Colombia-based bulletproof apparel manufacturer Miguel Caballero has named Miami-based Miguel
Caballero USA an official distributor of the company’s apparel line in the United States. US
customers may purchase Miguel Cabellero products directly from the Miami office. Later this year,
the company also expects to debut a fully functional website that will feature a virtual store and
information on ballistic protection.

Miguel Caballero combines bulletproof technology with fashion, offering products such as
Italian leather jackets and polo T-shirts. The company also creates tailored bulletproof apparel
lines incorporating pockets and carriers to hold weapons, radios and other gear. Those lines are
targeted for use by agents of government institutions and private security groups.

August 4, 2009

The Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology (IHB) at The Hohenstein Institute — a Germany-based
textile research and testing laboratory with locations worldwide — in conjunction with
Germany-based mattress manufacturers diamona and MetaTex, has developed an anti-mite mattress
prototype for allergy sufferers. The mattress contains flexible textile heating pads that create a
hygrothermal environment that inhibits house dust mites from settling into the mattress. The new
mattress provides an alternative to the use of either tight-closing mattress covers or chemicals to
treat the dust-mite problem.

Dust mites require moisture from ambient air to survive, and do not tolerate dry, warm
conditions. Hohenstein tests reveal that heating the mattress to 50ºC for one hour once or twice a
week will prevent dust mites from settling in. The heading pads, supplied by Germany-based Rolf
Mayer Strickstoff-Fabrik, are incorporated into the mattress layers at specified distances to
maintain the desired temperature throughout the mattress.

“Using this trailblazing innovation, we are finally able to ensure that sufferers of house
dust mite allergies can have a good night’s sleep,” said Dr. Dirk Hoefer, manager, IHB. “And we
have achieved this without compromising sleeping comfort or having to revert to chemical substances
which in turn create problems with people with heightened sensitivities.”

August 4, 2009

Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont and Gander Mountain Co. — a Saint Paul, Minn.-based retailer of
outdoor and recreational apparel, products and services — are debuting DuPont™ Active Layer
technology in Gander Mountain’s SPX rainwear and Active Layer insulated fleece parka and bib.
DuPont Active Layer is an engineered moisture-management film that provides waterproof and
windproof protection in activewear such as ski and snowboard gloves, winter sports jackets, golf
rain gear, hunting apparel and shoes. The film can be recycled if used with 100-percent polyester
fabrics. 

The SPX rainwear and Active Layer insulated fleece parka and bib are now available at Gander
Mountain’s retail stores, with an insulated version to be released September 1.

August 4, 2009

Cleveland-based Aerodyne, a manufacturer of dry-material handling systems, has debuted its S
Series® Dust Collector for separating out fine particles starting at 20 microns. According to the
company, the cyclonic dust collector can pick up dusts including sawdust, fly ash, sand and coffee;
and can easily handle fibrous, sticky, hygroscopic and high-temperature materials that might clog
or damage filter bags or cartridges. It is designed to minimize the amount of dust particulate that
can come in contact with the collector walls, enabling it to handle highly abrasive materials
without the need for special anti-abrasive coatings or extra heavy-duty construction. Aerodyne also
reports that when installed before baghouses or cartridge filters, the S Collector significantly
increases the filter media’s life and lowers labor and material costs.

The S Series Dust Collector may be used as part of a manufacturing process or to meet the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s standards for dust control in the workplace. Units
come in sizes ranging from 50 to 18,000 cubic feet per minute and may be mounted vertically or
horizontally.

August 4, 2009

Atlas Copco Compressors LLC, a business of Sweden-based Atlas Copco AG, has debuted its R410A (ID
95-285) refrigerant dryers designed exclusively for the company’s GA, GA+ and GA VSD 50-125 HP
oil-injected screw compressors, which are used in applications including textiles, printing,
packaging and other applications. According to Atlas Copco, the dryers use an energy-efficient
refrigerant, the company’s patented Saver Cycle and an air-to-air heat exchanger to provide
high-quality dry air while minimizing power usage.

“Compared to conventional dryers with similar cooling capacity, the integrated ID 95-285
dryers reduce direct power consumption up to 40 percent, even at full load,” said Bob Baker, senior
marketing support specialist, Atlas Copco. “These significant energy savings are achieved through
the introduction of R410A refrigerant and by optimizing the design of key components, including the
refrigerant compressor and heat exchanger with low pressure drop.”

Other features available with the R410A dryers include an optional DD/PD integrated two-stage
air filtration system combined with the condensate separator inside the unit canopy; and an
integrated dryer retrofit kit for previously designed installations.

August 4, 2009

Germany-based BASF SE has launched Lurotex® Duo C6 fluorocarbon-based textile finishing systems for
apparel, home textiles and upholstery. The Lurotex Duo System for stain repellent comprises Lurotex
Protector RP ECO combined with Perapret® Booster XLR to enhance the finish’s performance, and the
Lurotex Duo System for stain release comprises Lurotex Protector RL ECO combined with Perapret®
Booster XLR.

According to BASF, the C6-based finishes contain traces of perfluorooctanoic acid that are
reduced below detection levels, compared with traditonal C8-based products. “This will support
customers as well as retailers and brands in meeting the latest and future ecological
requirements,” said Janardhanan Ramanujalu, head of gobal business management, Textile Chemicals,
BASF.

The company also reports that compared to traditional fluorocarbon finishes, the Duo Systems
enhance performance durability while retaining a soft hand and a high degree of whiteness.

July 28, 2009

Cleveland, Tenn.-based Manufacturers Chemicals LLC — a producer of specialty chemicals for the
textile, paper, metals and coating industries, and a division of Synalloy Corp. — has introduced
EcoCare LNC, an eco-friendly disperse dye leveling agent for polyester and other disperse dyeable
fibers.

According to Chuck Stieg, president, Manufacturers Chemicals, many disperse dye leveling
agents are derivatives of phosphated or end-capped nonylphenol ethoxolates, which recent research
indicates may not be completely reacted or can decouple as they degrade, and release nonylphenol
into the environment.

“We expect the use of these derivatives will be discontinued as this new information comes to
light,” Stieg said. “In addition, we are dedicated to developing chemistry that is completely green
in that it comes from renewable feed stock and leaves a small environmental footprint in all phases
of manufacture.”

The company reports it has successfully completed performance testing of EcoCare LNC, and the
product offers additional benefits including other synergistic effects: “[EcoCare LNC] is extremely
low foaming; aids in dispersing dyes, offers wetting and emulsification properties, is an effective
bath lubricant in its own rights and has low biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand,”
said Mike Jenkins, director of the company’s Dalton, Ga.-based Floor Covering Group operation,
where testing was undertaken. He added that the agent is more economical than dye leveling agents
derived from nonylphenol ethoxalates.



July 28, 2009

Cary, N.C.-based Cotton Incorporated has introduced Storm Cotton™ for Fleece, a water-repellent
finish designed for use on cotton fibers. A variation of Storm Cotton technology for cotton
apparel, it is the latest in Cotton Incorporated’s line of Storm water-repellent, wind-protective,
breathable technologies, which also includes Storm Denim™ finish for denim apparel. Targeted uses
include outdoor apparel such as hoodies.

According to David Earley, director of supply chain marketing in Cotton Incorporated’s Global
Supply Chain division, it has been a challenge for the outdoor apparel segment to integrate
performance features into cotton fabric. He also noted that demand exists for outdoor cotton
apparel with performance benefits such as water repellency, protection from wind and other
attributes. “Our research tells us that the majority of consumers (77%) prefer cotton in general,
and most (70%) said they would be willing to pay more for cotton apparel that mimicked many of the
performance features more commonly found in synthetic fabrics,” he said.

July 28, 2009

Wichita, Kan.-based Invista has unveiled the Lycra® Sport performance standard for outdoor and
active apparel fabrics containing Lycra® fiber and is accompanying the launch with a new logo and
hangtag as well as an advertising program and a new website. The program emphasizes high technology
and performance standards associated with the Lycra brand, and its testing procedures and fabric
qualification standards are being shown to certain mill partners. Apparel fabric and sock
manufacturers and brands that participate in the Lycra Sport program must comply with the new
standard in terms of Lycra fiber content, fabric weight, recovery power, bi-directional elongation,
fabric set, fabric shrinkage and fit.

“Invista recognized that the message to consumers had become confusing, with stretch or
spandex appearing on many sport fabric hangtags as a proxy for fit, comfort or freedom of
movement,” said Julien Born, global director, Activewear & Outdoor Apparel, Invista. “While our
research confirms that these benefits are indeed of utmost importance to consumers when purchasing
a sport garment, we also know that stretch via the presence of spandex is only a small part of the
equation to allow consistent delivery of such fabric performance requirements. Our new Lycra Sport
fabric program, which combines stretch fiber technology and demanding fabric performance testing
standards on important parameters such as recovery power, addresses this issue and will help
consumers’ choice at the point of sales.”

July 28, 2009