William H. “Bill” Hills Sr., one of the great pioneers in the synthetic fibers extrusion industry,
passed away on August 10, 2012, following a brief illness. Hills was a chemical engineering
graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He started his professional career in 1955 with the
Chemstrand Corp. — which later became the Fibers Division of Monsanto Co. — where he served in
technical and management capacities involving areas such as nylon fibers, spunbond technology and
metal spinning. Hills left Monsanto in 1971 to become a founder of Hills R&D — which later
became Hills Inc. — in West Melbourne, Fla. Hills led the company in the development and supply of
advanced fiber extrusion systems until he retired in 1988, and until recently remained interested
in contributing to various technical projects at the company. Hills was the inventor in numerous
patents that significantly contributed to the advancement of technology and to the fibers
industry. 

Arnold Wilkie, president and owner of Hills Inc., said: “We are all grateful for having had
the opportunity to know and work with Bill over the years. He was a great leader and friend. His
personal contributions to our company, industry and world will live forever.”  

High Point, N.C.-based Culp Inc. plans to expand its mattress fabrics business in Stokesdale, N.C.,
investing at least $450,000 to add cut-and-sew operations and adding 129 jobs. The company has
begun preparing a manufacturing facility across the street from its existing weaving facility in
Stokesdale and anticipates starting up the new operation this fall. The ultimate total investment
could exceed $900,000.

Culp comprises two divisions: Culp Home Fashions including knitted and woven mattress
fabrics, with manufacturing facilities located in High Point and Stokesdale as well as in Canada;
and Culp Upholstery Fabrics, with manufacturing located in High Point, China and Poland. The
company’s current workforce at its North Carolina facilities numbers more than 410 people.

The mattress fabrics business has grown over the last several years, from representing a
20-percent share of the company’s total business in 2000 to 57 percent in 2011. The company claims
to have the leading U.S. market share in both businesses and realized net sales of $254.4 million
in fiscal year 2012 — up 17.4 percent from 2011 and including $145.5 million in mattress fabric
sales, an 18.9-percent increase for the year in that business.

The new facility will produce mattress covers that will be marketed to Culp’s customers under
a joint marketing agreement with Chicago-based mattress cover supplier A. Lava & Son Co. The
facility will be wholly owned by Culp.

“This new venture, known as Culp-Lava Applied Sewn Solutions, represents a natural
progression of Culp’s mattress fabrics business as we continue to capitalize on growth
opportunities in more innovative product offerings,” said Iv Culp, president, Culp Home Fashions.
“We believe this new venture highlights our commitment to enhance Culp’s leadership position in the
bedding industry with an expanded and flexible manufacturing platform, supported by exceptional
design, superior customer service, reliable delivery performance and consistent quality and value.”

“We are very excited about this expansion and vertical integration for that area of our
business because it will allow us to be more responsive to customers and have a broader product
offering,” said Teresa Huffman, vice president, human resources, with responsibility for corporate
communications, Culp Inc. “We are looking forward to starting up the new operation this fall.”

The company has received a $82,560 grant from the One North Carolina Fund to assist in the
expansion.

August 14, 2012

Gainesville, Fla.-based Quick-Med Technologies Inc. has received an amended U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) registration for its hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-based Stay Fresh®
Antimicrobial — a nontoxic, cost-effective, durable technology that retains its efficacy on
textiles and other materials when subjected to a range of laundering conditions, according to the
company.

The amendment expands approval for use of the technology to 30 new sites, enabling its use
in products such as adhesives, aprons, backpacks, incontinence pads, lumber, luggage, shoe liners
and inserts, shower curtains, superabsorbent polymers, and wound dressings. It also addresses
treatment application levels based on an article’s intended use and provides for “ultimate”
durability, “standard” application and warehouse “inventory protection” rates.

In addition to textile applications including military uniforms, apparel and other consumer
textiles, Stay Fresh has potential applications for products such as medical devices. Quick-Med has
filed a 510(k) Premarket Notification with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Stay
Fresh Skin Fold Management Textile, a Stay Fresh-treated medical absorbent textile product designed
to provide moisture management as well as antimicrobial protection in order to prevent damage to
skin from abrasion within skin folds.

August 14, 2012

National Safety Apparel (NSA) — a Cleveland-based manufacturer of protective apparel for industrial
safety applications — has introduced a line of flame-retardant (FR) 100-percent cotton knit shirts
that offer a single-layer FR solution, eliminating the need to layer garments to combat arc
flash-related injuries.

FR Classic Cotton™ Knit shirts are soft, supple and breathable while also featuring an
increased arc flash protection of 12 small calories of heat energy per square centimeter — a
benchmark that comparable garments previously have been unable to reach, NSA reports.

The shirts are suitable for both indoor and outdoor wear, and are available in a range of
colors and styles.

August 14, 2012

Germany-based dyeing and finishing machinery manufacturer A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH &
Co. KG has introduced a new generation of vertically guided tenter chains that are especially
suitable for knitted fabrics and are designed for heavyweight knitted, nonwovens and technical
textile applications.

The Hercules-V tenter chain features a sturdy gray cast-iron construction with reinforced
chain track, and operates with transverse forces up to 1,500 newtons per meter, at running speeds
up to 100 meters per minute, and at temperatures up to 260°C. It also features a maintenance-free
design and long device life of the slide blocks. Optional depinning protection flaps are available.

August 14, 2012

Australia-based automated robotic tufting machine developer Wilcom AutoTuft Pty. Ltd. has added new
agents in India and China.

India-based IIGM Pvt. Ltd., a supplier of Wilcom’s embroidery offerings for more than 15
years, is adding Wilcom’s AutoTuft product range to its portfolio. IIGM also offers product support
and training to customers throughout the Indian subcontinent.

In China, Shun Long Machinery Co. Ltd. will carry Wilcom’s AutoTuft machinery. According to
Wilcom, the company is well-known in China and represents other prominent carpet machinery and
software suppliers.

Wilcom’s AutoTuft machinery uses pneumatic or mechanical tufting heads to produce custom
rugs and wall hangings with a “hand-tufted” look at a lower price than hand tufting. Additionally,
textures — such as 3-D and automatic cut-loop effects — not attainable on handmade products are
possible using AutoTuft.

August 14, 2012

Thailand-based polyester producer Indorama Ventures PCL (IVL) recently added 100,800 metric tons of
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) capacity with the acquisition of Indonesia-based PT Polypet
Karyapersada’s PET assets. The new PET capacity is located in West Java adjacent to PT Indorama
Petrochemicals’ PTA assets, which IVL acquired last year.

“The acquisition of PT Polypet Karyapersada creates synergies due to it being co-sited with
our PTA plant PT Indorama Petrochemicals in Indonesia, making it a strategic investment in the most
populous country in ASEAN,” said Aloke Lohia, Group CEO, Indorama Ventures.

“We are very pleased to be participating in the strong growth of Indonesia. The country is a
very attractive market for long-term investment and the Polypet deal will allow us to keep pace
with and serve the growth of our major customers in the country.”

Indorama has made numerous global acquisitions over the past year including two in North
America: Clear Lake, Texas-based Old World Industries
(see ”
Indorama
Acquires Old World,”
TextileWorld.com, February 7, 2012); and Duluth, Ga.-based FiberVisions
Holdings LLC
(see ”
Indorama
Acquires FiberVisions Holdings,”
TextileWorld.com, January 10, 2012).



August 14, 2012