The Fiber Year 2012 Textiles/Nonwovens Survey Now Available

The Fiber Year GmbH, Switzerland, and Managing Director Andreas W. Engelhardt have released “The
Fiber Year 2012 World Survey on Textiles & Nonwovens.” The report, which has been produced for
more than 50 years, is now being published in cooperation with Lenzing AG, Austria.

According to the report, 2011 global fiber usage totaled more than 51 million metric tons of
man-made fibers and nearly 30 million metric tons of natural fibers. The record-high total of 81
million metric tons represents a 1-percent increase over 2010 fiber usage, and per-capita
consumption of nearly 12 kilograms. Over the last three to four years, man-made-fiber usage has
steadily increased, while natural fiber usage has remained basically flat and begun to decline.

The surge in cotton prices to all-time highs contributed to an overall rise in fiber prices,
although the price differential with polyester has increased. Viscose staple fiber prices were on a
par with cotton prices.

Price levels have trended lower and inventory levels have risen as a result of concerns over
financial conditions in the United States and certain European countries, but these trends have
slowed significantly.

Within man-made fibers, polyester’s market share grew to 73 percent. Cellulosics and
polyamides also gained market share, while polypropylene and acrylic fibers lost share. Aramid,
carbon and elastane fibers are believed to have reached record-high levels, although they comprise
a very small portion of the sector.

In geographic terms, China’s market share is greater than 60 percent. Japan and Indonesia are
believed to have increased production; while India, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand are estimated
to have decreased production. Output in Europe and the Americas also has declined.

May/June 2012

NAT, Lenzing Sign Joint Development Agreement

Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. (NAT), Vancouver, Canada, and Lenzing AG, Austria, have signed
a joint development agreement under which the two companies will evaluate the blending of NAT’s
enzymatically processed CRAiLAR® Flax fiber with Lenzing’s Tencel® and Lenzing Modal® regenerated
cellulosic fibers. Potential applications for any yarns that might be developed include fashion and
sport performance.

“With Lenzing, we can now evaluate the opportunity to expand the host fibers with which
CRAiLAR can blend to identify new performance attributes, applications and industries,” said Ken
Barker, CEO, NAT. “This partnership will have applications in industry sectors where polyester
fibers have been the norm, in addition to our existing applications as a sustainable complement to
cotton.”

Lenzing and NAT intend to develop a range of yarns that stress the fibers’ sustainability
attributes, leverage each fiber’s water absorption and wicking properties to offer alternatives to
current materials used in athletic and sport performance apparel, and develop a blended yarn
featuring Crailar and Lenzing’s fibers for women’s fashion applications.

May/June 2012

Americhem Debuts NBALANCE™ Product Line

Americhem Inc., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, now offers the nBALANCE™ line of sustainable color and
additive masterbatches. The company used ASTM International’s standards as a guide when developing
the products, which it reports have a reduced environmental impact, consume fewer natural resources
than comparable products, and use minimal energy in manufacturing and distribution.

The line includes defined palettes and technologies for polylactic acid (PLA) and bio
polytrimethylene terephthalate; a post-consumer recycled renewal additive for polyester; nCore®
chemical blowing agents that reduce raw material usage in the creation of lightweight products; and
natural fibers such as flax for use as fillers and for unique aesthetic effects. The company can
customize all of its sustainable solutions vis-à-vis material, production method and other factors.

Americhem also is developing natural colorants based on organic resources; a line of
non-halogenated flame retardants for polyester; and a general-purpose PLA product line for film and
molded applications.

May/June 2012

Under Armour Collection Features Coldblack® Finishes

Under Armour Inc., Baltimore, has launched a collection of men’s and women’s sports apparel
featuring coldblack®, a textile finishing technology developed through a cooperation between
Schoeller Technologies AG and Clariant International Ltd., both based in Switzerland.

The technology enables dark-colored fabrics to reflect rather than absorb the sun’s rays.
According to Schoeller and Clariant, textiles treated with coldblack reflect up to 80 percent of
heat rays and are guaranteed to offer a minimum ultraviolet protection factor of 30. The technology
is bluesign® approved and meets Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, class I-IV, requirements.

Schoeller and Clariant have developed 144 separate coldblack formulations for a range of
fabrics including knitted and woven 100-percent polyester and blends with elastane and polyamide in
a variety of colors. The fabrics also feature Switzerland-based Sanitized AG’s Sanitized®
antimicrobial fabric finish, which is distributed globally by Clariant.

May/June 2012

Sanitized Upgrades TH 22-27 Antimicrobial Treatment

Sanitized AG, Switzerland, has upgraded its Sanitized® TH 22-27 treatment designed for use with
man-made-fiber and wool fabrics that are in direct contact with the skin and that may require high
durability to washing.

The zinc pyrithione-based treatment works by destabilizing the cell walls of odor-causing
bacteria and deactivating them. Sanitized notes that the active ingredient has been used for years
in cosmetic products and medication, and textiles treated with Sanitized TH 22-27 have been tested
using the human patch test and have demonstrated very good skin compatibility, with no potential
for skin irritation or sensitization.

In addition to providing antimicrobial benefits to apparel, the treatment can be adapted for
use on home, automotive and other textiles.

Sanitized TH 22-27 may be applied during dyeing using exhaust, dispersion, acidic or
metal-complex dyes; and also may be applied during PAD thermosol processes. The treatment has
received bluesign® and Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, class I-IV, certification, and Allergy UK
registration.

May/June 2012

Seattle’s Apparel Industry Represented At Nation’s Capitol

SEATTLE — May 22, 2012 — On May 10th 2012 longtime Seattle fashion industry advocate Steven Paul
Matsumoto spoke to an audience of industry leaders, government officials, and small business owners
at the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of Style Advocacy Day on the
Hill.  Held at the Rayburn House Office Building, the panel discussed President Obama’s small
business agenda, the importance of incubators to revitalizing the creative economy, the American
Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exportation (ATTIRE) Act H.R. 2275, and the Small
Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011 H.R. 1418/S.509.

“It was an honor to be asked to participate in the panel, and bring national attention to
Seattle’s fashion and apparel industry,” says Mr. Matsumoto, “We are actively working with the
Department of Commerce on educational and advocacy issues related to the industry. We’re pleased to
announce that they will be presenting a seminar on ‘Getting Your Business Export Ready’ at Seattle
International Textile Expo in the fall.”

The “American Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exportation (ATTIRE) Act”
establishes a grant program to fund textile research and innovation in the U.S. textile and fiber
products industry and to promote increased U.S. textile exports.  Entities eligible for
funding would be institutions of higher education, like Washington State University’s school of
Apparel, Merchandising, Design & Textiles, and not-for-profit research institutions, including
not-for-profit industry associations whose mission is to support textile research and innovation.

Currently, credit unions are required to limit member business lending to 12.25 percent of
the credit union’s total assets.  The Small Business Lending Enhancement Act amends the
Federal Credit Union Act by raising that cap to 27.5 percent of total assets, and increasing the
minimum business loan subject to the cap from $50,000 to $250,000.  This measure makes capital
more accessible and makes it a little easier for future business owners to achieve the promise of
America.

The distinguished panel of industry leaders moderated by Lauren Rothman, Huffington Post
Contributing Style Editor also included:

  • Janet E. Heinzen, Director Office of Textiles and Apparel, US Department of Commerce
  • James V. Hunter, Legislative Aide, Representative David Price (D-NC)
  • Jacqueline B. West, Field Operations Specialist, Office of Field Operations, Small Business
    Administration
  • Adriana Pavon, Co-Founder, Detroit Fashion Collective

In addition to providing an educational opportunity to learn about the fashion industry and
the policies that shape decisions the panel urged those in attendance to be a part of change by
voicing their support of both H.R. 2275 and H.R. 1418/S.509 to their congressional leaders. 
Christine Brooks-Cropper, President of the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce, also
announced the formation of a National Coalition of Fashion Incubators at the event.  Among the
initial 13 founding member incubators is Seattle Fashion Incubator, of which Mr. Matsumoto is a
co-founder.  The coalition will pool resources to support its members, and provide a unified
voice of advocacy on Capitol Hill.

We would like to thank Congressman Jim McDermott’s office for taking time to meet with Mr.
Matsumoto to discuss these important issues for the industry in Seattle, and across the nation.

Posted on May 22, 2012

Source: Shows Northwest LLC

The Launch Of Texprocess Americas Exceeds Exhibitor And Attendee Expectations

ATLANTA — May 2012 — The first edition of Texprocess Americas took place April 24 – 26, 2012 at the
Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was co-located with Techtextil North
America and created a synergy creating the largest and best technical textiles, textile machinery,
nonwovens, sewn products and equipment trade show in the Americas!

The 2012 Texprocess Americas event hosted 161 exhibitors from 11 countries including
international pavilions from China and Germany, as well as a SPESA-IT and SEAMS pavillion with a
total co-location attendance of 6,800 from 62 countries.

John Gallagher, President of Messe Frankfurt USA, on the conclusion of the 2012 edition
commented “I am extremely pleased with the results of Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North
America. Our attendees experienced three days of informative symposiums and a busy exhibit floor
with business being conducted. The positive comments I heard bode well for the industry. We look
forward to these events continuing to be the meeting place for these industries.”

The kick off to the event was the keynote address by Miguel Caballero, known as The Armani of
Bullet Proof Clothing. Miguel’s speech regarding his business and how far he has come with his
innovative ideas which brought his designs to life filled the audience with excitement which they
took to the show floor.

SPESA EXPO Incorporation

The launch of Texprocess Americas incorporated SPESA EXPO to bring to the Americas the
largest and best sewn products and equipment trade show of its kind. Messe Frankfurt USA and SPESA
concluded agreements in April 2010 to cooperate, co-produce and launch Texprocess Americas every
even year in Atlanta.

Dave Gardner, Managing Director of SPESA reported on the results of the show stating “from
2010 to 2012… what a difference two short years makes! From SPESA EXPO to Texprocess Americas.
From a business climate that was just recovering to one with more positives and more stability.
From off-shoring to on-shoring. As evidenced by the inaugural 2012 edition of Texprocess Americas
business is back. As the co-producer of Texprocess Americas, the SPESA association is completely
pleased with and proud of our partnership with Messe Frankfurt and our agreement to merge SPESA
EXPO into Texprocess Americas. As we predicted, the co-location of Texprocess Americas with
Techtextil North America proved to be advantageous for our exhibiting members and for the industry
as a whole. The results from this year’s successful, inaugural launch of Texprocess Americas will
designate this exhibition and symposium series as a “must attend” event for the entire textile and
sewn products industry in the Americas.”

SPESA is the only US-based association representing suppliers of equipment, technology, and
services to the sewn products industry. SPESA members are the primary exhibitors in Texprocess
Americas.



Symposium 2012

Held concurrently with the exhibition and developed by industry experts the symposium
contained nine sessions with more than 40 presentations in a variety of formats that covered a wide
range of topics from Sourcing to the European Market, Manufacturing Technology, World Supply Chain
and an International Trade Update Session.



 Those who attended the symposium felt the sessions were insightful and that the speakers
presented high quality presentations. One attendee, Oscar Chavarria, Director of Manufacturing,
Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., USA, stated “I thought the event was very insightful. My main purpose
for attending was to gather up intel on the different market outlooks for our industry. I thought
the panelists were very knowledgeable in their fields and came prepared with a well of
information.”

Other attendees such as Fernando Lobo, Sr. Manager, Costing Engineering, COACH, USA,
commented, “I participated in two symposiums: New Technology and Manufacturing Technology. The
quality of the material presented the high energy of the presenters and the eye-opening
presentations featured a great deal of innovation and improvements to the technology throughout the
years. The best part of it was that all that technology was available for all to see at the show. “



Attendee Statements

Atayne, Jeremy Litchfield, President & CEO, USA: “Texprocess Americas and
Techtextil North America is a must go to show for anyone whose business is connected to the textile
industry. Having the ability the see the latest in materials and manufacturing equipment all under
roof is a great time and travel expense savings.The quality of companies exhibiting was
outstanding. In just a day and a half I made many new connections that will help to drive our
business forward and help us compete in the global marketplace as a US based manufacturer.”



COACH, Fernando Lobo, Sr. Manager, Costing Engineering, USA: “This was my first time
attending the Texprocess Americas show. I was rather impressed with the technology available to the
visitors and the extensive variety of well renowned companies around the globe dedicated to enhance
the production of textiles, leather and fashion industries.”





Kohls, Sophie Alamachere, Apparel Engineer, USA: “For many years I attended the
Bobbin show and SPESA Expo, and this year Texprocess Americas. It is a truly relevant investment of
time and money in this fast moving industry that one needs to remain current of new developments
and technologies. The symposium; Product Development Technology was very informative, the speakers
knowledgeable and engaging.”


Exhibitor Statements

American & Efird, Mark Hatton, Director Marketing and Sales Administration,
USA: “A&E felt that Texprocess Americas was a tremendous success, and we were honored
to be a part of the inaugural “Americas” event. The co-production with SPESA, and the promotional
activities undertaken by all clearly made a difference in developing a “buzz” that seemed to draw
people to the show. Also word about the show traveled fast, as we have already heard from some who
were disappointed in their inability to attend. We tell them,”look for us in 2014″ and make your
plans early.”



Brother International, Matthew Rhome, National Account Manager, USA: “We’ve been
swamped everyday. I’ve never been to a trade show with such a good response.”

Henderson Sewing Macine Co., Inc., Frank Henderson, CEO,USA: “Best Trade EXPO
Event we have participated in the Last 10-Years”

OptiTex, Yoram Burg, President, USA: “One of the best shows we’ve had in years.”

[TC]², Mike Fralix, President and CEO, USA: “The show was outstanding, and the
energy on the floor was extremely positive. I heard many comments from others about the success of
the show,that people were making meaningful connections with current and potential customers.”

Tuscarora Yarns, David Roberts, Chief Operating Officer, USA: “The show had been
helpful in both meeting new clients and building existing relationships. It has been an excellent
show in terms of the traffic and the quality of clientele. It’s bigger, there’s more critical mass,
and so it’s drawing more people.”

Texprocess Americas 2014

The second edition of Texprocess Americas, the only show in the Americas for the equipment
and technology for the development,sourcing, and production of sewn products, will be held in May,
2014 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia and will once again be co-located
with Techtextil North America. For the more information, please visit www.TexprocessAmericas.com



Texprocess 2013

 The next Teprocess in Frankfurt will take place from June 10-13,2013. The leading
international trade show for processing textile and flexible materials will be co-located with
Techtextil (June 11-13, 2013). Interested companies can register online for Texprocess 2013 at
www.texprocess.com

Posted on May 22, 2012

Source: Messe Frankfurt USA

Techtextil North America 2012 Back To Pre-Recession Level A Great Indicator That The Industry Is Growing And Moving Forward

ATLANTA — May 2012 — The ninth edition of Techtextil North America, now incorporating ATME-I, took
place April 24 – 26, 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta,Georgia. The show was
co-located with Texprocess Americas which resulted in a dynamic synergy creating the largest and
best technical textiles, nonwovens, textile machinery, sewn products and equipment trade show in
the Americas.

The 2012 Techtextil North America event hosted 314 exhibitors from 22 countries including
international pavilions from Belgium, Canada, China, Germany, Italy and Portugal with a total
co-location attendance of 6,800 from 62 countries and 475 exhibitors from 26 countries.

Michael Jaenecke, Director Brand Management Technical Textiles/Techtextil commented, “It was
already the 9th Techtextil North America and yet I can not remember such a busy show – from the
very first minute of the first day. The feedback from the busy floor was very positive regarding
quality and quantity of the business talks. The reasons are various, amongst others the recovery of
the US economy,the combination with the premiere of Texprocess Americas and the support of the
associations ATMA and SPESA. Due to their success at this show some companies and country pavilions
gave options for Techtextil North America 2013 in Anaheim, California.”

John Gallagher, President of Messe Frankfurt USA, on the conclusion of the 2012 edition
commented “I am extremely pleased with the results of Techtextil North America and Texprocess
Americas. Our attendees experienced three days of informative symposiums and a busy exhibit floor
with business being conducted. The positive comments I heard bode well for the industry. We look
forward to these events continuing to be the meeting place for these industries.”

The kick off to the event was the keynote address by Miguel Caballero, known as The Armani of
Bullet Proof Clothing. Miguel’s speech regarding his business and how far he has come with his
innovative ideas which brought his designs to life filled the audience with excitement which they
took to the show floor.”

ATME-I Incorporation

2012 saw the first edition of Techtextil North America with the incorporation of American
Textile Machinery Exhibition-International (ATME-I). The American Textile Machinery Association
(ATMA) and Messe Frankfurt USA have agreed on the inclusion of ATME-I with Techtextil North America
every even year starting in 2012. Clay D.Tyeryar, President and Assistant Treasurer for the
American Textile Machinery Association (ATMA) commented, “I was very pleased with the incorporation
of ATME-I into Techtextil North America. The quality and quantity of attendees was the best we have
seen in over a decade in North America. We are looking forward to the continuing cooperation in
2014.”

Symposium 2012

 Held concurrently with the exhibition and developed by industry experts, the
symposium contained twelve sessions with more than 48presentations in a variety of formats that
covered a wide range of topics from high performance nonwovens, sustainable materials,military
developments and research to medical textiles.




Those who attended the symposium felt the sessions were informational and the speakers
extremely knowledgable. One in particular, Connie Chiueh, Material Innovation Team Leader-Footwear
with Reebok International Ltd, USA stated “the symposium gives an ice cross section of new material
developments occurring in many different industries, which is beneficial for any material
specialist looking for new innovations.” Other attendees, such as Jim Kaufman with TEAM felt that
“the speakers were engaging and the content was in line with the direction of our business today.
There were good questions from the audience and afterwards, there were still attendees talking with
the speakers. It was nice to attend sessions that were directly relevant to our business interests
and future.”



Attendee Statements

Atayne, Jeremy Litchfield, President & CEO, USA: “Techtextil North America and
Texprocess Americas is a must go to show for anyone whose business is connected to the textile
industry. Having the opportunity to see the latest in materials and manufacturing equipment all
under roof is a great time and travel expense savings.The quality of companies exhibiting was
outstanding. In just a day and a half, I made many new connections that will help to drive our
business forward and help us compete in the global marketplace as a US based manufacturer.”



Honeywell International, Henry Ardiff, Principal Scientist,Specialty Materials Advance Fibers
& Composites, USA: “Attending Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas is a
great way for an industry newcomer to start building their base. An informative symposium, live
demonstrations with real materials on real equipment, and high energy presenters result in a rich
experience.”


Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Blaine Kessler, Global Non-Wovens Research & Engineering
Development Lab Mechanical Engineering Support, USA: “This was my first visit to
Techtextil North America and I was impressed with how many different companies were represented.
Even though my expertise is in the Nonwovens arena, we were able to develop a list of four or five
potential vendors to follow-up with to further discuss our equipment needs on an upcoming project.
With my technical background, I truly enjoyed chatting with the various manufacturers. My colleague
and I came away with some cool ideas that will enable us to be a bit more creative on future
projects.”



Exhibitor Statements




China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association Ph.D., Mr. Li Lingshen, Chairman,
Beijing, China: “Techtextil North America as part of the Messe Frankfurt Techtextil Brand
is the perfect platform for Chinese companies in the technical textile field to engage in foreign
markets. Not only are they doing business at events like these, but they are also able to learn a
lot.”

Gehring Textiles, Bill Christmann, VP Sales, USA: “Overall, I would say one of the
best shows in the past few years – based on quality of attendees; feasibility and viability of
their needs; and expectation of real and probable new business opportunities germinated over these
three days…. Honestly, I have never been apart of a show with so few ‘tire kickers.”

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., Kim K Thompson, CEO, USA: “Techtextil North
America was an ideal venue for us to debut our products and technology to the technical textile
industry. We found it to be unmatched in terms of providing us with networking probabilities and
connections to potential customers and corporate partners.”





Navis Tube Tex, Jeff Dixon, Senior Director, International Sales, USA: “We feel
the Techtextil North America was beneficial to assisting Navis TubeTex to continue expanding into
the technical and industrial markets.”



TenCate Protective Fabrics, Mike Allen, Senior Director of Marketing, USA:
“Techtextil North America has stepped it up a notch and has proven to be one of the best shows we
have exhibited at in years! The exhibit hall stayed crowded with quality buyers and produced the
key people we have been reaching out to. The colocation between Techtextil North America and
Texprocess Americas was brilliant! We look forward to participating in Anaheim in 2013 and going
back to Atlanta in 2014!”

Texel, a division of ADS Inc., François Bourgault, Marketing Manager, USA: “The
Techtextil North America Show has always been the most productive Trade Show for us. The 2012
Edition was no exception and once again delivered a very good Return On Investment for Texel. The
Messe Frankfurt team and their subcontractors were also available and easy to work with,
before,during and after the Show. ”



Textiles Omnes S.A., Jefe de Ventas, Columbia: “We had a very good show, many
visitors and hopefully promising new business.”



Techtextil North America 2013

 The tenth edition of Techtextil North America, the only trade show in the Americas
dedicated to technical textiles and nonwovens, will beheld March 19 – 21, 2013 at the Hilton
Anaheim in Anaheim, California.

For more information, please visit www.techtextilNA.com.

Posted on May 22, 2012

Source: Messe Frankfurt USA

Miller Weldmaster New Star Of Hollywood Monster’s Show

NAVARRE, Ohio — May 17, 2012 — Miller Weldmaster, a leading global provider of heat-sealing
technology services and machinery for the industrial welding fabric & thermoplastic market,
announced today that through its partnering UK distributor, Solent Sewing & Welding has
completed the installation of a Miller Weldmaster 112 Extreme at sign and graphics specialist
Hollywood Monster’s Birmingham production facility.

The combined welding, eyeleting and cutting solution will enable Hollywood Monster to finish
a wider range of materials than their previous equipment allowed, including ‘green’ recyclable
polyethylene thanks to the machine’s hot air and hot wedge welding functionality.

“Hollywood Monster is contracted to build signage and banners in preparation for this
summer’s 2012 London Olympics. We are thrilled and honored they’ve chosen Miller Weldmaster
technology and machinery to take on this momentous task,” said Scott Miller, Chief Executive
Officer for Miller Weldmaster. “The Miller Weldmaster 112 Extreme is the perfect machine for this
project and built to meet the customer’s need and specifications.”

The recent acquisition of the Miller Weldmaster 112 Extreme by Hollywood Monster’s mirrors
industry trends.  Businesses are gradually moving away from radio frequency welding in favor
of faster, robust and more reliant technology such as hot air and hot wedge welding. 

“While RF welding has been popular in the UK in the past, there is now a general movement in
the trade towards the Miller Weldmaster hot air and hot wedge welding solutions,” comments Solent
managing director Ian Jenkins for Solent Sewing & Welding, citing the systems’ speed and
environmental credentials as key to the trend.”

The 112 Extreme is the next generation of the popular 112 Cross Seamer. The 112 Extreme has a
larger breadth of production capabilities and is easier for the operator to use. With
precision-controlled welding parameters, easy recall settings and an ergonomic design, the 112
Extreme is built to take production and efficiency to the next level.

Posted on May 22, 2012

Source: Miller Weldmaster

Kenactiv Innovations, Inc. Launches Activat Fiber Technologies Platform To Meet Rapidly Increasing Demand For Sustainable Woven And Nonwoven Fiber Products

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. —May 16, 2012 — Kenactiv Innovations, Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer
of sustainable biobased performance fibers and products, announced today the launch of its Activat
Fiber Technologies platform to meet rapidly increasing demand for sustainable fiber products by the
textile, automotive, healthcare, plastics, packaging and consumer products industries.

Activat Fiber Technologies applies Kenactiv’s innovative and customizable processing and
treatments to kenaf, jute and flax fibers to create sustainable solutions for manufacturers seeking
high performance yet sustainable alternatives to synthetic and other natural fibers. The AFT
platform includes Activat1 bast-fiber products and feedstocks from kenaf, flax and/or jute, which
are suited to all nonwoven manufacturing processes.  ActivatBL, bast fiber and core blend
products offer excellent performance and value for paper and pulp applications.  Kenactiv
Innovations, Inc. is the premier US manufacturer offering kenaf, jute and flax which each have
unique performance profiles and suitability for different applications.

As demand for woven and nonwoven textiles increases, so does demand for sustainability in
these applications.  A large margin of the nonwovens market is for single use items such as
home maintenance and beauty product wipes and healthcare products. With an eye toward
controlling  landfills, recyclable and biodegradable or compostable materials are increasingly
called for by manufacturers and consumers. Biobased fibers such as kenaf, flax and jute offer the
sustainability profile manufacturers and consumers demand with no sacrifice in performance.

“While manufacturers have for some time recognized the sustainability and performance
benefits of biobased fibers for these industrial and consumer applications, supply chain stability
and quality control have been obstacles to their use,” said Richard W. Elsey, President and COO of
Kenactiv Innovations, Inc. “With large scale agricultural capacity right here in the US and the
largest bast fiber processing operation in North America — plus additional capacity abroad —
Kenactiv Innovations is uniquely able to meet both the volume and quality demands of large scale
manufacturers.”

Kenactiv Innovations is a specialist in the natural and enzymatic technologies required to
process bast fibers to achieve the fiber length, consistency and tensile strength these demanding
applications require while also maximizing their sustainability and cost benefits. Choosing Activat
fiber products over petroleum-based or other synthetic and natural fibers offers manufacturers
proven operational cost savings, improved risk mitigation, environmental hazard and toxicity
reduction, reduced water consumption and decreased emissions.  Kenaf composite and nonwoven
automotive products, for example, reduce automobile weight increasing fuel efficiency. And by
replacing conventional plastics and fiberglass with biobased alternatives, the vehicle’s overall
carbon footprint is further reduced.

The Company offers highly customizable treatments and processes including enhanced or
selective absorption, antimicrobial, fire retardance, high flash, water resistance, woolenization
and dye compatibility to satisfy customers’ unique design specifications. “Coupled with our diverse
raw fiber offerings and processing capacity, we can provide sustainable solutions across a broad
spectrum of woven and nonwoven textile applications,” according to Elsey.

For further information regarding Activat Fiber Technologies and products, please contact
Jack Galvin EVP of Sales, at jgalvin@kenactiv.com.



Posted on May 22, 2012

Source: Kenactiv Innovations Inc./PRNewswire

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