West Conshohocken, Pa.-based ASTM International has been granted permission by its Board of
Directors to offer a testing program for products — including materials, products, systems and
services — and personnel. The ASTM International Certification Program is voluntary, and a product
certified through the program is tested at the direction of ASTM by a third-party laboratory to
verify its ability to conform to one or more ASTM standards.

ASTM’s Board of Directors granted the approval after receiving inquiries — particularly
related to new standards development activities — as to whether ASTM could provide certification
to entities requiring an independent, third-party demonstration of standards compliance. ASTM also
received requests from entities that were confronting regulatory pressure to prove standards
compliance.  

“The board agreed that the ability for the Society to offer certification program as a part
of ASTM’s portfolio of services — similar to our successful proficiency testing and training
programs — is important in remaining relevant in the changing global marketplace,” said James A.
Thomas, president, ASTM International. “This is the first step toward certification in ASTM’s
111-year history.”

Any domestic or international manufacturer, distributor or private brand marketer of a
product that falls within the range of an ASTM certification program can apply for certification.
Consumers can benefit from increased confidence and a dependable method of comparing products.
Manufacturers can benefit from fair testing and ratings, possible liability reduction and
facilitation of regulatory compliance.

November 24, 2009

Cramerton, N.C.-based textile marketer LookChina Inc. has developed a lightweight, four-way-stretch
3-D spacer fabric for apparel, medical, footwear, sporting goods and general industrial
applications. According to the company, QuikSlim®, a 90/10 polyester/Lycra® fabric weighing 310
grams per square meter, offers breathability, compression and cushioning, stretch and recovery,
durability, and insulating properties; differing from comparable traditional laminated products in
that it requires no adhesives or latex and offers cushioning without the use of foam or similar
materials. It also can be machine-washed and tumble-dried, and does not ravel when cut.

Apparel applications include compression apparel especially for active sports, where the
combination of compression with temperature regulation and moisture management can enhance the
wearer’s comfort as well as performance in terms of aerodynamics and freedom of movement.

LookChina points out that traditional two-way-stretch compression articles for medical
applications do not distribute the compression evenly and also do not have good elastic memory,
whereas QuikSlim’s four-way stretch provides more even compression distribution and – along with
its breathability, thermal insulation and cushioning function – better encourages recovery and
healing after reconstructive surgery or aesthetic enhancement procedures and helps the skin reshape
to new body contours, for example, due to pregnancy or following childbirth, or liposuction or
spinal realignment, among other conditions.

For apparel, the company is offering QuikSlim in 12 colors for the 2010 season. In addition,
Dr. Johnson Wu, a textile engineer with LookChina, said two companies are conducting trials using
the fabric to develop prototype products for medical applications. The patent-pending fabric’s
construction can be modified to meet specific needs by using different yarns and changing the
spacer gauge.



November 24, 2009

Union City, Ga.-based TenCate Protective Fabrics USA Inc. — a manufacturer of protective and
safety fabrics for the military, among other applications — has launched new products in its
Defender™ M collection of Lenzing® FR/para-aramid-blend fabrics. TenCate Defender M fabric, which
offers inherent heat- and flame-resistant characteristics along with moisture management and
breathability, is the standard material used in US armed forces and military combat uniforms.
TenCate now has combined a new blend of fibers with an innovative dyeing method to offer the fabric
in navy blue and black.

TenCate Defender M now is available in two- and three-layer polytetrafluoroethylene laminates
in weights of 220 and 280 grams per square meter (g/m
²). The fabric features Hydro-Control™ and Hydro-Control Triple, offering water-vapor
permeability and waterproofing; and also offers antistatic properties.

TenCate also has added DM 9180, a lightweight fabric with antistatic properties that weighs
180 g/m
² and is suitable for air-force pilots’ protective clothing.

“The products from the TenCate Defender M collection are extremely strong and durable,” said
Robert Brinks, business development manager, TenCate Protective Fabrics. “These inherently
flame-resistant fabrics provide the greatest possible protection against a flashover. The fabric is
cooling, breathable and extremely comfortable, thanks to the high percentage of Lenzing FR fibres
it contains. A number of armies and police forces in Europe are currently showing interest in these
fabrics and various wearer trials have already been started.”

November 24, 2009

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.: Nov. 10, 2009) Crowley was recently recognized by the Jacksonville Urban
League for the company’s significant efforts in the areas of diversity and equal opportunity in the
workplace at the 36th Annual Equal Opportunity Luncheon held at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel
in Jacksonville.

Urban League President Richard Danford, Ph.D., presented John Douglass, Crowley senior vice
president of Gulf/Atlantic services, the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Award on behalf of
Crowley.

Crowley was one of only two companies selected for this honor in Jacksonville. BlueCross
BlueShield of Florida was also recognized. As specified in the award, Crowley has demonstrated
support, assistance or made significant inroads in furthering equal opportunity and has an
extensive record of contributing to the improvement of equal opportunity among diverse groups.

“At Crowley, we believe that embracing and understanding the importance of diversity allows
us to remain competitive, respond to globalization and promote innovation and productivity,” said
Bryan Lee, Crowley’s vice president for human resources. “By providing a strong commitment to
diversity, we provide the necessary cultural atmosphere that promotes an inclusive environment.
Diversity breeds creativity and creativity drives the innovative thought we seek from the Crowley
team. As new possibilities and opportunities in the business world arise, diversity will be the key
to successful organizations of the future.”

The Jacksonville Urban league was founded in 1947. The Urban League is the nation’s oldest
and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African-Americans and others to enter
the economic and social mainstream. For more information, visit
www.jaxul.org.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 117-year-old Crowley
Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides
diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of
six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner
Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered
within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping,
logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and
emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and
naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and
chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its
subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at
www.crowley.com.

Press Release Courtesy of Crowley Holdings

Switzerland-based global specialty chemicals provider Clariant has announced plans to close plants
and cut jobs in order to address overcapacities and reduce costs. The proposals are the first
arrangments in Clariant’s Global Asset Network Optimization (GANO) project, part of a wider
restructuring program the company has initiated to improve its efficiency and increase
competitiveness.

Clariant sites to be closed include Huningue, France; Pontypridd, Wales; CIVAC, Cuernavaca in
Mexico, and portions of two plants in Frankfurt and Gendorf, Germany. Clariant also is considering
closing its site in Onsan, South Korea. The closings will affect approximately 570 employees
worldwide.

Clariant expects to complete the closures — including transferring production to other parts
of the company’s site network — sometime between 2011 and 2013. The restructuring will cost
approximately 150 million Swiss francs.

November 24, 2009

The new gro-pak™ shopping system from Austin, Texas-based BlueAvocado Co. features five separate
component bags made using recycled Repreve® fiber from Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc.
BlueAvocado, a woman-owned lifestyle products business, wanted to create a reusable grocery bag
system that was convenient and stylish, as well as environmentally friendly. According to the
company, using the gro-pak system eliminates the need to use 15 plastic bags per grocery store
visit, which can amount to some 1,000 bags per year. The company selected Unifi’s Repreve fiber to
create the bags because the fiber is made from 100-percent waste and post-consumer plastic bottles,
thus impacting the environment by saving both materials and energy resources during production.

“Our goal was to provide eco-conscious, time-starved shoppers with a reusable and recycled
grocery bag system that’s focused on style, convenience and value,” said Melissa Nathan, chief
innovation officer, BlueAvocado. “The gro-pak system can eliminate 1,000 plastic bags per shopper
per year, so the impact of one consumer can affect the lives of many. We believe we’re helping
consumers change the way they shop — for good.”

November 24, 2009

The Germany-based German Engineering Federation’s (VDMA’s) Garment and Leather Technology
Association — an organization that represents the sewing and garment machinery, shoe and leather
production machinery, laundry and textile cleaning equipment, and technical textiles finishing and
processing machinery sectors — recently held its annual member meeting in Baden-Baden. The
association reports small signs of recovery in recent weeks for an industry that realized 1.005
million euros in production volume in 2008. From January to August 2009, the sector experienced a
drop in incoming orders of 26 percent, which was slightly better than the average drop experienced
by most other mechanical engineering sectors, according to Tilo Ullmer, chairman, VDMA’s Garment
and Leather Technology Association.

Ullmer cited problems for global customers as reasons for the decrease in orders for the
sector. “For almost two years, the leading markets for the garment and footwear industry, such as
China and Turkey, have seen their income drop by 30 percent or more,” Ullmer said. “Structural
problems in the key markets of our customers were then compounded by the global financial crisis.”

In 2008, Germany exported garment and leather technology worth 773 million euros. When
compared to an export volume of 891 million euros in 2007, the 2008 value reflects a drop of 13.2
percent, but Germany was able to maintain its position as the fourth-most-important supplier
country globally for garment and leather technologies ranking behind China, Italy and South Korea.

The association also discussed its plans to support the Texprocess exhibition to be held in
Frankfurt in May 2011. “Texprocess gives us the urgently needed new market platform for exhibitors
and customers working in the garment industry and the manufacture of technical textiles,” said
Elgar Straub, managing director, VDMA’s Garment and Leather Technology Association. “Here Europe
plans to, and will, pave the way forward. The [Messe Frankfurt] trade fair offers outstanding
textile expertise and internationality, which makes it just the right partner.”

November 24, 2009

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Vice Chairman David Hastings has urged the House
Committee on Ways and Means not to extend duty-free preferences in textiles to Bangladesh and
Cambodia nor change textile preference rules in any way that might further exacerbate the loss of
US jobs. Hastings presented his testimony during hearings the committee was conducting on trade
preference reform.

To stress the urgency of his plea, Hastings, CEO of Mauldin, S.C.-based textile manufacturer
Mount Vernon Mills Inc., relayed the example of his company’s recent offering of jobs at its Trion,
Ga., facility, which, with more than 1,100 workers, is the company’s largest textile plant and
manufactures products that are exported to Western Hemisphere countries under existing preference
and free trade agreement programs.

“Eleven days ago, on November 7th, Mount Vernon announced that there were several job
openings at the Trion plant and people began lining up outside the plant at 4 a.m. that morning
just to apply. By noon, we had taken 270 applications from people looking for work,” he said,
pointing out that the same scenario has been repeated elsewhere nationwide and “is indicative of
the weakness of the US economy. Mister Chairman, our workers are hurting in this country and I
strongly urge the Subcommittee to keep in mind that our country and our manufacturing sector [are]
hurting badly,” he said.

Among other points, Hastings also warned that additional textile industry job losses could
adversely impact US Department of Defense procurement of US-made textile products, noting as an
example that the Trion plant provides a large portion of those products, but that they represent
only a part of the plant’s total production.

Hastings’ testimony will be reported on further next week in Jim Morrissey’s weekly report
posted on www.TextileWorld.com.

November 17, 2009

As President Barack Obama visited five Asian nations over the past 10 days, he received plenty of
advice from home and abroad as to how the United States should deal with what have become
increasingly contentious trade issues.

Several leaders in the nations he visited warned the United States may be in danger of moving
toward protectionist trade policies, and there was general agreement that the future lies in free
and open trade. China President Hu Jintao said, “Protectionism will not help any country move out
of the crisis.” At home, manufacturers urged the president to press China, in particular, about
what they see as illegal trade practices that they say are wiping out jobs and hurting the economy.

Just before Obama left on his first tour of the area as president, the government released
data showing that the US trade deficit jumped by 18 percent to $36.5 billion in September, the
second-highest increase for the year, causing industry representatives in Washington to say China
and other Asian economies must stimulate domestic demand and not rely so heavily on consumers.

Perhaps the most significant and most specific comments came from Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.,
who as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee overseas trade legislation. Noting that the US
government has pretty much ignored trade because of the preoccupation of his committee, Congress
and the administration with economic recovery issues and health care reform, Baucus said, “It is
time for a new blueprint on trade.”

In remarks before the Washington International Trade Association, he called for a “new and
comprehensive agenda” that places more emphasis on enforcing existing trade agreements and on labor
and environmental practices in other countries. He also said the blueprint cannot ignore workers
whom trade leaves behind, and there must be more programs to help workers train and transition into
new jobs when their jobs are displaced by imports.

Baucus said a new agenda must recognize that the United States can no longer rely on American
consumers alone to fuel economic growth, and there must be more export-driven growth. In that
regard, he said US trade policies have focused for too long on trans-Atlantic trade, and more
emphasis must be placed on trans-Pacific trade. He praised Obama’s commitment during his trip to
participate actively in the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) with Singapore,
Chile, New Zealand and Brunei; as well as prospective TPP member countries Vietnam, Australia and
Peru.

Baucus called for congressional approval of the pending free trade agreement (FTA) with South
Korea, but only if Korea lives up to its commitment to abide by scientific standards when
regulating US agriculture exports and addresses the “legitimate concerns regarding trade in autos.”
He did not mention the textile industry’s concerns with the South Korea agreement.

He said his comprehensive approach to trade also must find a way for Congress to approve FTAs
with Panama and Colombia.

With respect to trade with China, Baucus said, “We must continue to encourage China to
rebalance its economy and focus on domestic consumption, and move toward a market-based economy,”
suggestions Obama also has endorsed.

The question is whether Congress and the administration are willing to get into trade issues,
following the contentious debates on economic recovery and health care.



November 17, 2009

Switzerland-based Uster Technologies Ltd., a manufacturer of quality measurement and certification
products for the textile industry, announced that it has raised 43.9 million Swiss francs and
broadened its shareholder base thanks to a new strategic investor, Japan-based Toyota Industries
Corp. Uster believes the transaction should strengthen its financial and operational flexibility,
and says it also “represents a strong strategic endorsement of the company’s market position by a
major global industrial group offering synergies and new joint business development opportunities.”

Toyota Industries Corp. was founded in 1926 to manufacture and sell weaving machines. Over
the years, Toyota has added other textile machinery as well as automobiles, material handling
equipment, electronics, and logistics solutions to its scope of business.

Uster issued 1.9 million new shares with a par value of 9.40 Swiss francs each from its
authorized share capital. After the transaction, the new shares represent 22.5 percent of the
outstanding share capital.

Flexibility

“The proceeds of the transaction of 43.9 million Swiss francs will primarily be used to
improve the balance sheet by reducing debt positions and to further invest in product and market
developments,” Uster stated. The new funds are said to provide the company with additional
financial flexibility to ensure the build-up of market volume back to levels achieved in 2007. The
main reason for this partnership was to reduce the debt and therefore reduce loan costs. The
trigger for the capital increase was the so-called “uncomfortable balance sheet and shortage of
cash.” Uster looked up to various options, even among its own major shareholders and checked
different possibilities.

Finally, it was determined that Toyota would be the ideal strategic investor. Toyota will
make an important investment in Uster technologies and is convinced that “Uster is a reliable and
valuable partner for a promising future.”

Stronger Partners

In a telephone conference call, Dr. Geoffrey Scott, CEO, Uster Technologies, said he is
“delighted to have Toyota Industries Corporation invest in Uster Technologies Ltd. as a new,
long-term and strategic shareholder.” The new investor is said to be the best partner for a
long-term strategy in the best interest of Uster and its shareholders. Both companies are in a
leading position in their market environment, and the transaction will further strengthen both
partners. Toyota, as Scott mentioned, is the partner of choice because both companies are highly
committed to quality.

Under a lock-up agreement, Toyota is bound to hold the new shares for a period of 12 months
following issuance of the shares. In acknowledgement of the size of the investment and in order to
strengthen the strategic cooperation, it will be proposed for approval at Uster’s Annual General
Meeting in March 2010 that a representative of Toyota will join Uster’s Board of Directors.

Synergies

One may question the synergy potential of such a partnership. It must be noted that Toyota is
working not only in the sector of weaving machines but also in spinning preparation. This, said the
management of Uster, will bring new synergies for both partners. On top of that, there are also
plans for Uster to move toward the development of products for the weaving sector.

Tetsuro Toyoda, president, Toyota Industries Corp., said this investment in Uster
“establishes a basis for us to further develop Toyota Industries Corp.’s business opportunities.”
He believes in Uster’s strong market position and is “pleased to have been given the opportunity to
invest in a highly profitable company with an excellent technology and a product portfolio [with
an] outstanding quality management system ….”

November 17, 2009