Sun Protection Beyond Awnings

John S. Saunders is a co-founder and senior partner at USA SHADE & Fabric Structures Inc.,
Dallas, and currently serves as the company’s president and CEO. Saunders has more than 20 years’
experience in the fabric structure industry. He is a native South African and received his Bachelor
of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is married and has two
children, and currently resides in the Dallas area.


Textile World: When was your company formed?

Saunders: USA SHADE & Fabric Structures Inc. began in 2004. It was actually a
coming together of four independent companies: Sun Ports; Shade Structures; FabriTec Structures;
and Vehicle Protection Structures (VPS). Each is now a brand of USA SHADE & Fabric Structures
Inc.


TW: What’s the scope of your activities?

Saunders: We provide shade and architectural fabric structures for a wide variety
of markets and applications. Our modular products are used primarily to provide shade and weather
protection for schools, parks and recreation facilities. Our tensile membranes also provide shade,
but clients for these types of custom structures are often looking for an iconic structure that can
give a facility a unique look; these are used for stadiums, amphitheaters and transportation
facilities, to name a few. Through our four brands, we have now produced more than 250,000
structures, primarily in the United States.

ExecForumSauders

John S. Saunders, CEO, USA SHADE & Fabric Structures Inc.


TW: As I understand, you market the Sun Ports and Shade Structures brands to
markets that include schools and day care centers, amphitheaters, water parks, zoos, aquatic
facilities, parking areas and sports facilities. Can you tell us more about these markets for shade
products? What are the market drivers?

Saunders: Yes, Sun Ports and Shade Structures offer essentially the same product,
but to different areas. Shade Structures sells exclusively in the state of California, while Sun
Ports covers the rest of the country. Both brands manufacture modular fabric structures that focus
on protecting children through the shade provided at locations such as school, day care, parks and
recreation, and community facilities. These structures utilize fabrics that can block out up to 96
percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and help prevent sunburn, heatstroke and skin cancer.
They can also preserve and extend the life of recreational and sports equipment. Shade Structures
largely focuses on supplying shade products for the school systems in California. In fact,
California, Nevada and Arizona all now have requirements to provide shade in public locations; and
that list of states should expand in the near future. Shade Structures was actually the first to
have a fabric product approved by the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) and now
offers more DSA-approved structures than any other shade provider in the state. There are many
other applications for fabric structures beyond parks and recreation. Military applications, for
example, include training facilities, ordnance storage areas, tank shade and shooting ranges on
bases.


TW: What types of fabrics do you use in your shade products?

Saunders: We use a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) knitted mesh supplied by
Multiknit (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa for shade applications. When you think of shade, you may think
of traditional applications like residential and commercial awnings. But we’ve taken the
applications further. Our lightweight materials and easy installation allow large areas to be
covered at much less cost. Traditional canvas awnings use heavier materials that trap heat and do
not allow airflow like a knitted mesh does; hence, the traditional awning material requires
additional support framing for stability and strength, and this means higher costs. The breathable
mesh fabrics we utilize can provide a reduction in temperature by as much as 30 percent underneath
the structures. Wood, canvas or steel structures simply cannot do that.


TW: Are you focused mostly in the southern U.S.?

Saunders: That was our original geographic scope. We were filling a unique need in
the region, which frequently experiences harsh sun and hail. But we have gradually expanded into
the middle U.S. and also have a number of projects in areas more to the north such as the Cedar
Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, and County Farm Park in Ann Arbor, Mich., which
significantly spiced up its facility with our custom butterfly and flower structures.


TW: Can you tell us a little about the Vehicle Protection Structures brand?

Saunders: Our focus with this brand is more equal protection from both hail and
sun, primarily for the auto industry. Hailstorms can result in devastating damage. Many people don’t
realize, for example, that a good-sized hailstone traveling 100 to 120 miles per hour can have the
same effect on vehicle windows and bodies as a sledgehammer swung at full force. VPS customers are
car dealerships, rooftop and large-area commercial parking facilities, and automotive manufacturers
that have a high concentration of stored cars. We also provide structures to protect boats,
recreational vehicles, construction equipment and other products in situations where there is a lot
of product in a confined, open storage area.


TW: What are the market drivers in the VPS segment?

Saunders: The primary market driver, naturally, is the state of manufacturing. If
people are buying cars, the need grows to cover the inventory. Aesthetics also enter into the
equation when you consider the value added to the facility. Shade comfort is another benefit when
making buying decisions. An asphalt car lot is a hot place to be when you are looking at purchasing
a vehicle. Provide a shady place, and people will look at the car longer.

USAshade2

ASU SkySong, a mixed-use project including office, research and retail space, has as its
centerpiece a custom tensile fabric structure supplied by FabriTec Structures in conjunction with
FTL Design Engineering Studio, New York City, and Higgins Development Partners, Chicago. The frame
consists of eight steel structures that support integrated conical-shaped pieces covered with
Teflon®-coated fiberglass fabric that can withstand 650 pounds of force per square inch.


TW: Tell us a little about FabriTec and how its products relate to shade.

Saunders: FabriTec is the brand within USA SHADE that manufactures larger tensile
membrane structures. These applications frequently use heavier-weight fabrics like polyvinyl
chloride and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and, like most large structures, they are designed
primarily to protect the user against harsh, inclement weather and cold. However, the tension
structure at ASU SkySong at Arizona State University (ASU) in Scottsdale, Ariz., was designed with
the goal to provide both shade and water collection. It uses 45,000 square meters of PTFE membrane
and features unique inverted cones at the base of the structure that collect rainwater. FabriTec
has really done some amazing projects over the years, such as the cloud-like structures at the
entrance of the Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Ariz., the seven majestic canopies at the Rosa Parks
Transit Center in Detroit, Mich., and, recently, the massive San Diego International Airport
project in California. These structures really showcase what can be achieved utilizing fabric in
architecture, and our team of designers has really raised the bar in terms of imagination and
innovation.


TW: What’s the outlook for USA SHADE & Fabric Structures?

Saunders: The outlook is good. I’m very bullish on the future. We had a few lean
years with budget cuts in the schools, government and private industry; and also the slump in
automotive sales. However, as the economy has improved, we have seen these markets rebound. There
is a demand for protection from the effects of weather and the sun. Health concerns for children
are certainly a major driver. We’ve barely scratched the surface of the market penetration.

Editor’s note: Stephen M. Warner, Arden Hills, Minn., is publisher of BeaverLake6 Report,
beaverlake6.com, a Web-based newsletter reporting on trends, data and issues that he feels
influence the technical textiles industry. He also is former president and CEO of Industrial
Fabrics Association International.

July/August 2013

Techtextil 2013: Sector Summit

On June 13, 2013, Techtextil, the International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens,
closed its doors in Frankfurt. Show organizer Messe Frankfurt reports a record 1,322 exhibitors
from 48 countries welcomed 27,500 visitors from 97 countries, compared with 1,199 exhibitors and
24,915 visitors in 2011. The parallel Texprocess International Trade Fair for Processing Textiles
and Flexible Materials had 326 exhibiting companies from 37 countries.

A further positive trend in 2013 was the increased internationality of exhibitors — 65
percent compared with 63 percent in 2011. The main exhibitor nations after Germany were Italy,
China, United States, Taiwan, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, South Korea and Switzerland. The
numbers are no surprise — it is common sense that technical textiles and nonwovens are gaining
importance throughout the global textile industry.

Techtextil1

Frankfurt’s Messeturm towers over the Messe Frankfurt fairgrounds, venue for
Techtextil

The main technical textiles/nonwovens markets differ from traditional markets, and a large
part of the manufactured products are made in Europe — mainly Germany and France as well as Eastern
Europe, and also in the U.S. In some, mostly Western, countries, technical fibers and fabrics are
the only growth drivers for the domestic textile industry. For years, this sector has reported
double-digit growth.

Those who have witnessed the rise of technical textiles and nonwovens in the last 10 years
know that Techtextil is a must for all interested parties in the sector. Now held in parallel with
Texprocess, the undisputed number-one event continues to gain importance.

In addition, Techtextil has experienced a dramatic and very positive development toward
becoming a complete trade fair — with virtually all machines, processes and peripheral equipment to
produce industrial yarns, fabrics, belts, tents, geotextiles and other products found under one
roof.


Highly Satisfied


How did exhibitors respond to Techtextil? Textile World wanted to know their feelings. All
respondents were very satisfied with the show’s outcome as well as with the high visitor quality.
Expectations were met, and, in some cases, exceeded.

Jutta Stehr, marketing manager at Trützschler Nonwovens & Man-Made Fibers GmbH, Germany,
said: “We are amazed at the large number of Chinese who visited our booth.”

Sabine Duttenhofer, head of corporate communications at Germany-based Freudenberg Nonwovens,
added: “Our company welcomed visitors from more than 15 nations.”

Johann Philipp Dilo, CEO of DiloGroup, Germany, said: “Our expectations were more than
fulfilled. Next to a lot of Europeans, we welcomed visitors from India and Brazil.” He also
mentioned visitors from Japan, and North and South America.


Market Situation


“We were truly surprised by the high number of very reputable visitors,” Stehr said. “If one
thinks of the euro crisis and declining growth rates in the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India
and China, it’s amazing how high the global investment plans still are.”

Florian Boch, head of marketing and communications, Lindauer Dornier GmbH, Germany, also
rated the current market situation as positive. “Technical textiles and nonwovens are clearly
growing markets,” he said.

This assessment was confirmed by Edi Strebel, marketing manager of Jakob Müller AG,
Switzerland: “We see a growing market for new applications, mainly in Europe. This is to a large
extent provoked by the textile producers who want to compensate for the decline in traditional
products.”

Similar explanations were given by Sibylle Hänni Hofmann, communications manager for
Switzerland-based Sanitized AG: “Sectors such as sunscreen, medicine, outdoor items and protective
textiles are showing large growth rates. Therefore, we notice a strong demand for innovative
products for antimicrobial protection of PVC [polyvinyl chloride] and heat resistance, as well as
weatherproof and UV [ultraviolet] stability.”


New Products And Processes


Some companies introduced new products or processes at Techtextil. Strebel said: “We didn’t
show a new machine, but a new application — monofilament tubular weaves for oil filters. And the
feedback for this product was rather good. The advantages are that with this technology, one can
weave or knit the product to its final shape, requiring minimal process steps after the weaving
process.”

A particular novelty was presented by Dornier. “We presented our new multiaxial fabrics
applications,” Boch said. “The weaver can produce a lot of new and innovative products.”

Duttenhofer also mentioned something new: “Freudenberg is very much involved in the shoe
industry. We presented the new Airliner 2.0 Vildona insoles, and the feedback was just great. It
offers benefits like breathability and water resistance. Also in the focus of our customers is
Evolon® microfiber material in all its different appearances.”

Trützschler was very much in the focus of attention. Stehr, supported by some technicians,
explained: “We presented our cooperation with Voith Paper to produce wet wipes on an integrated
wetlaid and spunlace line. We brought a sample roll, which attracted both producers of flushable
wet wipes and converters of nonwoven roll goods. Some of our customers and other interested parties
didn’t know about this new development. Flushable wipes are a hot topic right now. Currently, we
are busy planning for follow-up visits.

Techtextil2

Trützschler Nonwovens & Man-Made Fibers GmbH presented its cooperation with Voith Paper
to produce flushable wet wipes on an integrated wetlaid and spunlace line.

Hofmann mentioned Sanitized® protection for soft PVC: “It is applicable for the antimicrobial
protection of soft PVC used in indoor and outdoor applications: Heat resistance during processing,
and excellent weather and UV stability are attractive features. Soft PVC coatings and foams are
frequently subject to microbial infestation and destruction. The breaks and cracks in the surface
and the discoloration of the material caused by this shorten the useful life of the product
considerably. We showed two new innovations to solve this problem.”

DiloGroup, a provider of complete solutions, mostly informed about nonwoven staple fiber
lines for the production of fabric filters and geotextiles; but other nonwoven applications also
were discussed. “Filter fabrics reduce pollution, and geotextiles provide a better infrastructure,”
Dilo said. “Both products are in high demand at the moment.” He expects annual growth of around 8
percent.


Changing Requirements


How have market requirements changed in the last decade? “Technical textiles markets will
grow and with them, the segment for nonwovens,” Duttenhofer said. “Megatrends like traffic
gridlock, megacities, sustainability or work-life balance will increase global sales for technical
textiles; and it means also that we have to think about new production methods and solutions.”

Strebel made clear that today, there are many new applications for technical textiles: “Many
customers are actively looking for new application areas. And customers are looking for machines
that are easier to use, meaning more processes are integrated in one machine.”

Boch said that “previously, customers had a total solution in their mind and came to us to
talk about the production details. Today, they want from us the total solution.”

Stehr added: “The world has changed a lot since the beginning of the new millennium. A major
factor was the rise of China as both a major consumer and a producer of fibers, nonwovens,
technical textiles and the respective machinery. Other trends inspiring the machinery sector are
demands for convenience products and sustainability.”


More Floor Space Required


Many exhibitors want to enlarge their floor space considerably at Techtextil 2015. It may
well be inevitable for the organizers to open an additional hall. However, as Boch pointed out: “We
don’t think there would be a lot more visitors. Nevertheless, we believe the flow of visitors would
be distributed more evenly, and we could take care of our visitors in a better way. Nevertheless,
Techtextil should remain as it is, and not mutate into a textile machinery show and compete with
ITMA.”

July/August 2013

ITMF Annual Conference: Bregenz: A Fine Place For Networking

Austria-based Lenzing AG is the co-host of the 2013 ITMF Annual Conference in Bregenz, Austria. In
an exclusive interview,

Textile World
 wanted to know from Friedrich Weninger, COO and a member of Lenzing’s Management Board,
why his company is so involved in this event.


TW: How is the Lenzing Group supporting the Austrian textile industry?

Weninger: We have contacts in a number of innovative textile companies in Austria
with regard to product developments, technical service and marketing support. We appreciate their
innovative spirit and cooperation. Also, the young designer base in Austria is very interesting for
us. We support these talents with know-how and marketing activities.


TW: What would you like to achieve with these activities for your domestic textile
industry?

Weninger: Networking! The most important tool for such a small textile country as
Austria is networking. To know the players in the textile industry from spinning through the whole
chain up to retail is very important.

ITMFWeninger
Friedrich Weninger extends a warm welcome to the global textile family — enjoy your stay in
Austria!


TW: Is Austria still a textile country?

Weninger: Although the industry does not play the same role as it did in former
times, we have still more than 300 companies working in the industry, with an export share of
nearly 90 percent. These are quite high figures for a small country like Austria, and the high
export rate shows the reputation of Austrian products.


Personal Questions


Since the beginning of 2009, Friedrich “Fritz” Weninger has been a member of the Lenzing AG
Management Board. Lenzing is the world’s biggest and leading producer of man-made cellulosic
fibers.

In 1989, Weninger started his career at Lenzing in the High Performance Products Division.
Later on, he did strategic planning in the holding company for three years, followed by 10 years in
various leading positions in the Textile Fibers Business Unit, including sales, marketing and sales
logistics. From 2003 to 2008, he served as head of Textile Fibers.

Weninger, 56, is married and a happy father of two children. He describes himself as “a
passionate golfer and a family person.”



Markets



TW: How do you see the current market situation in general for Austria?

Weninger: Austria is part of the European Union, and many issues correspond.
Nevertheless, compared to other EU countries, Austria is in quite good shape — for example, with
regard to unemployment figures, especially concerning young people. This is due to a unique
apprentice training system through which the trainees get the opportunity to work in companies
while at the same time they are trained at school.


TW: How do you see the current market situation for your company?

Weninger: The ongoing difficult market environment for man-made cellulosic fibers
shaped the business development of the Lenzing Group in the first quarter of 2013, as expected. The
situation was characterized by the weak price development on the global fiber market, which is
being shaped by the ongoing high cotton inventories. Nevertheless, volume demand was good, which
served as the basis for the ongoing capacity utilization of all our production facilities.

ITMFLenzing

Lenzing’s production site in Lenzing, Austria, is the world’s largest integrated pulp and
viscose fiber production site.


The Country



TW: What are the main advantages of the country Austria as such?

Weninger: I think the high education standard and the innovative spirit makes
Austria unique in the world.


TW: What are the main advantages for the Austrian textile industry?

Weninger: Well, the quality of the products and the high specialization and
innovation level. Another important feature of Austrian textile companies is that they have high
environmental standards and innovative products also in this respect.


TW: How important is the textile industry for the country?

Weninger: It is a sector with great tradition and has a number of small and
innovative companies.


Market Position



TW: Why should a company buy textile products from Austria and not elsewhere?

Weninger: The standard of sustainability is well-known in the world and gives
Austrian products a good image. Especially, environmentally aware consumers appreciate the high
level of design and innovation.


TW: What is the world’s image of Austria? A wonderful place for holidays, or
what?

Weninger: Austria is, of course, well-known as a country with beautiful landscapes
and tourist regions, not least because the environment is absolutely clean and well looked-after.
But — apart from its cultural traditions and high quality of life — Austria has also been very
successful in keeping up a high share of industry, a fact that has resulted in attractive export
business and a very good level of employment. The reputation of Austrian quality products and
innovation is also a very attractive feature of this country.


ITMF Conference



TW: How did the idea come about to bring the 2013 ITMF conference to Bregenz?

Weninger: Bregenz is near Austria’s Swiss and German borders and is somehow the
heart of this region. It is a good idea to combine the textile spirit of all three countries.


TW: Do you like the idea that the ITMF conference is close to the Dornbirn
Man-made Fibers Congress?

Weninger: Absolutely, this is great. The whole industry can meet in one place.
Networking and exchange are extremely important, especially for innovative business ideas.


TW: Why is your company supporting this event?

Weninger: We as a fiber producer are interested in innovation and textile
networking. We are interested in all partners in the textile chain, and our aim is to connect the
whole industry.


TW: What do you expect from the congress for the Austrian textile industry?

Weninger: New trends, innovation and new thinking as well as meeting long-standing
contacts.


TW: What would you like to say to the visitors to the ITMF conference in
Bregenz?

Weninger: A warm welcome to the global textile family — enjoy your stay in Austria
and get the best out of this interesting event for your professional life!

July/August 2013

2013 ITMF Annual Conference Program

Saturday, September 7

15:00 – 19:00: Registration

16:00 – 17:30: Directors’ Meeting Directors of ITMF member associations, associate and
corporate members

19:00 – 22:00: Joint Reception and Dinner ITMF, Austrian Textile Industry Federation (VTI)
and Lenzing Office Bearers and Directors of ITMF member associations, associate and corporate
members at Wirtshaus am See, Bregenz

Sunday, September 8

08:30 – 10:00: Meeting ITMF Spinners Committee

10:30 – 12:00: Meeting Joint Cotton Committee

12:00 – 13:30: Board Meeting

12:00 – 19:00: Registration

12:30 – 14:00: Lunch Fiber Session

14:30 – 15:45: Cotton

  • Metrics for Sustainability in Cotton Production – Terry Townsend, executive director,
    International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), Washington
  • The New Meaning of Sustainability – Fritz Grobien, president, Bremen Cotton Exchange,
    Germany
  • Kai Hughes, managing director, International Cotton Association (ICA), United Kingdom
  • Lothar Kruse, Ph.D., lab manager, Impetus Bioscience, Germany
  • Panel Discussion/Q&A

15:45 – 16:15: Coffee Break

16:15 – 17:00: Man-made Fibers

  • Regional Markets for Manufactured Fibers: Overview and Outlook – Peter Driscoll, managing
    director, PCI Fibres, UK
  • Hans Leitner, senior technical manager, Lenzing AG, Austria
  • Panel Discussion/Q&A

17:15 – 18:30: Meeting Fibers and Applications Committee

19:00 – 20:30: Welcome Reception Cruise Ship Hohentwiel

20:30 – 22:00: Dinner Festival and Congress Hall

Monday, September 9

Formal Opening Session

09:00 – 09:45: Welcome Addresses

  • Dionys Lehner, president, VTI, Austria
  • Peter Untersperger, CEO, Lenzing AG, Austria
  • Josué Gomes da Silva, president, ITMF, Brazil

09:45 – 10:30: Keynote Address

  • Felix Brill, chief economist, Wellershoff & Partners, Switzerland (TBC)

10:30 – 11:00: Coffee Break

First General Session

11:00 – 11:45:Europe’s Textile Industry

  • Alexander Hofstadler, managing director, Linz Textil, Austria
  • Research- and Creativity-based European Textile Production – Juan Pares, CEO, Textil
    Santanderina, Spain
  • Panel Discussion/Q&A

11:45 – 12:45: How E-Commerce Can Help Manufacturers and Retailers

  • Teppo Paavola, vice president, PayPal (eBay), San Jose, Calif.
  • (TBD), Google, Brazil

12:45 – 13:30: Lunch

Second General Session

13:45 – 15:00: Textile Supply Chain

  • Giuseppe Gherzi, managing director, Gherzi Textile Organisation, Switzerland
  • Simone Canclini, president, Canclini, Italy
  • Mark Green, head, Global Supply Chain, PVH Corp., New York City
  • Panel Discussion/Q&A

15:00 – 15:30: Coffee Break

15:30 – 16:30: Meeting

Committee of Management

16:30 – 17:30: Meeting

Committee of Home Textiles Producers

Evening: Gala Dinner aboard the Gebhardsberg

Tuesday, September 10

Third General Session

08:30 – 09:30: Retail

  • Tina Striddle, managing director, Aid by Trade Foundation and Atakora GmbH, Germany
  • Mark Sumner, sustainable raw materials expert, Marks & Spencer, United Kingdom (TBC)
  • Felix Poza, director, corporate social responsibility, Inditex, Spain (TBC)
  • Panel Discussion/Q&A

09:30 – 10:00: Coffee Break

Fourth General Session

10:00 – 11:15: Technical Textiles and Nonwovens

  • Development Potentials for Technical Textiles – Götz Gresser, director, ITV Denkendorf,
    Germany
  • New Textile Paradigms – Printed Electronics on Textiles, Photovoltaic Textiles, additive
    Technologies (3-E Printing) – Antonio Braz, director, CENTI-CITEVE, Portugal
  • Christoph Tobler, CEO, Sefar AG, Switzerland
  • Alexander Tessmar-Pfohl, member of the Board, Sattler AG, Austria
  • Panel Discussion/Q&A

11:15 – 11:30: The Global Textile Machinery Market Situation

  • Christian P. Schindler, Ph.D., director general, ITMF

11:30 – 12:00: China’s Textile Industry – Today and Tomorrow

  • Sun Ruizhe, vice president, CNTAC, China

12:10 – 12:15: Invitation

2014 Annual Conference

13:15 – 16:30: Lunch and Visit

Dornier Museum, Friedrichshafen

For latest program updates, visit itmf.org. Program accurate as of
Textile World‘s press time.

Radici Chimica S.p.A. Signs An Agreement With The Italian Ministry For The Environment

GANDINO, Italy — July 11, 2013 — In early July, Radici Chimica SpA, a RadiciGroup chemical company
engaged in the production of polyamide 6,6 (Radipol®) and related chemical intermediates
(Radichem®), signed an important agreement with the Italian Ministry for the Environment to apply a
new method to its production chain, on an experimental basis, to determine the Product
Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF).

This method was recently set out in a Communication by the European Commission on how to
improve the availability of clear, reliable and comparable information on the environmental
performance of products and organizations, with the goal of harmonizing the different measurement
methods available today.

The agreement between the Italian Ministry for the Environment and RadiciGroup — signed by
Corrado Clini, general director of the Department of Sustainable Development, Climate and Energy of
the Ministry for the Environment, andPio Gazzini, site manager of Radici Chimica SpA — defines the
work plan that the Group chemical site will implement for the measurement and analysis of
greenhouse emissions associated with the production of PA 6,6. The plan will be set out in
accordance with the ISO Series 14040 standards and the European Union PEF and OEF methods.


The agreement signed by RadiciGroup falls within the public-private partnership initiatives
promoted by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, which have among its participants the main
Italian manufacturers (textiles, agriculture and foods, cosmetics, tourism, ceramics,
infrastructure, big distribution, etc.).

“This collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment is perfectly aligned with the
sustainability objectives of our 2011-2014 improvement plan,” Mr. Gazzini explained. “Included
among these objectives are the almost total reduction, by 2014, of nitrogen protoxide and NOx
emissions from our adipic and nitric acid production process. The path to establishing corporate
policies that embrace social and environmental, as well as economic considerations, is always a
complex one. For Radici Chimica, this agreement is a further testimony to its commitment to achieve
a fair balance between industrial activities and sustainability by integrating chemicals and the
environment.”

“The Ministry’s environmental footprint determination programme, which RadiciGroup has just
joined with this voluntary agreement, has already been adopted by more than 200 Italian companies,”
Mr. Clini said. The enterprises we collaborate with have come to realize that staying competitive
on the international market requires innovation capabilities aimed at improving environmental
performance. Our work is in line with the European strategy for ‘carbon intensity’ reduction in the
economy and is one of the main goals of the big investments being made today for the development of
new technologies at both the European and international levels.”

Posted July 16, 2013

Source: RadiciGroup

The Rupp Report: Something’s Happening In Bangladesh

Thanks to very low labor costs, Bangladesh succeeded in the past decade in becoming the
second-largest supplier to international markets after China. In 2012, the country exported apparel
worth US$20 billion. About 50 percent is exported to Europe, and some 40 percent to the United
States. Most major Western fashion houses and retail chains produce in Bangladesh.

Two and a half months after the devastating collapse of a textile factory in Bangladesh
(see ”
The
Rupp Report: Cheap Textiles Paid For With Human Lives,”
TextileWorld.com, April 30, 2013), 70 international companies have promised
additional security in production. Now, it seems that something is happening to improve the
desperate structure of the national textile production. The suppliers in the textile chain must
sign an agreement that fire protection in the mills is guaranteed.

The Carrot And The Stick

Now, some days ago, the European Union (EU), Bangladesh and the International Labour
Organization (ILO) in Geneva signed an agreement to increase safety in the textile factories of
Bangladesh
(See sidebar). The agreement is intended to ensure that a tragedy such as the one last
April in Rana Plaza will not occur again.

The EU is ready to help Bangladesh increase safety in its textile production. However,
Brussels is also ready to act if nothing changes. Bangladesh must understand that the duty-free and
quota-free imports of textile products from Bangladesh to the EU should not be simply taken for
granted. With this agreement, on the one hand, the security should be increased in the textile
factories. On the other hand, in the special economic zones, the workers have the right to assemble
and to negotiate collective labor agreements. However, this seems to be a theoretical issue.
Activists are convinced that these organizations would be important to represent the interests of
the poor and uneducated women textile workers.


On Monday, July 15, Bangladesh passed a law that gives workers the right to form trade
unions without approval from factory owners . In practice, however, up to now, all attempts have
been prevented in this direction by force.

To check the security of the buildings and improved working conditions, the Government of
Bangladesh committed itself to hiring 200 additional labor inspectors. The EU and the ILO will
support the implementation of the agreed-upon measures with financial and technical assistance. The
structural safety of buildings and improved fire safety in the factories must be implemented by
June 2014.

Of Outstanding Importance

The disaster was and is not a surprise. For years, the country has been in the headlines due
to fires and collapses of factories. However, the recent accident was the worst in the history of
Bangladesh, and Western retail companies that produce in the country worry about their image. Some
companies have already decided to relocate their production facilities because of the never-ending
horror stories. Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia are currently the most attractive destinations. In
2010, the minimum wage for textile workers has almost doubled to the equivalent of US$37 a month.
However, that is still much lower than anywhere else in the world. In Cambodia, for example, the
wage is at US$78; and in the southern Chinese industrial area of Guangzhou, US$210. Bangladesh
apparel workers are demanding that the salaries would be adjusted annually because of double-digit
inflation in the country.

In reality, a lack of capacity and significantly higher production costs make it virtually
impossible for most of the Western customers to leave Bangladesh overnight. The government needs to
urgently improve working conditions and safety in the textile factories if the country wants to
maintain its position in the market.

The loss of these big customers would be a disaster not only for the Bangladeshi textile
industry, but for the whole country as a whole. The sector currently contributes some 80 percent of
export revenues — US$19 billion. It also is the major employer. Nearly 4 million Bangladeshis —
almost half of the country’s industrial employees — are working in textile factories. According to
estimates, about 12 million of the 150 million inhabitants of the land directly depend on the
sector for their livelihood.

The foreign minister of Bangladesh says her country will do everything necessary to increase
the security in the textile factories and to improve working conditions. In recent years, EU
imports of textiles from Bangladesh were worth some 9.2 billion euros, which corresponds, according
to the calculations by Brussels, to roughly 2.2 million jobs. An abolishment of duty-free imports
of textiles from Bangladesh would have devastating consequences for the country.

Special Agreement In The U.S.

Up to now, the big American companies have rejected the signing of an agreement with
international brands and retailers. However, for image reasons, this situation has become critical.
Led by Walmart and Gap, 17 companies from the U.S. and Canada have announced their own agreement to
require more safety in the textile factories of Bangladesh: The current situation in the apparel
factories is unacceptable, CEOs of the involved companies declared some days ago in Washington. All
are called — the factory owners, the government of Bangladesh and the purchasers of the garments
and shoes all over the world — to change the situation quickly.

Their own agreement — the Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative — foresees inspections of
factories and training for workers in the next five years. The agreement also includes the new fire
protection agreements and the requirement that defects must be repaired and renovation of factory
buildings must be executed. If there is danger to life, the factories could be even closed.

Sustainability Compact

The ILO has joined a major compact launched by the EU together with the Government of
Bangladesh — to improve labor rights, working conditions and factory safety in the ready-made
garment industry in Bangladesh.

It commits all parties concerned to a number of time-bound actions, including reforming the
Bangladesh Labour Law to strengthening workers’ rights; improving building and fire safety by June
2014 and recruiting 200 additional inspectors by the end of 2013.

In a joint statement issued after the agreement was reached, the Bangladesh government and
the EU welcomed and encouraged “the continued efforts of the ILO to bring together the various
relevant stakeholders to work together to address the challenges of labor standards and factory
safety in Bangladesh.”

The statement also stressed the need for reform and implementation of a new Bangladesh
Labour Law in conformity with International Labour Standards. In opening remarks, made before the
compact was announced, the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, said a new, amended labor law in
Bangladesh needed to be passed quickly to avert another tragedy.

“It is important to underline that it’s a matter of fundamental importance to the action
that we all need to participate in. The labour law needs to be brought into line with ILO Standards
relating to fundamental rights at work, freedom of association and collective bargaining. There
should be no doubt about the action required and we very much hope that the legislation will meet
these needs.”

Labour rights, safety and health at work and responsible business conduct are at the core of
the “Staying Engaged — A Sustainability Compact with Bangladesh.”

The ILO was supporting Bangladesh’s labor law reform process before the Rana Plaza building
collapse occurred — promoting the need for a national policy on occupational safety and health,
strengthening unions and labor rights.

Soon after the tragedy, the Organization sent a mission to Bangladesh. Building upon a
national tripartite plan of action, the mission issued a joint statement from the government and
its social partners.

In addition, ILO technical assistance to the Bangladeshi apparel sector has significantly
increased since April.

The Organization also acts as a neutral chair and facilitator to a private sector industry
accord on building and fire safety between two global unions and retailers that has, to date, been
signed by around 70 global brands.

The joint statement acknowledged the importance of ILO technical assistance and committed to
a follow-up meeting in 2014 to review progress.

Source: International Labour Organization



July 16, 2013

Fiberweb Acquires Control Of Terram India

LONDON — July 10, 2013 — I am pleased to announce Fiberweb has acquired control of our existing
geosynthetics joint venture in Gujarat, India.

Following the signing of contracts at head office on Monday, July 8th, Fiberweb now owns
65%of shares in the Terram India plant, up from 26%.

Terram India is based in a coastal industrial park near Mundra and has been fully operational
since 2012. This additional investment of £2 million will enable us to provide a wider range of
Terram products from the plant, which is excellently placed to serve existing and new customers in
the Middle East, South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia as well as in the growing Indian
market.

The line will continue to provide support to operations in Maldon, and a separate sales
office,also based in Gujarat, will be expanded. Further investment in technology and to integrate
our accounting and stock management systems will take place over the coming months.

This acquisition is another step forward for Fiberweb and will further enhance our reputation
as a global geosynthetics solution provider. I would like to thank everyone involved in Terram
India for their hard work and look forward to sharing more good news from the plant in the near
future.

Daniel Dayan, CEO, Fiberweb Plc



Posted July 16, 2013

Source: Fiberweb Plc

First Three PRIMO 200 E Units Sold To Austria

GROSSOSTHEIM, Germany — July 2013 — Having just launched the product in January, Automatik Plastics
Machinery has sold the first three units of its new Primo 200 E strand pelletizer model to Austrian
master batch manufacturer Gabriel-Chemie GmbH.

After a short test phase with a trial machine, Gabriel-Chemie found the decision easy: The
PRIMO 200 E delivered outstanding pelletizing quality and high levels of user-friendliness, while
its ease of handling for batch changing made cleaning and retooling much quicker, enabling
significant savings to be made in production. The PRIMO 200 E received further plaudits thanks to
its deposit-free cutting head design, compact size and low running noise.


Primo
Automatik Plastic Machinery’s Primo 200 E



Posted July 16, 2013

Source: Maag

SML Group Acquires Xterprise

NEW YORK CITY — July 11, 2013 — The SML Group (“SML”) continues the expansion of its RFID ViziT™
program with the announcement today that it has acquired a controlling interest in Xterprise,
Carrollton, TX, USA. Xterprise now becomes a part of the SML Group.

As an industry leader in RFID item-level inventory management software applications
Xterprise’s suite of Clarity™ enterprise solutions deliver proven In-Store and Supply Chain
business value to a growing retailer and brand owner market. SML will add Xterprise’s complementary
capabilities to its existing set of RFID businesses to serve customers around the globe.

“When we launched the RFID ViziT™ Brand, it was our intention to bring our customers a one
stop solution for RFID inventory management technology,” said Simon Suen; SML Group Ltd. Chairman.
“With the strategic move of acquiring Xterprise, the SML ViziT™ program will be even better
positioned to deliver RFID technologies that create value for customers by helping them achieve new
benchmarks in inventory and operational efficiencies. It also opens a new market for SML Group.”

“We long held that to maximize our impact in the market, we needed to align ourselves with an
innovative, global, RFID ecosystem partner. We were impressed with the approach and enthusiasm that
SML is demonstrating as it expands its RFID programs around the world. Being part of the SML ViziT™
program will allow Xterprise to more effectively bring our Clarity™ on-premise and Cloud based
retail store and supply chain applications to a much broader market. We are thrilled to join the
SML team and what that will mean to delivering impactful RFID Item-level solutions to customers
around the globe,” said Dean Frew; Founder and President of Xterprise.

Philip Calderbank; SML Group VP Global RFID commented “with the acquisition of an established
leader like Xterprise, the SML ViziT™ program can immediately offer front to back One Stop
solutions. We are very excited in being able to demonstrate how our solutions deliver increased
sales, reduce shrink and provide cost savings for both our Retail and Vendor Supplier customers.
For retailers, our acquisition of industry leader Xterprise now means that SML’s ViziT™ solutions
will enable them to enhance in-store stock replenishment processes resulting in increased sales and
decreased shrink across their chain. These in-store applications enable new best practices in Stock
Replenishment, Loss Prevention, Brand Protection and new Customer Experiences. In addition we will
offer a suite of solutions for Vendors and Brand Owners by leveraging supply chain applications,
for best in class item-level inventory management and carton auditing. The Xterprise Enterprise
solutions are aimed at supply chain operations and will help our customers reduce shipping and
receiving errors and reduce overall safety stock inventory levels across the entire product life
cycle.”

Founded in 2002, Xterprise is a leader in developing and deploying enterprise class RFID
applications and solutions across numerous vertical markets. Since 2008 the company has focused
entirely on RFID Item-Level applications and solutions for the retail market. Their Clarity™
applications are behind some of the most prominent RFID item-level retailer and brand supplier
successes in the market to date. With item-level solution deployments in over 20 countries,
customers have used Xterprise Clarity™ applications to process well over a 1 billion RFID
item-level inventory transactions since 2010. The company has developed a full suite of products
for the spectrum of item-level stakeholders, from manufacturing to distribution to in-store.
Xterprise applications are enterprise proven and are defining new best practices in inventory
management and store operations.



Posted July 16, 2013

Source: SML Group

Suominen Has Completed The Divestment Of Its Wet Wipes Business

HELSINKI, Finland — July 15, 2013 — Suominen Corporation has completed the divestment of its wet
wipes business unit, Codi Wipes, announced on 17 June 2013. Both parties of the deal have now
fulfilled the conditions precedent and the transaction has been closed. Codi Wipes business unit
will be excluded from Suominen’s financial reporting as of today. Previously, Codi Wipes has been
reported as part of Suominen’s Wiping segment.

As stated in the previous announcement, Suominen will recognize due to the divestment, in
accordance with the IFRS 5 standard, a loss of MEUR 16.8 in the second quarter result of 2013 of
its discontinued operations.

The divestment further strengthens Suominen’s strategic focus on nonwovens and clarifies its
position in wipes value chain.

Posted July 16, 2013

Source: Suominen Corp.

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