Austria-based cellulosic fiber producer Lenzing AG and Kelheim Fibres GmbH, a Germany-based
producer of viscose specialty fibers, have entered into a cooperation agreement under which Lenzing
will market Kelheim’s Viloft® fiber in its global fiber portfolio.

Viloft features a modified flat-fiber cross-section that creates air pockets that provide a
buffer against the cold. According to Kelheim, tests have shown that fabrics made with the fiber
offer 30-percent greater thermal insulation than traditional cotton knit fabrics; and they also
contain up to 70-percent air, which gives the fabrics a lighter, softer, next-to-skin feel. The
fiber also wicks moisture away from the skin, thus inhibiting bacteria growth. The fibers are
manufactured from renewable materials and are 100-percent biodegradable. Viloft can be blended with
wool as well as with man-made fibers, and is particularly suitable for lingerie. Fabrics made with
Viloft are machine-washable.

“Cooperation with Lenzing to market Viloft will rapidly expand the fiber’s potential,” said
Matthew North, head of sales, Viloft. “Taking advantage of the Lenzing Group’s international
presence with marketing organizations in every continent will clearly accelerate Viloft’s expansion
in the global market.”

In other company news, Lenzing’s Tencel® fiber received the Eco Responsibility Award in the
Fabrics & Fibers category at ispo, the international trade fair for sporting goods and sports,
held recently in Munich, Germany. This is the second year Lenzing has won the award, which
recognizes a company for its product’s ecological aspects as well as overall manufacturing
sustainability. The jury stated: “The company’s outstanding sustainability concept backs Lenzing’s
claim to its leading role in the textile industry. The company’s integral approach covers all
assessed aspects, including raw material selection, resource use and company electro-mobility.”

February 23, 2010

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), Roseville, Minn., has announced two
keynote speakers for its upcoming Advanced Textiles ’10 Conference, to be held June 16-17 in Paris.

Frédérique Mutel, president and CEO of Paris-based JEC Composites, will discuss the “World of
Composites.” Kimberly Glas, deputy assistant secretary for textiles and apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, will discuss the U.S. textile industry’s state-of-the-art advancements in protective and
medical applications, their regional developments with global benefits and the special requirements
mandated for product acceptance in the U.S. marketplace. Conference sessions also will include
presentations by global technical textile industry leaders and various other speakers.

“As the demand for technical textiles steadily grows around the world, it’s creating new
opportunities for collaboration and innovation,” said Steve Warner, president and CEO, IFAI. “The
dialogue provided at our event is an exhilarating venture into the new ideas demanded by today’s
challenges in areas from medical textiles to geosynthetics and nanotechnology. AT ’10 brings
together the thought-leaders together to help companies plan their strategy with the latest
business intelligence.”

February 23, 2010

Germany-based dyeing and finishing machinery manufacturer A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH &
Co. KG has introduced Matex Coat, a multi-purpose combi coating unit that is suitable for both
woven and nonwoven applications.

The compact unit is suitable for paste or foam applications on products such as tarpaulin and
truck covers, airbags, upholstery, table cloths, sportswear, nonwovens, and other textile products
having widths between 180 and 360 centimeters. Matex Coat features air-knife techniques for fabric
weights ranging from 15 to 100 grams per square meter (g/m2) and knife-over-roller techniques for
weights from 50 to 1,500 g/m2; fully integrated electrics that can be attached to Montex Qualitex
controls; a motorized driven coating drum; manually adjustable doctor blade with optional
automatic, pneumatic quick lifting device for seams; among other features. Options include a driven
fabric transport roller to control fabric tensions; and a traversing device for paste or foams.

February 23, 2010

Germany-based Brückner Trockentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer of textile finishing and
dyeing machinery, has introduced the latest-generation Power-Frame tenter. Brückner reports the
tenter features its patented SPLIT-FLOW® air circulation system, enabling it to achieve optimal
drying performance; and a fully automatic control and styles administration to ensure exact,
reproducible finishing results. According to Brückner, the economical heat recovery design enables
energy savings of up to 35 percent. In addition, the tenter’s modular design enables the line to be
individually adapted according to the customer’s needs. Other features include homogenous airflow
and temperature distribution, owing to alternating airflow in the thermo zones; an integrated
straightener with shortest possible fabric path to the pin-on point, offering optimum straightening
results; and robust and low-maintenance chains, chain rails and pin bar carriers and clips.

February 23, 2010

Lyon, February 15th 2010 – Bluestar Silicones is launching a new line of TCS 7560 and TCS 7561
Silbione® products designed for the elastic band market for lingerie and medical applications
(support stockings and medical equipment). These two new silicone elastomers have excellent
“anti-slip” non-compression properties, thus improving wearer comfort.

Self-fixing stockings… a real success!

For more than twenty years, self-fixing stockings have applied transparent silicone
technology, which is adhesive and “anti-slip” for elastic bands and lace: stockings and socks stay
up! This “anti-slip” technology is also used for other lingerie articles, braces and bra cups for
example. 

Bluestar Silicones offers new sensations

Today, Bluestar Silicones is going further with a new range of platinum polyaddition
bi-component products, Silbione® TCS 7560 and TCS 7561, based on its expertise in LSR technologies
(Liquid Silicone Rubber) and its experience in the medical device field.

This innovative technology offers new solutions to the paramedical market for support
stockings and prostheses. 

Silbione® TCS 7560 provides elasticity, less compression for the wearer and is perfectly
harmless to the skin.Silbione ® TCS 7561 is even more flexible, with a very low compression thus
reducing skin compression and friction, bringing the wearer greater comfort and confidence, for new
sensations and enhanced pleasure! 

From an coating process point of view, the new range offers flexibility and higher
productivity, allowing to substantially accelerate production output.  

Created in 2007 with China National BlueStar Corporation’s acquisition of Rhodia Silicones,
Bluestar Silicones is a global supplier of silicones with a turnover of 600 million and
manufacturing sites in all regions of the world. Bluestar Silicones is one of the world’s leading
manufacturers of completely integrated silicones. With 180 researchers throughout the world and
over 50 years’ experience in silicones, Bluestar Silicones offers a complete range of silicone
products in the fields of release coatings, specialty elastomers, health products, specialty
fluids, emulsions and resins.

Posted on February 27, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Bluestar Silicones

Remscheid, February 16th, 2010 – Two years after its market launch, WINGS now comes in a new guise.
The new release has been optimized above all in servicing, string-up and its operation window. And
all the measures are also extremely user-friendly as well.

WINGS 2010 can now also be used for titers up to 400 denier final. For this reason, WINGS now
covers the broadest range of manufactured POY filament yarns and provides yarn producers with
greater flexibility. Visually, the winding machine has moved from its revolutionary red to an
elegant black – WINGS is no longer “new”, it has become a permanent fixture that has firmly
established itself in the market after only two years.

WINGS integrates godets and tangle unit into the winder. In addition to increasing
productivity and efficiency, this plug & play machine unit, which premiered at the ITMA 2007 in
Munich, guarantees POY producers constantly excellent and even yarn quality. And less space
requirements and savings potentials with regards to operating staff make a valuable contribution
towards increasing efficiency. The optimized yarn path ensures even gentler yarn treatment and
hence first-class yarn quality.

About Oerlikon

Oerlikon is one of the world’s leading international high-tech industrial groups specializing
in machine and plant engineering. The company is a leader in the field of industrial solutions and
innovative technologies for textile manufacture, thin film solar and thin film coating, drive,
precision and vacuum systems. With roots in Switzerland and a long tradition stretching back 100
years, Oerlikon is a global player with a workforce of nearly 16 500 at 158 locations in 37
different countries. The company’s sales amounted to CHF 4.8 billion in 2008 and it ranks either
first or second in the respective global markets.

Posted on February 23, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Oerlikon Barmag

GREENSBORO, N.C. – February 17, 2010 – Bekaert Textiles, a market leader in the worldwide
production and supply of bed cover materials, selects REPREVE, a 100% recycled fiber by Unifi, Inc.
(NYSE: UFI) for a new collection of eco-friendly mattress coverings. This new sustainable product
line of bedding fabrics has been designed for comfort, durability and is certifiably sustainable.

“With so much green washing, it’s hard to determine the authenticity around recycled content
claims,” said Brandon Wells, vice president of sales for Bekaert Textiles.  “For this new
product line, it was important to find a product with uncompromised quality and third party
certification for recycled content, which is why we selected REPREVE.” 

The Bekaert collection is REPREVE’s first adoption in mattress ticking. The new collection
includes eight patterns and is contemporary with a natural theme and a very soft hand. The current
constructions are knit, with woven constructions soon to be added.

“The quality, versatility and transparency of REPREVE provide Bekaert with an affordable,
sustainable solution for their customers,” said Roger Berrier, executive vice president for
Unifi.  “This adoption provides an opportunity for mattress manufacturers interested in
product differentiation at the retail level.”

Bekaert Textiles will be showcasing the new REPREVE collection at the ISPA Expo in Charlotte,
NC, March 3-6, 2010.  Please plan to stop by the Bekaert Textiles booth #1223.

Posted on February 23, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Bekaert Textiles

February 2010, Neenah, WI: Appleton Mfg Division’s automation upgrades provide you the opportunity
to get the most efficient technology for your core cutting needs without the expense of replacing
your existing core cutter. Whether you have a 300, 400 or 500 series or an equivalent model,
Appleton Mfg Division has the solutions you need to reduce costs and increase productivity. With
Appleton Mfg Division’s automated core cutting solutions including; automatic core loading, core
conveying , and core accumulation systems, manufacturers can control parent core handling,
cut-to-length core cutting, and cut core handling activities with the simple input on the control
panel. These innovative upgrades reduce labor to leverage resources and provide operators with more
time to perform other tasks while the core cutting system is running. 

Appleton Mfg. Division is a fully integrated engineering, design, sales, service and
manufacturing firm producing custom and semi-custom material handling solutions. Dedicated to
providing innovation and superior customer service, Appleton Mfg. Division offers a full line of
core cutters, core handling & finishing equipment, roll & cart movers, safe-slabs, cleaning
showers / systems, as well as parts & service.

Posted on February 23, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Appleton Mfg Division

February 2010 — Research and development of high-tech textiles is one of the main research
activities of the Textile Research Institute Thüringen-Vogtland, TITV, in Greiz, Germany.

The production of advanced textile fabrics, for example for the medical industry, technical
applications, smart textiles, and multi-layer textiles, has little to do with the mainstream
textile and apparel weaving industries and requires new manufacturing methods.

That’s why the TITV recently commissioned a new weaving system consisting of a Dornier rapier
weaving machine and a Stäubli UNIVAL 100 Jacquard machine. The UNIVAL 100 is the world’s first and
only Jacquard machine that features individual motorized control of each warp thread. The UNIVAL
100 at the TITV is configured with 6144 motors, so called “Jactuators”, and moves the same number
of warp threads by means of a Jacquard harness.

This weaving system leaves no wish open regarding technical weaving possibilities, especially
in influencing the shed geometry. Shedding parameters such as shed opening profile, shed symmetry
close of shed, variability, and the height of the stop point can be individually optimized for each
article and are reproducible at any time.

As a result, there remains hardly any limit to textile development, whether special weave
structures or the application of new and special materials. Thanks to the high flexibility provided
by the UNIVAL 100, weaving parameters can be experimentally studied at will and new textile
constructions brought to the market.

About Stäubli

Stäubli is a mechatronics solution provider with three dedicated divisions: Textile
Machinery, Connectors and Robotics. With a workforce of over 3000, the company generates annual
turnover exceeding 1 billion Swiss francs. Founded in 1892, Stäubli today is an international Group
with its head office in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. Stäubli is active on all 5 continents and oversees
14 industrial production sites. Including the companies Multi-Contact and Schönherr, the Stäubli
Group is present in 25 countries through its sales and customer service subsidiaries. The network
is completed by agents in 50 countries.

Stäubli Textile has been developing and producing high-quality systems for the weaving
industry for over a century. The company holds a strong market position in textile machinery, a
position earned through continual pursuit of customer satisfaction.

Posted on February 23, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of Stäubli Textile

Charlotte-based American Truetzschler Inc. — a supplier of spinning, nonwovens and card clothing
machinery, and a subsidiary of Germany-based Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG — has announced its
$3.5 million expansion in Greer, S.C., will create 30 jobs. The company reported in early February
that it had acquired the U.S. business of John D. Hollingsworth on Wheels Inc., (HOW), a
Greenville-based designer, manufacturer, servicer and tester of textile equipment
(See ”
Trützschler
Acquires John D. Hollingsworth on Wheels’ U.S. Business,” Feb. 9, 2010). American
Truetzschler Inc. took over HOW’s existing equipment as well as its employees, enabling the company
to maintain HOW’s production.

“Our operations in Greer are an important part of our company’s total manufacturing
capacity, and we are pleased to expand our production capabilities with a facility there,” said
Detlef Jaekel, vice president of the Technical Division, American Truetzschler. “South Carolina
will provide us with an excellent business environment and a skilled workforce to suit our needs.
We are pleased to move forward with our operations in South Carolina’s Upstate.”

American Truetzschler’s investment in Greer will enable the company to grow its textile
machinery and card clothing manufacturing operations. It will immediately begin adding equipment to
the facility.

“American Truetzschler is a major manufacturer of machinery for spinning preparation and
nonwovens, and their investment in South Carolina enhances the state’s advanced manufacturing
industry,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. “As the market rebounds, we believe that
American Truetzschler’s acquisition of these operations will make the facilities stronger and
better positioned for future growth.”

February 23, 2010