Charlotte-based nonwovens producer Polymer Group Inc. (PGI) has agreed to be purchased by an
affiliate of Blackstone Capital Partners V LP, a New York City-based private investment and
advisory firm. The total value of the transaction is not clear, but holders of PGI common stock
will receive approximately $15.25 per share upon closing, plus a ratable share of additional monies
upon their release from an escrow account that will be set up to cover certain potential
tax-related obligations. The transaction is expected to be finalized before the end of
first-quarter 2011.

“The sale to Blackstone is the culmination of our strategic review process and we believe
that this transaction represents the best value alternative available to our stockholders,” said
Veronica “Ronee” M. Hagen, CEO, PGI. “Blackstone is committed to supporting our strategy of
continued growth and investment in proprietary capabilities in our markets around the globe. The
leadership team and all of the employees of PGI are excited to begin the next chapter at PGI and to
maintain our position as a global industry leader.”

“Polymer Group is an attractive company because of its leading position in the nonwovens
industry and its strong footprint in high growth developing markets,” said Chinh E. Chu, a senior
managing director of Blackstone. “The Company has a talented management team, which we believe has
much to achieve with our support and financial resources.”

October 5, 2010

Spartanburg, S.C.-based textile and chemical manufacturer Milliken & Company has for the second
time been named one of America’s Safest Companies by EHS Today magazine, becoming the first company
to be a repeat winner. Once a company receives the award, it must wait five years to be considered
again. Milliken first received the award in 2004, and is among 12 companies recognized this year.

Since America’s Safest Companies was launched in 2002, 120 organizations have received the
award. Award criteria include employee involvement and support from company management; innovative
solutions to safety challenges; injury and illness rates lower than their industries’ average;
implementation of comprehensive training programs; evidence that the safety process is based on
accident prevention; good communication about the value of safety; and a method to prove the
benefits of the safety process.

“Milliken’s safety process is driven and owned by the company’s production associates and
supported from the very top,” said Kevin Cox, corporate safety manager, Milliken. “Our leadership
believes that safety is our number one core value and understands that the best person to tell you
how to run a job safely is the person actually doing the job.”

Milliken reports that it has experienced considerable success with its safety process —
Milliken Performance Solutions® (MPS) — and now offers it to other manufacturing companies as
well, under the trademark Milliken Safety Way™.

October 5, 2010

Tiverton, R.I.-based Carr North America reports its new polyurethane-coated medical mattress cover
fabric is flexible and breathable while also providing resistance to bed bugs, fire, water, blood,
microbes, viruses, bacteria, fungi and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. According to
the company, CARRFLEX™ mattress cover fabric meets the strictest requirements for patient comfort,
health and safety. The fabric is available on rolls up to 86.6 inches wide and 100 yards long, and
is offered in a variety of colors.

October 5, 2010

Jackson, N.J.-based Newson Gale Inc., a provider of static grounding and bonding products, has
introduced the Earth-Rite® RTR™ Static Grounding System, designed for tanker trucks that transfer,
process and handle various flammable or combustible liquids, gasses and powders. The system
features three-parameter failsafe verification to confirm connection to a static dissipative ground
point; provide continuous electronic verification of a less-than-10-ohm connection to that point;
and recognize the specific tanker truck. Also, the unit’s face features a cluster of bright,
pulsing light-emitting diodes to show a constant positive ground connection for the duration of the
transfer operation.

A NEMA 4X corrosion-resistant XP enclosure with a certified operating temperature range of
-25ºC to +50ºC protects the system’s electronics from harsh environments as well as dust, liquids
and weather damage. The RTR system also includes a pair of voltage-free “dry” contacts that
energize only when resistance to the verified ground connection measures 10 ohms or less, enabling
the user to comply with global static control standards including NFPA 77, API RP 2003 and Cenelec
CLC/TR:50404.

For general applications such as drums, totes, mobile tanks and railcars, Newson Gale offers
the Earth-Rite PLUS™ system, which provides the same approvals and characteristics of the RTR
Static Grounding System without tanker-truck recognition.

October 5, 2010

Germany-based knitting machine manufacturer Terrot GmbH recently hosted 10 Iraqi customers at its
headquarters for a three-week training program following the customers’ purchase of several Terrot
circular knitting machines. The training included a theoretical portion held in the classroom,
which enabled the customers to apply directly what they learned using hardware and software
provided by Terrot. The customers also received practical training in operating the machinery with
the help of Terrot’s technicians in its production facility. The hands-on training focused on using
advanced circular knitting machines such as the S296-1 and the life-size RH-216.

October 5, 2010

Brentwood, N.Y.-based U.S. Nonwovens Corp., a manufacturer of personal and home care products for
retail and institutional markets, has concluded Phase II of its North American Capacity Expansion
and Modernization Program — a $32 million investment that included adding 500,000 square feet of
manufacturing and distribution space; installing state-of-the-art fully automated blending,
converting and robotic packaging lines and molds; and improving production of the nonwovens line at
its Brentwood Mill location. According to the company, all upgrades include high-level control and
automation systems.

“Our ability to satisfy customer demand across the retail and institutional markets, with the
unforeseen 3X surge for disinfecting products as a result of last year’s H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak is
a testament to our commitment of having Open Surge Capacity available for our customers,” said
Robert Stein, director of corporate communications, U.S. Nonwovens.

The company reports that Phase III of the program has already begun, and upon completion will
provide increased annual capacity as well as skill sets to meet future customer demand along with
unpredictable surges in demand. 

October 5, 2010

Duquesne, Pa.-based American Textile Co. — a supplier of mattress and pillow protectors, bed
pillows and mattress pads — is celebrating its 85th anniversary. The company manufactures bedding
brands including Aller-Ease® for asthma and allergy sufferers; Rest Right™ high-performance bedding
products; DermaTherapy® for people with sensitive skin or chronic skin problems; and Cool
Sensations™ for people who experience night sweats. It employs more than 400 people at its domestic
operations in Duquesne, Salt Lake City and Dallas, as well as its locations in Central America and
Asia.

“Over the past 85 years, American Textile Company has remained strong throughout many changes
in the economic climate,” said Reid Ruttenberg, Chairman of the Board. “I attribute our success to
several factors: anticipating market needs, developing new product line extensions, and providing
value-based solutions to our customers. We are focused on aggressive growth for 2011, illustrating
the strength of the company’s strategy.”

October 5, 2010

KÖLN, Germany — October 11, 2010 — The IMB Select 2010 is kicking off in its new form with a
series of top-class lectures. Entitled “Heading for the future: enhancing global collaboration”,
the lectures cover the entire spectrum, from sourcing to retail and from order placement back to
procurement. On both days of the event, lecture blocks will alternate with Speakers Corner
presentations, culminating in Future Talk, the concluding highlight of the fair, on the afternoon
of the second day.

Just as the hall plan is based on the five defined areas of the textile value chain, the
lectures of the supporting programme shed light on the various areas of day-to-day business in
logical order. On 9 November 2010, Session 1 will focus on the umbrella topic “Sourcing &
Production Line Management”, whilst Session 2 will be dedicated to “Manufacturing Management”.
Because fashion is more than just clothing, this block of lectures will open with a presentation on
sourcing shoes by means of a management system. The initial results of research conducted as part
of the EU project “Open Garments”, which examines the creation, production and marketing of
individualised clothing, will be presented by the project leadership. A high-tech company from
France will be reporting on the possibilities parametric pattern design in 3D opens up for the
product development of functional sportswear. A provider-neutral lecture on system-controlled
collection development rounds off the first session.

Process control is the magic word in the core segment of the supply chain for clothing. From
collection development and production all the way to delivery or from order placement by retailers
all the way to the necessary sourcing of materials and ingredients prior to production, the reach
of the latest-generation software packages and control systems extends deep into the upstream and
downstream areas of the value chain. The abbreviations for the latest solutions are ERP, PDM or PLM
and promise modular or holistic solutions for using and actuating the necessary data transfer. A
major jeans manufacturer from Turkey will talk about his experiences with an ERP system. An
American consulting company will report on the introduction of PLM systems to the clothing
industry. The connections between range planning and PDM will be illustrated by means of an example
from the German women’s wear sector.

Session 3 on 10 November 2010, “Finished Goods & Retail Management”, is dominated by the
handling and labelling of finished goods and the special relevance of e-commerce in territorial
states. A speaker from Moscow will talk about the possibilities of e-commerce for the market entry
and sale of fashion in Russia. The following lecture deals with alternative methods for article
surveillance and unambiguous labelling. Finally, a board member from Gerry Weber AG will report on
his company’s live experiences with RFID.

Several other company presentations during Speakers Corner will be followed by the highlight
of the lecture programme at 4 p.m.: the Future Talk, a one-hour panel discussion on: “Dialogue
Marketing and CRM: gather, evaluate and entice”. Providers from the field and users from the
fashion industry and retail sector will discuss the future of a customer approach driven by
specific data and the unbelievable extent of the potential this vast field holds – potential which,
in many cases, has yet to be exploited.

IMB Select 2010

Fashion & Textiles: IT Systems, Services and Strategies

09 – 10 November 2010

Posted on October 5, 2010

Source: Koelnmesse GmbH

BOZEMAN, MT — September 29, 2010 — Wild Things, LLC, the maker of sophisticated technical
outerwear for the US Military, Law Enforcement and Consumer markets, has selected TEXbase Material
Lifecycle Management Software to help exceed product development goals and increase the company’s
ability to efficiently innovate while delivering market-leading products.

“TEXbase offers a web-based solution that helps us manage the critical processes that allow
us to achieve targeted operational growth and revenue goals,” states Ed Schmults, Wild Things Chief
Executive Officer. “As we scale our business it’s encouraging to partner with a company that
understands the best practices and technologies that are required to deliver the best made, most
reputable technical gear.”

“Working with a client that understands the importance of defining key corporate and product
development goals prior to implementing process and technology is a recipe for success,” says Eric
Rathbun, TEXbase Vice President of Global Customer Solutions. “We are excited to be a strategic
partner in operational excellence at Wild Things and look forward to partnering with them on new
ways to improve efficiencies.”

Posted on October 5, 2010

Source: TEXbase Inc.

RALEIGH, NC — October 1, 2010 — Secretary Keith Crisco today announced that the N.C. Department
of Commerce will sponsor a conference focused on North Carolina textile opportunities and
developments in military and government-related markets both nationally and around the world. 
The conference will be held Oct. 13 in Greensboro.

“North Carolina has a long, strong tradition of textile production excellence,” said Sec.
Crisco, a former textile executive from Asheboro.  “We want to do all we can to support the
more than 1,800 textile-related companies in our state and the hundreds of others businesses
dependent on this industry, while growing our multi-billion dollar military economy.”

The one-day conference, Military/Government Textiles Conference: Dealing With the
Government-Military and Non-Military, will include speakers from the private sector, academia and
the state and federal government to offer insights on research, trends, U.S. military purchasing
guidelines, marketing strategy and other topics, including selling to military exchange services
and the General Services Administration.

Sec. Crisco will offer remarks during the conference luncheon.  Featured conference
speakers also include: Dr. Roger Barker of the N.C. State University College of Textiles, Teresa
Bouchonnet of the N.C. Military Business Center, Dinora Gonzales, Regional Director of the General
Services Administration, Debbie Horton, Supplier Diversity Manager for the Army and Air Force
Exchange Service and a senior official from DSCP.

The conference is being organized by Jim Leonard and Jorman Fields of International Market
Solutions, a textile-related consulting firm in Greensboro.  Leonard, a former deputy
assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a specialist in international textiles
and apparel trade.  The event will highlight N.C.’s textile industry and assist textile
companies pursuing market growth.  The media is invited to attend.

The conference will be held at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons and will begin
at 8:30 a.m.  A registration fee of $75 per attendee is payable at the door by cash or check;
no credit cards accepted.  A networking reception, sponsored by Duke Energy and Progress
Energy, is scheduled from 5-6:30 p.m.

Advance registration is suggested.  For further details, contact Jim Leonard at (336)
454-3583/
cece454@aol.com or Jorman Fields at (336) 668-7060/
tncfields@aol.com.  More information is available
online at
internationalmarketsolutions.com/conferences.html.

Posted on October 5, 2010

Source: North Carolina Office of the Secretary of the Commerce