Faytex, NanoHorizons Partner To Offer Footwear Benefits

Faytex Corp. — a Weymouth, Mass.-based developer of moisture-management fabrics — has partnered
with NanoHorizons™ Inc. — a State College, Pa.-based developer of nanoscale materials for a range
of industries including apparel — to offer its Dri-Lex® shoe lining material with NanoHorizons’
SmartSilver™ anti-odor/antimicrobial technology.

“Faytex is the industry’s recognized leader in high-performance footwear fabrics,” said
Dennis Schneider, director, sales and marketing, NanoHorizons. “Faytex and its Dri-Lex show lining
material present a perfect opportunity for NanoHorizons to showcase SmartSilver’s unmatched
anti-odor performance in a challenging odor-generating environment. SmartSilver’s nanoscale
technology enables Faytex to maintain all of Dri-Lex’s leadership comfort and moisture-movement
capabilities and add lab-proven antimicrobial performance — delivering the perfect solution.”

Faytex is currently working with Vista, Calif.-based Zoot Sports to incorporate the new
material into Zoot’s new line of footwear.



August 28, 2007

County Draperies, Vinyl Technology To Install Eton Systems

County Draperies Inc., a family-run manufacturer of draperies, bedspreads and accessories for
commercial industries, will install an Eton 4000 materials-handling and factory-floor
data-collection system at its facility in Middletown, N.Y. The Eton 4000, the first of three Eton
lines the company plans to install, will consist of 38 workstations that will be used to produce
draperies. The line will include a specially designed six-rail sorting buffer that will sort order
components back together before packing and shipment to customers.

Monrovia, Calif.-based Vinyl Technology Inc., a family-owned contract manufacturer of
industrial fabrics for commercial and military applications, plans to install an Eton 2002 system.
The system, consisting of three lines and 54 workstations, will operate at its Monrovia facility
and be used to manufacture carrying cases for the US Army.

“Eton is a key component of our aggressive modernization initiative,” said Dan Mollura,
president, Vinyl Technology. “We see it as a good fit for our operation because of the wide variety
of products that we produce. Eliminating material handling time and costs will make bulky items
easier to handle and drive greater efficiency across our entire sewing operation.”

Installation is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of this year.



August 28, 2007

US DOC Awards Export Achievement Certificate To Knit-Rite

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) recently awarded Knit-Rite Inc. — a Kansas City, Kan.-based
producer of medical and consumer textiles — its Export Achievement Certificate in recognition of
Knit-Rite’s first sales to businesses in Greece, Lebanon and Turkey.

Knit-Rite exports products such as prosthetic socks, diabetic socks, compression hosiery and
orthotic textiles, among other products, to more than 40 countries including Mexico, Chile and
Australia.

The certificate program recognizes businesses that have successfully made their first export
sale and/or entered new foreign markets with assistance from the US Commercial Service, a DOC
agency that aids small to mid-sized US companies sell products worldwide. Knit-Rite achieved the
sales in Greece, Lebanon and Turkey with the assistance of services provided by the Kansas City US
Export Assistance Center.

“The Commercial Service has saved our company valuable time and resources, enabling us to
boost our exports and achieve a higher level of sales in the face of international competition,”
said Chris Vering, executive vice president, CFO and COO, Knit-Rite. “Our export sales continue to
make a vital contribution to our company’s growth here at home, enabling us to both maintain and
add local jobs.”



August 28, 2007

VDMA To Offer Guided Tours At ITMA 2007

The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) Textile Machinery Association will offer trade visitors
guided tours of textile machinery and technologies at ITMA 2007. Three tours, all offered in
English, will be held Thursday, September 13 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Each tour will commence at the
VDMA information booth, located at Booth 11 at the Association Center East Entrance.

Tour 1 will cover man-made fiber plants, spinning preparation and machinery, and nonwovens
machinery. Tour 2 will feature weaving, knitting and braiding machinery; and Tour 3 will include
washing, bleaching, dyeing, drying and finishing machinery.

More information may be found at the English version of the VDMA website,
www.vdma.org/textile. Each tour is limited to 20 participants. The registration deadline is
September 6.



August 28, 2007

Dienes, Mainsite Team To Provide Complete Spinning Solutions

Germany-based Dienes Apparatebau GmbH — a spinning plant and man-made-fiber treatment solutions
provider — and Mainsite Services GmbH & Co. KG — operator of the Obernburg Industrial Center
(ICO), also based in Germany — have joined forces to provide complete, customized upgrade or
conversion solutions, from extrusion to winding, for spinning plants that process bulk continuous
filaments, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, elastane and assorted high-performance fibers.
The two companies together employ 30 engineers and technicians who work closely with customers to
develop concepts, special components, and automation and process control techniques; and oversee
their technical implementation.

Recently, Dienes and Mainsite completed a project to design a single-step manufacturing
process for Diolen Industrial Fibers GmbH — a manufacturer of high-quality technical polyester
yarns — at Diolen’s facility in the ICO. According to the two companies, the project, which was
completed in record time over a period of a few months without interfering with ongoing operations
at the plant, quickly achieved the goal of improving production efficiencies and optimizing costs
while maintaining product quality.



August 28, 2007

The Rupp Report: Strong European Nonwovens Industry

According to figures recently released by EDANA — the Belgium-based International Association
Serving the Nonwovens and Related Industries — the production of nonwovens in Europe in 2006 grew
by some 6.5 percent to a total of 1.494 metric tons (mt). This is compared with 1.403 mt in 2005,
which achieved 5-percent annual growth.

According to EDANA estimates, based on the same group of companies in 2005 and 2006, the
average price of nonwovens appears to have increased by almost 3 percent, from 3.33 euros
(US$4.50*) to 3.43 euros (US$4.67) per kilogram. As a result, the total turnover of the European
nonwovens industry is estimated at some 5,124 million euros (US$6,983 million).



Needlepunched Nonwovens At The Top


Diverging trends are affecting the various bonding processes of drylaid nonwovens. Referring
to the different production sectors, Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA, said: “Growth in the
hydroentanglement process has still been substantial this year, at more than 6 percent. However,
this year the needling process has recorded the highest apparent growth at 13.8 percent.”

Polymer-based (spunmelt) nonwovens, also witnessed an impressive growth, with a more-than
10-percent increase in 2006. Airlaid production, compared to 2005 figures, recorded a slight
growth, mostly due to an increase in deliveries to the hygiene sector.

The major end-use for nonwovens remains the hygiene market, with a 33-percent share of
deliveries totalling 497,900 mt. This represents an increase of 5.4 percent when compared to 2005
figures.



Growth Areas


The most significant growth areas for nonwovens in 2006 were apparel — with a 14.4-percent
increase, primarily in protective clothing; and wipes for personal care, with a 13.8-percent
increase. These categories were followed by liquid filtration — with a 12.2-percent increase; and
geotextiles — with an 11.4-percent increase — a diversity that perfectly illustrates the ongoing
growth and innovative end-uses of nonwovens, both for industrial and everyday applications.

Polypropylene, in either fiber or granule form, continues to be the most important polymer
used in the European nonwovens industry, accounting for 766,200 mt, or 48.4 percent of the total
fiber and polymer chip consumption. However, wood pulp has retained the highest growth rate, 12.1
percent.



Positive Export Balance


In 2006, the positive EU balance of exports and imports of nonwoven roll goods increased.
The 27 EU member states exported 215,554 mt of nonwovens, compared to 193,716 mt in 2005, at a
value of almost 928 million euros (US$1,264.7 million), which represents an 11.3-percent increase
in volume and a 14.4-percent increase in value when compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the
positive balance of trade — almost 400 million euros (US$545.1 million) — in nonwovens contributed
to the trade surplus of the EU textiles sector by more than 30 percent.



EDANA


EDANA unifies the diversified interests of more than 190 member companies in 26 countries.
It represents, protects and actively promotes the common interests of nonwovens and absorbent
hygiene product industries and their suppliers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Formed in 1971 as the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association, EDANA provides a
comprehensive range of services, and supplies its members with the information and data necessary
for them to enhance industry goals and performance.

*All monetary conversions based on the current rate of 1 euro = US$1.3628



August 28, 2007

X-Rite, Pantone Enter Acquisition Agreement

X-Rite Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., and Pantone Inc., Carlstadt, N.J., have entered into an agreement
whereby X-Rite will acquire Pantone for $180 million. Pantone will become a business unit within
X-Rite, and current Pantone executives will continue to have key roles in the new unit.

X-Rite — a developer and provider of color measurement and management software and services
for industries including textiles, printing, packaging and plastics, among others — hopes to extend
its product range with the addition of Pantone’s color standards, while expanding the reach of
those solutions using X-Rite’s international presence and distribution abilities.

Pantone products include the Fashion + Home Color System, a catalog of 1,925 colors for
fashion and home textile applications; and huey™ technology, which calibrates and profiles all
types of computer monitors for more accurate color viewing. X-Rite provides the technology for the
huey system, which is branded and sold exclusively by Pantone.

The deal is expected to close in the coming months, and will be funded with cash financed
through a number of institutions. A debt package of up to $415 million will be used to fund the
transaction and finance X-Rite’s existing debt.

“Pantone and X-Rite have enjoyed a strategic partnership in providing color management
solutions for the digital imaging market for the last two years,” said Larry Herbert, CEO, Pantone.
“Our company is wholly committed to color communication and inspiration and we are enthusiastic
about combining our growing business with X-Rite to apply even greater resources to this work.”



August 28, 2007

Concordia Receives $250,000 From Slater Technology Fund

Concordia Manufacturing LLC, Coventry, R.I., a producer of fiber-based materials for biomedical,
industrial and consumer applications, has received $250,000 from the Slater Technology Fund, a
Providence, R.I.-based state-backed venture capital fund that provides seed capital for ventures
that will base their operations in Rhode Island. The funding is part of an initial $1.5 million in
equity financing the company will use to expand facilities and provide working capital for its
growing biomedical products business. Concordia also expects to obtain further funding before the
end of the year to use in its expansion efforts.

The 87-year-old company began its thrust into the biomedical field in 2003, aided by an
initial $100,000 in equity seed funding from Slater. In 2005, Concordia acquired Mansfield,
Mass.-based Albany International Research Co.’s biomedical assets related to the manufacture of
nonwoven scaffolds for tissue engineering and introduced its BIOFELT™ needlepunched 3-D felt
bioabsorbable scaffolds for use in regenerative medicine applications, again with assistance from
Slater, this time in the amount of $150,000. Other investments in Concordia’s biomedical business
have come from its shareholders, including members of the company’s founding Boghossian family.

The biomedical activities now comprise close to 30 percent of Concordia’s total business,
about triple the volume of late 2005, said Randal W. Spencer, president and CEO. “We’ve developed
new products, including one coming out in about a month and another in early 2008,” he said. “We
have a number of other products in clinical trials — in addition to arteries, we have a product
going into bladders, another in heart valves. We’re supporting some major research developments at
top universities, including schools in Boston; Yale, Duke and others.”

Expansion plans call for at least a tripling of Concordia’s clean room space and a
quadrupling of what Spencer called its “medical manufacturing space — not quite a clean room, but a
controlled environment,” from 1,000 square feet (ft2) to 4,000 ft2.



August 28, 2007

Springs To Exit

Home furnishings supplier Springs Global US Inc., Fort Mill, S.C., a subsidiary of Brazil-based
Springs Global Participações S.A., announced it will discontinue its South Carolina bedding
manufacturing operations and close its Grace Finishing and Grace Fabrication plants in Lancaster,
and its Close Plant in Fort Lawn. The closures, expected to be completed around the end of August,
will affect 540 associates who produce finished bed fabrics and sheets at the Grace facilities and
210 who produce comforters and bedding accessories at Close.

The company’s distribution and warehouse operation at Grace, which employs some 150
associates, will continue. After the plant closures are final, Springs Global will retain
approximately 700 associates in South Carolina, primarily at its distribution centers in Fort Lawn
and Lancaster and at its sales and administrative offices in Fort Mill.

The company’s distribution and warehouse operation at Grace, which employs some 150
associates, will continue. After the plant closures are final, Springs Global will retain
approximately 700 associates in South Carolina, primarily at its distribution centers in Fort Lawn
and Lancaster and at its sales and administrative offices in Fort Mill.

“This marks the end of 120 years during which Springs has manufactured bedding in South
Carolina,” said Crandall Bowles, co-chairman and co-CEO. “Both the Grace Plant and the Close Plant
have been integral and valuable parts of our business. The Grace Complex, in particular, once the
largest finishing plant under one roof in the world, has been a symbol of our company in this
area.”

Springs Global still maintains manufacturing operations for some bedding products in the
United States, including a comforter and bedding accessories facility in Alabama; a blanket
facility in North Carolina; and pillow and mattress pad facilities in Virginia, Oklahoma and
California. In addition, the company manufactures towels in Georgia and bath rugs in Tennessee.



July 3, 2007

Rohm And Haas, Reliance Explore Joint Venture

Rohm and Haas Co., Philadelphia, and
India-based Reliance Industries Ltd. have entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore the
joint construction of a 200,000-metric-ton-capacity acrylic acid and esters facility in Jamnagar,
India.

The proposed facility is expected to serve primarily markets in India, but would be capable
also of serving export markets. Materials would be produced using Rohm and Haas’s technology and
would serve as bases for environmentally friendly products such as acrylic and water-based
emulsions as well as super-absorbent polymers for textile materials including baby diapers,
construction materials, paints and coatings, detergents, and packaging adhesives.



May/June 2007

Sponsors