GESSNER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Technical Consulting - Nonwovens
Scott L. Gessner:

Scott Gessner maintains a reputation as one of the World’s leading technical specialists in air-attenuated
nonwoven technology.  He utilizes a hands-on, data-based, yet practical approach to problem solving.  
That approach has enabled Mr. Gessner to develop products with superior performance attributes and
market differentiation; often supported by defensible intellectual property.  Gessner's innovative approach
to technology development has resulted in the issuance of over 25 US patents assigned to clients of G&A,
Incorporated.

Mr. Gessner takes complex technical data and distills that into a clear understanding of underlying issues
that affect a material's performance.  His understanding of the relationship between polymer structure and
dynamic behavior coupled to his extensive knowledge of air-attenuation processes, uniquely qualifies Mr.
Gessner to tackle the most demanding spunbond and meltblown development projects.

Prior to starting his own business, Scott distinguished himself as an innovator during his tenure at Dow
Chemical in the early 1980’s.  Mr. Gessner’s pioneering work on pitch polymerization, critical gas
extraction, and carbon fiber production won him special recognition from Dow Chemical’s Operating
Board (1983) as well as several patents.  Later, he would join Dow’s Polyolefin Department where he
managed the installation and operation of Dow’s pilot spinning plants and became instrumental to the
development and commercialization of Dow’s Aspun® resins for fiber and nonwovens.  

After leaving Dow, Mr. Gessner served as Process Engineer and Research Associate for a leading
nonwoven producer where he championed numerous patent supported polymer blend and
multicomponent fiber based nonwoven technologies and products; including Securon® Medical CSR
Wrap, Bold® Detergent Pouch fabric and Softspun® stretch compatible nonwoven for elastic diaper
components.  A patented multiconstituent technology developed by Gessner was utilized to justify the
installation of a $34MM SMMS line and successfully defend against a Kimberley-Clark lawsuit.  
Multiconstituent and multicomponent technologies have triggered an industry wide revolution of
spunbond and meltblown processes and products that currently account for well over $500MM in
worldwide sales.  

Several years after founding G&A, Incorporated in 1991, Mr. Gessner assisted Cargill with the
development of fiber and nonwoven polymer grades made from a renewable source - plant sugars.  
Polylactic Acid (PLA) is the most successful renewable polymer on the planet.  In addition to establishing
optimum polymer parameters and processing conditions for high speed filament attenuation, Mr. Gessner
was the first to identify the necessity for stress-induced crystallization to impart thermal stability to air-
attenuated PLA fibers and fabrics.  His work resulted in a fundamental material and application patent for
PLA-nonwovens that continues to support NatureWorks' development and commercialization efforts to
this day.  

Gessner & Associates, Incorporated has continuously provided consulting services to dozens of clients
on projects ranging from multicomponent spunbond and meltblown development to greenfield spunbond
plant specification, purchase, installation and start-up.  

Associates of G&A, Inc. vary depending upon the size, complexity and unique requirements of each
project.  Therefore, close relationships are maintained with a variety of Industry experts having unique
skill sets.  G&A, Inc. also maintains relationships with Hills, Incorporated, Fiber Science, Alex James &
Associates, University of Tennessee and North Carolina State University for pilot, equipment, and testing
services.  

Copyright © 2008 Gessner & Associates, Inc.