Absorbent hygiene products - What to expect? 

This Absorbent Hygiene Products Training Course will give you a unique overview of all aspects of hygiene products, processes and markets. Concentrating on baby diapers, menstrual products and adult incontinence.

The 6 trainers will guide you on a journey where you'll learn about  product design, raw materials (including super absorbent polymers, adhesives and closing systems), converting technologies, and new developments. The course also includes modules on legislation, sustainability aspects of AHPs, product testing and evaluation, and market information

Since learning goes in pair with doing, this course is designed to have the right balance between theory & practical exercises. 

The number of delegates at each course is limited to 24, in order to encourage active participation and interactive communications with the external experts. This is also a great opportunity to make contacts with other players in the personal care products industry.

The in-person course in Brussels is taking place over 2,5 days.

The online course is  spread over 4 days with on each day a module of 2,5 hours from 10.00 to 12.30 CET

Absorbent hygiene products - Practical info & Registration  

Absorbent hygiene products - Training team

Marines Lagemaat is the Scientific and Technical Affairs Director at EDANA, the international Association representing the nonwoven and related industries, a position he has held since September 2014.

Based in Brussels, Marines is responsible for managing the internal and external activities related to scientific and technical affairs in order to support the nonwoven industry, in all its applications: personal and household hygiene, medical protection, filtration, automotive, and construction.  In this role he’s involved in the development and  implementation of standards and their related test methods that serve as a reference for the industry and for fair trade. In addition, Marines manages various training and education programmes designed to provide technical and application-oriented support. Marines is of Dutch nationality.

Marines will host the course and deliver the training together with industry experts:

Gil Stevens is the External Relations and Sustainability Director for EDANA, the international Association representing the nonwoven and related industries, a position he has held since March 2018.

With a Master’s Degree in Product Development and in Environmental Science, Gil started his career as product engineer in the building industry. Pursuing his passion for sustainability, Gil joined the Cradle to Cradle Platform in 2012, where he has been guiding companies in different sectors, such as textiles, cleaning agents, building, office equipment towards the integration of C2C and preparing them for a circular economy. As sustainability coach at Sustenuto, Gil supported organisations in developing and implementing a sustainability strategy. At the beverage group Spadel, Gil’s responsibilities included the coordination of local CSR representatives at the various European sites and external CSR communication. During his career, Gil also concluded an Executive MBA programme at the Antwerp Management School.

Gil currently has responsibility for managing sustainability and maintaining external relations for EDANA. He manages several of the association’s Working Groups including the Circular Economy WG, Sustainability WG, Construction WG and the Communication & Advocacy SG.

Bernhard Awolin Business Consultant for nonwovens-made products, Bernhard Awolin Consulting

• 1961 Born in Kiel, Germany
• 1989 Diploma in Physics, University of Kiel
• 1990 - 2001 R&D Manager for femcare products at J&J, Kiel, Montreal, Düsseldorf
• 2001 - 2003 Marketing & Sales Manager for magnetocardiographic systems at SQUID AG, Essen
• 2003 - 2004 Managing Director at Magscan GmbH, Essen
• 2004 - 2011 R&D & Key Account Manager femcare & babycare at Hyga/Intigena GmbH & Co KG, Mülheim
• 2011 - 2014 Head of R&D & Sales at imeco GmbH & Co.KG, Hösbach
• 2014 - 2021 Managing Director at imeco GmbH & Co.KG, Hösbach
• 2021 - Bernhard Awolin Consulting, Aschaffenburg

Bernhard Awolin has a deep understanding of the absorbent product & medical disinfection wipes industry ranging from fibers & nonwovens, lab & consumer testing, manufacturing processes, quality systems, medical regulations into marketing & sales to the trade. He holds several product patents and was an internal tutor for nonwoven products in all companies he has served. In 2021 Bernhard started his consultancy with focus on commercialization of new and innovative products helping companies to understand and act in the value chain from raw materials into the final markets.

Besides his professional activities Bernhard is engaged in white water canoeing and singing/songwriting.

Dr Edgar Herrmann Technical Director Hy-Tec 

• Born 1960 in Bremen/Germany 1978 - 1989 Chemistry Diploma / Ph.D. Technical University of Brunswick / Germany
• 1990 - 1994 Central R+D Stockhausen Krefeld now EVONIK
• 1995 - 1998 Head of application laboratory superabsorbent polymers
• 1999 – 2001 Project manager Airlaid-Composites
• Since 09/2001 Technical Director of Hy-Tec, Hygiene Technologie GmbH Haan
• 4 Patents
• Lecturer at EDANA`s Training Courses since 1998
• DIN working group leader
• Symposia presentations/contributing papers on superabsorbent polymers, hygiene product laboratory and consumer testing:
• 2 INDEX Conferences 1996 2002, Geneva
• 4 EDANA Symposia 1997 1998 2007 2015, Gothenburg, Paris, Dubai, Istanbul
• INDA-TEC International Nonwovens Conference 1999, Atlanta
• 2 PIRA Hygiene and Absorbency Product Conferences 2000 2005, Brussels, London
• Hamburger Makromolekulares Symposium 2000, Hamburg
• 2 IMECHE Incontinence Conferences 2011 2017, London
• 6 EDANA OUTLOOK Conferences 2003-2017
• EDANA OUTLOOK India 2019 New-Delhi

Dr Stefan Eller, Technical Service Manager, H.B. Fuller Deutschland 

Dr. Stefan Eller joined H.B. Fuller in 1992 after graduating with a Ph.D. grade from Hamburg University. At Hamburg University he  studied Chemistry and wrote a thesis about inorganic polymer systems in association with a research group at Durham University, United Kingdom.

Dr Eller began his career at H.B. Fuller as a hot melt adhesive R&D chemist and graduated through varying technical positions. As the European Technical Service Manager for EIMEA Hygiene, Dr. Eller heads up the technical centres of excellence where his team carry out extensive evaluations of hygenic disposable articles. This provides an invaluable service to customers to understand the adhesive performance within the final product. The team also offer collaborative training workshops both at our Lüneberg Adhesive Academy and on customer own sites. Other capabilities include production line simulation via our state of the art coater operated by industry experts, so customers are able to test and trouble shoot without sacrificing line time. All services to drive innovation and technical excellence for the  hygiene market.

Cédric Schoorens, Technical Manager, Hygiene Division, France SGS 

Cédric Schoorens has more than 20 years' experience in the field of Disposable Absorbent Hygiene Product Testing and highly contributes to set up mannequin tests worldwide. Former Quality Manager of the very well-known Courtray Consulting institute, Cédric joined SGS in 2014. Today, he is in charge of technical and strategic questions in close relation with the Hygiene industry, standard working groups and other associations.

Absorbent hygiene products - Other information 

Who should attend

Both technical and marketing persons will benefit from attending this course. As they are likely to be involved with producers, suppliers, converters and retailers within the industry. 

Course organiser 

This Training Course is organised by EDANA. The association organises INDEX™, the world’s largest nonwovens exhibition. EDANA has over 310 member companies in 38 different countries. 

Language

The course language is English. The tutor will speak clearly and make extensive use of visual aids, videos and samples. Active participation is encouraged from all delegates. 

Certificate

Delegates completing the course will receive a certificate. 

Venue

The course will take place at EDANA, 46 Avenue Herrmann-Debroux, 1160 Brussels, Belgium, if a minimum of 10 participants is reached and if the sanitary situation allows. If these conditions are not met, the course will take place online.

Accommodation

EDANA has reserved a number of single rooms at the NH Collection Brussels Centre at a special rate of about €185 per night, including breakfast. In order to receive this special rate, an hotel booking form will be provided to you once we have received your registration for the training course. 

Absorbent hygiene products - Participants' feedback

What did you like about the training?

"The interaction between fellow participants was very valuable to me. It gave me an insight on how different industries work and how people think according to their position"

"The manufacturing process is worth to learn. I also enjoy the session where we had to make our own hygiene products"

"As a sales manager in the durable nonwoven business, it was a good opportunity to understand the world of AHP. It is a good starting point for a new challenge in my career."

"To me, the most interesting part was the introduction into nonwovens and market statistics and the history of the AHP. I understand now better the process and the problems faced by my customers"