11th April on one of the most successful ever global nonwovens exhibitions: more than 12 500 visitors coming from 41 countries, 586 exhibitors in more than 22,000 m² of stand space!

On Friday 11th April, INDEX™ 14 closed its doors on one of the most successful ever global nonwovens exhibitions. With representation from across the nonwovens and related industries, displaying a diverse range of products and services, INDEX™ has again delivered on its promise to be the ‘global meeting point’ for the industry.

More than 12,500 visitors made their way through the doors of the Geneva Palexpo exhibition centre, keen to see the 586 exhibitors (an increase from the previous edition in 2011 of 10%), from 41 countries, in more than 22,000 m2 of stand space.

Visitors attending the show from the 8th to the 11th April 2014 were able to engage with a larger portion of the industry than ever before, as well as take advantage of the special events organised during the exhibition. Automotive nonwovens, packaging, product presentations, geotextiles, and innovation events delivered value to the most diverse population of the industry since the exhibition began. Additionally, the introductory lunchtime tutorials on nonwoven production and absorbent hygiene products, first introduced in 2011 were continued, with an additional course on filtration added to the sessions available to attend. These courses, which provide an overview of the world-famous EDANA training courses, were popular throughout the exhibition, with several editions offering standing room only.

“Celebrating the 30th anniversary of INDEX™ in Geneva, INDEX™ stands as the most representative exhibition of the nonwovens industry. With more exhibitors than ever, we see this as a sign that points to not only a recovery in the global economies, but to a healthy and diverse industry.” said Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA.

“Since INDEX™ first appeared in Geneva, our industry has evolved. Nonwovens and related materials are replacing traditional fabrics or plastic composites in vehicles, and in building and construction projects, showing that nonwovens offer high-tech fluid management solutions for not only hygiene and medical purposes, but with cross fertilisation – in many other applications as well.” continued Wiertz. “Looking ahead to INDEX™ 17, we are reminded of how both resilient and innovative the nonwovens industry really is.”

Exhibitors shared their delight with the quality of the attendees visiting the show, alongside feedback from visitors who were pleased with the breadth and depth of the exhibitors on offer, covering the entire chain from machinery and raw materials producers to converters and providers of added-value treatments and processes.

An exhibitor stated that they were “very pleased with everything to do with INDEX™ 14” and that it had been good for their business, a sentiment echoed by a visitor who commented that “INDEX really is where the global nonwovens industry meets. This edition I came for a few days, but I plan to visit for the full show next time, so that I can take advantage to see and meet with everyone”. Several exhibitors also reported that the quality of visitor had significantly increased from previous editions, with efforts to engage visitors from broad industry sectors clearly attracting the right people for exhibiting businesses.

INDEX™ 17 will again be held at the Geneva Palexpo, from the 4th to the 7th April, 2017. Previous exhibitors will have priority booking privilege when booking opens in the summer of 2015. Until then, any questions can be directed to index@palexpo.ch. 

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