Feb. 19, 2010 – Fairfax, Virginia – SGIA officially announced it is backing the G7® calibration
method that enables screen and wide-format inkjet printers to produce a similar visual appearance
across multiple printing technologies and substrates.

In 2008, SGIA and IDEAlliance®, which retains the intellectual property of the G7 method,
agreed to work together to enhance standardization and best practices in color management and
workflow. G7 is a method of attaining a visual match between different imaging systems using simple
one-dimensional curves for calibrating any CMYK imaging device.

“This is an important step for SGIA. We’re helping members employ calibration methods for
screen- and digital-printing devices to meet the IS0 12647-2 printing standard,” said Michael
Robertson, SGIA’s President and CEO. “SGIA will keep its members informed of ongoing developments
as it explores options for G7 education and business development opportunities.”

SGIA is committed to working with organizations such as IDEAlliance for the betterment of the
industry. Increasing our presence and participation in industry guidance enables SGIA to further
advance the specialty imaging industry.

“This is an opportunity for SGIA and IDEAlliance to bring best practices, specifications and
standards to the specialty graphics community,” said Joe Fazzi, IDEAlliance’s Vice President of
Print Media. “Everyone benefits from adopting the G7 methodology and we are pleased to be working
with SGIA on this initiative.”

Posted on March 2, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of SGIA

The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), Milan, has reported that
Italian textile machinery orders for the second half of 2009 increased 36 percent compared to the
same period in 2008. ACIMIT said that although it’s too early to interpret this turnaround as a
sign that the economic crisis is ending, the overall recovery for both domestic and foreign markets
indicates a global move from the minimum threshold reached during the second half of 2008.

“There has been a very strong reaction by our businesses to the persistent and generalized
downturn in demand,” said Sandro Salmoiraghi, president, ACIMIT. “However, this has engendered a
further reduction in already slim margins.”

ACIMIT reports that domestically, new orders in the second half of 2009 increased 21 percent
compared to the second half of 2008; and in foreign markets, new orders increased 45 percent. The
organization notes that initiatives adopted by governments to support the textile industry have in
general revived the local textile sectors. In China and India — the two main markets for Italian
textile machinery — there has been a slight increase in new investments, as shown by orders taken
by Italian machinery manufacturers.

March 2, 2010

Dr. Karl Wetekam & Co. KG, a Germany-based producer of monofilaments and grass yarns, has
opened Wetekam Monofilaments US Inc. in Spartanburg to serve the North American technical
monofilament and artificial grass markets. Wetekam Monofilaments has begun importing products from
Germany, but also will begin production on 10 monofilament lines it purchased from
Spartanburg-based Teijin Monofilament US Inc. after Tokyo-based Teijin Group liquidated its U.S.
monofilament subsidiary as part of its restructuring measures
(See ”
Teijin
Restructures Polyester Fibers Business, Consolidates US Film Production,” Aug. 18, 2009).
Production likely will be established in the Spartanburg area, although an exact location is yet to
be determined.

The company will produce technical monofilaments for polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene
and varieties of nylon, as well as artificial grass yarns based on various polymers and polymer
blends. Those yarns can be produced in a range of colors and shapes and may be texturized or
twisted to meet customer specifications.

Michelle Diaz and Bruce Stroupe, former employees of Teijin Monofilaments US Inc., will lead
Wetekam Monofilaments US.

March 2, 2010

Cleveland, OH…March 2, 2010.  C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. has received an order to design and
build a 60 mpm Tire Cord Dipping Line for Rajashree Polyfil, a division of Century Enka Limited
India (BK Birla group company).  Benefits of the Litzler Tire Cord Line include:

• Multiple tension zones throughout the line providing maximum flexibility for
  elongating/relaxing the material to meet specific processing criteria.
• Line speed of 60 m/min at maximum tension, with the ability to increase speed to 80 m/min at
  reduced tension.
• Speed and tension control accuracy of ±0.1% to achieve control of critical material
  processes.    

Litzler offers 57 years of experience designing ovens which are the most critical component
for tire cord production. Litzler ovens are specially designed for tire cord drying and
curing.  The ovens feature all of the technical innovations that Litzler is known for,
including:

• High velocity jet nozzles for consistently uniform heat transfer.
• Precise temperature control for optimum safety and highest product quality.
• Energy efficient oven designs utilizing premium efficiency motors and variable speed drives for
  lower operating costs.
• State-of-the-art controls by Litzler Automation, including multiple PLC networks with ethernet
  communications, save installation time and costs.

Posted on March 2, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of C.A. Litzler Co. Inc.

After obtaining the EPD label for Ecozero®, the panels for thermal and acoustic insulation, the
Freudenberg Politex Group continues with the commitment for a responsible development, which is
based on the two pillars of innovation and environmental protection.

Also Texbond® R and Terbond® R, the nonwovens made of recycled polyester and mainly used as
reinforcements for bituminous roofing membranes, have now the certified Environmental Product
Declarations, based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) carried out in the Italian production sites
of Novedrate and Pisticci by the Department of Engineering and Physics of the University of
Basilicata.

It is well known that the construction industry is one of the sectors that can contribute
more to the saving of natural resources, through improved energy efficiency of buildings and
especially using products that can guarantee a reduced environmental impact all over their life
cycle.

The EPD Environmental Declarations, certified by an independent organization, allow
manufacturers of membranes to know the environmental impacts generated during the production of
Freudenberg Politex nonwovens, divided into the different impact categories, and to draw the life
cycle of their finished products accordingly.

Freudenberg Politex, through its integrated upstream processes with the internal production
of fiber from PET bottles recycling, has been contributing to limit the consumption of natural
resources for more than two decades. But the game is not over: we were pioneers in recycling at
that time and we are pioneers in investigating the environmental issues today.

Together with the EPD Declarations, the Climate Declarations are now also available. Taken
from the EPDs, the Climate Declarations easily show the Carbon Footprint of a product, showing the
emissions of green-house gases expressed as CO2 equivalents, based on verified results from LCA in
accordance with ISO 14025. Even in this case Freudenberg Politex is the first nonwovens
manufacturer to make public the results of the LCA done on its production processes.

Through the LCA, which will also soon be carried out also at other sites of the Group, the
aim is to measure the environmental impacts in order to publish the results and also to further
improve them, by reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and preserving natural resources where
possible, favouring in this way a truly sustainable business development.Not just a green label,
but a clear, transparent and responsible path, to carry out the responsible behaviour demanded by
the Management of the Group and applied with great determination by the team of experts at
Freudenberg Politex.

Novedrate, February 2010

Posted on March 2, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Freudenberg Politex

Atlanta – Feb. 26, 2010 – Messe Frankfurt, Inc. and Supima have decided to join forces in New York
City and fold the Supima Premium Fabric Show (PREFAB) into Texworld USA to create an even bigger
and higher quality apparel fabric sourcing event for North America.

“Supima is excited and looking forward to moving our PremiumFabric Show (PREFAB) to Texworld
USA for the July 2010 show.We feel that Texworld USA’s reputation and the added exposure to buyers
will benefit Supima, and more importantly, our licensees. Supima will be able to retain its high
value yarn and fabrics in a designated section of Texworld USA and Supima’s licensees will be
invited to join the Supima section of the show. The move to Texworld USA will also benefit our
customers; almost all of whom attend the event during the week of shows. It’s a busy week for
buyers and this will eliminate a trip to another part of the city” commented Jesse Curlee,
President of Supima on the decision.

David Audrain, President of Messe Frankfurt USA, stated “having Supima’s support for Texworld
USA is terrific! The Supima product is excellent and adding more of their licensees to our leading
group of exhibiting mills, enhances the value for the buyers even more. Our goal with Texworld USA
has always been to provide the leading exhibition of apparel fabric producers for the American
market. We expect this July to be our best show yet!”

A January 2010 survey indicates that 73% of Texworld USA attendees consider cotton a primary
area of interest in terms of fiber content. Texworld USA attendees also continue to voice their
interest in diversified sourcing options combining overseas and domestic US resources. These buyer
trends, along with the popularity of Texworld USA among a wide range of manufacturers and retailers
– from design-savvy mass market to luxury – ensure that Supima licensees be well-received at the
July show.

Supima

The name “Supima®” is a licensed trademark owned by Supima and its members. It is used to
promote textile and apparel products made of 100% American Pima cotton, and is strictly controlled
by the grower organization. Supima is an abbreviation for SuperiorPima. For further information,
please visit
www.supima.com

July 2010

The ninth edition of Texworld USA will take place July 13 – 15, 2010at the Javits Convention
Center in New York City.

For further information, please visit
www.TexworldUSA.com.

Posted on March 2, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Texworld USA

Germany-based ring- and rotor-spinning technology supplier Spindelfabrik Suessen GmbH has delivered
its 3 millionth EliTe®Compact Spindle to Bangladesh-based Noman Group, a vertical textile
manufacturer that operates six spinning mills running more than 400,000 conventional ring spindles.

The spindle is one among 36,000 EliTeCompact spindles recently installed on a Jingwei F1520
ring spinning machine used to process combed cotton into yarn that is woven into fabric in Noman’s
weaving mills. Noman, which now has more than 76,000 such spindles installed, also has ordered more
spindles to equip 40 additional ring spinning machines, with delivery expected later this year.

Suessen commemorated the delivery of the 3 millionth EliTeCompact spindle in a ceremony
during which company management presented a symbolic award to Noman Founder and Chairman Nurul
Islam.

February 23, 2010

Difficult times lead to difficult decisions. However, sometimes it seems that business life is back
on the old track: Shareholder profitability is the major target for stock listed companies. This
came to mind when Switzerland-based specialty chemicals manufacturer Clariant International Ltd.
presented its annual results last week.

Improving Operating Profitability Means …

The company reports “progressively improving operating profitability and a strong cash flow
during a challenging 2009.” However, 2009 sales dropped 18 percent in Swiss francs and 14 percent
in local currencies. Consequently, the operating income before exceptional items fell to 270
million Swiss francs in 2009 from 530 million Swiss francs in the year earlier. But cash flow from
operations nearly doubled to 757 million Swiss francs from 391 million Swiss francs in 2008, and
net debt was more than halved to 545 million Swiss francs from 1,209 million Swiss francs in 2008.

… Asset Network Optimization

Clariant reported restructuring and impairment costs totaling 298 million Swiss francs,
attributing them primarily to the first phase of site closures within the global asset network
optimization program (GANO), and a reduction in its employee base to 17,536 from 20,102 at the end
of 2008.

In 2009, Clariant started the GANO program. Among other measures, such as temporary
shutdowns, short time work or involuntary vacation, Clariant targeted a “reduction of Sales,
General & Administration (SG&A) costs.” Of course, lower sales or profit means increased
SG&A costs with the same staff — in this case, from 20.3 percent of sales to 22.2 percent.

Above Industry-average Profitability

As part of GANO, further measures are being implemented. The CEO made the following comment
on the company’s annual results: “During the year we have successfully focused on generating cash,
decreasing costs and reducing complexity. In an economic environment that is still challenging, we
will continue to focus on our restructuring efforts. The aim remains to achieve sustainable above
industry-average profitability by the end of 2010 and to create a solid platform for profitable
growth in the years thereafter.”

The restructuring efforts include several measures — including production consolidations and
workforce reductions — that were reported in

Textile World
‘s e-newsletter last week
(See ”
Clariant
Continues GANO Restructuring,” Feb. 16, 2010).

Code Of Conduct

The Clariant Code of Conduct, launched in 2007, states that “Clariant places great value on
acting as a responsible and supportive corporate citizen, wherever we do business.” On its website,
under “Fairness and Cooperation,” one can read: “A culture of fairness extends throughout all
aspects of our global employee relations. Clariant is fully compliant with the International Labor
Organization and constantly monitors its locations in this regard.”

Elsewhere on Clariant’s website, one can read: “For a career that’s diverse and never dull,
colorful and creative, empowered and rewarding… then we’ve got exactly the right chemistry for
you. … At Clariant, we consider our employees to be the single most valuable resource within the
company. Joining us would mean a career in a fast-paced environment in a variety of business areas.
We provide opportunities for all applicants – internships and apprenticeships, graduates and
experienced professionals.” I see.

The Boomerang Principle

It’s certainly not an easy task to let people go, and at the end of the day, everybody can
understand that saving 17,500 people’s jobs is better then to sack more than 20,000. However, why
does there need to be “above industry-average profitability”?

Reflecting the current worries in the economic environment, the Board of Directors will send
a recommendation to Clariant’s 15th General Assembly on March 29, 2010, “to suspend dividends,
grants or payouts to shareholders for 2009.” Will they also propose to suspend bonuses for the
management? Being in this industry for three decades, I am reminded by this story — among many
identical issues — of past times when I used to say, “If people are not ready indeed to pay a fair
price for a good work, one day the low-cost producers will take the lead.” Today, the music’s
playing in Asia. And over the years, the sorcerer’s apprentice has become a master.

February 23, 2010

On Tuesday, March 9, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will offer an hour-long webinar
dealing with various aspects of compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Jay
Howell, CPSC assistant executive director of the Office of Hazard Analysis and Reduction, will
present steps that companies can take in developing a compliance strategy. Areas to be covered
include types of certification required and a number of elements involved in testing, including
third-party testing and frequency. Interested parties may sign up for the webinar at
http://bit.ly/9gX3Nw. 

February 23, 2010