Gerber Technology — a Tolland, Conn.-based supplier of integrated software and hardware automation
systems to the sewn products and flexible materials industry, and a business unit of South Windsor,
Conn.-based Gerber Scientific Inc. — has unveiled its new GERBERcutter® Z7, the first product in
the company’s new Z Series line of multi-ply cutting systems.

Targeted primarily to the automotive, aerospace and technical textiles markets, the
GERBERcutter Z7 is designed to help manufacturers to improve quality, turnaround time and the
reporting of performance metrics. Taking into account the mounting environmental concerns and
energy consumption regulations, Gerber also designed the Z7 to have increased efficiency and
reduced power usage.

According to the company, the Z7 enables precision cutting of the most demanding materials.
It utilizes technologies such as Gerber’s exclusive CutWorks® cut path optimization software to
calculate the most efficient cut path and part nest; and Knife IntelligencePLUS™ to make automatic
adjustments to prevent knife deflection. The GERBERcutter also has easy-to-use features such as an
intuitive touch-screen interface and software that can hold preprogrammed cut files and machine
settings and makes job information easily accessible. 

June 17, 2008

Effective July 15, 2008, Florham Park, N.J.-based BASF Corp. will implement an 8-cents-per-pound
price increase in North America for its polyurethane systems.

June 17, 2008

Fort Mill, S.C.- based Wellman Inc. will implement a 6-cents-per-pound price increase on all
Fortrel® polyester staple fiber products, effective with July 14 shipments. The company cited
rising crude oil prices in announcing the price increase.

June 17, 2008

State College, Pa.-based NanoHorizons Inc. — a developer of nanoscale performance additives for the
textile and medical industries — and Thailand-based Indo Poly (Thailand) Ltd. — a manufacturer of
polyester resins, yarns and fibers for domestic and international markets, and part of Indorama
Ventures Ltd. — have announced a partnership to produce unique, permanently antimicrobial,
anti-odor polyester yarns. The yarns will be marketed under Indo Poly’s Ambs® Pro and Ambs® Active
brands.

NanoHorizons will supply Indo Poly with silver-based antimicrobial additives that will be
bonded at the molecular level with the Ambs fiber, which will be processed into textured and fully
drawn polyester yarns.

Indo Poly’s Ambs Pro Yarns will be endorsed with NanoHorizons’ certified SmartSilver™
performance brand for antimicrobial products. The Ambs Pro/SmartSilver yarns will be marketed to
athleticwear, outdoor apparel, and uniform manufacturers; and also will be sold to textile product
manufacturers for health care applications. 

June 11, 2008

Fruit of the Loom Inc., Bowling Green, Ky., will permanently close its Coosa River Dyeing and
Finishing operation and partially close its Coosa River Knitting operation in Wetumpka, Ala., as a
result of a capacity realignment in order to streamline processes and improve global
competitiveness. The closures, which do not affect the Coosa River Yarn facility, will result in
the elimination of approximately 450 jobs.

The company will convert the affected facility to a distribution center that is expected to
open later this year, creating approximately 150 jobs.

“This decision is in no way a reflection on the productive and dedicated workforce at Coosa
River,” said Jeff Thurman, the company’s senior vice president of manufacturing. “Our industry is
continuing to face competitive global pressures, and we must look for every way to streamline our
operations.”



June 11, 2008

Dalton, Ga.-based carpet manufacturer and floor covering supplier Shaw Industries Group Inc. will
eliminate approximately 50 jobs at its Plant 67 in Lafayette, Ga., reducing the total workforce at
that site to 460 employees. The company cited the need to streamline its workforce as a result of
increased pre-dyed and space-dyed nylon production innovations at the plant, as well as reduced
demand due to external factors such as the current state of the housing market.

Shaw said it will attempt to place affected employees at other Shaw facilities, and will
assess future needs for both the Lafayette facility and the entire company as demand grows and the
business environment improves.

In other company news, Shaw has become a Founding Reporter of The Climate Registry and also,
as part of a partnership with the US Department of Energy (DOE), has pledged to cut its energy
intensity by 25 percent over 10 years.

The Climate Registry, a nonprofit organization established to measure and report greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, was founded by North American governmental entities including 39 US states,
the District of Columbia, eight Canadian provinces, six Mexican states and three Native American
tribes. In all, the registry comprises more than 200 founding reporting entities — including
corporations such as Shaw and others, government agencies and nonprofit organizations — that
annually will measure, verify and publicize their GHG emissions.

Shaw’s partnership with the DOE allows it to avail itself of DOE resources and join with
other companies in the region to develop energy reduction programs. The company’s efforts to
increase its energy efficiency are part of its overall commitment to environmental sustainability
and cradle to cradle design solutions, as reflected in its Shaw Green Edge™ environmental
communication platform.

“Shaw is serious about energy reduction,” said Rick Ramirez, Shaw’s vice president of
sustainability and environmental affairs. “From becoming a Founding Reporter of The Climate
Registry, to committing in partnership with the US Department of Energy to a 25-percent reduction
in energy intensity, Shaw will continue to lead the industry in environmental sustainability while
providing consistent and measurable results regarding the company’s Shaw Green Edge promise.”

June 11, 2008

Lurgi Zimmer GmbH — a polymer technology solutions provider and subsidiary of Germany-based Lurgi
GmbH — has entered into a contract to supply Tianjin Haijing Polymerization Co. Ltd. — a division
of China-based Tianjin Changlu Haijing Group — with its state-of-the-art polyamide 6 (PA 6)
technology.

The new plant, which will be built in Tianjin and is expected to open in 2009, features
two-stage Zimmer® PA 6 polymerization technology, including a lactam water recovery. The plant has
a capacity of 100 tons per day high-quality chips for textile and engineering end-uses. Lurgi
Zimmer will provide the technology, engineering, equipment and supervision services for the
facility.



June 11, 2008

France-based NSC Nonwoven has delivered and installed a ProDyn® needling line for Finland-based
nonwovens and specialty papers manufacturer Ahlstrom Corp.’s new plant in Brignoud, France.

The new, ultramodern line — designed for the Brignoud plant — is equipped with
state-of-the-art Laroche opening-blending technology, the new Thibeau Excelle® card and a Dynamic
Asselin crosslapper&drafter that feeds a set of Asselin A50R needlelooms; and is managed and
controlled by an Asselin-Thibeau supervision system.

June 11, 2008

Israel-based Nilit® Ltd. – a global manufacturer of nylon 6,6 fibers – has announced its new
Spring/Summer 2010 trend concepts for bodywear and active sportswear, which will be published in
the Nilit Bodyfashion Trendbook.

The Nilit Trendbook presents three bodywear trends, along with yarns and colors for each:
Body Language – luxury and vintage-touch glamour, with feminine fabrics and laces; Natural Impulse
– innocent, fresh and simple, with cottony matte and jersey fabrics that feature
moisture-management and antibacterial properties; and Technically Speaking – air- and
water-inspired body-hugging garments made of veil-like fabrics.

The book also presents active sportswear trends, each stressing performance: All in the Game
– activewear with a focus on functionality as well as comfort, with textures that allow flexibility
and breathability for outdoor sports and utilize Nilit Aquarius yarn for moisture management and
supportive shaping; Time Out – seamless bodywear offering support and shaping for dance and yoga,
featuring Aquarious yarn; and Power Fitness -high-performance activewear providing freedom of
movement and optimal fit for sports such as cross-training and running, with knitted panels that
give added protection and Nilit special performance yarns for function and design.

June 11, 2008