QuietShield for the 2012 Buick Verano
Federal-Mogul’s QuietShield GRN – green nonwoven – insulation, first used in the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, will now be used by General Motors to help eliminate cabin noise in the new 2012 Buick Verano.
Comprised of recycled cardboard packaging and other byproducts normally discarded at vehicle manufacturing plants, QuietShield GRN is used as acoustical material in the Verano’s headliner to reduce noise in the passenger compartment.
It represents an effective solution compared to traditional noise-dampening materials, that helps reduce waste disposal and associated costs, Federal-Mogul says.
NatureWorks has announced a major capital investment project at its plant in Blair, Nebraska, USA, for the production of new grades of high-performance Ingeo PLA biopolymers – including a product that will reduce the shrinkage and improve the dimensional stability of nonwovens.
As the demand for recycling efficiency continues to grow, Davis-Standard’s ram stuffer extruder has proved to be a cost-effective solution for fibre waste. 
In response to rapidly growing demand in the Americas, Glatfelter is expanding its proprietary festooning capacity in Gatineau, Quebec.
Nonwovens leader Ahlstrom Corporation is to begin manufacturing glass fibre reinforcements for composites to be empoyed in the wind energy market in China at its Binzhou plant, in the Shandong province on China’s eastern coast.
The world’s first spandex fibre employing a 100% renewably sourced biopolymer is being introduced RadiciSpandex Corp. RadElast is 80% by content biomaterial and ensure the highest environmental sustainability while retaining the required stretch and suitability for high-speed spinning processes.
Hong Kong-headquartered Costin New Materials is to vastly increase its capacity for both recycled fibres and nonwovens and is also exploring new applications in composites. 
Tredegar Film Products has now applied for a patent for its Flowertool software system. Flowertool assesses the eco-efficiency of industrial systems, facilities and products based on scientifically and technologically validated models and indicators. 
