Cotton Incorporated Forms Global Product Supply Chain Division

Cotton Incorporated, Cary, N.C., has
brought several divisions together into a new Global Product Supply Chain division with the
objective of improving cotton’s position and profitability in the global marketplace. Mark Messura,
who has been promoted to executive vice president from his former position as vice president,
Strategic Planning, heads the new division — which includes the former Textile Research, Fashion
Marketing, Global Product Marketing and Strategic Planning divisions.

“By repositioning certain departments, we are able to be more flexible and responsive to the
rapidly changing global market,” said J. Berrye Worsham, president and CEO. “We need to better link
and prioritize the research developments with the worldwide implementation of those services.
Bringing it all under one division will help us do that.”

Worsham praised Messura’s strategic planning experience and qualifications to lead the new
division. Messura previously managed Cotton Incorporated’s fiber economics research, consumer and
market research, and corporate planning programs. He also serves as vice chairman of the
International Forum for Cotton Promotion, comprised of 17 cotton industry organizations from 13
countries and dedicated to expanding the global market for cotton by promoting local
consumption.


May/June 2006

Zoltek To Create World’s Largest Carbon Fiber Facility

St. Louis-based carbon fiber
manufacturer Zoltek Cos. Inc. has announced it will use a $14.5 million grant from the Hungarian
government to expand its plant in that country to become the world’s largest carbon fiber
production facility.

The company will add 600 employees over the next few years as a result of the expansion,
which will include modernization of equipment, a quick buildup of manufacturing capacity for
acrylic fiber precursor raw material and carbon fiber, and establishment of a research and
development center.

“We are extremely grateful to the Hungarian government for [its] generous and steadfast
support,” said Zsolt Rumy, chairman, president and CEO, Zoltek. “Zoltek’s strategic goal is to
position the facility to stand at the epicenter of the next great revolution in building materials
in every important sense — from technological as well as marketing and manufacturing perspectives.”&
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May/June 2006

Possehl Acquires Monforts Textilmaschinen

Germany-based L. Possehl & Co.
mbH — a conglomerate focused on electronics, precious metal processing, and international ore and
mineral trading — has acquired finishing and coating machinery producer A. Monforts Textilmaschinen
GmbH & Co. KG, also based in Germany. The Monforts von Hobe family has maintained control of
Monforts Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG.

Monforts Textilmaschinen will operate as an independent business segment within the Possehl
Group, and its joint venture with Hong Kong-based Fong’s National Engineering will continue.
Monforts — with a turnover of 110 million euros — employs 375 people at its plants in Germany,
Austria and Switzerland; and its joint venture in China.

“As an independent business division, Monforts Textilmaschinen group can maintain its own
identity, and has the opportunity to strengthen its market position to further develop the company
successfully in the long run,” said Uwe Lüders, CEO, Possehl.


May/June 2006

Tax Bill Is Good For Textile Manufacturers

The $70 billion tax relief package that President George W. Bush will sign into law later this
week should provide some help to the beleaguered US textile industry. Provisions granting more
liberal treatment of investment credit and capital gains and investments in plant equipment will be
a source of funds to help the industry modernize and compete with overseas manufacturers.

The new bill extends for 10 years many of the provisions contained in the Jobs and Growth Act of
2003. Among those provisions was an increase of the amount small business may expense from $25,000
to $100,000. It also increased from $200,000 to $400,000 the amount of total investment credit a
business can take in a year.

As the bill cleared Congress, Jim Chestnutt, president and CEO of New York City-based National
Spinning Co. Inc. and chairman of the Washington-based National Council of Textile Organizations,
saw it as a key to enhancing the US textile industry’s competitiveness by generating funds for
investments in plants and equipment. He said: “This legislation provides important incentives for
continued investment in US textile manufacturing that will help ensure the future competitiveness
of our industry. Extending the current lower rates on capital gains and dividends and maintaining
the current levels of expensing will have a positive impact on the US textile industry and will
help stabilize our industry against job losses caused by low-cost imports from China.”

May 1, 2006

Q4 2005 Yarn Fabric Outputs Down, Stocks Mixed

The Switzerland-based International
Textile Manufacturers Federation reported slightly lower global yarn output and significantly lower
fabric output for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2005 in its State of Trade Report 4Q 2005. The report
also disclosed lower global yarn inventories and higher fabric inventories for the quarter, and
higher Q4 yarn and fabric orders in Brazil and Europe, compared with the previous quarter.

Yarn production was down by 0.8 percent globally for the quarter, with increases of 3.8
percent and 1 percent, respectively, in Europe and Asia; and declines of 10.9 percent and 2.6
percent, respectively, in North and South America. On an annual basis, output decreased by 15.7
percent, 7.3 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively, in North America, Europe and South America; and
rose by 5.8 percent in Asia.

Q4 global fabric output dropped by 5.1 percent, with respective 12.4-percent and 8.4-percent
decreases in South America and Asia, and a 6.2-percent gain in Europe.

For the year, worldwide production was 10.3-percent lower, chiefly due to drops of 16.8
percent and 13.4 percent, respectively, in North America and Asia.

Worldwide yarn inventories slid downward by 2.3 percent for the quarter. Decreases of 3.4
percent, 0.6 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, were recorded in Asia, Europe and South
America, while North America registered 1.8-percent-higher stocks. For the year, the drop was 5.2
percent, with respective 19.1-percent, 10.4-percent and 4.9-percent reductions in South America,
Europe and Asia; and a 5.9-percent gain in North America.

A 5.4-percent rise in Q4 global fabric inventories was due mainly to respective
15.3-percent, 3.1-percent and 0.6-percent increases in Asia, and South and North America, while
European stocks were 0.9 percent lower.

On an annual basis, global stocks jumped by 8.9 percent, fueled by a considerable
42.6-percent gain in Asia, due largely to Pakistan’s 62.1-percent surge. Stocks were lower for the
year by 5.2 percent, 4.9 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively, in Europe, and North and South
America.

Brazil posted respective 3.2-percent- and 3.8-percent-higher yarn and fabric orders for the
quarter, and 6.8-percent- and 18.7-percent-higher orders for the year. Europe’s yarn and fabric
orders were 0.5-percent and 1.9-percent higher, respectively, for the quarter; and 8.4-percent and
7.6-percent lower, respectively, for the year.


May/June 2006

Gerber Marks 25 Years In Mexico, Donates To FIT

Tolland, Conn.-based Gerber
Technology — a business unit of South Windsor, Conn.-based Gerber Scientific Inc. — recently
celebrated its 25th year of doing business in Mexico, and donated software to the New York
City-based Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which purchased a GERBERcutter and GERBERspreader
for its new sewing and cutting lab.

Gerber Technology — an integrated software and hardware automation systems provider — first
sold its products in Mexico in 1981. The establishment of its direct subsidiary, Gerber Technology
S.A. de C.V., in 1988 has led to regional sales to date of more than $85 million to 750 customers,
operating more than 2,000 systems and workstations. The company, which kicked off its celebration
during the recent Expo Costura in Mexico City, also has provided technology and support to major
universities and schools in the country.

 
ka
Mario Federici (left), professor and chairperson, FIT, poses with members of the Gerber
Technology team.


Gerber Technology has partnered with
FIT for more than 25 years. Its latest donation of 19 copies of its AccuMark pattern design,
grading and marker-making software, as well as a Gerber plotter and digitizer, comes on the heels
of several other software contributions to the school over the past three years. The value of
Gerber products installed in the new lab total more than $2.5 million, representing one of the most
comprehensive installations in the world, according to Gerber Technology.


May/June 2006

Gneuss Debuts On-Line Viscosimeter

Gneuss Inc., Matthews, N.C., now
offers a compact viscosimeter for on-line melt viscosity measurement. The company reports the
device is fitted according to a customer’s specifications between 0.8 and 4 inches. The unit
comprises a pump, pump drive, temperature sensors, pressure transducers, and control and evaluation
electronics. Process parameter settings, evaluation and display may be achieved using a touch
screen or by integration into an existing control system.





Reported benefits of the new viscosimeter include: short dwell time, no dead spots and no
remains in the melt channels; measurement in rectangular cross section, which eliminates recording
of elastic properties; polymer bypass, which eliminates melt losses; temperature variations of less
than 2°C for all parts that contact the melt; complete cleaning without interrupting production;
very compact design; and ability to adapt to existing melt pipes or extrusion lines.


May/June 2006

Rieter Introduces RSB-D 40 And SB-D 40 Draw Frames

Switzerland-based Rieter Textile
Systems’ Spun Yarn Systems business reports its new-generation RSB-D 40 autoleveler draw frame and
SB-D 40 draw frame without leveling offer production rates of up to 1,100 meters per minute, and
10-percent higher delivery speeds than earlier models for all materials.

Other reported benefits include improved yarn quality thanks to enhanced leveling dynamics,
new suction drafting system and improved scanning accuracy; 10-percent lower energy consumption
compared with earlier models; and an AUTOhelp integrated spectrogram fault diagnosis system to
facilitate troubleshooting. The new draw frames also feature a CLEANcoil sliver coiler that allows
coiling of man-made fiber slivers without cleaning at unprecedented running times, and a special
nonmechanical solution for cutting sliver.

The RSB-D 40 also features AUTOset self-adjusting leveling, and the SB-D 40 offers
additional suction in the feeding section. Simple menu guidance, buttons for direct access and
on-line help are included in the graphic display; and an electronic instruction manual that
includes videos facilitates operation and maintenance of the new draw frames, according to
Rieter.


May/June 2006

Adidas Yocum Line Features Nano-Tex Technology

Germany-based apparel and sports gear
manufacturer adidas — a brand of adidas-Salomon AG — has added Coolest Comfort moisture-management
treatment from Emeryville, Calif.-based Nano-Tex to adidas’ line of Yocum activewear.

Coolest Comfort’s moisture-wicking properties are featured in the line’s men’s and women’s
pants, capris and shorts, which are made of cotton-touch Ottoman Polyamide nylon. The patented
treatment brings performance and durability to resin-treated cotton and man-made fabrics while
enhancing the comfort and feel of fabrics, Nano-Tex reports.

“Our treatments prove that activewear doesn’t need to feel stiff, stuffy or uncomfortable to
provide advanced performance characteristics that last the life of the garment,” said Libby Neuner,
senior vice president, apparel sales, Nano-Tex.


May/June 2006

PGI Canada Expands With Fabrene, Teams Difco With Colorama

Polymer Group Inc. (PGI) Canada’s
Fabrene Group, Canada, has completed the first of two installations that are part of an $8 million
investment in new technology to expand its printing and coating capacity.

Fabrene will use a new wide-width extrusion coating and laminating line in the production of
multilayered nonwovens, film, foils and paper. The line also will be used to coat products with
specialty resins for a range of technical end-uses. The company also is installing a flexographic
printing line that will enable printing on materials greater than 144 inches in width, thereby
improving Fabrene’s flexibility and ability to quickly provide customized printed materials.

In other news, PGI Canada’s Difco business — a provider of high-performance woven
automotive, filtration and industrial products; and flame-resistant (FR) apparel and turnout gear —
has signed a strategic agreement with Canada-based Colorama Dyeing and Finishing Inc.

According to PGI Canada, the partnership allows PGI Difco to continue providing high-quality
FR products, and woven cotton and polyester/cotton products; as well as to bring new products into
its portfolio. It already has introduced knitted sheared fleece FR fabrics for clothing designed to
meet National Fire Protection Association 70E regulations regarding protection against electrical
arcs.


May/June 2006

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