New Dye Will Lead To More Efficient Solar Energy Technology

RALEIGH, N.C. — December 12, 2011 — A North Carolina State University invention has significant
potential to improve the efficiency of solar cells and other technologies that derive energy from
light.

Dr. Ahmed El-Shafei’s research group invented a new “sensitizer,” or dye, that harvests more
ambient and solar light than any dyes currently on the market for use in dye-sensitized solar cells
(DSSCs).

NCSU-10 can be used to create more effective solar cells.

“A third-party solar energy company compared our new dye, NCSU-10, against the
state-of-the-art dye on the market. Our dye had 14 percent more power density,” says El-Shafei, an
assistant professor in the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science department. “In other words,
NCSU-10 allows us to harvest more energy from the same amount of light.”

The new dye should significantly boost the efficiency of DSSCs, which have a host of
applications. Indoors, these DSSCs can be used in technology to power cellular phones, laptop
computers and MP3 players using ambient light. Outdoors, they could be used in conventional solar
arrays or in improved energy-driven applications for building-integrated photovoltaic products
including, but not limited to, windows, facades and skylights.

Compared to the state-of-the-art dye on the market, NCSU-10 can absorb more photons at lower
dye concentrations, and can therefore be used to create more effective solar cells on windows and
facades while still allowing the windows to be highly transparent.

DSSCs are made of inexpensive and environmentally benign materials including a dye, an
electrolyte and titanium dioxide (TiO2) — the white component used in toothpaste. DSSCs work by
absorbing photons, or discrete packets of light energy, from incident light (or direct light that
falls on a surface) to create free electrons in nanoporous semiconductors such as TiO2, in the
cell. These electrons travel to the outside circuit to generate an electric current. Owing to their
independence on the angle of incident light and high response to low level of lighting conditions,
DSSCs outperform conventional silicon photovoltaic by 20 to 40 percent under diffuse light, on
cloudy and/or rainy days, and in indoor ambient light, which make DSSCs a unique class of
photovoltaics.

A patent is pending on the new dye, and the university is in communication with potential
industry partners about licensing use of NCSU-10, as well as funding additional research in this
area.

Posted on December 13, 2011

Source: North Carolina State University

X-Rite Launches NetProfiler 3.0 Software To Maintain Accuracy And Consistency Of Spectrophotometers Across Workflows, From Design Through Production

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — December 6, 2011 — X-Rite Incorporated is helping customers to streamline
their workflows with the next generation of its popular NetProfiler software that can verify,
optimize, and certify handheld and benchtop spectrophotometers used at locations worldwide on a
regular basis.

With the new NetProfiler 3.0, companies can calibrate spectrophotometers in design
departments, on factory floors and in test labs to a single virtual standard, ensuring that color
measurements taken at distant locations are accurate and reliable throughout the supply chain.

 

Over the past few years, X-Rite’s earlier version of NetProfiler has become the standard in
textiles, plastics, packaging and coatings industries to optimize the performance of benchtop
spectrophotometers that all experience some data drift over time due to age and use. NetProfiler
3.0 now extends the power of profiling to handheld devices with embedded profiling
capabilities. 

“We are particularly excited about our new NetProfiler solutions for handheld
spectrophotometers, extending the benefits of profiling to new category of devices and customer
workflows.” said Richard Knapp, product manager for the software. He says all versions of
NetProfiler 3.0 have improved speed and stability on personal computers and can be run offline to
store profiles on portable USB memory sticks.

Another feature of NetProfiler 3.0 is its capability to profile new families of devices such
as sphere-based instruments like the Ci52 for industrial applications. For companies in the graphic
arts industry that use the SpectroEye spectrophotometer, NetProfiler 3.0 provides a profiling
solution for graphics arts workflow. 

NetProfiler 3.0 can help customers by providing:

    * confidential reports that detail instrument performance, compliance
status by location and instrument, relationships between color partners, and local auditing and
certification;

    * ways to exchange comparative color data easily anywhere in the world
with business partners that may have various types of color-measurement instruments; and,

    * new cost-effective ceramic calibration media providing equivalent
performance to BCRA-II tiles.  With two formats optimized for benchtop or handheld
spectrophotometers, the new calibration media offers significantly improved spatial uniformity,
consistent targeting, and improved performance – particularly for smaller aperture devices. 
The improved calibration media allows the number of color standards to be reduced, streamlining the
profiling process.



Posted on December 12, 2011

Source: X-Rite Inc.

Huntsman Textile Effects, CNTAC Team To Raise Standards In Chinese Textile Industry

Singapore-based textile chemicals and dyes supplier Huntsman Textile Effects (HTE) and the China
National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) have formed a strategic alliance to offer total
textile solutions that will improve the Chinese textile industry’s economic and environmental
sustainability.

The strategy involves two primary initiatives aimed at improving mill productivity and
efficiencies, and elevating the country’s textile market performance to the highest standards.

First, HTE will offer China National Color System (CNCS) color solutions to brands and mills,
matching 900 shades that comply with Chinese performance standards, and using the company’s best
available technologies and Novacron dyes. This initiative will begin in early 2012.

Second, HTE and CNTAC will debut the Fabrics China Swing Tag cobranding program that will
promote a fabric’s or garment’s value-added properties such as easy care, sun protection, water and
oil repellency and colorfastness.

In addition, the partners will organize conferences, technical events and media presentations
to promote their initiatives.

“Besides setting a standard for the global textile markets to emulate, this move will
transform the China textile industry from a follower to become a world-class leader and innovator
for the global textile market,” said Sun Ruizhe, vice chairman, CNTAC, at an event celebrating the
signing of the agreement last month in Beijing. “This partnership will radically change the way we
operate, from focusing solely on production in the past to now looking into the entire value chain
starting from the initial product to end-consumer, to the intangibles involved in product
innovation and towards a more structured and orderly competitive environment for China.”

“HTE shares the same vision with CNTAC, in developing a world class textile hub in China and
to help Chinese textile industry increase their market influence in the global textile markets
through the use of better technology, innovation and the use of environmentally friendly dyes and
additives that will protect the health and well-being of our consumers,” said Rohit Aggarwal, vice
president, strategic marketing and planning, HTE.

Also present at the signing was Albert G.W. Fu, vice president, China Textile Information
Centre (CTIC).  CTIC owns the CNCSCOLOR® color system for fashion and CNCSColor color code
copyrights. 

December 6, 2011

November/December 2011

Royal Ten Cate, the Netherlands, has appointed
Wong Nim Ki executive managing director and
Lam Chun Lung executive commercial director, China and Hong Kong markets.

Iselin, N.J.-based
Maidenform Brands Inc. has elected
Nomi Ghez, Circle Financial Group, to the Board of Directors.

United Kingdom-based
H Dawson Wool has named
Raymond Hardy managing director, wool trading business division.

Propex Operating Co. LLC, Chattanooga, Tenn., has named
John W. Goers vice president, sales, Geotextile Systems division.

Manhattan, Kan.-based
Kansas State University has announced the following winners of its Denim Runway
Design Contest, sponsored by the Wellington, Kan-based Kansas Cotton Association and the Lubbock,
Texas-based Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA):
Tara Killingsworth, Women’s Fashion Jeans and Casual categories;
Collin Campion, Men’s Fashion Jeans category; and
Lauren Schoneman, Trend Board category.

The Lowell, Mass.-based
American Textile History Museum has appointed
Jonathan Stevens interim president and CEO.

Dalton, Ga.-based
Engineered Floors LLC has named
James Lesslie assistant to the chairman, Robert E. Shaw.

JamesLesslie

Lesslie

Cleveland-based
Polyone Corp. has named
Cynthia D. Tomasch vice president, planning and investor relations.

The
Wallcoverings Association (WA), Chicago, will present
Peter Ciaccia with the Justin P. Allman Award at the Allman Awards Reception and
Banquet on Jan. 30, 2012, at the 2012 WA Annual Convention in Delray Beach, Fla.

PeterCiaccia

Ciaccia

November/December 2011

Verdezyne Opens Biobased Adipic Acid Pilot Plant In California

Verdezyne Inc., a Carlsbad, Calif.-based industrial biotechnology company dedicated to the
production of biobased chemicals and fuels, has opened a pilot plant for the production of adipic
acid derived from nonfood-based vegetable oils using a cost-effective engineered yeast-based
fermentation process. Adipic acid is a component of nylon 6,6, which in fiber form is used for
carpet, apparel and other textile applications. The company anticipates that ultimately it will be
possible to produce a 100-percent biobased nylon 6,6 polymer using its biobased adipic acid.

“Verdezyne is a green chemistry company focused on the production of renewably sourced
building-block chemistries that will be economically advantaged or competitive with incumbent
processes,” said E. William Radany, Ph.D., president and CEO, Verdezyne. “We believe we are the
first company to produce adipic acid from biological sources at scale,” he added.

Verdezyne gets the feedstock for its adipic acid from a variety of vegetable-oil-processing
waste streams such as soap stock or fatty acid distillates. “We are not competing for food or
biodiesel resources,” Radany said. “We can use waste streams from production of soybean, coconut,
palm or other oils.”

Verdezyne

Verdezyne’s biobased adipic acid pilot plant

In addition to economic advantages over current petroleum-based adipic acid production,
Verdezyne expects its biobased adipic acid production process will offer ecological advantages
including reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

As Verdezyne progresses toward full-scale production, it is in discussions to form
partnerships to accelerate its process to commercialization. “Our intent is to be able to validate
the process and then through partnerships bring it to commercial production,” Radany said. “We have
a very aggressive timeline to be in production by the end of 2012.”  

Radany also noted that in addition to having a pathway to convert biobased adipic acid into
hexamethylenediamine to make 100-percent biobased nylon 6,6, the company also could use its
metabolic processes to produce other 100-percent biobased nylons.

December 6, 2011

AAPN Announces 2011-12 Officers, Board Members, Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker

Atlanta-based American Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) has announced new officers and Board
members for 2011-12.

David Sasso, Buhler Quality Yarns Corp., will serve as chairman; Kurt Cavano, TradeCard, as
president; Rick Horwitch, Bureau Veritas, as vice president; and Barbara Zeins, Gerson and Gerson,
as secretary/treasurer.

Members of AAPN’s Board of Directors also include: Joe Greco, Greco Apparel; Kim Hall,
RadiciSpandex Corp.; Randy Harward, Patagonia; Don Hire, Crowley Logistics; Eric Joo, CS America
Inc.; Jack Mathews, American Denimatrix; Brian Meck, FesslerUSA; and Juan Zighelboim, TexOps.

In addition to the officers of the Board, the Executive Committee also includes: Carlos
Arias, American Denimatrix; and Alfonso Hernandez, Argus Group.

AAPN also has announced that Robin Lewis, co-author of “The New Rules of Retail: Competing in
the World’s Toughest Marketplace,” will deliver the keynote address at the AAPN Annual Meeting, to
be held May 6-8, 2012, at the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla. Lewis has held executive and senior
positions at VF International, Fairchild Publications and Goldman Sachs; has served as publisher of
Women’s Wear Daily® and the Daily News Record (DNR); and is CEO and editorial director of The Robin
Report, a monthly report published for retail, fashion, beauty, consumer product and associated
industry executives.



December 6, 2011

National Spinning Sells Caron International To Spinrite

National Spinning Co. Inc., Washington, N.C., has sold certain assets of Caron International —
including handknitting and crocheting yarns, latch hook kits and the Ultimate Sweater Machine — to
Canada-based Spinrite LP — manufacturer of craft yarns including Patons®, Lily® Sugar’n Cream and
Bernat®.

“The combination of two such exceptional product lines will ensure the future success of the
Caron products our customers rely on for quality and value,” said James W. Chesnutt, president and
CEO, National Spinning Co. “The Simply Soft and One Pound brands are staple products in the
hand-knitting and craft markets and will be outstanding additions to the extensive line of
Spinrite’s branded products.”

The Hampton Art division, formerly part of Caron International, remains with National
Spinning and will have a workforce of some 40 associates. That division manufactures and sources
scrapbooking materials that are sold to major retailers worldwide.

December 6, 2011

Lectra Announces Sponsorship And Collaboration With Canada’s Apparel Connexion

MONTREAL — December 1, 2011 — Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated
to industries using soft materials — textiles, leather, industrial fabrics, and composite materials
— is pleased to announce their support and collaboration with Apparel Connexion (The Apparel Human
Resources Council (AHRC)), a national, industry-led, independent, non-profit organization
representing and serving the human resources development and adjustment needs of managers and
employees in apparel companies focusing on design, innovation, creativity, offshore production
industry of Canada.

Through this relationship Lectra will support and work closely with Apparel Connexion to
provide Canadian based apparel companies information and access to the latest technology for the
apparel manufacturing industry. The joint effort of the two organizations from Apparel Connexion’s
commitment to addressing a wide range of issues from training and development, education and
communications to enhancing the industry’s image, along with Lectra’s drive to help customers grow
their business through the use of advanced technology and services demonstrates a dedication to
supporting the future of the fashion and apparel industry within Canada. As more Canadian companies
continue to grow and advance their creation, development and production of apparel, Lectra and
Apparel Connexion will collaborate along with Canadian schools to ensure that students have the
education and training needed to ensure their success as the next generation of fashion, apparel
professionals employed in the Canadian apparel industry.

“The Council is proud to be associated with a world-class company like Lectra to be able to
conduct high profile activities beneficial to the Canadian Apparel industry. This association
allows both the Council and Lectra to pursue the common goal of supporting the innovation and
creativity spirit of the sector,” Jean Rivard, Executive Director, Apparel Human Resources Council.

This agreement also allows the Council to continue to support The Apparel Supplier Confidence
Outlook Report — prepared by Milstein & Co Consulting Inc, a leading strategy consulting firm
to the sector. This study provides important insights into executive confidence on key issues such
as expected levels of sales, production, employment and investments in capital expenditures and
technology. “It’s a brief, but important report as it allows us to follow the quarterly trends and
perceptions ahead of the release of official statistics,” says Alan Milstein, Milstein & Co
Consulting Inc. “It also allows executives to get a sense of the mood out there on a timely basis.
With such wide distribution, it certainly is an important study made possible with support from
sponsors such as Lectra.”

“As a leading global organization, Lectra is committed to the development of the apparel
industry and its professionals along with the preparation of students for life-long careers in
apparel,” commented Roy Shurling, President of Lectra North America. “Lectra, therefore works
closely with industry and educational organizations that align with this goal, and we are pleased
to be working with Apparel Connexion, which provides important research and innovation for today’s
apparel industry in Canada.”



Posted on December 6, 2011

Source: Lectra/Marketwire

Fashion-forward Koi Design Implements Gerber Technology’s YuniquePLM And AccuMark Software Systems

TOLLAND, Conn. — November 30, 2011 — Koi Design LLC, a Calif.-based maker of designer scrubs for
medical professionals, has selected Gerber Technology’s AccuMark® pattern design system and
YuniquePLM™ product lifecycle management software to help manage the rapid growth of its business.
Together, these software solutions will help koi streamline its workflow and ensure product quality
across its popular women’s and men’s designer scrub line.

“We looked at a number of competing systems,” explained Ally Lee, sourcing director for koi,
“but we chose Gerber Technology because they had a solid understanding of the design development
process and how it relates to pattern design. In the scrubs business, quick turnaround is essential
and Gerber’s software systems offered an ideal solution to increase our productivity while being
flexible enough to adapt to our company-specific needs.”

In the five years since koi was founded, the company has grown from a small start-up
operation to a multi-million dollar industry player, featured in more than 1,000 retail locations
worldwide and, as such, customer demand for its designer scrubs has increased rapidly. koi was
challenged to fulfill customer demand, while holding staffing levels flat and actively managing
costs. Automating their design and product development process was the solution. koi needed a PLM
and CAD system that seamlessly shared data and could be implemented quickly. They found the
combination of YuniquePLM’s Fast Start (FS) edition and AccuMark to be a winning choice.

With the help of YuniquePLM’s collaboration functionality, koi’s technical design, sourcing
and pattern making teams now communicate more effectively on tech-pack details, workflow and
calendaring and line list development. With increased visibility into the product development
process, koi is able to control costs and better manage its bills of material. In addition, with
AccuMark and Gerber’s Silhouette™ drafting table, koi eliminates a large production bottleneck once
reserved for manual pattern design and grading. By using the AccuMark computer-based design system,
koi’s pattern makers have the ability to increase productivity and work more efficiently. They also
have the added ability to convert flat pattern measurements in AccuMark into finished goods
measurements within YuniquePLM.

Jonathan Smith, North American sales manager for Gerber’s PDM and PLM products, said, “The
robust functionality and rapid deployment of AccuMark and the YuniquePLM FS edition provides a
one-two punch that immediately strengthens a company’s competitive advantage. Gerber’s deep
industry experience and professional expertise during the implementation process ensures users
realize a fast return on their investment.”



Posted on December 6, 2011

Source: Gerber Technology

Leading Textile Machinery Manufacturers Snap Up ITMA ASIA + CITME 2012 Exhibition Space

BEIJING — December 1, 2011 — Despite the current global economic slowdown, leading textile
machinery manufacturers around the world are still attracted to prospects offered by the world’s
largest textile producer — China. This can be seen from the overwhelming response received by the
combined textile machinery show, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2012, which will be held at the Shanghai New
International Expo Centre from 12 to 16 June 2012.

At the close of space application, some 130,000 square metres gross of exhibition space in 11
halls has been booked by leading industry names from some 30 economies.  Although the space
application deadline has passed, the show owners are still being besieged with late applications,
including several applications for very large booths.

The exhibition is expected to feature some 1,300 local and international textile machinery
makers who will showcase cutting-edge solutions, as well as sustainability and energy efficient
machinery and processes.

Chinese exhibitors make up the biggest country group, booking around 50 per cent of the total
exhibition space. Besides China, the top participating countries in terms of space applications are
Germany, Italy, Japan and Switzerland.

Sector-wise, spinning machinery forms the largest sector. This is followed by knitting,
dyeing and finishing, weaving and winding.

Miss Maria Avery, Secretary General of CEMATEX, The European Committee of Textile Machinery
Manufacturers, said: “The combined show is now well entrenched in the textile machinery exhibition
calendar. It draws leading textile machinery manufacturers and is a must-attend showcase for the
Asian market, offering plenty of business and networking opportunities.”

Hassle-free visitor registration services

To ensure that ITMA ASIA + CITME is an industry-leading market place and to attract quality
attendance, visitors must purchase badges to visit the exhibition.

Visitors can purchase their badges online at
www.itmaasia.com and
www.citme.com.cn to enjoy an attractive 40 per cent discount.
For added convenience, visitors may print their badges after successful registration. This
time-saving feature further helps visitors avoid possible long onsite queues during the show. This
service is also extended to exhibitors who wish to purchase badges for their guests. Visitor online
registration will open in December 2011.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2012 is owned by CEMATEX and its Chinese partners — the Sub-Council of
Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China
Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC). It is organised by Beijing Textile Machinery
International Exhibition Co Ltd and co-organised by MP International Pte Ltd. 

Those interested in exhibiting or visiting ITMA ASIA + CITME can obtain more information from
www.itmaasia.com or www.citme.com.cn.

Posted on December 6, 2011

Source: CEMATEX & China Textile Machinery Association

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