Charlotte-based knit apparel manufacturer Century Place Inc. has selected Greenville-based recycled
and virgin fiber products manufacturer Poole Co.’s EcoSure® post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyester
(PET) fiber as a component in its line of knit rental uniforms sold to the industrial laundry
industry. EcoSure fiber has been certified by Emeryville, Calif.-based Scientific Certification
Systems (SCS) as being manufactured from 100-percent PCR polymer. The fiber also is used in
fiberfill, nonwoven fabrics and wipes.

“The process of making our eco-friendly apparel begins with plastic bottles, such as soft
drink containers,” said Mike Carter, president, Century Place. “We utilize about eight 2-liter
bottles to produce a knit shirt, and this is post-consumer recycled material that will now be
repurposed and diverted from a landfill.”

January 25, 2011

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — January 18, 2011 — AATCC launches the 2011 edition of its popular
Concept 2 Consumer® Student Design Competition.

The seventh annual student design competition, sponsored by AATCC’s Concept 2 Consumer® (C2C)
interest group, gives students a chance to win cash, prizes, and recognition in the textile
industry!  

Because of the growing emphasis on sustainable textiles, this year’s theme is
Eco Chic Bag. Students are challenged to lend a creative touch to the growing market for
reusable shopping bags and create a marriage between style and sustainability.

AATCC has made entering easier than ever this year. The competition’s fits into one semester,
the 2011 spring semester (January to May) to better serve those who wish to use it as a class
project. Students may work individually or in teams of up to four. All AATCC student members are
eligible. (Students who aren’t members yet can easily join!)

In addition to cash prizes (up to US$1,000!), first and second place winners receive a
Pantone Cotton Planner (US$595 value). One bag design from each of the top four entries will be
professionally printed and constructed by [TC]2.

The e-brochure with guidelines and instructions, Pantone® color palettes, entry form, and
questionnaire can be found at
www.aatcc.org/members/students/competitions.cfm.

Posted on January 25, 2011

Source: AATCC

Acme-McCrary Corp., Asheboro, N.C. — a manufacturer of private-label women’s legwear and seamless
activewear — has installed a solar thermal energy system at its Pritchard St. hosiery plant in
Asheboro to heat water for its hosiery and seamless apparel dyeing operation. According to the
company, the system — which comprises 200 solar panels manufactured by Jacksonville, Fla.-based
Alternate Energy Technologies (AET) and installed by FLS Energy, Asheville, N.C. — will generate
10,000 gallons of hot water a day at temperatures up to 180°F and will reduce Acme-McCrary’s carbon
emissions by 249,000 pounds annually. The system also includes two 10,000-gallon tanks to store hot
water for use when the sun is not shining. The company reports the system is believed to be the
largest such installation in the United States for industrial and manufacturing applications.

Under a solar thermal Power Purchasing Agreement, FLS Energy designed and installed the
system at no cost to Acme-McCrary and instead is selling the thermal energy generated to the
company at a price lower than the cost of fossil fuel, thus lowering Acme-McCrary’s energy costs by
more than $20,000 per year.

In addition, the project received partial funding from the North Carolina State Energy Office
under its ARRA Renewable Energy Grant program.

“The installation of these next-generation solar panels represents a partnership between our
state’s textile sector and emerging clean energy sector,” said Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., who spoke to
guests invited to the plant Tuesday to celebrate the project’s completion and tour the facility.
“In North Carolina, we are creating an innovative path forward to create jobs and compete in
today’s global economy.” Thanks in part to Hagan’s efforts, North Carolina became the first state
in the Southeast to mandate that utilities use renewable energy.

The project was initiated in response to sustainability requirements that Walmart, an
Acme-McCrary customer, has imposed on its vendors. Because of Acme-McCrary’s sustainability
initiatives, Walmart invited the company to join its Sustainability Council in 2010.

Duke Energy Carolinas is purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates generated by the solar
thermal energy system, which enables favorable pricing of the energy compared to conventional
energy pricing.

Acme-McCrary produces more than 110,000 dozen pairs of hosiery and 96,000 seamless garments
per week at its five manufacturing facilities, located in Asheboro; Siler City, N.C.; and Honduras.

January 18, 2011

Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1990, Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd., with its
headquarters in Hong Kong, is one of the world’s leaders in the design, manufacture and sale of
dyeing and finishing machinery, and together with its other major subsidiaries engages in
stainless-steel trading and the manufacturing of stainless-steel casting products. The rumor about
Fong’s started last week at Heimtextil in Frankfurt: Some people said “off the record” they had
heard that Fong’s had been sold and that even the shares had been taken off the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange. Now, based on information provided by Fong’s Industries, here is the true story, which
possibly will have major implications for the global textile machinery industry.



China Hengtian

On Jan. 14, 2011, China Hengtian Group Co. Ltd. and Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd. announced that
China Hengtian is to make a possible acquisition, subject to certain conditions for completion, for
a majority interest in Fong’s Industries. According to a sale and purchase agreement between China
Hengtian and Fong Sou Lam — the controlling shareholder, chairman and director of Fong’s Industries
— China Hengtian has agreed to acquire 207,895,250 shares in the Fong’s Group, or approximately
37.7 percent the company’s issued share capital, from Fong Sou Lam for a cash consideration of
HK$1,039,476,250 at HK$5.00 per share, by valuing the company at HK$2,757,231,425.

China Hengtian is a major state-owned enterprise whose principal business activities include
textile machinery, cargo trucks, textile production and trade, as well as other strategic
investments. The textile machinery business is one of its core business sectors. China Hengtian
says that it holds an important position in the global textile machinery industry, and the company
and its subsidiaries operate large-scale manufacturing bases in many locations in China.

Government Approval Required

In order to complete the acquisition, China Hengtian must obtain all necessary pertinent
authorizations, approvals and consents from Chinese governmental and regulatory agencies. “Such
authorizations, approvals and consents remain in full force and effect pursuant to the provisions
of any laws or regulations in the PRC. The condition cannot be waived,” the announcement states.The
condition must be fulfilled on or before the long-stop date, May 7, 2011, or the agreement will be
terminated automatically with no obligation on the part of either China Hengtian or Fong Sou Lam to
complete the acquisition.

More Shares To Acquire

Because the acquisition would surpass the threshold specified by the Hong Kong Code on
Takeover and Mergers, it is agreed that upon completion of the acquisition, Citigroup Global
Markets Asia Ltd., on behalf of China Hengtian, will make an unconditional mandatory cash offer for
all outstanding Fong’s shares except those shares China Hengtian or other relevant parties other
than Fong Sou Lam already own or have agreed to acquire at HK$5.00 per share.

The Target Is 55 Percent

China Hengtian has no previous or current interest in Fong’s Industries. Once the acquisition
is completed, Fong Sou Lam’s 59.8-percent interest in Fong’s Industries will drop to approximately
22.1 percent. Furthermore, in the event China Hengtian fails to acquire 55 percent or more shares
of the company through the offer, Fong Sou Lam has committed to help China Hengtian build up its
holding in Fong’s Industries to 55 percent by accepting the offer for the number of shares of
Fong’s Industries that will result in China Hengtian reaching a 55-percent interest in the company
upon completion of the offer.

In addition, if Fong’s fails to meet the minimum public float requirement of 25 percent under
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. upon
completion of the offer, Fong Sou Lam and China Hengtian have each committed to dispose of equal
number of shares of Fong’s Industries to the public in order to restore the minimum public float
requirement.

China Hengtian has a controlling interest in other listed companies, such as Jinwei Textile
Machinery Co. Ltd.

A Step Toward The Future

According to information provided, China Hengtian intends to continue Fong’s Industries’
existing businesses essentially as they are currently operating. It also intends to maintain Fong’s
listing status. Fong Sou Lam will continue to hold a substantial stake in the company. “The
introduction of China Hengtian as Fong’s Industries’ major shareholder will enable us to further
enhance our market position and brand effect in the long term,” Fong said. “China Hengtian will
offer strong support to us for our future development, facilitating us to achieve better economies
of scale and to further strengthen our competitiveness in the field of dyeing and finishing
machinery both in China and abroad.”

January 18, 2011

Manasquan, N.J.-based Global Safety First’s Readi Mask™ particle respirator was awarded the 2011
Visionary Award at the Vision 2011 Consumer Products Conference held last month in Carlsbad,
Calif., and organized by the Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA).
The annual Visionary Award recognizes innovative consumer end products that incorporate nonwoven
fabrics or use nonwoven technology during the manufacturing process.

The Readi Mask is a light, portable particle respirator designed to fit better than other
respirator masks currently on the market, protecting the wearer from harmful airborne particles.
The mask comprises Middletown, Del.-based DelStar Technologies Inc.’s electrostatically charged
DelPore® meltblown media and a medical-grade adhesive around the entire perimeter of the mask.

“The technical advances in the finished product, along with its novel and extensive use of
nonwovens materials, proved to Vision attendees that the Readi Mask is truly a visionary product,”
said Rory Holmes, president, INDA. “There were five outstanding products representing all aspects
of consumer products — from baby care to wipes to cleaning products — and they were all winners by
being selected as finalists in the 2011 competition.”

The four other finalists included: Roswell, Ga.-based Kimberly-Clark for its Huggies® Jeans
diaper with a blue denim look; Chagrin Falls, Ohio-based Nutek LLC for its Simply Soy®
biodegradable wipes containing soy-based lubricants and eco-friendly cleaning agents;
Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble for its Pampers® Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max™ thin,
highly absorbent diaper products; and Sheboygan, Wis.-based Rockline Industries Inc. for its
Flushable Moist toilet tissue that is more than 95-percent biodegradable.

January 18, 2011

Uhing RG3 traverse winding drives available from Aston, Pa.-based Amacoil — the exclusive North
American distributor of Uhing Co. level winding drives and accessories, and provider of spare parts
and technical support — now may be supplied with an extra bearing option to double the axial thrust
capacity of the unit without greatly increasing the length of the drive box. Amacoil reports the
RG4 drive increases thrust with four rings making it an economical and space-saving upgrade
solution in comparison with purchasing a larger drive. The extra bearing increases the number of
bearing-to-shaft contact points, allowing it to double the thrust.

The four-ring option is available on nine RG3 models – the RG315, 320, 322, 330, 340, 350,
360 and 380. The latter three models have identical dimensions and travel capacities when equipped
with the four-ring option. The former five models have a slightly longer drive box and travel
potential slightly less than that of the standard RG3 traverse.

The RG4 drive is suitable for winding large-gauge wires and cables as well as other materials
wound under high tension.

January 18, 2011