Germany-based nonwovens machinery manufacturer DiloGroup reports that the year 2012 was the most
successful in its 110-year history.

Following the engineering of the 10,000th machine by Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik KG by the
end of 2011, the group delivered several wide-working-width production lines for geotextiles
applications. It also reported activity in other application areas including floor covering,
automotive and filtration; and delivered fiber preparation and web-forming lines to be used in the
production of hydroentangled nonwovens.

The group produced and shipped Di-Loom PMF lines weighing more than 900 metric tons, noting
that the machines are the largest in the world.

January 8, 2013

Gulistan Carpet — an Aberdeen, N.C.-based manufacturer of residential and commercial tufted carpets
— has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code
for the Middle District of North Carolina. The company says the filing will allow it to investigate
options to sell the business to a third party or to complete an orderly wind down of its
operations.

The company has been producing carpet under the Gulistan name since 1924, although it traces
its roots back to 1818, when an Armenian textile importer established a business in Turkey. The
company began manufacturing carpet in Aberdeen in 1957, and was acquired by J.P. Stevens & Co.
Inc. in 1964. Over the last 25 years, Gulistan Carpet has undergone several ownership changes. In
addition to its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Aberdeen, the company has a plant in
Wagram, N.C.

Gulistan has been impacted by a slowdown in the residential carpet market resulting from an
extended downturn in the housing industry. According to company management, Gulistan “has been
making substantial efforts over the past few years to restructure its debts or to restructure its
business and continue to operate. The company has engaged in discussions and negotiations with a
private equity group and other companies in the industry in an attempt to sell Gulistan’s assets as
a going concern. None of these efforts have proved successful to date.”

Bank of America will provide Gulistan with a debtor-in-possession credit facility to improve
liquidity and provide working capital, and Gulistan has stated it believes it has sufficient
liquidity to operate during Chapter 11 and to continue providing goods and services to its
customers.

“Chapter 11 gives us the best opportunities to maximize the value of the Gulistan business
and its assets,” said Phillip Essig, CEO, Gulistan. “The Board of Directors, the senior management
team and I would like to express our appreciation for the hard work and loyalty of our employees.
We also want to thank our customers for their continued support and loyalty.”

If Gulistan is unable to find a buyer, approximately 395 full-time employees will be
terminated over the next four months. Specific closure dates have yet to be determined, as
different company operations would cease at different times, management said.

January 8, 2013

Tenowo Lincolnton Inc. — a Lincolnton, N.C.-based manufacturer of functional and decorative
nonwovens for automotive, industrial and apparel applications — will invest $7.2 million over the
next three years to expand its operations, and increase its workforce from 67 currently to 93.

Established in 1992 under the name HOF Textiles, Tenowo Lincolnton is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Germany-based Tenowo GmbH, a division of Hoftex Group AG. The company plans to add
fiber supply and power coating lines to meet increased demand for its products.

“Tenowo is excited and eager to move forward with expansion plans for our Lincoln County
facility,” said Lothar Hackler, Ph.D., president, Tenowo Lincolnton. “The expansion will allow
Tenowo to double the capacity for high engineered nonwoven products for the North American
automotive industry. The support from Lincoln County and the State of North Carolina were critical
to the company’s final decision to expand the Lincolnton plant. This has been a very successful
location for our company and we look forward to an even brighter future for our employees and our
company.”

The company has received a $50,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund to assist it with
the expansion.

January 8, 2013

Canada-based 3A Throwing, a provider of twisting, doubling, cabling, winding and autoclaving
services, has acquired Lowell, Mass.-based Ames Textile Corp.’s Synthetic Yarns Division in
Christiansburg, Va.

The acquisition includes a 77,000-square-foot (ft2) manufacturing plant, machinery, inventory
and other assets. According to 3A Throwing, the plant will continue operating and producing the
current Ames product line, with further expansion and product diversification planned. The facility
— which offers climate controlled conditions and is equipped with modern two-for-one twisters —
twists a range of 30- to 600-denier yarns including polyester, nylon, polypropylene and carbon
fibers. The yarns produced are used for woven labels, seat belts and other specialty end-uses
including woven, knitted, braided and other products.

Founded in 1865, Ames Textile is one of the oldest U.S. textile manufacturers to remain in
continuous operation. The company’s Game Time Fabrics Inc. division in North Andover, Mass.,
manufactures fabrics for athletic uniforms; and its Adden Furniture Inc. division, with
manufacturing facilities in Hildebran, N.C., manufactures casegoods and seating for healthcare,
residence hall, military and other applications.

3A Throwing, established in 1987, is housed in a 178,000-ft2 facility and operates 11,000
two-for-one twisting spindles as well as other equipment.

January 8, 2013

FREDERICA, Del. — January 8, 2013 — ILC Dover, designer and manufacturer of space suits for NASA
and a wide range of government and industrial engineered fabric and film products, announced today
it has acquired Grayling Industries, a leading producer of advanced industrial packaging products
and environmental safety products.  As the maker of Guardian™ protective packaging for food,
chemical, and pharmaceutical dry powder and liquid applications, Grayling works with its industrial
clients to deliver custom fit liners and other solutions to enhance transportation and processing
efficiency.   It also manufactures the leading brands for the asbestos abatement and
remediation industry worldwide including Avail™ glove bags, D-Con™ decontamination enclosures, and
Control™ chemicals.

The addition of Grayling’s extensive line of advanced packaging solutions will strengthen
ILC’s market-leading position in the global pharmaceutical powder containment market while ILC’s
extensive engineering, testing, and materials development competencies will allow Grayling to
develop new and exciting solutions for its industrial packaging and asbestos abatement customers.

“During the acquisition and due diligence process it was very rewarding and encouraging to
see how aligned Grayling and ILC Dover are in focusing on the present and emerging needs of their
customers. Grayling has a history of exceeding the expectations of their customers and this is in
line with how ILC operates,” said William Wallach, CEO of ILC Dover.

Ben Greene, Marketing Manager for Grayling, stated, “I’m very excited about the added
capabilities ILC Dover will bring to the Grayling organization.  Their expertise in materials
and system level designs coupled with a relentless focus on reliability will be a real asset to
Grayling and our customers.”

ILC Dover LP is a portfolio company of Behrman Capital, a private equity investment firm
based in New York and San Francisco.  Grayling Industries will operate as a wholly owned
subsidiary of ILC Dover.



Posted on January 8, 2013

Source: ILC Dover

BOULDER, Colo. — January 3, 2013 — Outlast Technologies, leader in proactive heat management, is
rolling out its new brand identity in the New Year. The change is reflective of the company’s
progression over the past 22 years that further solidifies its position in the marketplace as a
symbol of comfort and leader in phase change materials (PCMs) and true temperature regulation. The
new brand identity includes a refreshed Outlast® logo that will be displayed throughout marketing
and communication materials.

“Outlast has come a long way in over two decades of offering a proactive heat and moisture
management solution to various products including bedding, apparel and footwear,” said Heather
Manuel, director of sales and marketing, Outlast North America. “The new brand identity is a
natural progression of the success this company has experienced, as we continuously work to bring
more products to market with our technology so consumers can have increased exposure to the
proactive comfort that it provides.”

The previous logo was modified to ensure brand recognition, and reflect the deep confidence
and trust built over many years. Outlast will be working with existing partners and licensees to
update their marketing assets in line with the new Outlast brand identity.

“It is essential for us to respond to the needs of our partners and continue supporting them
in driving demanding for their products,” said Manuel. “Our goal is to provide partners with the
necessary tools including marketing kits, hangtags/labels, demonstration materials and PR support
to help them communicate the benefits of our PCMs in their products. This way consumers understand
the true value-add of purchasing a product with Outlast® technology.”

How Outlast® Technology Works

Outlast® technology was originally developed for NASA to protect astronauts from temperature
fluctuations in space. It is a proactive moisture management solution that controls moisture before
it begins, for increased comfort. It continuously absorbs excess body heat and releases it to
manage moisture, continuously adapt to thermal changes, as well as reduce overheating, chilling and
perspiration. This differentiates from passive technologies, such as wicking or quick-drying, that
provide benefits only after the body has started to overheat and sweat.

Posted on January 4, 2013

Source: Outlast Technologies

The first meeting of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Commission (FTC) took place in Washington on Nov.
19, 2012. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Miriam Sapiro hosted the meeting, and Vice
Minister of Trade Gabriel Duque Mildenberg led the Colombian delegation.

The FTC oversees the implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA),
which went into force May 15, 2012. According to USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk, the agreement is already
accruing benefits to both sides. For example, U.S. exports to Colombia from May to September 2012
reportedly were 20-percent higher than they were in the same period in 2011.

“All indications are that the Agreement is off to a successful start. The hard work of both
our teams to prepare for entry into force appears to have paid off, as our respective exporters
have begun to take advantage of the new opportunities the Agreement provides,” Kirk said. “Our
statistics show a significant increase in trade in both directions — a classic win-win. In
addition, the FTC meeting provides a public signal of the continuing importance both our
governments attach to realizing the full potential of one of our closest trade relationships in the
Hemisphere.”

The U.S. and Colombian delegations have decided to consider accelerating the agreement’s
tariff provisions and to set time frames to implement the dispute settlement mechanism and update
the rules of origin. Other actions have included monitoring fulfillment of commitments whose
deadlines occurred after the TPA entered into force; as well as reviewing the work of the Technical
Barriers to Trade, Agriculture, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures committees.

In addition, there were discussions surrounding the continuing efforts of the two governments
vis-à-vis implementation of the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights.



November/December 2012