CHARLOTTE — May 7, 2013 — SATO America Inc., a pioneer in thermal barcode printing, labeling, and
EPC/RFID solutions, announces the first-ever Linux and Mac OS X drivers developed for use with its
thermal printers. Extending the compatibility to include additional operating systems gives
customers greater flexibility when choosing the products from which they drive SATO printers. 

Linux and OS X users can now integrate thermal printing seamlessly into their computing
system for simple and convenient support of SOHO (small office home office) and enterprise based
printing needs. These SATO drives are currently available for the CL4e/CL6e, CG2/CG4 and M84Pro
series printer models. 

The SATO drivers easily integrate into the Linux-based PC or Mac set-up for general purpose
printing functions utilizing the CUPS printing system. The driver currently supports the following
major Linux distributions: Red Hat (.rpm), Ubuntu (.deb), and tar.gz for generic distribution
installations. Addressing the requirements of the rapidly growing Linux and Mac communities, the
list of supported printers will continue to expand.

SATO is committed to making its thermal printing technology accessible to users of all types
of platforms. This year, SATO created its first Mac compatible thermal driver for the CG2 and CG4,
M84Pro and CL6e series printer models. “Creation of the Linux driver is one more example of how we
continue to expand our compatibility to meet the evolving needs of our consumers,” said Stephen
Hull, product development manager.

Posted May 7, 2013

Source: SATO America

ZURICH, Switzerland — May 2013 — Output of global yarn production plummeted in Q4/2012 in
comparison to the previous one due to lower output in Asia, North and South America, while
production in Europe increased. Also year-on-year global yarn production dropped as a consequence
of lower production in Asia and North America and despite higher output in Europe and South
America. Global yarn stocks rose in Q4/2012 in comparison to the previous quarter mainly due to
higher stocks in Asia and Europe while inventories in South America fell. On an annual basis global
yarn inventories were down due to lower stocks in all regions. Yarn orders in Q4/2012 were down
both in Europe and Brazil in comparison to Q3/2012. Also on an annual basis yarn orders dropped
both in Europe Brazil.

World fabric production increased in Q4/2012 inspite of lower output in South America due to
increased production levels in Asia and Europe. Also year-on-year global fabric production was up
with contributions from all regions. Global fabric stocks fell slightly in in comparison to the
previous quarter as a consequence of lower inventories in South and North America and despite
slightly higher ones in Europe and Asia. Year-on-year fabric stocks decreased due to a reduction of
stocks in all regions with the exception of Asia. Fabric orders decreased both in Europe and Brazil
in Q4/2012 and also year-on-year.

The estimates for global yarn and fabric production in the 1st quarter 2013 compared to the
4th quarter of 2012 are positive in Asia and South America and stable in Europe (estimates for
China were not available). The outlook for global yarn and fabric production in Q2/2013 is also
positive. Regional-wise Asia is expecting higher yarn and fabric production levels, while the
outlook in Europe is slightly negative for yarn and fabric production. In South America the outlook
for both yarn and fabric production is stable.

In comparison with the previous quarter, world yarn output dropped in Q4/2012 by -20.2% as a
result of lower production in Asia (-21.7%). This decline was a consequence of lower output in
China alone (-26.4%), whereas output in Japan, (+7.9%), Taiwan, China (+3.1%), Pakistan (+2.1%) and
India (+0.8%) rose. Yarn production fell in North America (-7.0%) as well as in South America but
increased in Europe (+7.2%). Year-on-year global yarn production decreased by -15.2% with output
down in Asia (-16.6%) and North America (-7.6%) and despite higher production in South America
(+10.6%) and Europe (+3.0%).

Compared with the previous quarter global fabric production rose by +7.4% in Q4/2012 as a
consequence of higher output in Asia (+9.4%) and Europe (+7.7%), while South America recorded a
reduction of -15.0%. In comparison to Q4/2011 world fabric production was up by +1.1% with all
regions contributing to this increase (Europe: +3.6%, South America: +1.3% and Asia: +0.7%).

Global yarn inventories rose by +1.2% in Q4/2012 compared to the previous quarter with both
South America (+5.6%) and Asia (+0.8%) recording higher yarn inventories, while stocks fell in
Europe by -0.6%. On an annual basis global yarn stocks dropped by -9.1%, a consequence of lower
stocks in Asia (-15.4%), Europe (-7.1%) and South America (-3.0%).

Global fabric stocks were down by -1.8% due to lower inventories in South America (-6.3%),
and North America (-1.3%), while inventories in both Europe and North America were practically
unchanged (+0.2% and +0.1%, respectively). Year-on-year, global fabric inventories decreased by
-2.2%. This was due to lower fabric stocks in North America (-11.3%), Europe (-7.2%) and South
America (-5.3%) and despite higher fabric stocks in Asia (+0.7%).

Yarn orders in both Europe and Brazil were down in Q4/2012 compared to the previous one by
-6.5% and -14.1%, respectively. Also year-on-year yarn orders declined both in Brazil and Europe by
-14.1% and -6.7%, respectively.

In Brazil and Europe fabric orders decreased in Q4/2012 by -26.4% and -1.2%, respectively. On
an annual basis fabric orders fell with Brazil recording a reduction of -13.4% and Europe a drop of
-6.5%.



Posted on May 2, 2013

Source: ITMF

MENLO PARK, Calif. — April 24, 2013 — Rennovia, Inc. (Rennovia), a privately held company that
develops novel catalysts and processes for the cost advantaged production of chemical products from
renewable feedstocks, announced at the PCI 6th American Nylon Symposium that it has successfully
demonstrated production of hexamethylenediamine (HMD) from widely available, renewable
feedstocks.  Coupled with Rennovia’s previously announced renewable adipic acid, this enables
for the first time the production of 100% bio-based nylon-6,6 from monomers derived from
bio-renewable feedstocks using chemical catalytic technology. 

Rennovia’s HMD process employs proprietary catalyst technology developed using its advanced
high-throughput catalyst discovery and development platform.  “Practicing our HMD process at
demonstration scale is the important next milestone for the company,” said Robert Wedinger,
President and CEO of Rennovia.  Production costs for Rennovia’s bio-based HMD are projected to
be 20-25% below that of conventional petroleum-based HMD, with a significantly lower per-pound
capital cost.  Additional projected benefits include a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions compared to conventional petroleum-derived HMD.  “The development of our HMD process
further validates Rennovia’s unique ability to create technological breakthroughs in the production
of bio-based chemical products, with projected significant cost advantages vs. products produced
from petroleum-based feedstocks” added Wedinger.

Over 3 billion pounds of HMD is currently produced per year from petroleum-derived propylene
or butadiene, representing a global market of more than $4 billion.  It is used in the
manufacture of nylon-6,6 for resin and fiber applications, as well as in polyurethanes.  These
are used in a wide range of consumer goods, including interior, exterior and under-the-hood
automotive parts, coatings, tires, shoes, apparel, and carpeting.



Posted on April 30, 2013

Source: Rennovia Inc.

WASHINGTON — April 23, 2013 — The number of facilities becoming certified to the Global Organic
Textile Standard (GOTS) increased 11 percent to surpass the 3000 mark in 2012, growing from 2,714
facilities in 2011 to 3,016 facilities in 2012, according to new data from the GOTS International
Working Group. GOTS is recognized as the leading processing standard for textiles made from organic
fibers worldwide. GOTS certification means consumers are purchasing items certified organic from
field to finished product.

The Top Twenty countries in terms of the total number of GOTS-certified facilities were:
India, Turkey, China, Germany, Pakistan, South Korea, Italy, Bangladesh, Japan, United Kingdom,
France, Portugal, USA, Austria, Netherlands, Greece, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Peru, Switzerland, and
Denmark.

While the top three countries remained the same as the previous year, Germany rose to 4th
place, surpassing Pakistan, and Portugal moved from 20th to 12th place by more than doubling the
number of its certified facilities. In addition, companies became certified to GOTS in 5 countries
with no previous GOTS-certified manufacturing (Bahrain, Colombia, Kenya, New Zealand, and
Paraguay). GOTS certified facilities are now located in 62 countries around the world.

Overall, Europe led the way with a 44 percent increase in the number of GOTS-certified
facilities from 2011-2012 (506-728). Countries with the greatest increase in facilities gaining
GOTS certification in 2012 were (in order by rank) India, China, South Korea, Germany, Bangladesh,
and Portugal.

The U.S. ranks 13 with number of GOTS-certified facilities increasing from 40 to 44
facilities from 2011-2912. The increased adoption of GOTS is in part the result of increased
awareness of U.S. organic textile policy which requires companies claiming their organic fiber
products are “organic” to be certified either to GOTS or the U.S. National Organic Program’s
standards.

“Increasingly, consumers are demanding ecologically- and socially responsibly-processed
textiles, and companies are searching for tools to make their supply chains more sustainable. The
result is a ‘pull effect’ and more companies becoming GOTS-certified,” says Herbert Ladwig, GOTS
Managing Director.

There are now seven regional representatives worldwide who are driving increase in the
awareness of certification to GOTS. The newest representative, Shirley Han, was appointed in 2012
to focus on growing awareness of GOTS in China. With this extensive network in place, GOTS and the
Soil Association in October 2012 launched the first global organic cotton campaign, asking textile
industry leaders “Have you cottoned on yet?” to urge them to sign on and publicly commit to
supporting organic fiber production and processing to GOTS.

Also in 2012, the GOTS operating unit changed from a limited liability corporation into a
non-profit organization, the Global Standard gemeinnützige GmbH, the German legal term for a
non-profit organization. While financially and organizationally GOTS has always operated as a
non-profit, the external documentation has now been formalized.

Detailed information can be found in the GOTS Annual Report 2012, available for download at
www.global-standard.org/images/stories/gots_ar2012.pdf.

Source: GOTS

Sweden-based industrial productivity solutions provider Atlas Copco’s Industrial Air Division has
introduced the 7-37 GA Variable Speed Drive+ (VSD+), an oil-injected rotary screw compressor that
features a compact design and improved energy efficiency.

According to Atlas Copco, the new compressor requires 50 percent less energy on average than
a comparable idling compressor, with features including a more efficient fan; a robust air intake
system that removes all blow-off losses; top-of-the-line electronic components; a new drive train;
and low noise levels. In addition, Atlas Copco reports the 7-37 GA VSD+ realizes a free air
delivery increase of up to 12 percent; and is 15-percent more efficient than the earlier generation
GA 7-37 VSD. An optional integrated dryer is available as an add-on.

April 23, 2013

Not many people have influenced the finishing industry in general, and particularly the dyeing
industry in such a tremendous way as Wilhelm Christ did. This is a tribute to a great engineer, but
even more to an extraordinary personality, with whom the author was fortunate to spend a few years
of his working life. Some days ago, this true gentleman closed his eyes to start his last trail at
the age of 88.

A Funny Idea

For centuries, large quantities of water, which is a precious human resource, have been used
for the dyeing of textiles. Against this background, the development department at Then Maschinen
GmbH set itself the task of reducing both the enormous volumes of water needed for piece dyeing and
the related energy costs. The dyeing and finishing industry has been challenged to find more
economical and environmentally sound methods for a long time. In this field, Wilhelm Christ is a
recognized pioneer.

Rethinking began in 1979, when Then developed the Airflow® technology. Up to this point in
time, increasingly expensive water served as the transport medium. In the 1970s, a winch-dyeing
machine required a massive volume of around 150 liters for the dyeing of 1kilogram of fabric. In
addition, this water had to be heated. It was in view of these statistics that Christ, the head of
Then’s R&D department, tackled the question of how the enormous water consumption needed for
piece dyeing could be cut along with the accompanying energy costs.

This was impossible with traditional machines, as they employed a bath; and even with a jet,
water remained the transport medium and, therefore, consumption was high. In 1979, work started on
the development of Airflow technology in cooperation with Hoechst AG, Germany. The starting point
was the so-called Rapidcolor process for isothermal dyeing. This process was used primarily for
yarns in a creel system, and Christ upgraded the system, which meant that following heating in a
steam flow, the separately heated treatment bath was conducted into the jet nozzle for fabric
transport and was thus kept in circulation.

The Initial Success — The Patent

The next task was to distribute the reduced quantities of dyestuff and additives across the
fabric evenly, which could only be achieved by an aerosol. The aerosol replaced the treatment bath
and resulted in a completely changed mass ratio. Now, the development proceeded in giant steps, and
the basic Airflow patent was registered in 1981. Inventors were Wilhelm Christ, from Michelsbach,
Germany; Dr. Hans Ulrich von der Eltz, from Frankfurt; and Albert Reuther from Frankfurt.

The European patent was registered in 1982, and the use of the technology commenced
simultaneously in numerous countries around the world. A U.S. patent was granted in 1984. The new
dyeing machine made its public debut at ITMA 1983 in Milan and was met with general ridicule from
the world’s experts. “This machine received skeptical smiles from the world experts. However, then,
the first prototype machine of 10 kilo load size was installed at the application laboratory of
Hoechst AG. Subsequently, Then successfully commercially introduced the technology,” Christ once
said.

The first autoclave-design Airflow machine made its debut at ITMA 1991 in Hannover, Germany,
and possessed the basic features of the current machine. The most important characteristics of the
technology were time savings; cost efficiency, reliable dyeing, material protection and reduced
ecological impact.

It’s The Air

The replacement of the dyebath by an airflow as the transport medium for piece goods in
jet-dyeing machines is a patented, pioneering achievement from Wilhelm Christ and his team at Then.
The moisture-saturated airflow furnishes uniform temperature distribution across the fabric and in
the machine, which is a prerequisite for even and reproducible dyeing. As a result of the low
liquor content in the dyeing autoclave, the goods are lighter than in a conventional machine and
can therefore be more quickly accelerated to high speeds. The risks of draft or yarn strain are
minimal, which is of special advantage with regard to the finishing of articles containing
elastane.

The Long Trail

And now it’s over. Fong’s Europe GmbH, the former Then Machinery GmbH, has reported that
Wilhelm Christ has passed away at the age of 88. For more than 30 years, Mr. Christ was the
mastermind behind the company’s research and development. More than 30 patents related to the Then
products are noted and credited worldwide to him.

He was truly the father of the Airflow technology, which, by no doubt, still today sets the
standard for water savings during the dyeing process. As a result of his fruitful work, he received
many awards, including the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists’ (AATCC’s) Henry
E. Millson Award for Invention, and he has been one of only a few Europeans up to now to be given
that award.

Fong’s Europe wrote: “Having lost a great colleague, visionary and friend we are sure that
his spirit will remain in our company and in many dyehouses worldwide.” The condolences of the Rupp
Report and all its colleagues goes to the family of a great inventor, a true gentleman and a
friend; and to all the people who had the privilege to work with him.

April 23, 2013