Wichita, Kan.-based Invista’s Performance Surfaces & Materials business, which supplies bulked
continuous filament (BCF) nylon 6,6 to the carpet industry, is investing $20 million to optimize
production capacity across its North American manufacturing facilities.

Most of the investment will go toward increasing production at the company’s Camden, S.C.,
facility, and adding 50 jobs at that plant to support the expansion. Invista will add new equipment
and reconfigure existing equipment at the plant; will double production capacity of Antron® Lumena™
solution-dyed nylon with TruBlend™ fiber technology and produce a new line of 895-denier Antron
Lumena solution-dyed products for the commercial carpet industry; and will increase color
capabilities for those products.

The Camden facility’s proximity to Invista’s carpet mill customers in the Southeastern
United States played a role in the company’s decision to expand that location. The expansion is
expected to result in reduced lead times and shipping times for orders as well as increased order
flexibility.

The investment follows Invista’s announcement last year that it would expand nylon yarn
spinning capacity at its Kingston, Canada, manufacturing plant, to meet continued demand spurred by
growth of the airbag market. The Kingston plant also supplies BCF nylon 6,6 to the carpet industry;
however, Invista notes it most likely will cut back on Kingston’s carpet fiber production in
upcoming years, considering its focus on industrial yarn development at that plant and increased
carpet fiber production capabilities at the Camden plant.

October 23, 2012

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — October 10, 2012 — ASTM International announces its new initiative as a
Program Operator for Product Category Rules (PCRs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs),
which will provide the venue for developing PCRs and verifying EPDs.

As green and sustainability become more prevalent terms, and measurement systems and labels
more common, the need is growing to understand the real environmental impact of products from raw
material extraction to disposal and recycling. 

“The ASTM International program will provide scientifically based, quantifiable information
about product parameters such as resource consumption and ozone depletion, which will give both
businesses and consumers an understanding of a product’s real impact on the environment,” says
Timothy Brooke, vice president of certification, training and proficiency testing at ASTM
International. Through ASTM’s certification program, technical advisory committees will oversee the
development process for PCRs.

PCRs will detail the rules and guidelines for developing environmental declarations for
products that can fulfill equivalent functions. EPDs will be verified to ensure their adherence to
the ISO 14040 standards as well as to ensure that life cycle assessment data accurately describes
the environmental aspects of a product. ASTM International has developed its program in accordance
with ISO 14025 – Environmental Labels and Declarations – Type III Environmental Declarations –
Principles and Procedures.

Representatives of the roofing industry are already working with ASTM to develop PCRs. A
member of ASTM’s Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing, Philip Moser, P.E., a building
envelope consultant at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Waltham, Mass., says, “Virtually every roofing
product on the market now touts its green benefits, but it is often difficult for the specifier,
contractor and building owner to evaluate the veracity and relevance of the marketing claims. Once
consensus-based PCRs are developed for the North American roofing industry, environmental
declarations can use a consistent format, and, more importantly, be based on a more consistent set
of calculations and assumptions. The end result is a win-win-win for responsible manufacturers, for
concerned professionals and consumers, and for the environment.”

In ASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability, a proposed standard practice will give guidance
about information that all PCRs should contain regardless of the product. “For example, one life
cycle assessment practitioner may assume that a product is sent to a landfill at the end of life
while another may assume that a product is incinerated. Different environmental impacts result from
these two different end-of-life scenarios. This standard will fill in many of the gaps that exist
in current life cycle assessment standards,” says Amy Costello, P.E., senior environmental
scientist at Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa., an E60 member and a current member of
the ASTM board of directors.

Inquiries about developing new PCRs and verifying EPDs are welcome; please contact ASTM’s
Certification and Declarations Department at cert@astm.org or visit www.astm.org/EPDs for more
information regarding the ASTM International program.

Beyond its leadership in the area of standards development, ASTM International offers
technical training programs; proficiency testing and interlaboratory study programs; certification
programs and the supplier’s declaration of conformity program, which support manufacturers, users,
researchers and laboratories worldwide.



Posted on October 23, 2012

Source: ASTM
International

Mauldin, S.C.-based textile manufacturer Mount Vernon Mills Inc. has launched its flame-resistant
(FR) fabrics brand, Mount Vernon FR.

The brand, which displays the tagline “Wear it for life,” includes a range of FR protective
fabrics in six collections: AMTEX™ C100 100-percent cotton; AMTEX PLUS 88-percent cotton/12-percent
nylon blend; RESILIENCE® 80-percent cotton/20-percent Nomex® blend; RESILIENCE TRIO
cotton/Nomex/nylon blend; PHOENIX FR denim fabrics in various weights ranging from 7.5 to 14.75
ounces per square yard; and the MY•FR custom fabric program.

The fabrics’ FR performance is guaranteed for the useful life of the garment, and meets
various standards including NFPA 70E, NFPA 2112, EN ISO 11611 and EN ISO 11612.

Mount Vernon Mills recently more than doubled capacity at its vertically integrated
manufacturing facility in Trion, Ga., to meet increased demand it has seen for its FR fabrics over
the past year. The plant features in-house control of more than 25 major processes including
spinning, weaving, dyeing and FR finishing; utilizes more than 3,000 computer-monitored control
points; and performs extensive quality assurance testing.

October 23, 2012

Safety and protective fabrics manufacturer SSM Industries Inc., Spring City, Tenn., has expanded
the offerings in its Pro-CFR® Cotton line of flame-resistant (FR) cotton fabrics with the
introduction of Pro-CFR 12 Cal and Pro-CFR + TransDRY® fabrics.

The company reports Pro-CFR 12 Cal, at a weight of 6.25 ounces per square yard, is the
lightest-weight FR cotton fabric to register an arc thermal protection value (ATPV) of 12 calories
per square centimeter (cal/cm
²). The knit fabric is targeted to apparel for the utility industry, which has been
seeking a 12 cal/cm
² ATPV solution in a single garment, whereas such protection typically has only been
available through garment layering. Cleveland-based National Safety Apparel (NSA) is using SSM’s
new fabric in its FR Classic Cotton™ Knit line, a new collection of shirts offered in a range of
styles as well as colors.

Pro-CFR + TransDry, available in knit and woven constructions, features Cary, N.C.-based
Cotton Incorporated’s TransDry moisture management technology that is engineered into the fabric,
as well as a proprietary antimicrobial/anti-odor technology. Targeted to industrial, military,
fire-service and racing markets, the fabric is currently going into shirts manufactured by Summit
Work Apparel, Sugar Land, Texas.

Pro-CFR 12 Cal and Pro-CFR + TransDry fabrics, like the rest of SSM’s fabrics, are produced
completely in-house – from fabric formation through dyeing and finishing – at the company’s plant
in Spring City.

October 23, 2012

Pittsburgh-based Pro Towels — a provider of screen printing and embroidery services for promotional
products — will invest $2.5 million to expand its operations in Abbeville, S.C., adding 50 jobs in
the process.

The company will relocate from its existing 100,000-square-foot (ft
²) facility to a new 300,000-ft
² facility that will house its offices, warehouse and production. The increased space
will enable the company to add equipment and expand its apparel decorating business to the East
Coast. Pro Towels’ apparel decorating operations currently are run out of its Superior Decorating
division located in California.

“We are excited to expand our operations in Abbeville County,” said Kevin Nord, president,
Pro Towels. “We’ve seen demand from our customers increase recently and we need to grow our
operations to meet that demand. South Carolina has provided us with an excellent business
environment and a skilled workforce for years. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from
state and local officials.”

Pro Towels reports it soon will begin hiring for the new positions.

October 23, 2012

James Heal, a United Kingdom-based textile testing laboratory instruments and test materials
manufacturer that this year is celebrating 140 years in business, recently received the Queen’s
Award for Enterprise in International Trade. The award, which recognizes accomplishments in the
area of export sales, is the second award of that type the company has received, having earned the
Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1995.

The award was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr. Ingrid Roscoe to James
Heal Managing Director David Repper during a special celebration. “This is a great honour and a
tribute to the diligence and dedication of over 100 employees and many individuals and companies
who have contributed to this achievement,” said Repper, who followed his father into his leadership
position at the family-owned company in 1992.

The company reports it has experienced a significant growth in revenues over the past three
years, with global markets representing a considerable portion of that growth. It maintains a
network of local agents and distributors that help it sell its products and services in more than
60 countries around the world.

Founded in 1872, James Heal comprises four core divisions: Testing Instruments; Test
Materials; Service and Calibration; and Technical Assistance. All products are manufactured
in-house. The company’s customer base includes major brands and retailers including Marks &
Spencer, Louis Vuitton, Next and most of the major automobile manufacturers worldwide.

October 23, 2012

WASHINGTON — October 22, 2012 — Today, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Ricardo
Quijano, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Government of Panama, exchanged letters in which
they determined that the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (Agreement) will enter into
force on October 31, 2012. This announcement follows completion of a thorough review by the United
States and Panama of their respective laws and regulations related to the implementation of the
Agreement.

Ambassador Kirk welcomed the decision to have the Agreement enter into force on October
31.  “Under this comprehensive Agreement, Panama will eliminate tariffs and other barriers to
U.S. exports, which will promote economic growth, and expand trade between our two countries. 
This Agreement also provides U.S. firms and workers improved access to customers in Panama’s $22
billion services market, including in areas such as financial, telecommunications, computer,
express delivery, energy, environmental, and professional services,” he said.  “Panama is one
of the fastest growing economies in Latin America, expanding 10.6 percent in 2011, with forecasts
of between five to eight percent annual growth through 2017.  That adds up to support for more
well-paying jobs across the United States,” said Ambassador Kirk. “The increased access to this
expanding market is backed by the Agreement’s strong enforcement provisions.”

After entry into force of the Agreement, Panama will immediately reduce or eliminate tariffs
on U.S. industrial goods, currently averaging seven percent, with some tariffs as high as 81
percent.  Over 86 percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products to Panama will
become duty-free immediately, including information technology equipment, agricultural and
construction equipment, aircraft and parts, medical and scientific equipment, environmental
products, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers.  Additionally, U.S. agricultural exports will also
benefit from this Agreement.  U.S. agricultural goods currently face an average tariff of 15
percent, with some tariffs as high as 260 percent.  Nearly half of U.S. exports of
agricultural commodities to Panama will immediately become duty-free, including wheat, barley,
soybeans, high-quality beef, bacon, and almost all fruit and vegetable products, with most of the
remaining tariffs to be eliminated within 15 years.

As noted, the Agreement will also provide significant new access to Panama’s $22 billion
services market, supporting increased market opportunities for U.S. service providers.  For
example, Panama agreed to eliminate measures that prevented firms from hiring U.S. professionals,
and to phase-out market restrictions in cable television.  The Agreement also includes
important disciplines relating to customs administration and trade facilitation, technical barriers
to trade, government procurement, investment, telecommunications, electronic commerce, intellectual
property rights, and labor and environmental protection.

Panama’s strategic location as a major shipping route also enhances the importance of the
Agreement.  Approximately two-thirds of the Panama Canal’s annual transits are bound to or
from U.S. ports.



BACKGROUND

President Obama signed the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
into law in the United States on October 21, 2011.  The United States-Panama Trade Promotion
Agreement is an important part of President Obama’s effort to increase opportunities for U.S.
businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers through improved market access for their products and
services abroad.  Along with the trade agreements with Korea and Colombia, which entered into
force earlier this year, the agreement with Panama supports the President’s goal of doubling of
U.S. exports to support well-paying jobs at home.  The Agreement will also enhance the
competitiveness of both small and large U.S. businesses in Panama’s growing economy.  U.S.
goods exports to Panama in 2011 were $8.2 billion. The Agreement includes strong protections for
workers’ rights.  In addition, from 2009 to 2011, the Government of Panama took a series of
legislative and administrative actions to further strengthen its labor laws and enforcement in a
number of areas.  The Administration will continue to work with Panama to ensure that all of
these important initiatives are effectively implemented.Additional information related to the
Agreement is available at http://www.ustr.gov/uspanamatpa.



Posted on October 22, 2012

Source: USTR

The 71st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is over. It took
place at the beautiful Congress Centre Kursaal Interlaken in Switzerland, October 7-12. The main
and very challenging issue — as the Rupp Report informed in different stories over the past few
weeks — was “Shaping Sustainability in the Cotton Value Chain.” As an observer, the Rupp Report was
more than pleased to see that the global cotton growing industry is realizing that it needs to take
another approach toward its global customers. And the five days’ proceedings demonstrated there is
a will to do so. Here are some first insights from this very well-organized summit of the global
cotton industry.

Upside Down In Fiber Consumption

For many decades, cotton was the undisputed leader in terms of global fiber consumption. Its
position has changed drastically since the mid-1960s, when man-made fibers started their triumphal
procession to the top. For decades, the fiber consumption ratio was 50:50 natural fibers — mainly,
cotton — to man-made fibers. Today, the consumption ratio is some 75-percent man-made to 25-percent
natural fibers. And the upward trend for man-made fibers is continuing for various reasons:

First of all, there is the growing world population. It is a fact that cotton cannot provide
enough fiber material for the whole world. Secondly, there is the development of new polymers and
fibers — such as microfibers — with improved characteristics. A third trend that is recognizable
relates to polyester. This fiber type enjoys growth rates of double digits virtually every year,
for staple fibers but mainly for filaments, thanks to the increasing industrial textiles
applications. And last, but not least, there is competition for fertile land among some of the
major crops of the world: corn, soybeans and cotton.

In times of increased environmental consciousness, and especially in so-called developed
countries, people are asking more and more for green or sustainable production. In addition to this
increased environmental consciousness, there is the modern generation of communication using social
media such as Facebook or others to generate positive or negative images. Due to this fact, big
retailers around the world have started to think about “green or sustainable products.” Many famous
labels are producing and marketing sustainable products, or claiming that their production sites
follow sustainable, sound practices. Frankly speaking, many times, after a check by a
nongovernmental or other such organization, the results are more wishful thinking than reality.
This situation has led to some devastating misunderstandings among the global customers — and a
lack of trust.

Misunderstandings

Examples from the food industry of denial or hiding of information or providing
misinformation to the customers demonstrate that it doesn’t take long to build up a bad image. And
a bad image is the last thing that cotton needs for its future. As J. Berrye Worsham, CEO of Cotton
Incorporated, said in his opening presentation: “In the future, the customer will ask you about the
background of your cotton.” Probably, this is one of the key reasons why everybody started to talk
about sustainable products. Just remember social media!

Sustainability is probably one of the key words of the past as well as the current decade.
And, more so, sustainability is a word that is subject to misunderstandings. Basically,
sustainability has to do with a constant demand for food, fuel and fibers in an environment of
limited land and resource availability. Many speakers at the ICAC conference clearly mentioned that
sustainability has nothing to do with so-called “green cotton” or whatever that may mean in this
context. It is possible to be successful with sustainable textile products even in a high-cost
country such as Switzerland. The Switcher label is making a good profit with its cotton products
that are produced even under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) specifications. The speaker
from Switcher said that his company is disclosing all audits and specifications, resulting in a
positive image and, consequently, a profitable business, which is one of the key points for
sustainable production.

Talk To One Another

It was obvious, too, that some conference attendees are afraid of polyester. To the
understanding of the Rupp Report, there is no need to be afraid. Polyester is by far not the
biggest enemy of the global cotton growers; more damaging are all the misunderstandings that fly
around the global media — such as profit is bad, textiles mean child labor, and so on. A way to the
future was demonstrated on the last day of the conference. Unfortunately, not many people attended
the session, which had a probably misleading title, “Action Steps to a Green Cotton Economy.”
Chaired by the author, the session was more about what the cotton industry can learn from other
sectors. Reinier de Man, a Netherlands-based consultant on sustainable business development,
presented an astonishing paper based on his experience with other sectors.

Seven Lessons To Learn

De Man started his presentation by saying that nobody will pay more to the taxi driver
because he has a driver’s license. Bluntly, this means that, in the long run, nobody is allowed to
operate without having sustainability. Furthermore, he mentioned that the cotton community has to
learn seven lessons for a fruitful and promising future. Key points are:

• Supply security is the driver, not product marketing.
• It is about competition for land, water, and such.
• Roundtable-based standards are the floor.
• Standards “above floor level” are needed.
• Certification and on-product labeling can (but need not) make sense.
• Leadership of single companies are a major trigger.
• Conversion needs Active Governments.

Time will tell if the message was understood. The global cotton industry needs a new
approach. The Rupp Report will come back to this important event in the next few weeks.

October 16, 2012

Germany-based Kelheim Fibres GmbH has developed Umberto, a viscose fiber that features a variety of
letter-shaped cross sections and is showing promise for both nonwovens and textile applications.

Umberto’s parameters can be tuned during the spinning process to create various shaped cross
sections. For nonwovens applications such as wet wipes, fibers of a certain length have been shown
to provide dispersibility. In a textile yarn, the different cross sections form air pockets that
can provide thermal insulating properties for apparel applications. Kelheim reports the Hohenstein
Institute, Germany, is currently testing such effects in apparel.

October 16, 2012