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, with a focus 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.

The face-to-face course:

• takes place over 2 days in the EDANA office in Brussels, Belgium
• is designed to have a right balance between theory and practical exercises
• has a limited capacity (24 participants) 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 online course:

• is spread over 4 consecutive mornings with, on each day, a session of 3 hours from 09.30 to 12.30 CET
• includes a mix of presentations and live Q&A sessions as well as interaction opportunities
• foresees exhaustive course material including a printed handout and a set of samples
• includes a replay of the presentations during one week

Absorbent hygiene products - Practical info & Registration  

Absorbent hygiene products - Training team

Marines Lagemaat is the Scientific and Technical Affairs Director at EDANA, 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:

Armelle Davy Bevilacqua, Key Industry Manager, Hygiene and Paper Division - Consumer Association Coordination Non-Food Products, Eurofins ATS 

Armelle DAVY BEVILACQUA is a biological engineer and currently holds the position of Key Industry Manager at the independent laboratory EUROFINS ATS, where she coordinates projects related to hygiene and paper products, as well as all non-food products for consumer associations. With over 30 years of experience, she began her career as a project manager at NESTLE, developing new desserts, and then served as Head of Research and Development and Quality at PROD’HYGIA (hygiene products manufacturer) before specializing in the hygiene and paper products sector. Since 1995, first at the ATS laboratory and then within the EUROFINS group, she has risen through the ranks to become a recognized expert in developing test protocols tailored to the needs of manufacturers, retailers, and consumer associations. Her career is marked by a consistent focus on ensuring product quality, hygiene, and safety, positioning herself as a true "technical eye" for the consumer. She has conducted over 200 quality audits and authored thousands of studies, while also developing innovative testing methods for the industry. Armelle is also responsible for coordinating offers for consumer associations on a European and international scale.

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

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.

Tony Rétrif, EMEA Technical Service Group Manager; Hygiene, Paper & Cardboard (HP&C) Global Business Unit; Bostik 

After a degree in chemistry at the French University of Le Mans, Tony worked in fundamental research at the University Concordia, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

At his return in France in 2001, Tony joined the private company Bostik, where his role was to help structuring the division dedicated to adhesive range for Absorbent Hygiene Products. Tony spent 7 years in this position, to formulate the laboratory adhesive, test bonding prototypes and grow his understanding of the final AHP and its components.

After a second Canadian experience in 2008 – 2009 for private life, Bostik offered Tony the position of Technical Account Manager in EMEA, allowing him to use his skills to support the customers in extracting the best of the adhesive in manufacturing Absorbent Hygiene Articles.

Tony has witnessed the industrial evolution of the designs and materials involved in this business for 23 years.

Since 2023, he is leading the EMEA Bostik Technical Support Team for AHP adhesive range and paper & cardboard packaging range.

Tony is based at the Bostik Smart Technology Center, in Venette, France.

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

A certificate of participation is available on request. 

Venue

The course will take place at EDANA, 85 Avenue Nerviens, 1040 Brussels, Belgium, if a minimum of 10 participants is reached. If this condition is not met, the training course may take place online or may be postponed.

Accommodation

EDANA will share hotel recommendations after receiving the participants' 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"