Xorella
For Its Contexxor Compact LTC-S Yarn Conditioning System Xorella AG, Wettingen,
Switzerland, tops its success in the industry with the introduction of its award-winning Contexxor
Compact LTC-S yarn conditioning system, a revolutionary cubical design that deviates from any other
design on the market. There were not always such easy times, when one listens to Fredy Wanger,
founder of Xorella. There was a lot of skepticism when Xorella presented its first yarn
conditioning system to the textile industry, and there was negative publicity from individuals who
either did not understand what yarn conditioning can do, or from competitors envious that they had
not thought the principle in the first place.Today, if any weaving or knitting mill wishes to
achieve optimum production efficiency, there is just no way around a well conditioned yarn. Xorella
does not have to prove the principle anymore; its the mills themselves who have seen the positive
differences first-hand on ever faster running textile machinery. Compact LTC-S

The new generation of Compact LTC-S type Yarn Conditioning System Contexxor has been
developed based on the conventional Xorella system that is successfully in operation in several
countries around the world. Xorella is the founder of the cold saturated steam technology by
applying a state-of-the-art treatment processes for high yarn pallet conditioning. Together with
significant energy savings the new ECO-system offers reduced production cost based on lowest
possible energy consumption for waxed and unwaxed yarns, and natural and synthetic yarn
qualities.The Compact LTC-S line provides absolutely new dimensions in yarn conditioning and
heat-setting for very high pallets up to 13 package layers. The main advantages are: optimal
utilization of inside space; smaller outside space requirements shorter processing time; treatment
temperature up to 110 degree Centigrade; and lowest energy consumption ever. Yarn Conditioning
At Its BestThe Contexxor cold saturated steam conditioning system is the backbone for highest
knitting and weaving efficiencies.Xorella emphasizes that a large percent increase in mills is not
a rarity. In knitting this is achieved through reduced yarn unwinding tension, and reduced needle
wear through softer yarn. Contexxor conditioned yarns usually show up to 10-percent higher
strength, up to 30-percent higher elongation, and a 1.5 to 4-percent increase in moisture level.In
any application, much better friction values can be observed from start to finish of the package.
This reflects a more even loop formation during knitting. In weaving the size pick-up can be much
more equal and often no additional humidification is required.Further, electrostatic is practically
eliminated and up to 40-percent less fiber-fly and lint accumulation is the result. An
Industry PacemakerWanger and the Xorella team did it once again, proving that a square yarn
conditioning system will be more efficient than a round one. This is just another example of
Xorella setting the pace for yarn conditioning.

November 1999

WestPoint Stevens Inc., West Point, Ga., has announced that its board of directors has approved the
repurchase of up to 4 billion additional shares of the companys common stock. This brings the total
aggregate number of shares remaining to be repurchased under the existing stock repurchase program
to approximately 6.4 million shares or 12 percent of the 55 million outstanding shares. The
repurchases shares will be acquired for general corporate purposes.WestPoint Stevens also reached
an agreement with its bank lenders to amend the companys bank revolver to permit the company to use
up to $100 million of available funds in support of the expanded stock repurchase program. The
board of directors has authorized the repurchase of these shares because it believes the stock to
be an attractive investment at this time. The company continues to enjoy substantial growth in its
home fashion business, and we remain positive about the outlook for the future, said Holcombe T.
Green Jr., chairman and CEO, WestPoint Stevens.The company also announced that its board of
directors approved the companys filing an application to list the companys common stock on the New
York Stock Exchange.

November 1999

GenCorp., Fairlawn, Ohio, reported a third-quarter earnings improvement in 1999. Earnings were at
$0.53 per diluted share, compared to $0.42 per diluted share in the third quarter of 1998.Sales for
the third quarter totaled $459.4 million as compared to $443.1 million in 1998. Operating profit
totaled $43.9 million for the third quarter of 1999. This is a 22-percent increase from $36 million
in 1998.For the nine months ended August 31, earnings were at $1.56 per diluted share. This is an
increase of 24 percent over the $1.26 per diluted share in 1998. Sales for the nine months totalled
$1.39 billion, a 16-percent increase from $1.2 billion in 1998.With unusual items, earnings for the
third quarter totaled $0.48 per diluted share. This included the $2.8-million expense related to
the spin-off of the companys decorative and building products and performance chemical business
units into a separate publicly traded company, OMNOVA Solutions Inc. (See Dyeing,
PrintingandFinishing News, in this issue.)JPS Industries, Greenville, S.C., has announced the
results of the third quarter and nine months ended July 31, 1999.For the third quarter, net income
was $3.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, on sales of $69.5 million compared to a net income of
$939,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, on sales of $74.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal
1998.For the nine months, the company reported a net loss of $22.9 million, or $2.29 per diluted
share, on sales of $212.1 million compared to a net income of $5.5 million, or $0.55 per diluted
share, on sales of $249.1 million for the first nine months of 1998.NedGraphics Holding N.V., the
Netherlands, recently reported that net profits increased to EUR 769 thousand in the first half of
1999. This was a 48.7-percent increase from EUR 517 thousand in 1998.Revenue for the first half
1999 was EUR 9.7 million as compared to EUR 6.6 million in 1998. Gross margin increased by 61.9
percent to EUR 7.7 million. For the first half of 1999, earnings per share were EUR 0.41, an
increase of 32.3 percent from 1998.Speizman Industries Inc., Charlotte, N.C., recently reported the
results of its fourth quarter and its fiscal year, ended July 3, 1999.Revenues for the fourth
quarter were $30 million compared to $24.4 million in the fourth quarter of 1998.Earning for the
quarter totaled $610,000, or $0.19 per basic and diluted share. This is a decrease from $686,000 or
$0.21 per basic and $0.20 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 1998.For the fiscal year,
revenues were $101.4 million as compared to $90.9 million in the prior fiscal year. The company
lost $253,000 or $0.8 per basic and diluted share. This was a decrease from earnings of $1,933,000
or $0.59 basic and $0.56 diluted per share.

November 1999