By Ted Wirtz, INDA President

Even taking in to account theslow economic times in the non-

wovens industry over the past fewyears, the long-term business per-formance of the industry was muchbetter than the general economy.Since our industry came togetherfour or five decades ago, we havelived through periods of economicexpansion and recession, high andlow inflation, high and low interestrates and the market incongruitiesof doing business in various placesoff shore. In addition, we have expe-rienced the problems of fluctuatingworldwide economies, reducingtrade barriers and changing com-petitive boundaries. Throughout allof this commotion, new companiesappeared, new technologies wereconstantly emerging and new mar-kets budding. The particularlygood news is that during thesedecades, a number of companiesdemonstrated their enduring abilityto win on a national and globalbasis.

What are some of the characteris-tics of these winning companies? Forcompanies who have been successfulover a period of time we find somecommon themes. For example, ver-sus their competitors, they:

a) have gained and hold high mar-ket share position,

b) often are first entries in to mar-kets,

c) are market fragmenters, and,d) have high quality relative to

their competitors.In short, they are leading product

and market innovators. To achievethis position convincingly indicatesthese companies have resolutelysupported the R&D department, nomatter the business environment. Asbusiness annals have plainly veri-fied, innovation creates marketleverage and market leverage gener-ates profit.

When it comes to innovation, theResearch and Development activitymust be in a lead position. In its widevariety of responsibilities, R&D’s roleshould include the following:

• Successfully achieving theseobjectives pays off in higher return onsales and investment. Why? Becauseof stronger customer loyalty, whichleads to more repeat purchases andless vulnerability to price wars.Further, this applies to all levels of the

industry value chain. The raw mater-ial and the equipment companiesshould be consistently providing newproducts and ideas to the roll goodsmanufacturer who then feed the finalproduct converter. It works backdown the value chain as well with thefinal product converter initiating newproduct activity. R & D people at alllevels of the food chain are at the hubof this progression. .

Another way to view value is tolook at the negative. On the down-side, minimizing investment in R&Dexposes your company to:

• losing market leverage to yourcompetitors,

• losing value to your customers,• accepting “commodity” status.Some people have expressed the

notion that the locus of innovationmay have migrated in recent years tothe end users and that this migrationhas caused the roll good producers tolose power. While this may, or maynot be the case, we know for sureinnovation creates market leverageand market leverage creates profit.So, the key strategic question for allof us is who wants the leverage? If alllevels of the value chain are stimulat-ing and challenging each other, thefuture prosperity of the industry isabsolutely assured. — INJ

The status quo is unacceptable!

GUEST EDITORIAL

2 INJ Fall 2003

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Chuck Allen BBA NonwovensCosmo Camelio INDARoy Broughton Auburn UniversityRobin Dent Albany InternationalEd Engle FibervisionsTushar Ghosh NCSUBhuvenesh Goswami Clemson

Dale Grove Owens CorningFrank Harris HDK IndustriesAlbert Hoyle Hoyle AssociatesMarshall Hutten Hollingsworth & VoseHyun Lim E.I. duPont de NemoursJoe Malik AQF TechnologiesAlan Meierhoefer AhlstromMichele Mlynar Rohm and HaasGraham Moore PIRA

D.V. Parikh U.S.D.A.–S.R.R.C.Behnam Pourdeyhimi NCSUArt Sampson Polymer Group Inc.Robert Shambaugh Univ. of OklahomaEd Thomas BBA NonwovensAlbin Turbak RetiredLarry Wadsworth Univ. of TennesseeJ. Robert Wagner Consultant

R & D ROLE PAY OFF1. Improve quality of existing products High Quality

High market share2. Develop new products for existing markets High quality

High market shareFragmentation (niches)

3. Identify new products for new markets Fragmentation First entry

Transversely stretched nonwoven fab-ric with high tensile strength

Nippon Petrochemicals Co Ltd hasdeveloped a transversely stretched non-woven fabric. The first step is to heat anoriginal web, comprising a plurality ofunoriented filaments, to a temperaturehigher than its stretch temperature byapproximately 5 deg C. The second stepis to stretch the heated original web at arate of 1.2 to 3 in its transverse direction.This method has the advantage ofencouraging strength in the fabric sincethe fibres are orientated against oneanother in a regular fashion after thetransverse stretching process. (Shortarticle)

Author: AnonSource: New Mater. JpnIssue: Mar. 2003, p. 11

Superabsorbers from sustainable rawmaterials

Superabsorbers are water insolublecrosslinked polymers that are able toabsorb and retain 20-100 times theirown weight of aqueous liquids byswelling and the formation of hydro-gels. They are used in combination withnonwovens in nappies and hygieneproducts as well as for watertightcables, and more recently also in theplant, food, woundcare and electronicssectors. They are characterised by theirabsorption capacity under different con-ditions. Superabsorbent polymers (SAP)have so far been made from oil-derivedpolyacrylic acid. New types of SAP,based on cellulose, starch and pectins,

are being developed, with absorptioncapacities approximately 70% of thosebased on polyacrylic acid polymers.Researchers at Osnabruck Universitysuggest that SAPs derived from sustain-able resources could open new applica-tions in the pharmaceutical and foodsectors since they pose no dermatologi-cal or toxicological hazards.

Author: AnonSource: Allg. Vliesstoff-Rep.Issue: no. 1, 2003, p. 28 (In German)

Flat synthetic fibreA flat synthetic fibre for use in the

preparation of high strength nonwovenfabric has been developed by Oji PaperCo Ltd. The flat fibre is produced frommixture of polybenzazole polymers byspinning polymerised dope using thedry or wet spinning technique. Thespun product is washed with water fol-lowed by being dried in a stream of hotair. Properties include high molecularorientation as well as strength and elas-tic modulus greater than that observedfor carbon fibre. The new fibre, whichalso features the highest levels of ther-mal stability and flame retardant prop-erties, is proposed as a super fibre fornext generation. (Short article)

Author: AnonSource: New Mater. JpnIssue: Jan. 2003, p.11

Introduction of 13 new nonwovenproducts

Thirteen new products using func-tional nonwovens are introduced:

Kendo (Japanese marshal art) kit usinganti-odour fibre Shineup EX (KurarayKK, Tokyo); Super fit disposal mask forpollen allergy sufferers (Uni-charm KK,Tokyo); Kirei Kirei Hand Wiper, anti-bacterial wet tissues (Lion KK, Tokyo);Acty Anshin Long Pad, a super adsorp-tion (0.8l) pad for adult incontinent(Kureshia KK, Tokyo); Nepia MoppiHandy Cleaner, a high performanceduster using miracle fibres (Nepia KK,Japan); Nuno Sheet Sugu Kirei, an anti-bacterial and anti-odour wipe (Soft 99Corp, Osaka); Tatami A Kirei, a cleaningwiper with waxing effects for Tatamimats (Soft 99 Corp); Careleave Water-proof, a soft and flexible plaster with awater proof function (Nichiban KK,Tokyo); Ion Bodies, a ski ware fromanionic ion generating fibres that releasemuscle stress and tiredness (DescenteKK, Osaka); ProgreSL180, light weightfootball boots using synthetic leather(Descente KK); Liptouch, a pollen filter-ing mask for pollen allergy sufferers(Asahi Riken KK, Kanagawa);Rooflamitect, a high performance com-posite roofing material (Seren KK,Fukui); a pot-free green tea infusion sys-tem (Shizu Pack KK, Shizuoka). (10 fig)

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, pp 101-103

(In Japanese)

Improving the mechanical propertiesof nonwovens by the use of metal-locene polypropylene fibres

Metallocene polypropylene (m-PP) isa new type of polypropylene (PP) pro-viding higher strength fibres andimproved organoleptic properties. ASaxony Textile Research Instituteresearch project investigated the effectof different fibre properties on nonwo-ven fabric processing, and whether m-PP fibres produce higher strength fab-rics. Fibres produced by the extrusion ofm-PP resins were shown to be 6%-50%stronger than conventional PP fibres,depending on fibre diameter, and tohave approximately 40% greater elonga-tion. There was no difference in theprocessability of the two fibre types,

WORLDWIDEABSTRACTS ANDREVIEWSA sampling of Nonwovens Abstracts from Pira International —Aunique intelligence service for the nonwovens industry

INJ DEPARTMENT

3 INJ Fall 2003

using needle or swirl bonding. Needlednonwoven fabrics based on m-PP werefound to have up to 20% higher specificstrength properties. Swirl nonwovensmade from 0.9dtex m-PP fibre had up to70% greater strength in the machinedirection and 54% greater strength in thecross machine direction, offering up to30% potential fibre material savings aswell as lower energy and water require-ments.

Author: Brodtka MSource: Allg. Vliesstoff-Rep.Issue: no. 2, 2003, p. 63 (In German)

Unitika: new conductive polyesterfiber

Unitika Fibres, Osaka, Japan, hasdeveloped E5, a highly electroconduc-tive polyester filament yarn. It is abicomponent-filament yarn which con-tains carbon and has higher electrocon-ductivity than other conductive yarns. Itcan be used in the protective clothingneeded for those working in factoriesmanufacturing semiconductors andantistatic materials. Sales started inJanuary 2003 and are predicted to reach500,000m by the end of that year. Thefabric made from the yarn is finishedwith hydrophilic resins to reduce staticelectricity. Unitika altered the structureof the basic polymer so that it acceptselectroconductive carbon. UsingMegana E5 can result in antistatic effectseven if the blending ratio is less than 1%of the fabric. (Short article)

Author: AnonSource: Tech. Text.Issue: vol. 46, no. 1, Mar. 2003, p. E12

Market survey 2002: use of naturalfibers in composites in the Germanand Austrian automotive industries

139 organisations involved in theGerman and Austrian natural fibrescomposites sector were surveyedbetween June-October 2002. The use ofnatural fibre composites in the automo-tive industry increased steadily from1996 to a total of 15,100t in 2001. Naturalfibres, in this context, exclude wood andcotton. Between 1996-2000 flax was thesingle fibre which contributed most to

the growth. Other fibres showinggrowth were hemp 2,200t in 2002 and in2001-2002, exotic fibres such as jute,kenaf and sisal. The market for naturalfibres was estimated at Euro10m inGermany and Austria in 2002. An annu-al increase in demand of 14% to 2005 isforecast, with growth in countries suchas France and wider transport use suchas trains, trucks and small cars. For pro-cessing, thermoplastic matrix systemssuch as polypropylene are favoured forease of processing and lower foggingproblems. Technology trends to 2005include injection moulding and naturalfibres with bioplastics and innovativetechniques for modified fibres. Borgers,Draximaier and Faurecia InteriorSystems are the top three producers inGermany and Austria. (3 fig, 4 ref)

Author: Kaup M; Karus M; Ortmann SSource: Tech. Text.Issue: vol. 46, no. 2, Apr. 2003, pp E73-

E74, 116-118d

Process and product optimization fornatural fiber reinforced thermoplasticcomposite materials

The use of natural fibres in compositematerials is increasing, particularly inthe European automobile industry andover 28,000t were used in 2000. Naturalfibres have ecological benefits, goodmechanical properties, low density andlack of allergic or skin reactions forindustrial workers. The thermal com-pression moulding process is preferablycarried out using polypropylene (PP) asbinder. To ensure production of ahomogenous composite that is easy tohandle, the temperature selected mustbe adequate for melting and plasticisingthe PP without degrading the naturalfibres. Further work is required toimprove understanding of other processvariables and their contribution to max-imising the process. In addition to ten-sile strength, odour and emission ofvolatile compounds are characteristicsof composites which are affected by thetemperature. Composites of flax, hempor kenaf with PP were studied. A tem-perature of 220 deg C-240 deg C pro-duced optimum tensile strength, higher

temperatures producing fibre fatigueand thermal decomposition. Emissionsof odours and highly volatile com-pounds also increased significantly atprocessing temperatures above 220 degC. (5 fig, 5 ref)

Author: Muller D H; Krobjilowski ASource: Tech. Text.Issue: vol. 46, no. 2, Apr. 2003, pp E84-

E86, 148-150d

Tasks in the Chinese nonwoven indus-try in the 21st century and its future,collaborations with Japanese compa-nies are important

The nonwoven industry in China isexpected to expand along with thegrowing economy and improving quali-ty of life. The market has a great poten-tial since nonwoven consumption perperson in China is 30% and 15% of thatin Japan and the USA, respectively.Chinese nonwoven production in 2002was 477,000t of which needlepunchednonwovens had the biggest share at30.3%, followed by spunmelt at 28.8%,chemical bonded at 17.8% and thermal-ly bonded at 13.7%. The three mainapplication areas are in packagingwhich consumes 120,000tpy,medical/sanitary applications whichconsume 78,000tpy and geotextileswhich consume 44,000tpy. The industryis composed of 1,000 companies, 20 ofwhich have production capacitiesgreater than 5,000tpy. It is still in thedeveloping stage, and support fromJapan is considered to be important inachieving international levels of tech-nology. Japanese nonwoven companieswhich already have established localconnections are: Japan Vilene KK,Tomen KK, Chisso KK and SunChemical KK. (3 fig, 1 tab)

Author: Zhao ZSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 14, no. 1, 2003, pp 1-3 (In

Japanese)

Textiles with aromatherapeutic proper-ties

A new microencapsulation technolo-gy developed by Bayer Chemicalsallows scents to be incorporated into

4 INJ Fall 2003

PIRA ABSTRACTS

textiles. The Bayscent product rangeincludes fruit and flower fragrances aswell as agents that neutralise perspira-tion and smoking odours. Droplets ofthe active agents are encapsulated inpolyurethane by surface polymerisa-tion. The capsules are formed into aque-ous dispersions for textile treatment.Scents are released by rubbing the textilesurface, analogous to the release of inkin carbonless copy paper systems.Release on demand technology ensuresthat the scent agents remain active overextended periods. The Bayscent bodychemistry concept has been adopted byunderwear and sports clothes manufac-turers, and is also used in upholsteryand wound care products.

Author: AnonSource: Allg. Vliesstoff-Rep.Issue: no. 1, 2003, pp 29-30 (In German)

Tailormade absorbent viscose fibresfor hygiene applications

Lenzing AG has invested more thanEuro20m in a new viscose fibre produc-tion plant to meet the growing demandfor spunlace products. The new linecommenced production in mid-2001using chlorine free peroxide bleachedbeech sulphite pulp. Spunlace fibre isseparated from fibre for other applica-tions to avoid contact with surfaceactive agents, and is treated with plant-derived non-foaming avivage toenhance its carding properties withoutrisk of flocking or deposit formation.The absorption of viscose fibres for tam-pon applications can be enhanced byincorporating cellulose derivatives orpolysaccharides in the spinning processto increase their swelling properties.Absorption properties can also beimproved by modifying the physicalstructure of fibres. Syngina absorbencytests show that tampons produced withthe new star-shaped Viscostar fibre havea 40% greater absorbency than tamponsmade from cotton fibre.

Author: Wallfisch B; Schmidtbauer JSource: Allg. Vliesstoff-Rep.Issue: no. 1, 2003, pp 31-32 (In German)

Replanting with the help of functionalagrotextiles

A joint research programme by theThuringen and Vogtland TextileResearch Institute (TITV), CoatemaCoating Machinery GmbH, andEswegee Vliestoff GmbH was formed todevelop materials and processes toassist in replanting areas after majorconstruction projects. The products arebased on three-ply constructions com-prising nonwoven, mineral and paperor nonwoven layers. The nonwoven toplayer absorbs and stores rainwater andthen passes it on to the functional min-eral middle layer. This can consist of afibrous mulch containing plant food,pesticides and neutralising agents,depending on specific requirements.The supporting paper or nonwoven bot-tom layer provides a light barrier to pre-vent the growth of weeds or other unde-sirable plants. The layers are stitched orneedled together or can be adhesivelybonded. Hemp based agrotextiles in the350-500gsm substance range have beenused to neutralise acid soils whenreplanting trees in mining areas. Thestructures' water storage capabilityenables them to act as buffers in bothheavy rainfall and drought conditions.(1 fig)

Author: Illing-Gunther HSource: Allg. Vliesstoff-Rep.Issue: no. 3, 2003, pp 42-43 (In German)

Current status and future of nonwo-vens for the car industry; 2002 statis-tics, record high overseas productionby the three largest Japanese car com-panies

Car production in 2002 in Japan was10.258m cars, increased by 4.9% from2001, reported by the Japan AutomobileIndustry Society. Domestic demandwas, however, decreased by 1.9% fromthe previous year. Exports in 2002totalled 4.699m cars, increased by 12.8%from 2001. Reflecting this trend, threeleading car companies expanded theirproduction overseas: 2,150,520 cars (a20.8% increase) by Toyota; 1,514,408 cars(a 10.8% increase) by Honda; 1,297,856cars (a 6.5% increase) by Nissan.

Nonwoven companies that supply theirproducts to the car industry alsoresponded to those trends: Japan VileneKK had started its car ceiling productionin the USA in 1997, and interior materialproduction is planned in China. DynicKK also plans car interior production itsplants in China, that are currently usedfor the textile and printer production. (1fig, 1 tab)

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, p. 76 (In

Japanese)

Current status and future of nonwo-vens for the car industry; Japan VileneKK, positive business growth based onthe global approach

Japan Vilene KK, the first company toproduce nonwoven car ceiling products,is a leading nonwoven company inJapan. Its total sales is JPY50,000m, inwhich JPY15,000m is from car relatednonwoven products. In addition to theceiling materials, Vilene producesunique automotive products based onits research and developments. VinylonChopped Mat (VM Mat) is a new car-usematerial that shows superb mechanicalstrength, elasticity, chemical resistanceand good convertibility. It can be used asan alternative to the glass fibre mat, andcan be disposed of by incineration.Vilene's aramid nonwoven is also intro-duced to the Aircept (sudden puncturepreventor) for Bridgestone's GREATECtire. Vilene's positive business develop-ments are based on its global approach:its overseas plants are in the USA, Chinaand Korea. (3 fig)

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, pp 77-81 (In

Japanese)

Current status and future of nonwo-vens for the car industry; Dynic KK,providing various types of nonwovenproducts to the customers, challengefor the cost efficiency

Dynic KK is a needlepunch nonwo-ven specialist, with business mainly inautomotive products, housing and filter

5 INJ Fall 2003

PIRA ABSTRACTS

materials. The Saitama and Shiga plantsare being expanded with completiondue in 2004, to achieve respective pro-duction figures of 100,000sq m/y and960sq m/y. The former is for car filtersand the latter is for car interior produc-tion. Two plants are already operatingin China, and a local company, whollyowned by Dynic, was set up inShanghai in 2002 to achieve JPY7,000msale in Asia by 2005. (5 fig)

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, pp 82-84 (In

Japanese)

Current status and future of nonwo-vens for the car industry; TakayasuKK, a leading material supplier basedon its outstanding recycling and dye-ing technology

Takayasu KK, a raw tuft supplier,started its material production fromdusts of plastics such as polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) prior to the intro-duction of recycling regulations. Its longterm ecological and environmental busi-ness developments was awarded by theJapan Recycling Promotion Committeein 1998. Introduction of the JapanAutomobile Recycling Law will encour-age car manufactures to use recycledmaterials and recyclable material:Takayasu will provide unique productsfor automotive applications based on itsoutstanding recycling and dyeing tech-nology. (4 fig)

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, pp 86-87 (In

Japanese)

Fukusuke Kogyo KK accelerates func-tional packaging material develop-ments

Fukusuke Kogyo KK plans to evolvefrom a general packaging material com-pany to be a manufacturer of addedvalue packaging materials. The func-tional materials will be made from com-posites composed of synthetic films,sheets, nonwovens and papers.Cleaning bags, based on nonwovens,

are coated with Bicyo-tan (Japanese car-bon) powders.

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, p. 91 (In

Japanese)

Daiwabo KK developed a new leather-like material from PET

Kuraray KK developed a ultra-finefibre from a water soluble polyesterresin. The fabric made from this newfibre has leather-like texture, and fur-thermore, it can be dyed with darkcolours.

Author: AnonSource: Nonwovens Rev.Issue: vol. 13, no. 4, 2003, p. 93 (In

Japanese)

Euro15m for a new technologyVliesstoffwerk Sandler is to invest

Euro15m in new processing technologyat its Schwarzenbach nonwoven textilesplant in 2003. The new equipment willinclude spunlaced and waterjetneedling units to produce new materialsfor wet and dry cleaning cloths as wellas for technical applications. Exportsaccounted for 60% of Sandler AG'sEuro126m turnover in 2002. Hygiene,filtration and automotive applicationscomprised the main end use sectors.Developments include new vacuumcleaner bags. A computer simulationprogramme developed jointly with thecar industry is being used to investigatethe acoustic properties of nonwovens.The Schwarzenbach plant's automotivebusiness is to be expanded in 2005.(Short article)

Author: AnonSource: Allg. Vliesstoff-Rep.Issue: no. 1, 2003, p. 11 (In German)

Nonwoven fabric for pleated filtersAn improved nonwoven fabric for

pleated filters has been developed byToray Industries. The structure compris-es of a sheath-core conjugate filament,with the core component being made ofpolymer higher in melting point whilstsheath component is made of a lower

melting point polymer. The new non-woven fabric solves the problem of fibredelamination, caused by incompleteheat treatment during compression, byhaving two polymers forming fibreswith different melting points. The heattreatment process is therefore carriedout more efficiently and at a lower tem-perature. The filter structure is morereproducible and relates to GoodManufacturing Practice applications.(Short article)

Author: AnonSource: New Mater. JpnIssue: Jan. 2003, p.10

Alternative production strategies:extrusion coating of breathable non-woven laminates

Raw materials account for 75%-80% oflaminate production costs and representthe largest cost saving potential. Thisarea is targetted by new productionstrategies developed by Reifenhauser.Market research shows a rising trend forcost effective breathable laminates thatoffer both water resistance and highwater vapour transmission rates(WVTR). Polypropylene (PP) combinesoptimum raw material properties andlow cost for nonwovens and films.Microporous structures can be producedby monoaxial or biaxial orientation of PPfilms containing up to 70% calcium car-bonate filler. Laminates of such filmswith nonwovens offer high tensile andtear strength, with high water resistanceand WVTRs greater than 1,000gsm/24hfor technical products and greater than3,000gsm/24h for hygiene products.Reifenhauser's Reitruder processenables breathable films to be orientedand extrusion laminated to nonwovenfabrics in a single machine pass. Directextrusion allows up to 50% cost savingsto be realised by eliminating adhesive,ultrasonic or calander bonding opera-tions that involve additional machinepasses. (3 fig)

Author: Krumm KSource: PlastverarbeiterIssue: vol. 54, no. 4, Apr. 2003, pp 46-48

(In German) — INJ

6 INJ Fall 2003

PIRA ABSTRACTS

SEARCHING OUT THE EXPERT

It is interesting how an R&D problemcan be substantially reduced in size byhaving the right expert available for dis-cussion. This is not to say that there isonly “THE” expert to consider; ofteninsights can be obtained and newavenues open up by simply talking tosomeone who have been there before.

A number of laboratory people canrelate instances where they obtained areal boost in their work by a chanceencounter with a knowledgeable personat a meeting or a conference. However,such chance encounters are hard toschedule, and sometimes they are sorelyneeded.

So, how does a person go about locat-ing an expert, especially an expert on avery specialized subject? One Expert onExperts has offered the following sug-gestions for steps to take in the quest forthat special person who can be of realhelp in finding the answer, in suggest-ing new approaches, or even in pointingthe direction to another expert.

(1) A search of Google Groups to findan “Usenet” discussion group on the topicor a related subject may be helpful(http://groups.google.com ). Althoughthere is no single index of email discus-sion lists, it is sometimes possible to finduseful discussions by searching theYahoo! groups (http://groups.yahoo.com). Other means to pinpoint related discus-sion groups may also reveal a new path tothe right expert.

(2) An individual who has spoken ona particular subject may be an extreme-ly useful lead. A search of titles topapers that have been presented atresearch conferences can often identify auseful potential expert. Such anapproach may be assisted by a websearch limited by document type, such aPowerPoint items or Presentation docu-

ments. Some speakers often uploadsuch presentations to various sites, as aconvenience to their audience or tothemselves.

(3) The use of governmental web sitesto identify the agency, bureau or depart-ment that regulates an industry canoften be helpful. Such sites frequentlyhave a listing of “specialists,” “analysts”or authors of “white papers.” Theseindividuals are likely to be knowledge-able on trends, issues and challengesfacing an industry. Oftentimes these areindividuals who have been laboring inthis specialized area in a small officeand are delighted to be able to talk tosomeone who has an interest in this sub-ject to which they have devoted monthsof their life. Such an individual can be areal find in the search.

(4) Salespersons serving a specificindustry or industry segment can some-times be useful sources of specializedinformation. Such people generallytravel throughout the industry and arecontinually talking to industry person-nel. Also, they often know who has theexpertise that may be helpful. This cate-gory should include the service person-nel for the category, especially on spe-cialized equipment and instruments,and software suppliers.

(5) Trade associations and the trade pressmay provide good leads. Some publicationshave an “Ask-an-Expert” department, wherevery specific questions can be raised; in somecases the publication or association does somefocused digging, whereas in other cases, the“Q” is raised and anyone in the audience canprovide the “A.” There are also some websites that offer such a service for answeringquestions ( http://www.vrd.org/locator/ )or for searching out a suitable expert or forobtaining listings of such sites(http://dmoz.org/Reference/Ask_an_Expert/ ).

(6) Libraries, general and specialized,can also often provide help in the searchfor an expert. Some libraries associatedwith universities and research institutesspecialize in this type of research. Also,governmental libraries serving cities,state and federal locations can be use-ful. This mode of search need not belimited to one area, as such resources inother parts of the world can be particu-larly helpful.

Got a problem? Don’t just sit there!Reach for the phone and start network-ing.

EXAMINING MOLECULES USING

CONVENTIONAL CDS AND

COMPACT DISK PLAYERS

Chemists at the University ofCalifornia, San Diego have developed anovel method of detecting and examin-ing molecules with a conventional com-pact disk player that provides scientistswith an inexpensive way to screen forcomposition, molecular interactions andother structural details, and potentiallycheaper alternative to medical diagnos-tic tests.

A paper detailing their developmenthas appeared in an advance on-line edi-tion of the Journal of Organic andBimolecular Chemistry and will be in theprinted journal’s September 21st issue.A news release from the University hasprovided more information.

“The immediate goal is to use thisnew technology to solve basic scientificquestions in the laboratory,” saidMichael Burkart, an assistant professorof chemistry and biochemistry at UCSDand a co-author of the paper. “But oureventual hope is that there will be manyother applications. Our intention is tomake this new development as widelyavailable as possible and to see whereothers take the technology.”

Burkart and James La Clair, a visitingscholar in Burkart’s laboratory who ini-tially developed and patented the tech-nique, said that since scientific laborato-ries often rely on laser light to detectmolecules, it made sense to them todesign a way to detect molecules usingthe most ubiquitous laser on the planet-

RESEARCHER’STOOLBOX

INJ DEPARTMENT

7 INJ Fall 2003

-the CD player.“The CD is by far the most common

media format in our society on which tostore and read information,” said LaClair. “It is portable, you can drop it onthe floor and it doesn’t break. It is easyto mass-produce. And it is inexpensive.”

Their technique takes advantage ofthe tendency for anything adhering tothe CD surface to interfere with a laser’sability to read digital data burned ontothe CD. “We developed a method toidentify biological interactions usingtraditional compact disk technology,”explained La Clair, who provided thepatent rights to the method to UCSD.“Using inkjet printing to attach mole-cules to the surface of a CD, we identi-fied proteins adhering to these mole-cules by their interaction with the laserlight when read by a CD player.”

While usually anything, like a scratchon the CD surface, that would interferewith the detection of the bits of informa-tion encoded on a CD would be a draw-back, the UCSD researchers actuallyexploited this error to detect molecules.

The typical CD consists of a layer ofmetal sandwiched between a layer ofplastic and a protective lacquer coating.When a CD is burned, a laser creates pitsin the metal layer. A CD player uses alaser to translate the series of pits andintervening smooth surface into the cor-responding zeros and ones that make upthe bits of digital information.

Although the original work at UCSDinvolved proteins and protein binding,the developers feel that a broad range ofother analyses can be carried out usingthe technique. The used an inkjet printerto attach the samples to precise locationson the CD, and then used the laser tofurther examine the spot. They feel thisbasic method can be adapted to a widevariety of other analytical problems ofinterest.

The technique that has been devel-oped thus far is especially interesting, asthe price tag for a fluorescent proteinchip reader is about $100,000, while aCD player and a stack of discs can beacquired for less than $100.

The researchers envision many other

potential applications for this technolo-gy, both inside and outside the laborato-ry. It may be particularly interesting inthe development of inexpensive medicaldiagnostic tests, now beyond the meansof many people around the world, par-ticularly in developing countries.

The researchers hope that by openlypublishing their development in the sci-entific literature, others will customizethe technology in a variety of ways,eventually leading to a wide range ofinexpensive applications (http://dis-code.ucsd.edu/ )

SCIENCE AND “JUNK SCIENCE”Since the INJ is a “Journal of Science

and Technology,” a strong effort isalways made to ensure that the contentsdoes indeed reflect science and technol-ogy.

As a part of that mission, however, itsometimes is prudent to consider theopposite or reverse, in order to empha-size the contrast.

The term “junk science” is often usedto identify a body of information thatdoes not meet the rigorous standards oforthodox science. Unfortunately, thereare often situations when identifyingorthodoxy in science is difficult, evenextremely difficult. What may be oneperson’s science may be another’s folly,and sometimes it is difficult to draw theline of demarcation.

One doesn’t have to look very far forexamples of this dilemma in everydayaffairs. Concern with “global warming,”the value of “alternative medicines,”genetically altered foodstuffs are only afew of such thorny issues. Even the exis-tence of UFOs has its passionate sup-porters and detractors.

One area of human activity thatshould be free of junk science, but ratherhas a full measure and then some, is thearea of foods appropriate for humanconsumption and food labeling.

Early in July 2003, the federal Foodand Drug Administration announced anew program allowing food manufac-turers to make health claims on foodlabels. The FDA says it wants to encour-age “science-based labeling” and “com-

petition for healthier dietary choices.”It may be appropriate that nut sellers

are the first to be allowed to make healthclaims under the FDA program.“Scientific evidence suggests, but doesnot prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per dayof most nuts as part of a diet low in sat-urated fat and cholesterol may reducethe risk of heart disease,” is the FDA-approved wording for nut packaging.The use of the word “may” and the dis-claimer doesn’t give much comfort aconscientious person sincerely seekingto avoid one of the most common healthproblems in the country.

Though the FDA’s program is new,the labeling of foods as “healthy” isn’t.Such labeling always has been, and willlikely continue to be, dubious and sor-did. The practice apparently arose out ofthe 1970's notion that dietary fiberreduces colon cancer risk. In 1984, cerealmanufacturer Kellogg boldly made thatclaim on its All Bran cereal. The FDAinexplicably took no action againstKellogg, though the claim defied a long-standing prohibition on health-relatedfood labeling.

Industry lobbying produced a 1990federal law compelling the FDA to per-mit health-claims labeling, providedthere was “some scientific support” forthe claims. Consumers have been bom-barded ever since with claims that thisor that food helps reduce the risk of can-cer and heart disease.

The dietary fiber-colon cancer link,though, turned out to be a myth.Careful, scientific studies in the 1990sfailed to find evidence that dietary fiberreduced colon cancer risk. TheAmerican Heart Association fueledmore “healthy” food labeling in 1995with its Food Certification Program fea-turing the “heart-check” mark that sup-posedly identifies “heart-healthyfoods.” Foods qualify for the heart-check mark if they are deemed low fat,low saturated fat, low cholesterol, lowsodium, and have at least 10% of thedaily value of one or more of vitamin A,vitamin C, calcium, iron or dietary fiber.But foods that meet those requirementsdon’t automatically get the heart-check

8 INJ Fall 2003

RESEARCHER’S TOOLBOX

logo. Food companies must pay theAHA thousands of dollars per year perproduct for the privilege.

Thus, a national brand with sizablefinancial backing may claim consider-able health benefits and carry the AHAlogo (pay the price); the same producttype with a private label name, and sell-ing at a considerably lower price, mayhave just as much nutritional benefits,but does not have the sanction of theprestigious organization.

Unfortunately, junk science is not lim-ited to the food industry. It even occursin many segments of science and tech-nology arena. The legal profession hasbeen particularly accused of utilizingand exploiting this methodoly. In fact,the term “junk science” has arisen fromabuse and competing concepts withinthe legal profession.

In the 1923 Freye v. United States case,the Supreme Court ruled that in orderfor scientific expert testimony to beadmissible, it must have general accep-tance in the particular field of study(Freye principle). The standard that thetestimony be accepted in the “relevantscientific community” was broad andsubject to abuse. Many decisions on thevalidity of scientific analyses were left tothe jury to decide. The jury, oftenunqualified to assess scientific evidence,would make decisions based on theexpert's personality, fancy courtroomdisplays and simplistic experiments thatmay have been irrelevant. This openedthe floodgates to self-proclaimedexperts and the proliferation of junk sci-ence. The legal profession does notescape blame, as they are the ones whohire such "scientists" so that a case willmake it to the jury where emotion maytrump relevant fact and evidence.

The courts, appearing to be fed upwith junk science, attempted to correctthe condition of unscientific scientifictestimony through a U.S. SupremeCourt decision in the 1993 Daubert v.Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals (509 U.S.579, 1993) court action. In Daubert v.Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals, the highcourt concluded that trial judges shouldact as “gatekeepers” and not let in testi-

mony based on junk science (Daubertprinciple). When admitting expert testi-mony under the Federal Rules ofEvidence, the U.S. Supreme Court iden-tified the following four standards forthe admissibility of scientific evidence:

• Has the scientific theory or evidencebeen tested?

• Has the scientific theory or evidencebeen published or subjected to peerreview?

• What is the error rate of the theoryor technique and are there controllingstandards?

• Has the scientific community gener-ally accepted the theory or technique?

The Supreme Court stressed thatthese four standards should be appliedin a flexible manner and are non-exclu-sive. What has resulted from this rulingis a legal phenomenon known as a“Daubert hearing,” in which one sidetries to knock out the expert testimonyof the other side by applying one ormore of the four gatekeeper guidelines.It has been argued that under Daubert,technical testimony based on deductivereasoning such as that used by fireinvestigators and accident reconstruc-tionists was nonscientific and excludedunder Daubert. This concept has beenchallenged by other segments of thelegal and scientific professions.

A website focused on many aspects ofthis issue is www.junkscience.com ,managed by Steven Milloy, an adjunctscholar at the Cato Institute. Many othersites exist on the internet, which can beaccessed by using the keywords such as“junk science” or “urban myth.” Thisissue may be a little like pornography —“I can’t define it, but I know it when Isee it.”

And so the arguments go on! — INJ

9 INJ Fall 2003

RESEARCHER’S TOOLBOX

SAFETY TIPS FOR THE LABORATORY

Here are a couple of safety tips thatactually cover different potential safetysituations, but are likely applicable to anyR&D laboratory.

Laboratory personnel and employeescan be made much more aware of the sig-nificance of labels on containers of chem-icals and other laboratory materials byassigning them the following task. Havethem examine the contents of the medi-cine cabinets, kitchen cabinets, garage,home shop and similar storage areas intheir own homes; ask them to bring inexamples of items they found that posehazards to the health and well being oftheir family.

Examples will likely be outdated pre-scriptions, outdated over-the-counterdrugs, and residual medications and pre-scriptions that remain from past illnesses,as well as those materials and householdproducts that have normal health andsafety hazards that should be kept out ofthe reach of children. Virtually everyhome has a collection of those almost-empty cans and containers of paint, fertil-izer, insecticides, cleansers and othermaterials that pose a potential hazard.

It is often the case that employees reactstrongly and immediately to the thingsthey find in their own homes, whereasthe reaction at work may be one of indif-ference. And when they read the labels, itoften convinces them that labels are madefor reading, and not solely for productidentification.

The location of safety showers andexits from a work area can be problemat-ic at times. One way to assess the accessi-bility and ease of finding these vital itemscan be important during an emergency. Auseful way to evaluate the ease of findingsafety shower (or other safety resource) isto blindfold a researcher, positionhim/her in a likely spot in the laboratory

and then direct them to immediately findthe eye wash fountain or safety shower.Doing this exercise blindfolded mayseem excessive, but in a real emergency,the victim is often limited or totally with-out eyesight.

Another useful exercise in exit locationis to bring a stranger into the workplaceand give them an indication of what is tofollow, without divulging everything.Then, tell them there is an emergency andthey must leave the area and seek a safehaven immediately outside the laborato-ry, pilot plant or even the building. Ifthere is adequate signage for exits, astranger to the location should be able todepart safely and quickly. If there is obvi-ous confusion, hesitation and delay, it isprobably a sign that signs should bereconsidered.

Again, a person fully familiar with thesurroundings is not the person to test thefacilities; rather, a stranger who maymore closely mimic the typical behaviorand hesitation during an emergency is abetter subject to put the facilities andresources to a valid test.

SECURITY, EMERGENCY AND DISASTER

RECOVERY PROGRAMS. Since the 9/11 violence, “Laboratory

Safety” tends to mean a lot more than itused to. Nowadays it also includes securi-ty, emergency preparedness programs anddisaster recovery programs. This is a greatdeal for the Laboratory Director, theresearch manager and even all other levelsof laboratory management to deal with.

Fortunately, some help in this challeng-ing assignment seems to be coming,albeit rather slowly.

Some of the scientific and engineeringsocieties are now beginning to assemblesuggestions, recommendations and assis-tance in these areas. Governmental agen-cies are also organizing helps based on

9/11 and many other disasters and expe-riences.

Security is the first layer of defense,and is the continual responsibility ofresearch management. This is a complexmatter, of course, and is very dependentupon the local environment. Expertsagree, however, that it is essential to actupon five critical security priorities:

• Establish strong access control to vis-itors, vendors, contractors, and any oth-ers That frequent the area.

• Set up evacuation and emergencyresponse plans, as detailed as necessary.

• Secure basements, undergroundparking, and vehicle access.

• Analyze and enhance HVAC systemsand mail-handling procedures to miti-gate the risk of bio-terrorism.

• Implement travel policies to reducecorporate liability and employee risk asemployees conduct business travel.

In addition, it is only prudent for someserious thought to be given to weak andvulnerable areas and issues. Someexperts warn that especially sensitive orvulnerable areas not have posted signslabeling what it actually comprises. Also,how would you disrupt normal opera-tions if you had a burning desire to do so?Even an implausible or cockeyed notionof “how to disrupt” should be consideredin terms of the existing defenses.

Emergency Programs have two majoraspects; devising the emergency programand then practicing the program ele-ments until they managed virtually auto-matically. The practicing should alsoinvolve testing, and where needed, revi-sions to “expect the unexpected.”

Again, some suggestions from thevoices of experience:

• Training and practice procedures fordealing with various medical emergen-cies that may be experienced by employ-ees, visitors and others such as cus-tomers, etc.

• Safety Response guidelines foremployees should the facility find itselfunder any form of attack or related emer-gency.

• Assessment and recovery of criticaloperations and systems, as rapidly aspossible.

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INJ DEPARTMENT

10 INJ Fall 2003

• Establish timelines and proceduresfor training, upgrading, testing, andmaintaining the emergency program.

• Development of a notification systemfor key personnel, families of employee,and key customers, clients and otherstakeholders.

• The assignment and provision ofalternate worksites to ensure the continu-ation of activities, as far as possible.

• Procedures for personnel, employeesand others with disabilities, providingthem with several trained coworkers toaid them in emergency training and evac-uation efforts.

By taking the time to research, plan andprovide the appropriate training on anemergency program, laboratories, plantsand businesses can provide their peoplewith peace of mind and all them to fullyparticipate in the protection and prepara-tion of the laboratory or other workplaceagainst disaster.

Disaster Recovery Plans handle theaftermath of an attack or other emergencyat your facility. This aspect of dealingwith emergencies is generally not wellrecognized by most personnel. Someprior planning and briefing in this areawill often pay dividends in terms of thespeed and quality and effectiveness of apost-emergency recovery. The existenceand availability of back-up data may beessential. Restoring and replacement offacilities and data may be vital.

Two programs involving outside helpmay be worth pursuing. One is an out-reach program of the FBI and theNational Infrastructure Protection Centercalled Infragard. It is an information shar-ing and analysis effort, with sites in anycity where the FBI has an office(www.infragard.net ; there are numerousother web sites for local cooperativegroups under the Infragard name;www.infragard.com , etc.)

The second potential help is a group ofInformation Sharing & Analysis Centersaround the country. They are part of thegovernment’s Critical InfrastructureAssurance Office (CIAO), under theDepartment of Homeland Security(www.ciao.gov ).

Further insights into the many unex-

pected disasters that do occur in real lifecan be gained from the Internet site of theFederal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA). Included in this site(www.fema.gov ) is a map of the UnitedStates highlighting the states where majoremergencies have occurred in the recentpast. This site also have business recoverychecklists and other helpful informationin dealing with this issue. Also, the sitemanaged by Disaster Recovery World(www.disasterrecoveryworld.com ) hasmany helps in planning and disasterrecovery, including softwear and services.

Again, advanced planning as to substi-tution approaches may save a lot of time,grief and precious research results.Certainly, no research and developmentorganization can afford to spend an inor-dinate amount of time and effort on thisactivity, but a modest effort may have abig payoff!

IP EQUALS INFORMATION PLEASE

If “IP” stands for “Information Please”,then Science IP should stand for ScientificInformation, Please.

Indeed it does, at least to a new scien-tific search service inaugurated by CAS,the Division of the American ChemicalSociety based in Columbus, Ohio, that isresponsible for Chemical Abstracts.

CAS (Chemical Abstract Service) is thelargest and most extensive abstractingservice in the world. It has gained a repu-tation over many years as the premierabstracting organization in the scienceand technology area, covering even smalland obscure publications in the mostremote parts of the world. (Yes, it doescover International Nonwovens Journal). Itsdatabases provide access to nearly 100years of published research. CAS process-es patents faster than any other organiza-tion; preliminary records are accessiblewithin two days of a patent’s issuance bymajor officer; fully indexed records arecompleted within 27 days.

This organization has just recentlyannounced the launching of “Science IP,”a search service devoted to virtually allbranches of science and technology. Theservice is staffed by experiencedresearchers from CAS, who can provide

individuals and organizations with highquality information retrieval in manyareas of science. These informationresearchers have many years of experi-ence in searching the scientific, technicaland patent literature of the world.

CAS Division indicates this staff worksdaily with competitive intelligence pro-fessionals, licensing professionals, R & DManagement, inventors, patent attorneysand others who need comprehensivesearches of the scientific, technology andpatent literature. They also assist infor-mation professionals and others who donot have the time, resources, or the need-ed scientific or technical knowledge toperform a comprehensive search of thepatent and scientific literature. TheScience IP Technical Advisory Team con-sists of many of CAS’s most knowledge-able and experienced scientists.

The search service covers not onlyChemical Abstracts, but searching is donewith whatever databases or other sourcesnecessary to deliver the most completereport, according to Science IP officials.Their Search Team has been called uponto do research on many scientific andtechnical topics. Key members of theSearch Team have a minimum of 15 yearsexperience in searching the scientific liter-ature. This experience includes years ofexperience with STN International7 . TheScience IP Search Team is backed up bythe Technical Advisory Team, consistingof 25 Subject Matter Experts, comprisedof experienced, PhD-level scientists repre-senting a very broad range of disciplines.

A rush service is available, with a 24-hour turn-around time, for an additionalcharge. The financial charges for the ser-vices are based on time and materials. Aprice list is available at the web site(www.scienceip.org ). Also, more infor-mation is available via telephone(866/360-0814), Fax (614/447-5443) or viaemail (scienceip@cas.org ). A retainer isnot necessary; a request can be submittedwith their Request Form, after which theycontact the requester to further discussthe research request. — INJ

11 INJ Fall 2003

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

IMPROVING THE U.S. PATENT

AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

In the last issue of INJ (Summer 2003),the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office=sstrategic plan for the 21st Century wasoutlined and discussed. As indicated,the USPTO is attempting to transformitself and its entire operations into a“quality-driven, cost-effective organiza-tion.” This comes after 200 years ofoperation.

Some suggestions are being made forthe USPTO to further improve andmodify their operations, to hasten theresults desired by virtually all users ofthis institution. Some of these sugges-tions are simple, whereas others areindeed complex. A sampling follows:

One suggestion is that the USPTOabandon issuing patents, in favor of thepractice of simply issuing a documentreminescent of a bank’s CD, a Certificateof Deposit with the Patent Office. Ineffect, the Patent Office would simplybecome a super notary public — a clear-inghouse for inventions that would offi-cially establish when and by whomsomething was invented. If the inventorfelt infringed upon, the he/she would goto federal court, which some feel hasrules of evidence and judges who aremore qualified to handle the controversy.

Under this concept, the determinationof the validity of a patent would bedelayed until there is a dispute regard-ing its meeting the required standards.This procedure has already been adopt-ed by some countries, although somecritics feel this approach puts the bur-den on the judicial system, which maynot be equal to the job.

Some critics are concerned about thegrowing number of software patentsissued by the USPTO. Since softwarecode is kept secret, there is little pub-lished prior art, so too many bad patents

are issued, according to some interestedparties. As one expert put it, Softwareprograms often contain hundred – orthousands – of potentially patentableinventions; thus, some experts arguethat software should be protected bytrade secret and copyrights, not patents.Other vocal critics bemoan the presentstate of patenting within the softwareindustry (www.bustpatents.com ).

Many critics feel that patent holdersinevitably try to capture more than theirfair share of the disclosed concept, inorder to capture more of the potentialcredit and revenue. More limitation onthe rights granted should be the norm.Also, the practice of wildly patentingrather bizarre ideas in the hopes thatthey may become realities in the futurethrough the efforts of others is stronglycondemned in some quarters. As hasbeen pointed out in INJ feature articlesin the past, there are some classic exam-ples of this practice of “cowardly settingpatent traps for true inventors” of thefuture.

The number of issued patents that arelater declared invalid by infringementactions carried out through the courts iscited as strong evidence of the problemswithin the system. Certainly some of thesteps included in the USPTO’s StrategicPlan for the 21st Century do addressand attempt to rectify some of theseproblems.

Other interested parties suggest thatrather than trying to fix the domesticprocess, support and funding should begiven globalization and consolidation ofthe entire framework among industrial-ized nations respecting value forresearch and development. This argu-ment suggests that “the parts have beenin place for year.” The WorldIntellectual Property Organization(WIPO), the Paris Convention for the

Protection of Industrial Property, andagreements such as the PatentCooperation Treaty and the World TradeOrganization’s agreement on intellectu-al property rights are cited as suitableinstruments. Others suggest the creationof a World Patent Office that would pro-vide standards of all types.

Some critics of these approachesremind us of the difficulties that arebeing encountered by some of theseorganization at the present time.

Perhaps the best approach ultimatelyis to encourage the USPTO in their cur-rent efforts, monitor the developmentsclosely, stand ready to suggest andlobby for further changes and improve-ments, and also provide encourage-ment. A little praying may also help!

BROAD CLAIMS OR NARROW CLAIMS

No matter how lengthy a patent dis-closure might be, in the final analysis itis the patent claims that define theinventor’s rights, and not the disclosure.The prime requirements of the disclo-sure are that they provide enough infor-mation so that the claimed results can beobtained. There must be sufficientdetails that a person with normal skill inthe art can duplicate the results setforth.

It is tempting, therefore, to put asmuch as possible into the claims, creat-ing several so-called broad claim. Thenatural impulse is to have the claim asbroad as possible, as such a positionwould seem to provide the inventorwith as much as protection as can beobtained.

However, it must be kept in mind thatfor an infringement of the patent tooccur, the infringer must practice all ofthe items cited in a specific claim. Thus,there is an advantage to narrow claims,as then it would be easier to show thatan infringer had indeed duplicated allof the few features of such a narrowclaim. However, each claim mustinclude sufficient features and patentterminology to define something that isoperative and non-obvious underapplicable standards.

So, as with a lot of aspects of life, there

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INJ DEPARTMENT

12 INJ Fall 2003

is need for a delicate compromise. Havethe claim(s) broad enough to providethe necessary protection, but not sobroad as to make it easy for an infringerto leave out one feature, and thus escapeinfringement.

On approach to this strategy is to havenumerous claims, but each claim beingfairly narrow, Also, this approach oftenutilizes an element of building on previ-ous claims. Such a move also increasesthe difficulty in reading and under-standing the claims, but no one is inter-ested in making it easier for the reader.

Another strategy in accomplishing amaximum of protection with a patent isillustrated in one of the patents cited inthis Department. This involves coveringa material that has a certain perfor-mance in a product or process, withoutcompletely describing the material.Thus, the claims are based on a specificperformance or analytical attributerather that describing the material inexact detail.

If someone then produces a materialin the future that was not know at thetime of granting of the patent claims,which does provide the described andcomes within the claims outlined in thepatent, such new material is covered bythe patent.

Consequently, important decisionsmust be made at the time a patent appli-cation is submitted. These decisionsmust be based on good patent law, butalso need the imput of the scientists andtechnicians who conceived the concept.Within the nonwovens and allied indus-tries, patents have be voided wheredecisions were made during subsequentprosecution of the application withoutthe benefit of consultations with theinventors.

If patents and patenting law seems alittle convoluted, indeed they are!

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS AND PATENTS

Although the thought of technologystocks brings up too recent horror sto-ries for many people, there is still anobvious interest in this market segment.After all, technology stocks do accountfor one in five U.S. stocks.

For such stocks, as well as for numer-ous segments involving technologicalproducts (electronics, pharmaceuticals,chemicals, even consumer products),many investors have long felt there wassome relationship between the patentportfolio of a company and its marketvalue. This has often led to some hap-hazard guesses with variable results.

One organization, however, has donesome pioneering work on strictly quan-titative methods that can seek for suchrelationships. The company is CHIResearch of Haddon Heights, NJ. Thisgroup got started in this approach bypatents for the National ScienceFoundation. They moved to commercialand investor clients sometime later. Astock evaluation service called InvestorTech-Line soon evolved, wherein eachmonth they examine nearly 400 compa-nies with strong patent activity, rankingthem on investment potential.

As can be anticipated, the sheer num-ber of patents controlled by a companyis only the beginning, as the basic“value” of a patent in terms of its com-mercial and profit impact can be vastlymore important. CHI Reseach has useda measure of a patent’s value by assess-ing the how frequently it is cited in laterpatents, both within and without thecompany=s own patent activity. Theyterm this factor the “citation impact.”Also, CHI Research notes how many ref-erences a patent makes to scientific andtechnical papers; this factor is used tojudge how close the patented concept isto basic science flowing from academicwork, which should make it more valu-able.

A measurement called “TechnologyCycle Time” is used to assess the medi-an age of patents and other referencescited within the patent; more recent cita-tions indicate that a company is dealingwith fresher technology. Again, themore recent the developments, thegreater the possibility of future profits.

Some of these concepts may be almostintuitive for those dealing with science,technology and patents on a regularbasis. It is interesting, however, to con-sider the potential means of quantifying

some of these Afeelings@, and perhapstaking a more rational approach toassessing the technological strength of aresearch organization.

NONWOVENS PATENT S

METHOD OF PRODUCING A NONWOVEN

MATERIAL

U.S. Patent 6,592,713 (July 15, 2003);filed: December 18, 2001. Assignee: SCAHygiene Products AB (Gothenburg,Sweden). Inventor: Hannu Ahoniemi.

When laying continuous filaments,such as spunbond or meltblown fibrouswebs, on a permeable forming or sup-port member, it is necessary to quicklyremove the air between the filaments.The wire of the forming member shouldthus have high air permeability and anopen structure.

If short fibers, e.g. synthetic staplefibers or pulp fibers, are then to be laidon top of the continuous filaments, it isvery desirable to have a tighter wirestructure; such a structure for the form-ing belt helps avoid the loss of a consid-erable amount of the short fibers duringdrainage involved in a wetform process,for instance. However the drainagecapacity should be sufficient to providean effective drainage of the fibrous web.

The object of this invention is to pro-vide a method of producing a nonwo-ven material comprising at least onelayer of continuous filaments, such asspunbond or meltblown fibers (formedon a wire having a very open structureand a high air permeability), followedby the step of forming a wetform layeron top of the continuous filament layerusing a forming wire having a tighterstructure.

As disclosed in this invention, thisobject can be achieved by using a form-ing member which is a permeable sup-port having a resilient extensibility inthe transverse direction and which sub-stantially resumes its original dimen-sion when the extension is discontinued.With this type of forming member, it canbe stretched in the transverse directionto at least 120% (preferably 150%) of itsoriginal width when the continuous fila-

13 INJ Fall 2003

PATENT REVIEW

ments are laid on the wire; the stretchingis then discontinued after the continu-ous filaments have been laid on thewire, and the forming member returnsessentially to its original width, giving aforming member that is closed up andmore ideal for the wetforming step.

According to a preferred embodimentof the invention a second web of naturaland/or synthetic staple fibers is laid ontop of said first web of continuous fila-ments after the stretching has been dis-continued. This second fibrous web maycontain cellulose fibers, and may beformed by the dry, wet- or foam-form-ing method. According to this preferredembodiment, the different fibrous websare hydroentangled together to form acomposite material, in which the differ-ent fiber types are well integrated witheach other.

The resilient extensibility of the wiremay also be achieved by using a weav-ing- or knitting or warp knitting tech-nique providing the desired extensibili-ty. Alternatively or additionally, elasticthreads may be used for the formingbelt. Instead of a wire, a permeable (per-forated) band-shaped support membermade of an elastic polymeric materialmay be used for providing the desiredresilient extensibility.

FIBER-FORMING PROCESS

U.S. 6,607,624 (August 19, 2003); filed:April 16, 2001. Assignee: 3M InnovativeProperties Company (St. Paul, MN).Inventors: Michael R. Berrigan, WilliamT. Fay.

A new web-forming method andrelated apparatus are disclosed. In thismethod, continuous filaments of a fiber-forming material are extruded directlyinto a drawing/processing chamber.The chamber is defined by two parallelwalls, at least one of which is instanta-neously movable toward and away fromthe other wall; preferably both walls areinstantaneously movable toward andaway from one another.

In one embodiment, the movementmeans comprises biasing means forresiliently biasing the one wall towardthe other wall. Movement of the wall

toward and away from the other wall issufficiently easy and rapid that the wallwill move away from the other wall inresponse to increases in pressure withinthe chamber, but will be quicklyreturned to its original position by thebiasing means upon resumption of theoriginal pressure within the chamber. Inanother embodiment, the movementmeans comprises oscillating means foroscillating the wall at a rapid rate.

The movement of this chambers wallsconvey a simultaneous deflection andmovement of the filaments just as theyemerge from the spinnerette.Consequently, the invention providesnew nonwoven webs, which comprise acollected mass of fibers that includesfibers randomly interrupted by isolatedfiber segments that comprise orientedpolymer chains but differ in morpholo-gy from the main portion of the fiber. Arelated patent application (U.S.20030162457 A1) with the same assigneeand inventors was published two weekslater than this patent.

NONWOVEN WITH NON-SYMMETRICAL

BONDING CONFIGURATION

U.S. 6,610,390 (August 26, 2003); filed:July 10, 2000. Assignee: First QualityNonwovens, Inc. (State College, PA).Inventors: Michael Kauschke,Mordechai Turi.

This patent discloses a spunbond non-woven which has low tensile and highelongation in one direction (CD) andhigh tensile and low elongation in theother direction (MD). Such a non-sym-metrical nonwoven is favored in manyhigh-speed converting operations.

The nonwoven has a plurality ofbonding points defining a total bondingarea along the MD which is greater thanthat in the CD. Accordingly, the nonwo-ven has unbonded fiber portions andbonded fiber portions, with a bondedportion/unbonded portion ratio greateralong the MD than along the CD. Thebonding points are preferably either cir-cular or oval in plan; the oval bondingpoints provide for more pronouncednon-symmetrical physical propertieswhen the orientation is on the bias.

STABILIZED ABSORBENT MATERIAL AND

SYSTEMS FOR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

HAVING CONTROLLED PLACEMENT OF

VISCO-ELASTIC FLUIDS

U.S. Patent 6,608,236 (August 19,2003); filed: May 5, 1998. Assignee:Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.(Neenah, WI). Inventors: Andrew ScottBurnes, Rebecca Lyn Dilnik, ConnieLynn Hetzler, Thomas PatrickJorgenson, Tamara Lee Mace, DavidMichael Matela, Jayne BramstedtNelson, Lawrence Howell Sawyer,Alexander Manfred Schmidt-Foerst,Heather Anne Sorebo, James AllynSpiers, Laura Jane Walker, RodneyLawrence Abba, Charles John Chappell.Valerie Victoria Finch, Ann MarieGiencke, Michael Brent Kottek, AllanJames Krueger, Andrew Michael Lake,MeeWha Lee, Sarah Elizabeth Long-Radloff, Janice Gail Nielsen, AnnMargaret Vanevenhoven.

This is a very broad, generic patent. Ithas 23 inventors and was over 5 years inprosecution. This type of patent isreferred to as a carpet bag or kitchensink patent (has everything but ...). Itdiscloses a liquid distribution materialfor personal care products (primarilysanitary napkins) in terms of the mater-ial’s performance rather than its compo-sition.

This performance relates to a horizon-tal wicking test with artificial menses. Tobe acceptable and covered by the claims,the horizontal wicking distance of about1 inch must be achieved in less thanabout 1.5 minutes. If the material meetsthis requirement, and other require-ments including stain length ratio, satu-ration profile, a density range and anaverage pore size diameter, it is coveredby the claims of the patent. The exactnature of the distribution material is notspecified, but only its performance.

The patent does disclose materials ofvarious types that do meet these specifi-cations, including nonwovens formedby airlaying, bonded carded web pro-cessing, wetform processing, and com-positions comprising cellulosic fibers,foams, synthetic fibers and mixturesthereof.

14 INJ Fall 2003

PATENT REVIEW

WET-FORMED COMPOSITE DEFINING

LATENT VOIDS AND MACRO-CAVITIES

U.S. Patent 6,572,735 (June 3, 2003);filed August 22, 2000. Assignee:Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.(Neenah, WI). Inventors: Ppalani RajRamaswami Wallajapet, Ronald LeeEdens, Cheryl Ann Mocadlo, Sheng-Hsin Hu, Dmitry Yavich, David MichaelKale.

A wet-formed composite defininglatent voids and macro-cavities is dis-closed. The wet-formed composite has abasis weight greater than about 100gsm, and a density of about 0.06 g/cc ormore. The wet-formed composite com-prises fibers (any fiber suitable for pro-ducing a wet-form nonwoven) andsuper absorbent polymer (SAP), presentin an amount of about 10 dry weightpercent or less, preferably 2 dry weightpercent or less. By virtue of the SAPhaving been allowed to swell and thenshrink during the making of the wet-formed composite, macro-cavities arecreated. The resulting compositeexpands upon wetting and exhibitsgood absorbency properties.

PROCESS OF FORMING A PERFORATED WEB

U.S. Patent 6,599,612 (July 29, 2003 );filed June 6, 2000. Assignee: The Procter& Gamble Company (Cincinnati, OH).Inventor: Brian Francis Gray.

A process of forming a soft andresilient plastic film web exhibiting asubstantially continuous pattern ofdebossments or apertures is disclosed.The process comprises the followingsteps: (1) continuously bringing the filmin contact with a forming structurewhich has a substantially continuouspattern of apertures corresponding tothe debossments or apertures of theweb; (2) locally heating the web at thesurface to give the web temperatureabove its melting temperature; (3)applying a substantially uniform air orfluid pressure differential to the locallyheated web in those areas to bedebossed or apertured, whereby theweb is apertured at the predeterminedpoints. The land area between aperturesincludes a pattern of fine-scale, volcano-like micro-apertures, which also exists

in the walls of the macro-apertures. Asoft and resilient apertured plastic webresults.

NONWOVEN FABRIC MAKING APPARATUS

U.S. Patent 6,571,441 (June 3, 2003);filed April 4, 2000. Assignee: Uni-CharmCorporation (Ehime-ken, Japan).Inventors: Toshio Kobayashi, HideyukiIshikawa.

A special apparatus for spunlace fab-ric production is disclosed. With the Y-axis extending in a direction alongwhich the web travels, the X-axisextends to intersect the Y-axis at rightangles. The high pressure waterjet noz-zles are arranged at predeterminedintervals to define a straightly extend-ing first nozzle array R1 which isdeclined at a predetermined angle withrespect to the Y-axis. As a result, thenonwoven fabric obtained has noimpact traces by ejection of the streamsof high pressure water, i.e., the fabrichas no waterjet “tracks.” — INJ

15 INJ Fall 2003

PATENT REVIEW

TECHNOLOGY FOR SALE

A well-known saying amongst old-timers is: “Everything is For Sale; it’sjust a matter of Price.” That probably istrue with most things, even technology.As evidence of that proposition is thegrowing number of ways in which tech-nology can be acquired, and disposedof.

Licensing is an old and well estab-lished business practice. This is espe-cially true in some segments of businessand industry. The petrochemical indus-try is a prime example of this methodfor acquiring and exploiting technology.Many companies within this industryexperience greater profitability fromlicensing of their technology than frompracticing it themselves. Other indus-tries are beginning to utilize licensing asa means of technology transfer.

This activity is also well representedby a strong professional association,LES, the Licensing Executives Society,USA and Canada (http://www.usa-canada.les.org ). The headquarters forthe American arm is located inConnecticut ( LES, 71 East Avenue, SuiteS, Norwalk, CT 06851; Tel. : 203/232-4825; Fax: 203/838-5714.

On the international scene, the orga-nization is LESI which is an associationof 30 national and regional societies.Most industrialized countries have astrong national organization.

Other modes of acquiring technologyare now focusing on the internet, as ameans of a broad purview and rapidresponse. The Patent & LicenseExchange (pl-x) is such a marketplacefor intellectual property (IP). This orga-nization deals in IP, patents, trade-marks, and know-how. This organiza-tion claims that a patent is a “calloption” on technology, and so pl-xapplies standard financial tools to create

value from such intangible assets. Thesetools include an online, interactive IPmarketplace, the TRRU Metrics IPValuation System, transaction assuranceservices through a title company, alongwith patent validity insurances(www.pl-x.com ).

Another internet-based technologytransfer organization is calledPatentAuction.com. This organizationclaims they link IP resources on theinternet, offering both selling and buy-ing services, as well as providing assis-tance in financing such activities. Thecompany (PatentAuction.com, RR1, Box139A, Hunt, Texas 78024; Tel.: 830/238-4908; Fax: 830/238-415; Internet:www.patentauction.com ), is headed byan individuals with broad experience ininventing, patenting and licensing. Thenovel feature of this site is that the tech-nology is posted and then opened tobidding

A rather well-known organizationinvolved in IT transfer is yet2.com(www.yet2.com ). This group has a post-ing of TechPak, which offers technologypackages at various levels of develop-ment. Also, TechNeeds provides ameans for a company to list their tech-nology needs. This is generally quitespecific, with varying levels of informa-tion provided in the posting contact.

Most of the well-known researchinstitutes also have a division that isinvolved in technology transfer. Some ofthis technology is generated internally,but most such organizations handletechnology generated outside, often bytheir clients. Some consultants alsospend a considerable amount of timeand resources in finding customers forclient technology. Consequently, theycan be a good source for making contactwith technology buyers and sellers.

SUPER TREES VS. LESS LIGNIN

Several years ago the timber manage-ment divisions of various forest prod-ucts companies were very concernedwith identifying and collecting “supertrees.” These were selected trees grow-ing in the timber lots that appeared to benotably superior to their neighbors.Seeds and graftings from such treeswere assiduously collected and used inthe seedling beds for subsequent out-planting in reforestation activities.Hopefully, this work would yield use-able wood per acre.

With the shortest harvesting cycles ofabout 15 years and the longest over 70years, considerable patience is requiredin this effort.

A more direct approach is now beingtaken within segments of this industryto enhance the yield of the pure, white,absorbent woodpulp fiber that is soimportant to some segments of the non-wovens and related absorbent productsindustries. This approach is focusing onthe lignin content of the wood used asthe raw material by the $6 billion wood-pulp industry.

Lignin is an amorphous, polymericsubstance that cements the fibrous por-tions of wood together. It can constituteupwards of one-half the weight of awood, and in recovering the valuablewood pulp fiber from wood, it has to beremoved and often discarded. Theremoval process is done by pulping thewood, treating the chips at high pres-sure and temperature with various for-mulations that convert the insolublelignin into smaller, soluble entities.

This more recent approach beinginvestigated to improving the fiberrecovery process uses genetic engineer-ing. The objective is to reduce theamount of lignin in the original woodand also to increase the solubility of thelignin still present. This research work isbeing conducted by Laigeng Li and col-leagues at Michigan TechnologicalUniversity (www.mtu.edu ) and theUniversity Of Wisconsin at Madison(www.visc.edu ).

The researchers used bacteria genes ina cotransformation system to transfer

TECHNOLOGYWATCH

INJ DEPARTMENT

16 INJ Fall 2003

two genes into aspen trees. The one genewas employed to reduce the totalamount of lignin, while the second genewas used to modify the composition ofthe lignin. The lignin modification wasdesigned to change the ratio of twomonomeric units in the lignin, to modi-fy the woodpulping kinetics for ligninsolubilization. Thus, there would be lesslignin and the lignin that was presentwould be easier to remove.

The initial research has been quitesuccessful, in that one gene reduced thetotal amount of lignin (52% less), theother gene improved ease of pulping(64% change in monomer ratio), and thecombination achieved both results, with30% more cellulose.

It would appear that the future forbetter woodpulp economics may not liewith super trees, but rather in the direc-tion of genetic engineering.

FINDING A HOME FOR CROSSOVER

TECHNOLOGIES

A “crossover technology” is the use ofa technology in a totally new applica-tion, one which was never visualizewhen the original technology wasdeveloped.

It would seem that every researcherhas his/her favorite example of acrossover technology, often an examplein which they were personally involved.

DuPont was completely unpreparedfor the incursion of their TYVEK poly-ethylene spunbond sheet product as anair infiltration barrier into the buildingindustry. Similarly, it took KEVLARfiber 37 years to go from a bullet-proof,fire-resistant material first used fortimes to go into making home sheltersstrong enough to resist tornadoes. It astook decades before advances in rein-forced reinforced fiberglass technologymade for the Apollo space project wereapplied to the making of tennis rackets.

In retrospect, these crossover applica-tions of technology may seem inevitableB but they are not. According to Ian C.MacMillan, director of the University ofPennsylvania’s Wharton School, Sol C.Snider Entrepreneurial Center,crossover applications depend largely

on serendipity. Information recentlyreleased by Wharton provides furtherinsights.

“You have to hang around for 15 yearsfor someone to make the connections,says MacMillan. In many cases, theserendipity never happens – and tech-nologies die on the vine before theyachieve their full commercial potential.Again, most researchers are wellacquainted with this situation. The sad-dest examples are when the crossover isinitiated and exploited someone outsidethe industry, or worse, by a competitor.

To overcome those problems,MacMillan, along with Wharton profes-sor of operations and information man-agement, Steven Kimbrough, and JohnRanieri, vice president of the bio-basedmaterials business at Du Pont, havedeveloped a patented process that willhelp companies analyze databases ofinformation about technologies andsuggest new markets where they mightbe commercialized.

”We have a serendipity generator,”notes MacMillan. “Serendipity happensevery now and then, but this processreiterates the connection.”

Why is serendipity such a rare com-modity? “The fundamental problem isthat technologists know othing aboutmarkets, and markets know nothingabout the technologies,” saysMacMillan. “It is like a black hole. It isvery hard to see behind your experiencespace.”

Even companies like Du Pont don’thave the resources to probe into everypossible application of their current ros-ter of technologies. “Exploration is veryexpensive,” says Ranieri. Although anunprecedented amount of informationabout technology is now availableonline, Ranieri notes that “everything isset up to look for exactly what you arelooking for” rather than to assist in theprocess of finding crossover, innovativeapplications. In addition, information“is stored in silos” that are hard for non-specialists to penetrate. Until now, therehas been no way to search for attributeslike “lighter, faster or quicker” withtechnology categories, he says.

The Wharton team’s new processaims to meet this challenge by using amethodology that “combines computerresearch techniques with humanresearch techniques,” says MacMillanKimbrough likens the new process tothe methodology used by Google, thepopular search engine. AlthoughGoogle is automated, it exploits infor-mation painstakingly collected by thou-sands of individuals (at no cost toGoogle) and loaded onto their web sites.Kimbrough explains that Google’spage-ranking algorithm “exploits tonsof work [done by] people who put Javalinks on their web sites; it exploits theirmanual labor.” Like Google’s algorithm,this new process “is not an intelligentparser and it is not artificial intelli-gence,” Kimbrough says. “Like Google,we exploit the public information that isavailable.”

Another key problem with Google,today’s most powerful search engine, isthat it can only identify characteristicsthat match up perfectly with key wordsthat people use to search for informa-tion. It can’t infer any attributes thataren’t precisely spelled out and loadedonto a web site. Moreover, it can’t makesubtle, creative connections betweendescriptions and attributes, and it can’tfind information that is hidden in thetext.

“There is a lot of information in texts[on technology] about what stuff can beused for,” notes Kimbrough. “A docu-ment is like a bit of DNA. There are dis-cernible patterns that can be very sub-tle.” Unlike traditional products, theWharton team’s new process searchesthrough documents and makes connec-tions between highly technical descrip-tions of properties – often familiar onlyto narrow silos of technologies – andbroader terms that could suggest marketapplications to those who work in otherareas. As Ranieri describes it, “We founda clever way to make a link betweenattributes and markets.”

Now that their patent has beenaccepted, the team is preparing to con-vert their prototype methodology into afull-fledged commercial process.

17 INJ Fall 2003

TECHNOLOGY WATCH

MacMillan describes the approach thisway:

“Companies bring us their patent,and we take it and tell them 50 placeswhere the technology underpinning thepatent might use it.” If all goes well,companies could eventually be licensingthe use of this commercial process andbe running it on their own.

Or the new process could be madeavailable online to those willing to payfor it. The hope is that even companieswith significant in-house resources willuse this tool as a short-cut for stimulat-ing creative new ideas without spend-ing a lot of money.

The Wharton team acknowledges thatthis process is not a magic bullet nor is itintended to be a foolproof generator ofsure-fire hits. “We are not saying that allof these ideas will work,” saysKimbrough. “We are saying that we willget a lot of good contenders that ahuman being could go through.”Moreover, “there is no guarantee thatthe product [that results from the bestideas] will be a success.” Even the mostcreative, innovative product ideas stillmust be manufactured at a competitiveprice, be marketed effectively, meet nec-essary regulatory requirements and soforth.

No “magic bullet,” but perhaps a realhelp to bridge the “crossover” gap. — INJ

18 INJ Fall 2003

TECHNOLOGY WATCH

GETTING RID OF SPAM

It is just a little irritating to be workover your mailbox on the internet, elim-inating unwanted, unsolicited E-mail,and while so engage to hear the clickindicating another piece of electric junkmail has been inserted. You’ve beenspammed again.

Over the past several weeks it seemsthat every print newspaper or magazinehas had a feature article on the problemsof spam on the internet. Very shortly,you get the feeling that it has becomelike the weather — “Everyone talksabout it, but no one does anything aboutit.”

That is not quite the case, however, asnumerous state governments andindustry groups are wrestling with theproblem; the federal government isinvolved at several different agencies aswell. Industry initiative, filtering soft-ware tools, and spam-blocking compa-nies are also struggling to improve thesituation.

It has been estimated that junk E-mailnow accounts for an estimated 49% ofnetwork traffic; many users would placethat level at an even higher figure. Theopen architecture that made the Interneta transformative technology also hasspawned the rapidly growing junk e-mail menace.

On the other hand, there are thosethat point out that there may be somebenefits to unsolicited E-mail.According to the Direct MarketingAssociation., legitimate outfits havereceived orders in the past year worth atleast $2 billion through marketing e-mails that weren’t asked for, and a fur-ther $5.7 billion from requested e-mail.

In the meantime, there are some stepsyou can take on your own. None of thiswill eliminate the problem, but maybe itwill help alleviate your volume some-

what.

1. Use Multiple E-mail BoxesMost ISP and other services permit

the use of multiple E-mail boxes. Byrestricting the distribution of youraddress on one box, it is possible to slowthe flow of spam. Of course the otherboxes may be loaded, but that is anoth-er problem.

2. Build a Wall by Using SoftwareThat Blocks

While not a completely satisfactorysolution, some of the software packagesdesigned to block spam do an effectivejob. It will take some effort to fine-tunemost of these programs for your ownpersonal needs, but it may be worth thetime.

The best professional filters, such asBrightmail, can block 95% of spam. AtFrontBridge Technologies Inc., a SanFrancisco-area Internet-security compa-ny, computers check incoming e-mailagainst 10,000 criteria used to definespam; 500 of those rules are rejiggeredevery day, depending on what spam-mers are up to at the moment. Becauseteams of human "spam analysts" keeptabs on the trash bin, big filtering sys-tems rarely lose a real message amid thejunk. When the San Diego law firm ofGray Cary Ware & Freidenrich installeda FrontBridge filter in December, “Mygreatest fear was that some critical clientwould get their e-mail rejected,” saysChief Technology Officer Don P. Jaycox.But after six months, “The false-positiverate is almost immeasurable.”

3. Surf In A Smarter MannerBy now, most computer users know

that replying to most spam only gener-ates more spam. Such knowledge can goa ways toward eliminating junk e-mail.

People who don’t take action will suffer.Indeed, the recent flooding of many in-boxes is a sign that spammers are hav-ing to work harder. As E-mail filters getsmarter, and as laws and lawsuits multi-ply, junk mail is harder to deliver. Tomaintain their already thin margins,spammers are upping their output, jam-ming more junk mail into the fewer in-boxes that remain vulnerable.

4. Join The Effort To Change TheLaw

A move is underway in the U.S.Congress to raise the standards forspammers by requiring them todescribe their messages accurately intheir subject headers, use real returnaddresses, and include working opt-outlinks in their message. This more slowthe tide a little, but it will likely notaddress all of the problem. Japan andthe European Union have both passedtough “opt-in” laws that require com-mercial bulk E-mailers to receive per-mission from consumers before sendingthem unsolicited messages. This may behard to do under U.S. law, but a Do-Not-Spam registry, modeled after theone that was recently created to blocktelemarketers, would run into fewersuch problems. It would enable con-sumers to opt out of receiving unsolicit-ed e-mail simply by logging on to a cen-tralized Web site.

5. Enforce Existing LawsEncourage more strident enforcement

of existing laws. Internet serviceproviders and the Federal TradeCommission have hauled dozens ofspammers into court since the late1990s. Every big case so far has broughta penalty. On July 21, the FTC settledwith a California teen who faked returnaddresses on e-mails that he dangled asbait to lure consumers to legitimate-looking business Web sites. There, theywere duped into giving up credit-cardnumbers. Such policing is importantand will have to be stepped up. But it isinherently limited. Prosecuting thesmall-time operators in the U.S. isn'tlikely to rise to the top of the docket for

The NONWOVENNET

INJ DEPARTMENT

19 INJ Fall 2003

state and federal law enforcers with lim-ited budgets.

Another step would be to allow usersthe right to sue spammers directly andset minimum statutory damages of, say,$100 per offending message – just as wassuccessfully done in the 1991 lawagainst junk faxers. This “right of pri-vate action,” proposed by SenatorCharles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and others,would torment spammers with a hail-storm of private claims. Of course, ThirdWorld violators would be tough toreach. But litigators say many bulk e-mailers are domestically based, andadvocacy groups such as the SpamhausProject already do a good job of trackingdown the biggest offenders.

6. Act Globally To discourage spammers from mov-

ing offshore, the White House needs totake the lead in harmonizing interna-tional law and beefing up globalenforcement. The 30-nationOrganization for Economic Cooperation& Development is working on the prob-lem, but the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation forum is a vital player andneeds to be at the table. The good newsis that other countries are also workingon this issue. EU commissioners willvisit Washington in August to lobbyCongress to strengthen our laws. Stateregulation, on the other hand, isn’tworking. While well-intentioned, thesemeasures create a patchwork legalregime that increases corporate compli-ance costs.

In the meantime, simply get fast andefficient at throwing spam out of yourin-box.

MORE INTERESTING WEB SITES

A new and exiting web site is a thingof beauty. At least that is what a lot ofsurfers feel. An interesting and USEFULsite is likely to please the nonwovensresearcher a great deal more. The fol-lowing may be candidates for suchappeal.

Exploring The Nanoworld - This site is ajoint project of the University ofWisconsin-Madison and the National

Science Foundation. Nanotechnologythinks big about small things, reallysmall things. This site has a NanoworldCineplex, an interesting collection ofmovie clips on the subject. It also has anentertaining PDF file called “ExploringThe Nanoworld With Lego Bricks.” Avideo lab manual also gives some inter-esting insights into the small world(www.mrsec.wisc.edu/edetc/index.html ).

All About Materials - The name of thissite, “AZOM” stands for “A to Z ofMaterials.” It is subtitled “Metals,Ceramics, Polymers, Composites, AnEngineers Resource.” The stated objectof the site is “increasing the use ofadvanced materials by the engineeringand design community worldwide.”The listing of materials can be search bykeywords based on properties. The sitecomes out of Sydney, Australia, and ispartnered with numerous professionalassociations (www.azom.com ).

MIT Distant Teaching Pilot Program -This a pilot program coming out of MIT.Started last year, the objective is to putmaterials from almost all of MIT’sapproximately 2,000 lecture courses onthe web. A typical course will includethe syllabus, class schedule/calendar,required and recommended readings,and assignments. MIT is seeking feed-back on this major initiative(http://ocw.mit.edu ).

Online Calculation – How many pro-grams are on the internet that allow youto calculate something. This site claimsto have links to more than16,600 suchsites. The science-related links aregrouped into math and statistics, chem-istry, physics and astrophysics, andengineering. The site, Martindale’sCalculators Online Center: Science A-Z,also has links to dictionaries, scientificcalculators, unit conversions and thePeriodic Table of the Elements in vari-ous languages. Unfortunately, theaddress is a little long, but it’s worth it(www.sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/RefCalculators3.html ).

Commercial Spunbond Sites –Interesting information on specific com-mercial nonwoven products can often be

obtained from sites established by busi-nesses. Johns Manville’s site claims thatthe company is the largest spunbondpolyester producer worldwide with pro-duction facilities is several locations(http://www.jm.com/EngineeredProducts/filtration/airspun.asp ).

The Nordson Fiber Systems site high-lights their mon- and bi-componentspunbond systems (http://www.nord-son.com/fibersystems/stanspun.htm )

20 INJ Fall 2003

NONWOVEN NET

NEW INDA PRESIDENT - RORY HOLMES

A new president of INDA has beennamed by the Board of Directors to takeresponsibility for the top position of theassociation.

Rory Holmes, currently serving as theAssociate Director for TechnologyTransfer of the Nonwovens CooperativeResearch Center in Raleigh, NC, willassume this position on October 1, 2003.Holmes, 56, will replace Ted Wirtz, whohas been serving as the interimPresident since his announced retire-ment in 2002.

Holmes has had more than 30 yearsexperience in the nonwovens industry, aconsiderable amount of it within the for-mer Chicopee Division of Johnson &Johnson. He began his career within theindustry in a research andproduct/process development assign-ment at Chicopee. Rory was awardedthe prestigious Hoffmann Award forExcellence in Research in 1982, and TheJohnson Medal for Research in 1984.Upon the sale of the Chicopee operationto Polymer Group Incorporated (PGI),Holmes continued in research and mar-keting assignments with PGI.

In 1995, he became PGI’s vice presi-dent of sales, marketing and technologyfor the medical and industrial businessunits. During this time, He was inti-mately associated with the APEX TMTechnology and Miratec7 brand of non-woven fabrics for PGI. In 2000, Holmesjoined NCRC in Raleigh, where he wasconcerned with developing and exploit-ing new nonwoven technologies via theNCRC Technology Transfer Program, aswell as working in employee trainingand consulting activities.

In a recent visit with Rory, he statedthat he felt INDA has a lot of good activ-ities underway at the present time, andhis efforts at INDA will focus on build-

ing on that base. He expressed appreci-ation for the confidence in him that thisappointment by the Board of Directorsrepresents.

The staff of the InternationalNonwovens Journal certainly wants toadd its congratulations and best wishesto Rory in this new assignment.

THE 2003 ITMA TEXTILE

MACHINERY EXHIBITION

Two major Swiss textile machineryfirms, Saurer and Rieter, announcedearlier this summer that they werepulling out of ITMA 2003. This show,scheduled for October 22-29 inBirmingham, England, is considered tobe the most important European textilemachinery show this year, especially asit is scheduled on a four-year cycle..These two companies tried unsuccess-fully to have the event postponed. Bothcompanies said that the reluctance ofcustomers to attend large exhibitions inthe current international climate was thereason - a position that is increasinglycontested.

Despite the fact that ITMA is an inter-national exhibition, a majority of atten-dees travel from inside Europe – an areathat has suffered virtually no adverse

effects from SARS (Severe ARespiratory Syndrome), which has hitAsia especially hard. Both CEMATEX,the umbrella organization for Europe'stextile machinery builders, andSwissMem, the Swiss national textilemachinery association, have rejected theidea that SARS poses a threat to theevent.

The critical question now is whetherthe withdrawal of these two companies,both world leaders in spinning and syn-thetic fibre processing machinery, willaffect the show. Naturally, there is also aconcern that other companies in thesame sector may follow their exampleand withdraw from this year’s exhibi-tion.

ITMA's organizers have rejectedclaims by Rieter and Saurer that SARSwould make customers reluctant totravel.

“There have been no visitors or visi-tors groups that have indicated anyreluctance to travel to ITMA as a resultof SARS,” said Andy Bird, operationsdirector for ITMA 2003.

He went on to say that the idea thatthere was a risk or threat to the success-ful running of ITMA 2003, its visitors orexhibitors was wholly unrealistic andfactually incorrect.

“While we are sorry to lose thesecompanies, plans for ITMA 2003 contin-ue to progress well with the latest fig-ures demonstrating a marked increasein both visitor pre-registration figuresand countries represented byexhibitors,” said Bird.

ITMA 2003 has been promoted to thebroadest and most diverse visitor basein its history. Pre-registration bookingsare up almost 300% compared with thesame point for the 1999 Paris ITMAshow and over 1,350 exhibitors haveconfirmed, according to the organizers.

NONWOVEN ENHANCEMENTS

CONFERENCE CDEarlier this year a successful confer-

ence called “Nonwoven EnhancementsColoring & Finishing Conference” wasorganized by INDA. This conference,among other things, provided details

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21 INJ Fall 2003

discussions on a number of importanttopics to this market:

• Nonwoven Markets• Methods of Coloration of

Nonwovens• Finishing Methods and Surface

Enhancers• Chemical Post Treatments of

Nonwovens• New Things to Come in Coloring &

FinishingA compact disc covering all presenta-

tions of this conference is now availablefrom INDA. Cost of the CD to INDAmembers is $50 and to nonmembers is$75. The CDs can be ordered fromINDA, Association of the NonwovenFabrics Industry, P.O. Box 1288, Cary,NC 27512, USA; Tel.: 919/233-1210, ext.120; Fax: 919/233-1282.

ASTM STANDARDS ON TEXTILES

In November 2003, the most recenteditions of the Annual Book of ASTMStandards for textiles and textile prod-ucts will become available from ASTMInternational (American Society ofTesting and Materials) This edition willbe in two volumes, identified as Volume07.01, Textiles (I): D 76-D 3218, and asVolume 07.02, Textiles (II): D 3330-Latest.

Section 7 (or 07 as indicated in thetitle) identifies that Section of ASTMthat is concerned with textiles. The D 76and D 3218, along with the D 3330 iden-tifies a committee with a assignment fora specific area of standards and testing.Amongst the various assignments arethe following:

Volume 07.02 also contains standardbody measurement charts used for the

sizing of apparel for men, women , chil-dren and infants; standard guidelinesfor care labeling of apparel and othertextile products; standards for UV pro-tective fabrics and clothing; and a prac-tice for stitches and seams, which hasreplaced the Federal Standard for appar-el and item stich and seam structures usworldwide by government and industrytextile organizations.

The cost for Volume 07.01 will be $176in North America; $194 elsewhere. Thecost of Volume 07.02 will be $228 inNorth America; $251 elsewhere. Whenboth volumes are purchased together,the price is $303 in North America; $334elsewhere. Both volumes are availablein CD-ROM disc format as well asbound print volumes.

A new service that is being offered byASTM is the Historical and Withdrawnfeature. This provides an easily way tocompare an older replaced standardwith the new, current standard – line-by-line, figure-by-figure, equation-by-equation. This is called their “RedlineStandards,” where the changes are indi-cated by the redline. Search results ontheir web site cover the Active,Historical and Withdrawn Standards, aswell as work items. Once at theDocument Summary Page of an ActiveStandard, the option to purchase aRedline appears (www.astm.org/red-lines ).

RENEWED FUNDING FOR NTCThe National Textile Center (NTC), a

consortium of eight universitiesinvolved in textile education andresearch has received a renewed fund-ing from the U.S. CommerceDepartment totaling $9.7 million. Theuniversities comprising NTC includeClemson University, Auburn University,Georgia Institute of Technology, NorthCarolina State University, University ofMassachusetts Dartmouth, PhiladelphiaUniversity, Cornell University andUniversity of California-Davis.

This funding will allow a continua-tion of the programs that have been car-ried out for the past several years byNTC. These programs include researchon improving the long-term global com-petitiveness of the domestic textile andapparel industries. According toRichard Gregory, Director of Clemson’sSchool of Materials Science andEngineering, “This funding has pro-duced an enormous amount of technicalresearch expertise and enhance theknowledge base of the textile and fiberindustry. We’re providing a highlytrained technical work force, and we’removing to very high technology materi-als, and the National Textile Center hasbeen the driving force for that.”

Some of the research projects thatNTC has undertaken include:

• Smart fibers, such as electronic andphotonic fibers for technology, sensorsand biosensors.

• Biomimetic research with spider=silk to produce very strong fibers.

• Ink and substrate interaction ininkjet printing on textiles.

• Protective clothing performancerequirements.

• Material development for humantissue engineering.

Additional information on NTC andits activities is available on their Internetsite (www.ntcresearch.org ). — INJ

22 INJ Fall 2003

ASSOCIATION BULLETIN BOARD

Apparel and Fabric Care LabelingChemical Conditioning Cotton, Yarn, Fibers, Wool and Feltand PerformanceFlammability and Flame Glass FiberResistanceHome Furnishings Inflatable RestraintsNonwoven Fabric Pile Floor CoveringsSub-assemblies, such as Tire Cord and FabricsZippers, Hook & Loops

SEPTEMBER 2003Sep. 16-18, 2003. INTC 2003International Nonwovens TechnicalConference. Renaissance HarborplaceHotel, Baltimore, MD. For more infor-mation, contact: INDA, P.O. Box 1288,Cary, NC 27512. Tel.: 919/233-1210; Fax:919/233-1282. Internet: www.inda.org.Also, TAPPI, P.O. Box 105113, Atlanta,GA 30348. Tel.: 770/446-1400; Fax:770/446-6947. Internet: www.tappi.org.

Sept. 22-24, 2003. International TextileDesign and Engineering Conference.Edinburgh and Galashiels,, Scotland.For more information, contact: SharonLam, Galashiels; Tel. 44+1896/89-2133;www.intedec.com .

Sep. 23-25, 2003. INDA NonwovensTraining Course. Cary, NC. For moreinformation contact: INDA, P.O. Box1288, Cary, NC; Tel.: 919/233-1210; Fax:919/233-1282; Internet: www.inda.org .

Sep. 23-25, 2003. Lab Design 2003.Hyatt Penn’s Landing Hotel, 201 SouthColumbus Road, Philadelphia, PA19106, USA. For more information, con-tact: Tim Studt, Reed BusinessInformation, Newton, MA 02458; Tel.:630/288-8700; Fax: 630/288-8394.

Sep 23-25, 2003. Advanced FiberScience Course. TRI/Princeton, 601Prospect Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540.For more information, contact: CourseRegistrar, TRI/Princeton; Tel: 609/720-0200; Fax:609/683-7149; Internet:www.triprinceton.org .

OCTOBER 2003Oct. 1-3, 2003. IFAI Expo 2003. LasVegas Convention Center, Las Vegas,NV. For more information, contact: IFAI,Roseville, MN; Tel.: 651/225-6942: Fax:

651/631-9334. confmgmt@ifai.com ;www.ifaiexpo.info .

Oct. 6-10, 2003. Nonwovens ProductDevelopment Workshop. Cary, NC.Joint with INDA and North CarolinaState University, School of Textiles. Formore information, contact: INDA, P.O.Box 1288, Cary, NC; Tel.: 919/233-1210;Fax: 919/233-1282; Internet:www.inda.org ; or Mr. Rory Holmes,North Carolina State University,Raleigh, NC; Tel.: 919/515-4550; Fax:919/515-7614. www.tx.ncsu.edu .

Oct. 14-16, 2003. Porous MaterialsCharacterization. Professional Trainingat TRI/Princeton, 601 Prospect Avenue,P.O. Box 625, Princeton, NJ 08540. Formore information, contact: CourseRegistrar, TRI/Princeton; Tel: 609/430-4828; Fax:609/683-7149; www.triprince-ton.org/pmc2003 .

Oct. 14-16, 2003. Fiber Society 2003 FallConference. Embassy Suites Hotel &Conference Center, Raleigh, NC. Formore information, contact: Prof.Subhash Batra, Secretary, The FiberSociety, North Carolina State University,Box 8301, Raleigh, NC 27695; Tel.:919/515-6555; Fax: 919/575-4556; E-mail: subhash_batra@ncsu.edu .

Oct. 20-24, 2003. INSIGHT 2003.Nashville, Tennessee. For more informa-tion, contact: D. McCormick,Marketing/Technology Service, 4100South 7th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009;Tel.: 616/375-1237; Fax: 616/375-6710.

Oct. 20-24, 2003. INDA NonwovenProcess Fundamentals TrainingCourse. Sponsored by INDA andNonwovens Cooperative ResearchCenter at NCSU. For more information,

contact: INDA, P.O. Box 1288, Cary, NC;Tel.: 919/233-1210; Fax: 919/233-1282;inda.org/events/traincs/productwork-shop/pdf ; or Director For TechnologyTransfer, School of Textiles, NorthCarolina State University, Raleigh, NC;Tel.: 919/515-4550; Fax: 919/515-7614.Internet: www.tx.ncsu.edu.

Oct. 22-29, 2003. ITMA 2003.Birmingham, U.K. Conference ofInternational Textile MachineryAssociation. For more information, con-tact: ITMA Organising Committee; Tel.:44+121/780-2003; Fax: 44+121/782-2003; www.itma.com .

NOVEMBER 2003Nov. 11-13, 2003. Techtextil SouthAmerica. Sao Paulo, Brazil. For moreinformation, contact: Messe FrankfurtGmbH, Frankfurt a. M. Germany; Tel.:49+69/7575-0; Fax: 49+69/7575-6433;www.messefrankfurt.com .

Nov. 18-20, 2003. Filtration 2003. NavyPier, Chicago, Illinois. Major conferenceand exposition covering all aspects ofthe filtration business. For more infor-mation contact: INDA, P.O. Box 1288,Cary, NC; Tel.: 919/233-1210; Fax:919/233-1282. www.inda.org .

Nov. 18-20, 2003. Chem Show 2003.Jacob Javits Convention Center, NewYork City, NY. The major NorthAmerican exhibition of chemical equip-ment and related items. Internet:www.chemshow.com .

Nov. 18-20, 2003. GuanzhouInternational Nonwovens Exhibition2003. Chinese Export CommoditiesFairground, Guanzhou, PR China. Formore information, contact: Top ReputeCo. Ltd or Guanzhou NonwovensAssociation; Room 2405, Fu FaiCommercial Center, 27 Hillier Street,Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; Tel.:852/2851-8603; Fax: 852/2851-8637.www.toprepute.com.hk .

Nov.18-20, 2003. 13th Annual TANDECNonwovens Conference. University of

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Tennessee Conference Center, Knoxville,TN. For more information, contact: Dr.Dong Zhang, TANDEC, University ofTennessee-Knoxville; Tel.: 865/974-3573;Fax: 865/974-3580. tancon@utk.edu .http://web.utk.edu/~tancon .

Nov. 19, 2003. Annual Conference ofTTNA. Victoria, Australia. TheAAdvanced Materials for a SecureWorld@ annual conference of theTechnical Textiles and NonwovenAssociation (TTNA), of Melbourne,Australia. Venue - Aitken HillConference Centre, Yuroke, Australia.For more information, contact: LorraineGierck, TTNA Secretariat, Melbourne,Australia. Tel.: 61+3/9866-6643; Fax:61+3/9866-6434. www.ttna.com.au .

DECEMBER 2003Dec. 8-12, 2003. INDA CharacterizationMethods Course. Sponsored by INDAand Nonwovens Cooperative ResearchCenter at NCSU. For more information,contact: INDA, P.O. Box 1288, Cary, NC;Tel.: 919/233-1210; Fax: 919/233-1282;www.inda.org/events/traincs/CharMethods.pdf ; or Director For TechnologyTransfer, School of Textiles, NorthCarolina State University, Raleigh, NC;Tel.: 919/515-4550; Fax: 919/515-7614.www.tx.ncsu.edu

Dec. 15-17, 2003. Asia NonwovensExhibition and Conference (ANEX-2003). INTEX, Shanghai, P.R. China forExhibition; Renaissance YangtzeShanghai Hotel for the Conference. .(Originally scheduled for May 23-23,2003, it was postponed due to the SARSproblem in Asia). For more information,contact: Noemi Belamide, PaperloopInc., 2018 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 600,Atlanta, GA 30339; Tel.: 678/589-8829;Fax: 678/589-8885; www.anex2003.com

JANUARY 2004Jan. 13-14, 2004. ASTM EighthSymposium on Performance ofProtective Clothing: Global Needs andEmerging Markets. Tampa, Florida,USA. Sponsored by ASTM CommitteeF23 on Protective Clothing. For more

information, contact: DorothyFitzpatrick, Symposia Operations,ASTM International, W. Conshohocken,PA. Tel.: 610/832-9677; www.astm.org .

MARCH 2004Mar. 30-Apr.2. Techtextil NorthAmerica; Hightex – It’s Our Future(TTNA). International Trade Fair forTechnical Textiles and Nonwovens.Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, GA, USA.For more information, contact: MesseFrankfurt Inc., Atlanta, GA; Tel.:770/984-8016; Fax: 770/984-8023; Website: www.usa.messefrankfurt.com .

APRIL 2004April 19-23, 2004. World FiltrationCongress 9 and 17th Annual AmericanFiltration & Separations SocietyConference and Exposition. HyattRegency Hotel, New Orleans, LA, USA.For more information, contact: AFS,Falls Church, VA; Tel.: 703/538-1000;Fax: 703/538-6305; Web site: www.afs-society.org .

APRIL 27-29, 2004. IDEA 2004INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERED FABRICS

CONFERENCE & EXPO. MIAMI BEACH

CONVENTION CENTER, MIAMI BEACH, FL.FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:INDA, P.O. BOX 1288, CARY, NC; TEL.:919/233-1210; FAX: 919/233-1282;WWW.INDA.ORG .

MAY 2004May 23-27, 2004. 83rd WorldConference - The Textile Institute.Donghua University, Shanghai, P. R.China. For further information, contact83rd TIWC Secretariat at the College ofTextiles, Donghua University, Shanghai200051, P. R. China; Fax: 86-21/621-93061; Email: ti04shanghai@dhu.edu.cn. http://www.dhu.edu.cn/83tiwc.htm .

OCTOBER 2004Oct. 27-29, 2004. IFAI Expo 2004. David L.Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh,PA. For more information, contact: IFAI,Roseville, MN; Tel.: 651/225-6942: Fax:651/631-9334. confmgmt@ifai.com.www.ifaiexpo.info — INJ

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