International exhibition organizer Messe Frankfurt GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, and Proposte S.r.l.,
Italy — organizer of the annual Proposte exhibition for European manufacturers of furnishing
fabrics and curtains — have partnered in an effort to draw leading European manufacturers to
exhibit at Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, the China International Trade Fair for Home
Textiles and Accessories organized by Messe Frankfurt and held biannually at the Shanghai New
International Expo Center.

The upcoming Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn edition, which will take place Aug.
27-29, 2013, will feature a Proposte China Pavilion at which approximately 25 European decorative
and furniture fabrics manufacturers will exhibit.

“There is a growing demand for high-grade products in the Asian market,” said Detlef Braun,
member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt. “With the Proposte, we will further expand this
segment at our fair in Shanghai and thus make it even more attractive for local buyers. We are
convinced that all concerned will profit from this partnership and look forward to working with our
Italian colleagues.”

“The time has come for Proposte to open its doors in other countries, while still staying
true to its image, high-end content and selective approach,” said Mauro Cavelli, president,
Proposte. “Having scrutinized the various opportunities, in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt we
decided on China, a huge country that has seen its economy and customs evolve at an unrivalled
rate.”

May 14, 2013

Mattex — a Saudi Arabia-owned, Dubai-based producer of carpet backings, artificial grass backings,
and woven and nonwoven geotextiles — will invest $60 million to establish a U.S. headquarters and
manufacturing operation in Eton, Ga., and create 200 jobs.

The company will build a 275,000- to 375,000-square-foot extrusion manufacturing plant that
will produce primary and secondary polyolefin-based carpet backings. Equipment to be installed will
include tape extrusion, beaming and weaving equipment. Mattex plans to begin construction on the
facility this summer and commence operations in 2014.

Founded in 1995, Mattex operates four state-of-the-art production facilities in Saudi Arabia
and Dubai as well as warehouse/distribution offices in Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, China and the United States. The company opened its U.S. distribution center, Mattex USA,
in Calhoun, Ga., in 2007; and decided to establish a U.S. headquarters and manufacturing plant to
be closer to the North American market.

“This plant is a first step,” said Barclay Payne, general manager, Mattex USA. “We can truly
say Mattex Group is coming to America! This milestone would never have happened without the support
of our North American customer base. We are truly thankful for their support.”

“Our mission to be the ‘preferred global partner of choice’ led us to build a
state-of-the-art carpet-backing facility in North Georgia as the next logical step for better
servicing our current customer base,” said Luc Blommaert, CEO, Mattex Group. “The period we’ve been
operating out of our existing distribution center can be referred to as our engagement period. Now
it’s time to get married, so we are building a plant. This is the Group’s fifth expansion. The
choice of North Georgia was easy: The available business assets spoke for themselves, and after
careful consideration we decided to build and grow in and with Murray County.”

May 14, 2013

Boulder, Colo.-based Outlast Technologies LLC, developer of Outlast® temperature-regulating
technology and phase-change materials (PCMs), reports that MyKool Inc. — a Bedford, Pa.-based
tactical and performance sports apparel company — has selected Outlast technology for use in its
PCM Base Layer apparel collection.

The MyKool™ Outlast collection features Outlast’s proactive temperature regulation and
moisture-management performance combined with antimicrobial properties; a raglan design with flat,
double-stitched seams; and a longer bodice to help eliminate seam stacking and keep shirts from
coming untucked or rolling up. The base layers are designed for athletes as well as for law
enforcement, military and emergency services personnel to wear under their uniforms.

“Our research respondents within different industries said they wanted clothing that moved
with them and didn’t bunch, had longer cuffs and tails, actively managed moisture, moderated
temperature swings, retained its shape and performance after washing and met industry standards for
safety and fire protection,” said Michael Swartzwelder, president, MyKool. “Through our partnership
with Outlast, our base layers are able to meet this demand with a state-of-the-art innovation that
provides practical comfort by managing the build-up of heat before you begin sweating.”

MyKool Outlast base layers provide a 34-percent reduction in perspiration and can reduce
sweat by 10 grams, the companies report.

May 14, 2013

GREENSBORO, N.C. — May 7, 2013 — Precision Fabrics Group (PFG), maker of value-added, woven and
non-woven technical textiles for performance applications, has selected OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, a
comprehensive textile product safety certification program that ensures textiles are tested for
chemical substances which are believed to be harmful to human health. OEKO-TEX tests for more than
300 concerning substances such as heavy metals, carcinogenic dye stuffs, pesticides, and
formaldehyde. The certification is independent and voluntary and is a component of PFG’s
comprehensive commitment to quality, product safety, and responsible manufacturing.

 

“OEKO-TEX® certification give our customers added assurance that the fabrics we provide are
tested for harmful chemicals and made to the high standards they expect from PFG,” says Dr. Terry
Montgomery, Vice President of PFG’s Woven Division. “We selected OEKO-TEX® certification for its
up-to-date catalog of concerning substances, its rigorous testing procedures, and its global
recognition.”

 

PFG renewed certification on three of its woven fabric lines. DermaTherapy® fabrics are used
in therapeutic bedding for people who suffer from atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and night
sweats. The fabrics are smooth and wick moisture to provide a skin-friendly surface for sensitive
consumers. Pristine® fabrics are made into anti-dust mite bedding encasements for consumers
suffering from asthma and allergies. Unlike some other barrier fabrics, Pristine fabrics are soft,
breathable, and durable. PFG also secured certification for its Integrity® fabrics which are used
in industrial and pharmaceutical clean room protective apparel. This engineered fabric line
provides contaminant protection and features other value-added benefits such as antimicrobial and
ESD properties.

 

“These fabric collections are used in applications where harmful substances could compromise
product performance and consumer satisfaction,” continues Montgomery. “With OEKO-TEX®
certification, we know — and our customers know — that these fabrics are safe for the people who
ultimately use them.” 

 

Another benefit of OEKO-TEX® certification is the modular nature of the testing process.
When PFG’s customers want to secure OEKO-TEX® certification for their final products, they get
credit for using PFG’s certified fabrics, resulting in an easier and less costly certification
procedure. PFG and other certified manufacturers are listed in Oeko-Tex’s online Buyer’s Guide.

Posted May 14, 2013

Source: Oeko-Tex

FAIRFAX, Va. — May 7, 2013 — Registration for the 2013 SGIA Expo (Orlando, October 23-25) is now
open! The industry’s most innovative marketplace returns to Orlando to offer the specialty imaging
community the best spot for wide-format, graphics and sign, installation, garment decoration,
screen, digital and more. Register now for your free pass to access the most anticipated exposition
of the year.

New Special Interest Areas

SGIA announces the first-ever Zone to focus on sustainable business solutions! The Strategic
Sustainable Solutions Zone will increase awareness and give attendees the opportunity to explore
and learn from industry leaders. Also new for 2013 is the Digital Textile Printing Zone, which will
focus on raising awareness of business opportunities in textile printing and explaining production
best practices.

But don’t worry; SGIA is bringing back the other popular Zones:

•     Digital Apparel Production Zone
•     PDAA Graphics Application Zone
•     Color Management & Workflow Solutions Zone
•     Digital Signage Innovation Zone
•     Screen Printed Apparel Training Zone

The Symposium Returns

SGIA’s Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch Symposium (October 22-23) will again be
hosted in conjunction with the 2013 Expo, with one change — it’s opening one day earlier.
Participants will take advantage of two days of educational programming, complete with the latest
technology developments in advanced production methods and an opportunity to walk the show floor
for an all-encompassing Expo experience!

The Orange County Convention Center is the place to be for the SGIA Expo, along with our
co-location partner, IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo! For more information and to register for your
Expo access pass, visit SGIA.org, Keyword: 2013Expo.

Posted May 14, 2013

Source: SGIA

LEICESTER, United Kingdom — May 7, 2013 — FORMAX, a leading global manufacturer of speciality
composite reinforcements, has launched a new recycling initiative at its UK production facility.
Thanks to the creation of a dedicated Recycling Division and the installation of two bespoke
machines, FORMAX is now able to reprocess the majority of its glass and carbon fibre waste.

The recycled materials are suitable for a variety of non-structural and structural
applications across a range of industries, and a number of FORMAX’s customers are already
manufacturing components using products from the division with great success.

“Last year we generated over 600 tonnes of glass waste so recycling is clearly very high on
our agenda, both from a position of environmental responsibility, but also from a commercial
standpoint. The market for recycled materials is a growing sector with a number of significant
opportunities and the creation of our new Recycling Division allows us to devote considerable time
and resource into optimizing products for these processes” comments Oliver Wessely, Managing
Director of FORMAX.

Posted May 14, 2013

Source: Formax

BOULDER, Colo. — May 8, 2013 — The Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) Sustainability Working Group
(SWG) is launching a pilot program to test drive the Equipment module of the Higg Index, a new tool
to help companies gain insight into the supply chain for outdoor equipment (bicycles, skis,
snowboards, backpacks, tents, camp stoves, water bottles, etc.) and how to make more sustainable
products. OIA is offering a free webinar on May 16 to introduce the tool and get companies
involved.

Equipment manufacturers are encouraged to participate in the pilot, which is designed to
provide a testing ground for the tool and to gather feedback on how to make it better.

“This is the culmination of many years of work and collaboration among dozens of outdoor
industry companies,” said Beth Jensen, director of corporate responsibility for OIA. “This tool was
developed by and for the industry in order to help companies closely examine their supply chains
and identify tangible steps to improve the sustainability of their products. We hope a diverse
array of companies will participate in the pilot.”

The Equipment Index builds on Higg Index modules for Apparel and Footwear that have already
been launched to the industry. From the early days of the OIA Eco Index in 2007, the outdoor
industry wanted to ensure that its sustainability indexing tool was applicable to gear products as
well as to apparel and footwear. The Higg Index for Equipment will fulfill this purpose, providing
indicators tailored specifically to hardgoods while employing the same format as the other Higg
Index modules.

The Equipment Index Pilot launches May 16, with feedback due July 15.

To learn more about the Equipment Index Pilot, visit outdoorindustry.org/equipmentpilot
<http://www.outdoorindustry.org/equipmentpilot>

Posted on May 13, 2013

Source: Outdoor Industry Association