Karl Mayer Malimo Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, the technical textiles strategic unit of
Germany-based Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, has introduced the Malitronic® Multiaxial
machine for layer stabilization in reinforcing textiles, which can be used for prepreg applications
in wind turbines, aircraft, and marine craft; and for building repairs.

One unit is available for customer trials and training purposes at Karl Mayer Malimo’s
technical center in Chemnitz, Germany. A second machine already is in place performing trials for a
multiaxial textile producer.

Mayer reports the machine offers improved efficiency and performance, and productivity has
increased 20 to 25 percent over the previous-generation model.

The machine features a modular design for optimal flexibility, with the combination of both
mechanical and electronic aspects of the individual components possible. Individual modules are
constructed at the Chemnitz plant and then assembled at the customer’s facility.

Material is fed to the machine using a full-width, continuous conveyor belt assuring uniform
and specific feeding of materials, such as chopped glass mats or pretensioned weft layers, to the
bonding section of the machine.

An optional wide cutting unit is available for producing chopped glass mats from glass
rovings to be used as feedstock. The delivery system to the machine can vary depending on the
customer’s requirements.

The Malitronic features a compensating yarn tensioner, which provides constant take-off of
the yarn from the package and evens out any differences in yarn tension as the yarns are laid on
the conveyor belt.

Sheet-wise positioning of the reinforcing yarns is controlled by the weft laying system,
which features an optimized drive system. Adjustments can be made in 1-degree increments between
45-degree and -45-degree angles. The standard Malitronic configuration has three individually
controlled weft laying devices, but the machine can be configured with up to five.

The reinforcing yarns are moved to the bonding point using transport chains located on the
lengthwise sides of the weft insertion frame. Weft yarns are held in place by horizontally and
vertically positioned needled pins.

Stitches are formed to bond the reinforcing material. Filler thread delivery has been
simplified and optimized to offer constant thread tension.

Once the material has been bonded, selvages are removed and collected in a central waste bin.
Cutting tools can be set up to cut the working width of the material into strips as determined by
the end-use for the product.

Standard two- and three-roller take-down units are used, and the surface winder operates
semi-automatically. The customer can elect to use a combined surface and central winder in cases
such as when sensitive materials or long lengths will be wound.



October 27, 2009

Germany-based Brückner Trockentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer of textile finishing and
dyeing machinery, is celebrating its 60th year in business. The company was founded in 1949 by Kurt
Brückner as an air conditioning unit manufacturer. Soon after it opened, the company changed
direction and began to focus on drying machines, which still form the company’s core business
today. The company reports it has supplied more than 5,000 lines over the past 60 years.

Currently, the company is run by Regina Brückner, the founder’s daughter, and her husband,
Axel Pieper.

October 27, 2009

Hauppauge, N.Y.-based Crosstex International Inc. — a subsidiary of Little Falls, N.J.-based
infection prevention and control products provider Cantel Medical Corp. — has developed the Ultra
Sensitive face mask treated with Biosafe® antimicrobial. The Biosafe treatment additive —
developed by Pittsburgh-based Biosafe Inc. — is an organo-functional silane technology that
chemically binds to the outer mask surface, creating a long-lasting shield against contamination
from microorganisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus and other microorganisms upon contact. The masks have been proven effective at
protecting against Influenza A strains including seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, according to
Crosstex. 

“Face masks serve as the first line of defense against airborne particles by trapping them in
the filter media,” said Gary Steinberg, CEO, Crosstex. “However, live microorganisms can continue
to live on the mask surface. Our new Biosafe-treated Ultra Sensitive face masks enhance the
functionality of the mask by effectively killing the harmful microorganisms, reducing the
cross-contamination risk from touching the mask itself and creating a safer environment upon
disposal of the mask. The Biosafe treatment additive, as approved by the EPA [Environmental
Protection Agency], is compatible with our manufacturing process. Even better, because Biosafe
mechanically kills cells, it will not cause the development of more resistant ‘superbugs.’”

Cantel recently announced that it has made a strategic investment in Biosafe and plans to
integrate the Biosafe additive into other products. The masks currently are available in certain
markets outside of the United States. Crosstex is in the process of submitting an application to
the EPA for clearance to sell the masks in the United States for non-medical applications. Sale in
the United States of face masks treated with Biosafe antimicrobial for medical applications is
subject to a 510(k) clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration.

October 27, 2009

The Merino Co. (TMC), Australia — a provider of vertically integrated merino wool fiber solutions
for retail and brand partners — has become an official licensee of the EU Eco-label, a
certification system established in 1992 that distinguishes environmentally friendly products and
services. TMC’s wool supply chain is the first globally to be fully certified to the EU Eco-label,
from greasy wool through yarn. The company’s products will now display the EU Eco-label Flower
symbol, designating that they have been certified by an independent third-party organization to
comply with ecological and performance criteria. 

“We recognise the importance placed on high quality natural fibres that are environmentally
friendly by our global retail, apparel and textile brand customers,” said Stefan Bernerius,
manager, TMC Yarns. “It has been a rigorous process and has taken over two years to come to
fruition but we have met the strict EU Eco-label environmental and performance criteria, and can
proudly guarantee that our products have a reduced impact on the environment.”



October 27, 2009

Switzerland-based Schoeller Technologies AG has announced that its coldblack® textile finish is now
available for wool products. Coldblack technology, which enables black fabrics to reflect rather
than absorb the sun’s rays, offers dual protection from solar heat and ultraviolet rays.
(See ”
Cool
Rider,” Quality Fabric Of The Month, Oct. 9, 2007.) According to Schoeller, temperature
changes are less noticeable when wearing dark wool clothing that is finished with coldblack
technology.

October 27, 2009

The Hohenstein Institute — a Germany-based textile research and testing laboratory with locations
worldwide — has combined its Clothing Physiology and Textile Services & Innovations segments
into the Function and Care department. The new department will be responsible for activities
including measuring the physiological comfort of textile materials and manufactured articles;
conducting testing and certification of personal protective equipment; textile leasing; textile
finishing; color measuring; and activities related to functional innovative textiles and commercial
laundries. The department also will offer comprehensive services to Gütegemeinschaft sachgemässe
Wäschepflege e.V. (Quality Association for Proper Laundry Care) members, and practical seminars to
laundries and textile service providers.

Dr. Andreas Schmidt will manage the Function and Care department, and Dr. Jan Beringer will
serve as scientific manager. Dr. Karl-Heinz Umbach will retire from his role as director of the
Clothing Physiology department, but will continue to serve as an advisor to the Hohenstein
Institute.

October 27, 2009

C.L.A.S.S. (Creativity, Lifestyle And Sustainable Synergy) — a global network of three showrooms
in Milan, London and New York City — has formed a strategic partnership with NICE (Nordic
Initiative Clean & Ethical) to promote awareness and use of environmentally responsible
materials.

C.L.A.S.S. works with manufacturers to support and promote environmentally friendly fashion,
home and design products through eco-textiles, yarns, processes, finished products and services.
NICE is an educational program that encourages the Nordic fashion industry to focus more on
responsible, ethical and sustainable fashion.

C.L.A.S.S. will be the official supplier of eco-innovation materials and products for the
Fashion Summit, to be held Dec. 9, 2009, at the Copenhagen Opera House in Denmark. Hosted by the
Danish Fashion Institute, organized by NICE, and supported by the Nordic Fashion Association, the
Fashion Summit is the first in a series of ongoing initiatives to promote sustainability and social
responsibility in the fashion industry. It will coincide with COP15 — the United Nations Climate
Change Conference in Copenhagen, and is expected to draw 500 to 600 participants. Events will
include presentations by speakers involved in fashion, corporate social responsibility, politics,
and non-governmental organizations; a catwalk show; and a design competition for upcoming
designers. 

October 27, 2009

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is urging Congress to expand its export
financing assistance to include both small and medium-sized manufacturers. Under a current program,
the Small Business Administration (SBA) grants loans to small businesses with up to 500 employees.
NCTO is urging Congress to authorize SBA to offer loans of $5 million, $10 million and $15 million
and expand eligibility to firms with up to 1,250 employees, which would include a large number of
textile companies.

Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, NCTO President Cass Johnson said
financing options “play a pivotal role” in the US textile industry’s ability to manufacture
products for export. “Without adequate financing options and government supported guarantees,”
Johnson said, “international markets are no longer viable for US produced goods.”

In addition to the expanded loan program, Johnson urged the committee to work with the
Export-Import Bank to ensure that Ex-Im continues to offer flexible financing options for all
businesses to help international markets to remain open to US goods.

In a related development, US Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk has initiated a plan that
he says is designed to help increase exports by small and medium-sized US manufacturers. He has
established a working group within USTR to ensure that the agency’s policies address the needs of
small and medium-sized manufacturers, and he has asked the International Trade Commission to
investigate how that agency can help those manufacturers  become more involved in exporting.

Saying that small and medium-sized manufacturers are “at the heart of employment and job
creation,”

Kirk said the administration will work on new trade policies and enforce existing ones in
order to help smaller manufacturers increase trade abroad and create jobs at home.Kirk said his new
initiative is just the beginning, and he will work with other agencies, such as the Department of
Commerce and the SBA, that have complementary programs for small and medium-sized companies.

October 20, 2009

The Nat Nast Co. Inc. — a South Norwalk, Conn.-based designer of luxury menswear — has
implemented Lyndhurst, N.J.-based end-to-end business software solutions designer RLM Apparel
Software Systems Inc.’s FashionManager™ Web-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software at
its headquarters and New York City-based showroom and offices. Nat Nast soon will use RLM’s FM
On-Demand™ hosted software-as-a-service solution for financial management and reporting, product
lifecycle management, ERP, retail collaboration through electronic data exchange, sales force
automation and integration with third-party logistics providers. RLM reports that Nat Nast expects
approximately 30 users will begin to employ the system in January 2010.

“Being a small company with big ambitions, RLM was our optimal choice,” said Lawrence C.
DeParis, CEO, Nat Nast. “FashionManager is an affordable, scalable, comprehensive end-to-end
solution with an efficient implementation schedule that made a lot of sense for us. An important
factor in our decision was RLM’s extensive array of relevant implementations and the fact that
their shared software is regularly updated with best practices from this like-minded group, which
includes some of the top brands in our industry.”

In addition to using FM On-Demand to manage its business processes, Nat Nast will utilize the
costing and integrated bill of materials tools to produce raw materials requirements; upload
inventories from a third-party distribution center in New Jersey; and provide the national sales
team with remote access for inventory, reporting and integration with an upcoming e-commerce
solution. 

October 20, 2009

Miami-based private investment firm Empire Investment Holdings has concluded its 12-month
transition services agreement with Leggett & Platt (L&P) related to Empire’s acquisition of
Polyester Fibers LLC. All services, including accounting, treasury, logistics, information
technology, global services, and manufacturing resource planning and financial software have been
transitioned over from L&P to Empire ahead of schedule.

“Our team has completed this complex extraction from the L&P platform two months ahead of
schedule,” said David F. Alfonso, Empire Investment Holdings’ chairman and CEO. “Through the course
of the due diligence process, we were able to see beyond the challenges related to this extensive
carve-out and identified significant opportunities to unlock value.”

Empire purchased Polyester Fibers — a manufacturer of high-loft nonwoven products used in
furniture, filtration, bedding and retail applications — from L&P in November 2008. As soon as
the transaction closed, Empire sent its operational transition team to Polyester Fibers’ locations
to begin the transition. Empire’s team worked to stabilize the employee and customer base, improve
leadership and efficiencies, strategically create growth and market share, and develop the
business’s standalone infrastructure. During the handover, Polyester Fibers continued to operate
without any customer disruption.

“This acquisition fit perfectly with Empire’s investment profile and now represents a
flagship enterprise for our firm,” Alfonso said. “It boasts an expansive manufacturing footprint
and distribution model that delivers well known brands to a mature and established customer base.”



October 20, 2009