INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has announced that online registration and the full programme details for INDA’s 10^th edition of the World of Wipes (WOW) International Conference 2016 are now available at the newly launched event’s website.

The international event devoted exclusively to the entire wipes value chain will take place from 7-10 June at the at the Sheraton Grand Chicago. Prior to the conference, a separate immersive training programme, INDA’s WIPES Academy, will take place from 6-7 June at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel in Northbrook, Illinois.

With the keynote address from Walmart and other sessions focused on crisis preparedness and real-world lessons learned from a Shark Tank entrepreneur, WOW is focused on the latest issues and topics in the wipes marketplace. Among the other areas that will be covered by expert speakers are new markets, products and technologies, formulations, flushability, industrial wipes, regulations, and packaging.

The speaker line-up

Walmart's US Manufacturing Initiative will be presented by Joe Quinn, Senior Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, Walmart Stores. Mr Quinn will speak about how the world’s largest retailer is supporting US manufacturing by working with companies to manufacture on-shore, boost sales of US made products, and source locally for materials and products.

The Essence of Crisis Preparedness – What You Need to Know will be discussed by Doug Petkus, Senior Vice President Corporate Practice, Ketchum. A world-renowned crisis management expert will bring attendees best practice approaches to handling issues before they become a crisis, with a review of the basics for mitigating negative reputational impact.

Dude Wipe Update: Shark Tank Story will be presented by the 2013 innovation award winner Sean Riley, who will tell the audience how his flushable Dude Wipes landed a deal with investor Mark Cuban on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2015, leading to a national retail product roll out.

INDA’s President Dave Rousse will introduce the Flushability: Progress through Collaboration but Issues Remain topic. He will provide an update and perspectives on the multiple challenges in the flushable wipes sector, including lawsuits, legislative and regulatory activity, and global standards development. 

Navigating the Regulatory Minefield will be discussed by a panel of experts moderated by Jeff Slosman of the National Wiper Alliance. It will help make sense of conflicting and overlapping directives from the EPA and the FDA on such explosive topics as measurements of efficacy, and capture and kill claims.

Networking and World of Wipes Innovation Award

WOW 2016 opens with a welcome reception on 7 June at The Ivy Room, a historic venue in the heart of downtown Chicago.

Other networking opportunities for professionals include a Speed Networking Luncheon, featuring fast-rotating meetings with customers, colleagues, and peers; and Dining with Industry Thought Leaders, where attendees select a top wipes industry influencer to converse at small dinners.

Also at the conference, the annual World of Wipes Innovation Award will recognize innovations in the wipes value chain that advances the use of nonwovens. Conference attendees will vote on the winner from finalists selected by INDA’s Technical Advisory Board. Tabletop displays will be on exhibit from 8-9 June.

www.inda.org/events/wow16/