Burlington Industries LLC, a division of Greensboro, N.C.-based International Textile Group Inc.
(ITG), has been awarded two contracts from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) totaling a
maximum of $160 million to provide wool-blend fabrics for use in the newly updated U.S. Army dress
uniforms. The contracts come on the heels of four contracts totaling $71 million that Burlington
was awarded in April.

“The award of these contracts demonstrates the strategic value that Burlington provides to
the U.S. Military as the dominant supplier of worsted wool dress uniform fabrics for all branches
of the military,” said Burlington President Jeff Peck.

Wool top is dyed and spun into yarn at Burlington’s Raeford, N.C., plant and then sent to
its Richmond plant in Cordova, N.C., to be woven into worsted wool and wool-blend fabrics, which
are then returned to Raeford to be finished and shipped to specified cutters to make the final
uniform. Burlington has developed the fabrics to offer advanced durability and wrinkle-resistance.


ITG has combined resources from its Burlington Worldwide, Safety Components, Narricot and
Carlisle Finishing business units in an effort to expand its military business and offer a range of
fabrics for specific military applications including camouflage combat and utility uniforms; Class
A dress uniforms; physical training and extreme cold weather wear; flame-resistant and
fire-fighting protective apparel; high performance equipment; ballistic fabric and webbing for body
armor; and load carrying equipment.

“ITG’s military fabrics business is critical to our U.S. structure and to our overall
business,” Peck said. “The diversification of our technical product line has strengthened our value
and service to the U.S. Military, opening new opportunities for both ITG and the military.”

In other company news, Burlington has announced that it has been certified as a partner in
the bluesign® system, administered by Switzerland-based bluesign Technologies AG – a third-party
certifier of products and manufacturing processes according to strict environmental, health and
safety standards. Its first bluesign-approved fabrics will be produced at its manufacturing
facility in Jiaxing, China, which produces technical synthetic fabrics for the active and outdoor
markets, contract interiors, apparel, and uniform, among other specialty uses.

June 18, 2013

The Netherlands-based Teijin Aramid chose Techtextil as the platform to introduce a new-generation
Twaron CT 608 aramid fabric made using its para-aramid ultra-microfilament Twaron 550 decitex f1000
yarn. Teijin reports that when used to construct ballistic panels for vests, the fabric can reduce
weight by up to 20 percent compared to a traditional vest while still offering the same or improved
level of protection.

According to the company, Twaron 550 yarn also may be mixed with other products to create
hybrid technologies.

“Twaron CT 608 is constructed as such that it will even meet the most challenging military
requirements, both on fragment as on bullet resistance,” said Karl Henke, business manager,
Ballistics, Teijin Aramid.

Teijin also has developed treatments for ballistic fabrics including three different water
repellent treatments (WRTs). Applying a WRT to a ballistic fabric ensures the product continues to
perform at a high level even when used in wet conditions. The company reports its new WRT recipes
are more environmentally friendly than past treatments.

June 18, 2013

KNARESBOROUGH, United Kingdom — June 11, 2013 — The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and
Pathology reported that bite injuries represent 1% of all emergency department admissions in the
United States.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group, the firm behind this new type of protective clothing
appears to be very confident in his belief that his new products made out of 100% Cut-Tex® PRO can
make the difference between staying safe or suffering from a potentially severe injury.

He comments: “There is no doubt in my mind, bite resistant arm guards made out of Cut-Tex®
PRO can help protect mental health care professionals and special educational needs teachers from
physical injury, risk of infection, soft tissue damage and subsequent psychological distress”.

Cut-Tex® PRO is one of the world’s most advanced and strongest cut, tear, abrasion and bite
resistant fabrics.  It is being manufactured in the UK in a strictly ISO 9001:2008 quality
standard controlled facility.

Teaching professionals working within schools specialised in severe learning disabilities,
challenging behaviour, special needs or autism, as well as care workers within mental health care
and psychiatric hospitals, are aware that human bites can be relatively frequent in their work
environment.

According to an article by Helen Acree Conlon, MS, MPH, ARNP, titled ‘Human Bites in the
Classroom:  Incidence, Treatment and Complications’ it has been estimated that at least one
half of the population will experience some type of bite in their lifetime.

“Bite injuries can of course become infected and mental health care professionals could
subsequently be contaminated with pathogens. Transmissions of potentially life threatening viruses,
such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV are also a part of reality.  Bite Resistant Arm Guards
made out of PPSS Bite Resistant Arm Guards Cut-Tex® PRO will help reduce this risk.” Robert Kaiser
claims.

In light of the worst possible potential but realistic consequences, should we not look at
all possible options in order to help protect health care professionals from such consequences,
which in the worst case scenario can include death following the transmission of an incurable
virus?

According to Bill Geraghty, President of PPSS Group’s North America Operation, this type of
PPE has recently been issued to a number of mental health care nurses and special educational needs
teachers in the U.S. and Canada.  The feedback received indicates that bite resistant arm
guards have led to a clear reduction of bite injuries within these sectors.

A padded (impact absorbing) version of their ever so popular Version 1 arm guard model is
also available, also effectively reducing the severity of bruising.

Robert Kaiser concludes: “Following very clear requests, we have now created a new simple to
navigate online shop, helping us to look after our ever so growing customer base around the world
better and more efficiently”.

Posted June 18, 2013

Source: PPSS Group

“Techtextil and Texprocess have once again set new records”, said a delighted Detlef Braun, Member
of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, commenting on the results of the textile trade-fair
double. Around 40,000 visitors (2011: 34,7251*) from 113 countries came to find out about the
latest innovations and trends in the sectors. “With an increase of 15 percent compared to the
previous events, the two leading trade fairs confirmed the worldwide significance of technical
textiles and textile-processing machinery”, added Detlef Braun. A total of 1,652 exhibitors from 56
nations presented their latest products and innovations, an increase of eight percent over 2011.

Technical textiles have become commonplace in many fields, e.g., in apparel technology,
automobile manufacturing and the security sector, and they place special demands on
textile-processing machines and plant. This high-tech equipment can process almost everything from
light to very heavy materials — from functional garments, via car seats and safety belts, to
aircraft interiors. The trade-fair double combines all these aspects and thus generates powerful
synergistic effects on both the exhibitor and visitor sides.

For the 15th time, Techtextil underscored its position as the premium international event for
the technical textiles and nonwovens sector.

From 11 to 13 June, 1,322 exhibitors from 48 countries (2011: 1,199 exhibitors from 50
nations*) from research and industry. Once again, Techtextil brought together all areas of
application and product groups from the technical-textiles sector to create an innovation platform
unrivalled worldwide.

The 2nd Texprocess from 10 to 13 June consolidated its position as the leading international trade
fair for textile processing. 330 exhibitors from 38 countries (2011: 326 exhibitors from 40
countries*)presented their high-tech solutions and thus demonstrated the innovative potential of
the sector. Texprocess covers all stages of the textile-processing chain with a comprehensive
product spectrum stretching from design and cutting, via sewing, joining, embroidery and knitting,
to finishing, textile printing, logistics and IT. 

“Exhibitors and visitors from all segments were enthusiastic about the future-oriented
concept of Techtextil and Texprocess. In particular, the descriptive application examples to be
seen at the two events confirmed the innovative character of our exhibitors”, said Detlef Braun.
“The results in 2011 were excellent and the fact that we have been able to improve on them so
clearly underscores the successful strategy of our trade-fair double.”

At 95 percent, the high degree of satisfaction on the visitor side reflects the great quality
of the two trade fairs, the internationality of which also increased with a total of 22,000
visitors from outside Germany attending them. After Germany, the top visitor nations and regions
are Italy, France, Turkey, Great Britain, Switzerland and East Europe, including the Russian
Federation, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania. 

Posted June 18, 2013

Source: Messe Frankfurt

Chicago-based private equity investment firm Wind Point Partners has acquired Greenfield,
Mass.-based Argotec Inc. — a producer of custom-engineered, high-performance thermoplastic
polyurethane (TPU) films and sheets — for an undisclosed price.

Wind Point Partners made the acquisition in partnership with Guy Broadbent, who has 27 years
of experience in the plastics, specialty chemicals and technical/manufacturing industries and will
serve as Argotec’s president and CEO.

According to Argotec CEO and Chairman of the Board Bruce Wilby, the sale of the company is a
long-planned exit strategy for Co-Chairmen Dick Barnes and Steve Wolkenbreit, who founded the
company in 1988 and plan to retire after the sale.

“Argotec’s customers can feel secure in the knowledge that the company remains in the hands
of the same senior management who provided the day-to-day leadership that brought us to where we
are today,” Broadbent said.

“The new ownership will ensure capital is available for continued plant expansion,
organizational development, further improvements in product quality, and the ongoing innovation
that is demanded by the industries we serve,” Wilby said.

June 11, 2013

Propex Operating Co. LLC — a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based producer of man-made carpet backing and a
provider of infrastructure and packaging solutions — has announced plans to shutter its Nashville,
Ga., plant and consolidate most of the woven geotextiles production at that location to its carpet
backing manufacturing facility in Hazlehurst, Ga., over the next six months.

The company reports it has a surplus of North American capacity directly resulting from
Federal defense cuts, stimulus elimination and the industry’s shift to nonwoven products, and that
it reduced staff at the Nashville facility over the past few months in an effort to better align
the capacity and demand for its woven geotextiles products.

“While this activity had a positive impact on the unit cost, continued soft demand eroded the
gains realized by that temporary action,” said Mike Gorey, president and CEO, Propex. “The economic
indicators tell us that it is prudent to consolidate our manufacturing operations into one location
at this time as our current global footprint provides more than enough capacity to service the
stabilization and woven GEO marketplace. Our strategic business model shifts our focus to be the
worldwide solutions provider in growing markets, and therefore the Nashville facility will be
closed.

“This decision is not a reflection on the workforce in Nashville. It is instead the
reflection of an aggressive marketplace driving pricing pressure from domestic and imported
competitors,” Gorey continued.

In addition, Propex will make a multi-million dollar investment to expand the Hazlehurst
plant’s capacity to begin producing Isis®, its recycled polyester woven backing for commercial
carpet tile. The company has seen increasing global demand for Isis, which it introduced in 2011
and currently manufactures at its plant in Germany.

“Our decision to manufacture Isis in Georgia shows our commitment to provide innovative
products to support the continued growth of the US carpet industry,” said Dave Gartshore, vice
president, Propex Furnishings Solutions and Curv® Composites Divisions. “Our strategy is to
maintain our leadership position continuing to innovate and enhance Isis for commercial tile as
well as developing other innovative products for the markets we serve.”

Propex expects the Hazlehurst expansion to be complete during the summer of 2013, and reports
it will create a significant number of jobs.

June 11, 2013

Laconia, N.H.-based Madeira USA Ltd. — a producer of embroidery threads for the decorated apparel
and home fashion industries — now offers reflectra® Stitchfoil, a thin, polyurethane-based elastic
transfer foil that creates reflective effects in different lighting conditions.

The brightly colored foils may be used for visibility in all lighting conditions, while
translucent foils may be used to create hidden special effects. Reflectra Stitchfoil is suitable
for transfer to a variety of materials including cotton and polyester/cotton and polyester/acrylic
fiber blends, and it may be used to decorate T-shirts, sports and leisure wear, caps, bags, flags
and pennants. The appliqué material comes in 40 Pantone®-matched color and finish options.

Madeira reports that materials used to manufacture reflectra Stitchfoil are Oeko-Tex®
Standard 100 certified to be free of harmful substances.

June 11, 2013

Polartec LLC — the Lawrence, Mass.-based producer of Polartec® technical performance fabrics —
announced a return to the upholstery business with the launch of “Fit by Polartec®” collection
developed in partnership with contract fabric company C.F. Stinson Inc., Rochester Hills, Mich.

Polartec reports the new knit fabric collection is based on its Polartec NeoShell® outdoor
fabrics, and is manufactured in the United States at its bluesign® certified manufacturing plant in
Lawrence. Three styles in the collection — Aero, Flex and Profile — are bluesign approved. The line
offers a variety of fabric styles including an architectural knit structure, structural mesh-faced
fabric, melton wool-like fabric, diamond motif fabric and plush velvet-type fabric.

“We have optimized and adapted the performance of [NeoShell] technology for upholstery,
namely incredible moisture barrier technology and durability in a breathable, highly comfortable
seating material,” said Allison Spahr, vice president of global design, Polartec.

“It’s not entirely clear which is the harsher environment, the top of Mount Everest or
seating in a medical waiting room, but we have worked closely with Polartec to bring their advanced
textile science and valued brand to the commercial interiors and furniture markets,” said John
Rowan, director of sales and product development, C.F. Stinson.

The fabric line will be introduced at NeoCon 2013 in Chicago this week.

June 11, 2013