PIRA Session: The Pressures and Catalysts Influencing Future Change and Direction in the Nonwovens Industry, 1998 Nonwovens Conference Proceedings

As we approach the new millennium, not surprisingly, there is an increased emphasis on the future: what it might look like, what challenges and opportunities it might present and in what ways we might be able to respond to it very positively. It is emerging as a time of reflection for organizations and individuals, as changes in our social fabric, resource base, business and political environments and, perhaps more importantly, the pace and extent of changes in science and technology launch us into an exciting but uncertain territory in the 21st century. As an industry sector, the nonwovens industry is still comparatively young. Its pace of innovation and development has been rapid with the availability of a wide range of materials, web laying and bonding techniques at its disposal. Its products are now an integral part of everyday life and form a key part of the infrastructure of modern society. Against this background, this session will seek to gain an insight into the possible future for the nonwoven industry through contributions from a number of participants involoved in differing aspects of the nonwoven industry.