NEW YORK CITY — May 25, 2011 — New York-based global materials consultancy Material ConneXion
announced today plans to expand its international operations with the launch of 10 locations
throughout China by 2017. Material ConneXion’s first office in China is scheduled to open in
Beijing in October 2011, followed by locations in Shanghai in March 2012 and Guangzhou in the 3rd
quarter of 2012.  

Material ConneXion’s move into China is made possible by a strategic partnership with Eegoo
Cultural Industry Investment Co., Ltd., China’s leading cultural and innovative products operator,
positioned at the forefront of China’s booming cultural creative sector.  

“China is a vital and obvious next step for us,” said George M. Beylerian, Founder & CEO,
Material ConneXion. “We are excited to gain a foothold in this rapidly evolving market and believe
that together with our new partner Eegoo, there is tremendous potential for Material ConneXion to
help drive innovation in China.”

The world’s fastest growing economy, China announced in its most recent five-year plan a
desire to shift towards designing, developing and manufacturing goods for domestic consumption,
rather than just manufacturing foreign-designed products for export. With this in mind, Material
ConneXion is positioned to become an engine for modernization among Chinese companies and product
developers. Material ConneXion will help spur this development by working with local designers and
manufacturers to increase the level of innovation and creativity in Chinese products and
services.  

“China’s cultural and creative industries are at a very exciting turning point right now,”
said Zhong Cong, CEO of Egoo. “We believe strongly that Material ConneXion’s unparalleled materials
expertise and global insight will be crucial to helping Chinese creative culture become more
competitive and influential in the international market.”

In addition to facilitating innovation domestically, Material ConneXion’s move into China
responds directly to its international clients’ ever-growing need for insight into Chinese
materials and sourcing.

“Our extensive presence throughout China will dramatically increase our ability to help
clients around the world source Chinese materials close to their manufacturing,” said Michele
Caniato, President. “In such a large and complex market, on the ground insight is essential. We’ll
be able to provide our clients with the intelligence and support they need to manufacture in the
most efficient ways possible.”

Material ConneXion’s offices in China will offer the same services as its six other global
locations: An innovative materials library, consulting services customized materials research and
product development support and a wide range of public programing, including exhibitions and
conferences focused on materials innovation. Material ConneXion’s expansion into China comes on the
heels of opening its latest global office in Istanbul, Turkey. Headquartered in New York City, the
company has additional locations in Milan, Cologne, Bangkok and Daegu, Korea.

The partnership between Eegoo Cultural Industry and Material ConneXion was brokered by China
Center New York, the leading platform for China-US business and culture exchange. “Bridging Chinese
and American partners through good deals is at the core of China Center’s mission,” said Xue Ya,
President of China Center New York. “We are thrilled to witness the positive outcome of this
partnership.”

Posted on May 27, 2011

Source: Material ConneXion

ÜBACH-PALENBERG, Germany — March 2011 — The automation of ring spinning machines and package
winders is assuming growing importance in many regions. Even in those regions where labour costs
are still low, many spinning mills are turning increasingly to modern linked systems such as the
Autoconer X5, type V as a forward-looking solution.

Arguments in favor of automation — operator-independent, high-quality, efficient

The direct link between the ring spinning machine and the package winder already saves around
30-40% on staff costs (compared with RM) in practice, and this trend is rising. But apart from
economic efficiency, automation offers another convincing argument — quality. The bobbins are
transported contact-free, and therefore with the minimum impact on the yarn, from the ring spinning
machine to the package winder. The quality of the spun yarn is fully retained. In addition, in an
installation linked to the Autoconer X5 V, the yarn quality of each individual spinning unit on the
ring spinning machine can be checked and safeguarded at the optimum level by the optional online
spindle identification system SPID. The efficiency and safety of the material flow and process
sequence no longer depend on the operators. In automated linked systems, the bobbins are wound into
packages “just in time” by direct transfer to the winding machine. These “intact” bob-bins
facilitate higher efficiency ratings of the package winder on account of greater readying
reliability and better unwinding behaviour in the winding process. The production capacities of the
spinning and winding machine are coordinated to one another in the optimum manner for greater
efficiency, i.e. for more kilograms of yarn each day.

Figure 1: Autoconer X5, type V — direct link to the ring spinning machine

Autoconer X5, type V — the shortest route from the bobbin to the package:

In the new Autoconer X5, type V machine, the bobbins are supplied to the central readying
station once they have been transferred by the CTS to the Caddies of the Autoconer transport
system. The number of readying stations and the equipping of these with suit-able yarn detachment
device types are freely configurable according to the required cycle rates, materials and bobbin
structures. The yarn end is deposited securely on the tube tip as a tip bunch, so that it does not
get lost during transporting and the winding unit can fall back on it securely when winding on.

Figure 2: Automatic preparation of the bobbins for the winding process

The material flow to the winding units is demand-led, i.e. when the winding units place a
request, they are supplied with the bobbins. To ensure the optimum reliability of supply, 3 reserve
bobbins are always available for each winding unit.

The transport system has been designed to be extremely thrifty with power (compared with the
preceding model, up to 5% of energy costs can be saved). Long sections (bobbin feed, tube return)
are managed using a conveyor belt system. Within the winding units and in the central processing
centre, mechanical, positive conveying by means of driver plate is used. After the winding process,
final treatment is carried out in the processing centre. The tube inspector takes charge of
distribution: empty tubes are transferred via the CTS transfer station to the ring spinning
machine, tubes with cut-off pieces of yarn are optionally fed to the tube cleaning unit, tubes with
yarn remains that can be unwound are fed back into the material flow.

Figure 3: Proven and secure Autoconer Caddy transport system

To complement the energy-saving transport concept, the opportunity exists to utilize further
energy-saving potential. If the Autoconer X5, type V machine has wound all its bobbins and the ring
spinning machine is still engaged in production of the new take-up, the winding machine can switch
to energy saving mode. This means that all belts and units that are not required enter “sleep” mode
(e.g. reduction in the power take-up of the suction system). Everything is then reactivated in good
time for the transfer of the new bobbins.

The monitoring tasks of the operators are clearly organized and characterized by short
distances. The Informator is located directly on the machining centre right next to the CTS
transfer station, so the operator is only a couple of steps away from the operating terminal of the
ring spinning machine and can quickly survey the production sequences and data of both machines.



Plus points for the installation of a linked system with the Autoconer X5, type V

• Independence from the availability of trained staff and from labour cost increases
• Safeguarding of yarn quality due to gentle supply to winding machine
• No mixing-up of lots
• Optimum capacity coordination between spinning and winding machine
• Higher efficiency rating of the ring spinning machine (with SPID)
• Flexible configuration of the material flow units to satisfy the requirement
• High cycle rates, reliable process sequences
• Transparency of operation, Informator as central operating terminal close to the spinning
  machine
• Energy-saving mode
• Online quality monitoring with SPID (optional)
• PreciFX (option) — unique yarn traversing facility for individual package quality

Figure 4: Open design, clearly structured material flow for the Autoconer X5, type V

SPID for linked systems Autoconer X5, V — Quality assurance before it is too late

Trust is good, automated online control is better. Especially if it helps not only to
recognize potential sources of faults but also to eliminate them early on. SPID is the (optional)
online monitoring system of the Autoconer X5 for linked systems, which provides targeted monitoring
of the spinning quality at each individual spindle of the ring spinning machine. Spindles that
produce faulty bobbins or show a decline in quality can be identified at an early stage while in
operation and the cause of the fault can be eliminated in a targeted, preventive intervention.

The principle is simple: when transferring the bobbins from the ring spinning machine trays
to the Caddies on the Autoconer X5, type V, the built-in chip in the Caddy records the number of
the spindle from which the bobbin originates. The clearer in the winding unit assigns its measured
yarn quality and clearing data to this number. The operator receives the information about quality
data that is outside the set limits or is deteriorating directly for the spindle responsible
systematically from the Informator. Quality limits and clearing limits are entered centrally at the
Informator via the integrated clearer operation prior to the start of the lot. The effect is that
fault causes can be eliminated quickly and specifically. And because the trend of all quality data
is recorded continuously, preventive maintenance can even be instigated deliberately if the level
drops.

Figure 5: Online quality monitoring with the spindle identification system SPID

With SPID both the quality level and efficiency can be maintained at a significantly higher
level. The ring spinning machine now produces virtually fault-free yarn quality, which can be
processed smoothly, thus also maximizing the efficiency rating of the package winder and further
process stages. This offers an enormous advantage compared with the ra-dom sampling of the yarn
data in the laboratory that is otherwise the norm. Corrective intervention is then only possible
far too late, and the quality is already outside the limits. No specific allocation to the fault
source that is at the root of the problem is possible, as this is not known. A tedious search is
initiated, and quality declines further in the meantime.

Posted on May 26, 2011

Source: Oerlikon Schlafhorst

Israel-based nylon 6,6 and microfiber yarn manufacturer Nilit and Australia-based high-performance
yarn manufacturer LincSpun Yarns Pty Ltd. have partnered to develop LincSpun Trinomax AQ®, a
high-performance, moisture-managing yarn that combines merino wool and Nilit’s Aquarius high-speed
moisture-wicking yarn. Trinomax AQ is designed for use in thermoregulating activewear, dancewear,
socks and sportswear.

The new yarn features merino wool, textured Nilit nylon 6,6 and Nilit Aquarius yarns twisted
together using LincSpun’s proprietary TRINOMAX® spinning technology, by which components can be
modified to make a lightweight, engineered yarn that provides specific properties. Merino wool is
soft and provides thermoregulating properties; textured Nilit nylon 6,6 provides durability and
consistent quality; and Nilit Aquarius – an engineered fiber that features a special additive
integrated into the polymer and a triple-T cross section -provides intrinsic high-speed moisture
wicking properties.

“We chose to make Trinomax AQ out of Nilit nylon 6,6 yarns because of their high quality,”
said Jean-Michel Libeau, director, LincSpun. “With its natural softness and technologically
advanced moisture management properties, we are confident Trinomax AQ will greatly enhance our
offering of advanced yarns for sportswear, active wear and socks.”

May 24, 2011

Switzerland-based Rieter Machine Works Ltd. reports its C 70 1.5-meter-wide card offers a number of
improvements over the earlier-generation C 60 card.

According to the company, a redistribution of the carding zones in the flats area and
redesigned flats guiding enables the new card to increase production performance by up to 40
percent while maintaining or even improving sliver quality. The C 70 card features 32 operative
flats, providing a 45-percent-greater active flats area than the C 60, and a 60-percent-greater
area than conventional cards. Thanks to the new card’s precise flats guiding system and updated
design, a precise and reproducible minimum distance of 0.1 millimeters can be set between the
cylinder clothing and the flats. The company also has reorganized the flats cleaning function.

Other C 70 features include: an extraction knife with variable ejector distance located in
the pre- and post-carding area to optimize fiber utilization, plus quick exchange of the knife
without tools; a frequency converter that enables infinitely adjustable flats speed independent of
the cylinder speed; and 15-percent lower energy needs per kilogram of produced card sliver than the
C 60. Options include Rieter’s exclusive fully automatic integrated cylinder grinding system.

United Kingdom-based inkjet solutions provider Xennia Technology Ltd. has introduced Xeninx
Amethyst reactive dye ink for textile digital printing of cotton, silk, viscose and linen fabrics
for apparel, soft home furnishings and banners.

“Amethyst offers peerless colour vibrancy and intensity, with a wide range of colours
available to give a full colour gamut for high quality applications,” said Dr. Alfons Wegdam, head
of textiles, Xennia Technology. “It has outstanding durability, with excellent wash fastness,
perspiration resistance and dry and wet crock fastness.” Wegdam noted additional benefits including
“reduced production costs from efficient use of materials, excellent print quality and fast
response to customer demands, with economies at all print run lengths.”

The company reports the inks — available in cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK), orange, red
and blue — are environmentally sustainable and can be used with Xennia printing systems, XenJet
inkjet modules and other industrial inkjet systems — including the Reggiani ReNOIR digital textile
printing system — that use Kyocera and other aqueous compatible piezo printheads.

May 24, 2011