A Fibertect® decontamination wipe having bleached cotton outer layers around a non-particulate
activated carbon center — developed by researchers at Texas Tech University (TTU), Lubbock, Texas —
has been demonstrated to surpass M-291 powdered decontaminant in its ability to clean up the
chemical surrogate to soman nerve gas.

Testing was conducted by co-investigator Utkarsh Sata, Ph.D., who found that the wipe also
adsorbs the soman vapors five times better than M-291, which currently is being used by the
Department of Defense (DoD) and is being phased out.

“This is an improved reiteration of Fibertect,” said Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., project lead
investigator and inventor of the composite technology, has undergone several iterations since it
was first developed in 2004
(See ”
Quality
Fabric Of The Month: Toxic Clean Up,”
TextileWorld.com, April 2004). “The cotton composite takes liquid up very
quickly and can adsorb vapors more efficiently than the powdered decontaminant,” he said, noting
that the purpose of the experiments was to evaluate the efficiency of the wipe’s vapor-holding
capability.

Ramkumar mentioned other advantages to the newest version of the wipe: “The idea was to use
as much biodegradable material as possible in the wipe. This is one major improvement.” He added
that the M-291 powder leaves a dirty residue on the surface of the object being decontaminated.

“The powdered form is very difficult to handle and to apply toward decontamination
purposes,” said Ron Kendall, Ph.D., also a project co-investigator, remarking on the ease of use of
the composite wipes, which can be used to clean both equipment surfaces and the skin, although no
testing using the soman surrogate has been conducted on human skin.

Other researchers include Eugene Wilusz, U.S. Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center, Natick,
Mass.; Steve Mlynarek, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.; and Gopal Coimbatore, TTU.

The project received partial funding from DoD; Cotton Incorporated, Cary, N.C.; the
International Cotton Research Center at TTU; Texas Department of Agriculture; Cotton Foundation,
Cordova, Tenn.; and The CH Foundation, Lubbock.

First Line Technology, Chantilly, Va., markets the Fibertect wipes, which have been approved
as a cost-effective decontamination wipe for U.S. Military and Department of Homeland Security
uses.

March 5, 2013

In some funny places in the outside world, Switzerland is known as being a country full only of
rich people with golden Swiss wristwatches eating Swiss (!) chocolate 24 hours a day. This by far
is not true. However, in each rumor there is a grain of truth. Yes, there are rich people, but only
very few, and mostly foreigners. Yes, they have golden wristwatches, but they are purchased mainly
by tourists. Yet, this is true — They like their own chocolate.

Down-to-earth People

However, as the author is a native citizen of this country, he must say that Swiss people
are very pragmatic and down-to-earth. If they don’t like a situation, they go for the national
sport: voting. And at the moment, there are truly historical things happening in Switzerland: Last
Sunday — as happens four times a year — Switzerland was voting “yes” or “no.” Mostly, it is about
decisions proposed by the government.

However, one must know that the Swiss can also vote for or against in so-called referendums
for virtually everything if the interested party of citizens can collect more than 100,000
signatures in the country. (See sentence above: “If they don’t like a situation they go for the
national sport: voting.) Frankly speaking, it is quite seldom that one of these referendums is
accepted by the Swiss people — usually, the result is negative because the government also proposes
a kind of counter proposal. And these counter proposals normally win.

Initiative Against Rip-off Artists

Some years ago, big Swiss companies started to copy the financial institutions’ way of
paying their top people. Compensation soared, with salaries and bonuses far higher than any
common-sense compensation: Double-digit millions of Swiss francs were paid. Then, a few years ago,
Thomas Minder, a Swiss entrepreneur — no, not a socialist — started a referendum to stop these
outrageous payments. The referendum was and is called the “initiative against rip-off artists”- and
this in Switzerland. Everybody was laughing at him, saying this cannot work, not in Switzerland,
and so on. In no time, more than 100,000 signatures from all over Switzerland were collected and
validated. Now, the story was serious.

The establishment was in trouble, and for the last two years, the government and the two
legislative chambers tried to break this entrepreneur’s will, asking him to put an end to the
referendum. He didn’t. Advertising campaigns costing multi-millions of Swiss francs were started to
tell the people not to vote yes for this “anti-social initiative.” Sunday, March 3, was the day of
clearance and decision.

Lesson In Direct Democracy

And, as mentioned in the opening paragraph, a truly historical thing happened: The Swiss
people voted “yes” to stop overrated payments and other financial extremes, taking nearly 70
percent of all votes. This kind of result has happened only three times since modern Switzerland
was born in 1848.

Now, a quite strange situation for big companies will occur: among the 24 regulations listed
in the initiative, every member of the board must be elected at the annual meeting by the
shareholders — and they must set the payments, too. After the poll, the comments in the newspapers
are arguing, “Thanks to the excesses of a few people, an entire industry has to suffer now” —
whatever that means.

New Movement

But not only is Switzerland redirecting its activities against excessive payments and
bonuses: The European Union has just signed a new law that in the future, financial people and top
leaders will not be allowed to get bonuses that are above their annual salaries. Whether this is
right or wrong is not for the Rupp Report to decide.

Nevertheless, it seems that the times are over when some people on some top floors are able
to further increase their salaries without limits and treat the cash of their companies like
selections at a self-service restaurant.

Once more, it is quite clear: today’s people are much more educated than ever before. Modern
media tools such as the often-cited social media like Facebook or Twitter are very powerful and can
turn public sentiment totally — or 70 percent — upside down.

And Now?

On the one side, the Swiss citizens are now very keen to know how the government and the two
chambers of the parliament will implement the new laws “word by word,” and in 12 months’ time, as
it is written in the referendum text. On the other side, it is regrettable that such a ballot is
needed to tell some people that the sky is not the limit, and that it’s more about dignity and
respect.

The Swiss minister of justice said after the publication of the referendum results that
those results for the affected institutes and companies are quite a challenge. However, she also
mentioned that the competitiveness of Switzerland is not only dependent on the stock corporation
law.

And what could be the conclusion of this Rupp Report? Don’t underestimate the common sense
of people on Main Street; the last move in this chess game isn’t completed yet. People on the top
floors should always remember this fact.

March 5, 2013

Italy-based itema Spinning business unit Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A. — with support from Alpha, a
Europe-based private equity fund that also has a majority interest in Savio — has acquired a
controlling interest in yarn splicing and textile quality testing equipment manufacturer Mesdan
S.p.A., also based in Italy. The value of the transaction is more than 20 million euros.

Savio, founded in 1911, has 1,469 employees worldwide and reported a 460 million-euro
turnover in 2011. The company specializes in yarn finishing machinery and quality-control systems
and has operations in Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, China
and India.

Mesdan, founded in 1952, has 84 employees and in 2011 reported nearly 40 million euros in
turnover. It has received several patents relating to air and water joint technology. With
operations outside of Italy including a joint venture in China and a subsidiary in India, the
company will remain autonomous in its relationships with its customers and in the markets it
serves.

March 5, 2013

Ventura, Calif.-based outdoor apparel retailer Patagonia Inc. has introduced the Encapsil™ Down
Belay Parka, a 100-percent independently baffled and differentially cut parka insulated using the
company’s plasma-treated, water-repellent, 1000-fill-power Encapsil down.

Patagonia’s patented Encapsil technology utilizes a silicone-based, fluorocarbon-free
chemistry. The down is processed using a proprietary machine and agitated with low-level radio
frequency waves that shift the surface of its molecular structure, and then is coated with a small
amount of siloxane that permanently adheres to its altered structure. The process creates a
25-percent stronger, loftier and more hydrophobic down than conventional down products, according
to Patagonia.

Features of the Encapsil Down Belay Parka include a shell fabric made of ultralight,
10-denier Pertex® Endurance nylon ripstop with a polyurethane dry coat; a hood that is baffled and
helmet-compatible, and has a single drawcord to create a down collar around the face to prevent
frostbite; variegated baffles across the parka that are smaller in high-compression areas to
prevent the down from shifting; and a double-baffle wind flap behind the zipper to seal out wind
and cold.

The parka is available in special-edition, limited quantities with numbered labels inside
each parka.

March 5, 2013

Lexington, N.C.-based textile finishing machinery manufacturer Navis TubeTex reports that Arsan
Tekstil, Turkey, has installed a Pak Nit II e3 compactor to improve the quality and production of
its tubular-knit fabric range.

According to Navis TubeTex, the compactor offers good shrinkage control for
difficult-to-process and sensitive fabrics and processes fabrics at speeds of more than 50 meters
per minute, with compaction rates of more than 25 percent.

March 5, 2013

Americhem Inc., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio — a provider of custom color and additive solutions for
man-made fibers — has announced plans to increase capacity at its Liberty, N.C., plant by adding a
new production line that will manufacture masterbatches containing a high percentage of fillers —
including titanium dioxides, talc, and calcium carbonate — and other additives for a range of
end-product applications. The high-throughput line is suitable for large-volume jobs totaling
100,000 pounds or more and is equipped for advanced downstream material handling, including
equipment capable of filling bulk trucks.

“Our goal is to continue to provide technology-based solutions that our customers demand,”
said Jim Huston, plant manager, Americhem Liberty. “This high-throughput line is a solution for our
customers that provides a combination of superior dispersion technology, end-product consistency
and cost effectiveness.”

Americhem expects to begin production on the line in April.

March 5, 2013

Glenwood Springs, Colo.-based industrial hemp and natural fiber manufacturer EnviroTextiles LLC
announces that its hemp products have qualified for listing in the Federal Procurement Preference
category of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) BioPreferred® Program.

Under the BioPreferred Program, whose purpose is “to promote the increased purchase and use
of biobased products,” certain categories of biobased products are given preference by Federal
agencies and their contractors when making purchasing decisions. EnviroTextiles reports it is the
only hemp products manufacturer to qualify for listing in the category.

March 5, 2013

EL PASO, Texas — February 25, 2013 — Once again, MFI International has taken the lead in
facilitating cross- border manufacturing transactions between the United States and Mexico by
obtaining the first Textile Corporate Mexican Customs Broker’s License.

Specifically, the permit has been issued by the Mexican Government Customs Agency (SAT) to
Jorge Fierro, MFI’s agent, who will act as their Mexican Customs Broker coordinating all
cross-border activities for the company with the Mexican government.

Mr. Fierro’s expertise encompasses all aspects of manufacturing operations in Mexico and he
has extensive experience in dealing with the varied challenges of cross border trade including:

    *Tariff Classification

    *Customs Valuations

    *NAFTA Claims

    *Customs Reconciliations

Commenting on his newly expanded role, Mr. Fierro noted, “Our maquiladoras can now generate
their own “pedimentos de importación”, that’s customs declarations in English. Our team can
physically verify incoming materials and finished products at a number of Customs locations. “It’s
a huge benefit,” he added, “It speeds up the entire process and makes it far more efficient because
we control every aspect and do not need to rely on an outside Mexican broker.”

MFI expects good things on the American side of the border as well. End users should see an
improvement in turnaround times and more flexibility in the process. MFI’s Chief Operating Officer,
Lawrence Wollschlager, notes “Obtaining our own Mexican Customs Broker license is another step we
take to make the supply chain faster and offer a more efficient, complete package to our clients.”

Mr. Wollschlager was also quick to praise INDEX (the Export Industry Association) and the
Consejo Nacional de Industrias Maquiladoras de Exportación (CNIME). “The support of these two
organizations was invaluable in making MFI the first contract manufacturer in Mexico with textile
operations (cut and sew) to obtain this type of permit.” Mr. Wollschlager added, “It, once again,
demonstrates, MFI’s commitment to our clients and suppliers and will allow us to continue to offer
them a significant competitive advantage through our Mexico operations.”



Posted on March 5, 2013

Source: MFI International