INDEX 26, the World’s Leading Nonwovens Exhibition, will take place from 19 to 22 May 2026 at PALEXPO in Geneva. The upcoming edition serves as a hub for innovation, inspiration, and networking with international decision-makers, positioning itself as a cross-industry platform for exchange across all nonwoven sectors. With 600 exhibitors expected, INDEX 26 represents the entire value chain of the industry, from raw materials, machinery, producers of nonwovens, components to converters.
This year’s event highlights a clear trend toward high-performance lightweight materials emerging from an increasingly integrated global supply chain. From breakthroughs in engineering to innovations in raw materials, the focus remains firmly on enhancing efficiency and sustainability without compromising quality.
“INDEX 26 showcases an industry that is resilient and determined to diversify. Today, it is no longer just about mass-produced disposable items, but about high-tech, durable and sustainable solutions to the most complex challenges of our time,” explains Magali Fakhry Dufresne, Director of INDEX. “We are seeing a fundamental change in which reducing the carbon footprint per kilogram of nonwoven fabric is becoming the most important performance indicator for the entire value chain. INDEX 26 is the place where this technological change becomes visible.”
Innovation through collaboration: Industry pioneers set new standards for nonwovens at INDEX 26
The trade fair promises to be packed with exciting highlights. Leading companies offering technologies and raw materials for advanced nonwoven production will unveil significant new developments. It will become clear that the performance and value of these technical materials continue to increase, driven by advances in an increasingly collaborative supply chain.
One of the most eagerly awaited unveilings is the introduction of RF6 technology from Reifenhäuser Reicofil. This latest generation of spunmelt production is poised to set new global standards by delivering higher throughput for the finest fibres while enabling user-friendly, low-maintenance operation.
Magnera, created from the merger of Berry and Glatfelter, will present breathable backsheet solutions with a basis weight reduced to just 8 g/m². These are combined with an ultra-soft, thin nonwoven fabric of 10 g/m² to create the lightest breathable solution to date for printed baby and adult backsheets. Magnera will also showcase its Supersoft ATB (Air-Through Bonded) fabric for backsheet applications, which reduces material consumption, lowers freight costs, and shortens delivery times without compromising comfort or quality. Supersoft combines exceptional softness with reliable technical performance, offering enhanced results through optimized thickness reduction.
In the field of raw materials, the Austrian company Borealis is introducing a new polypropylene (PP) grade for spunbond nonwovens based on its Nextension technology. This enables manufacturers to replace complex multi-layer structures with recyclable mono-material designs. Borealis HG485FB improves nonwoven production through its wide processing window and excellent spinning performance, allowing processors to push the boundaries in optimizing web properties, coverage, and strength.
A.Celli presents its standalone VoluMAX³ line, a high-speed system for 3D embossing and perforation. A.Celli’s E-Wind non-stop unwinding, inline cutting, and winding machine has been combined with the leading embossing roller from German exhibitor Saueressig. The result is a flexible, maintenance-friendly system that guarantees maximum precision, quality, and speed in the production of sophisticated surface effects at speeds of up to 600 metres per minute.
Meanwhile, Wisdom Greentech is pushing the boundaries of softness with the world’s first nonwoven material made from 0.4-denier fibres. Featuring a skin-contact layer of 100% cotton, this product is manufactured without chemical binders or ultrasonic bonding. Thanks to a patented process and Trützschler’s dual carding technology, materials finer than silk are created. Trützschler, a specialist in nonwoven technologies, has supplied Wisdom Greentech with four ATB systems to date and will also be exhibiting in Geneva this May.
Seminar programme overview: INDEX 26 – Navigating the future of nonwovens
The INDEX 26 seminar programme serves as a strategic cornerstone of the event, offering a deep dive into the technical, regulatory, and market forces currently transforming the global nonwovens landscape. “INDEX 26 is far more than a showcase for individual products. It stands as clear evidence that innovation in the nonwovens industry today is powered by global collaboration rather than isolated breakthroughs,” highlighted Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA. “At a time when parts of the world are turning inward, INDEX 26 demonstrates the strength of an industry built on open exchange and interconnected value chains. By bringing together high-tech market launches, live demonstrations and a comprehensive seminar programme, the event showcases a fundamental shift towards deeper, more intensive collaboration across the entire value chain.”
Structured around three critical pillars, the Seminar programme provides attendees with the insights necessary to navigate an increasingly complex industrial environment.
Strategic Market Intelligence: At the heart of the programme is an exploration of the trends shaping the global market. Drawing on EDANA’s exclusive industry intelligence, these sessions provide a data-driven overview of the dynamics redefining sectors from hygiene and wipes to filtration and construction. In an era where consumer expectations are rapidly evolving, these insights highlight how the imperative of sustainability has moved from a trend to a core business driver across the entire value chain.
Sustainability and Regulatory Resilience: As the industry faces mounting pressure to enhance resource efficiency, the programme dedicates significant focus to the dual challenges of carbon footprint reduction and end-of-life solutions. Experts will examine how to address environmental concerns while balancing the nuances of regional policies and consumer behaviors. Complementing this is an in-depth analysis of the regulatory landscape, providing manufacturers with a roadmap for aligning their operations with upcoming environmental standards and product safety requirements. This ensures that participants remain both compliant and competitive in a rapidly shifting legislative climate.
Innovation in Specialized Sectors: Beyond the broader market, sessions exploring key trends in the global Filtration sector will spotlight breakthrough applications in high-growth fields. The Geosynthetics session will challenge traditional Western construction methods, comparing them with the rapid infrastructure growth seen in regions like China to showcase how geosynthetics can revitalize modern civil engineering. Simultaneously, the Mobility seminar will position nonwovens as essential enablers for the next generation of transportation. From the lightweighting needs of electromobility to the acoustic and filtration requirements of autonomous vehicles, these sessions illustrate how versatile nonwoven materials are meeting the demands for sustainable, high-tech transportation.
Shaping the future
The future of the industry is being shaped at the interface between automated machinery, intelligent chemistry and extreme weight reduction. This shift is becoming apparent in practice through advances in process automation and raw materials, which are leading to lighter, softer and more efficient products. These developments not only improve business results but also increase operational efficiency and embed robust circular design strategies at the heart of manufacturing.
When the nonwovens industry meets in Geneva, this synergy between technology and strategic knowledge sharing will set out a clear roadmap for a more efficient, sustainable and circular manufacturing landscape. INDEX 26 showcases an industry that is not only resilient but also ready to lead the global shift towards a greener future.
