Fleissner GmbH and Co. Maschinenfabrik, Germany, has announced that through an agreement with BBA,
Fleissners AquaTex hydroentanglement process will be available for InterSpun Fabric Enhancement to
finish fabric.According to the company, when AquaTex is used with the InterSpun system, which uses
water under high pressure from microjets to finish fabrics, bleaching and sanforizing, steps can be
shortened.
Circle 306.
November 1999
National Starch and Chemical Co., Bridgewater, N.J., has announced it will increase price for base
resin emulsion due to a substantial increase in the cost of raw materials.Prices for polyvinyl
acetate homopolymer, vinyl acrylic copolymer and thylene vinyl acetate copolymer emulsions will
increase by 1.5 cents per wet pound. Acrylic emulsions will increase by 3.0 cents per pound.
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
GenCorp, Fairlawn, Ohio, has announced that its board of directors finalized the approved spin-off
of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary. GenCorp will transfer its
DecorativeandBuilding Products and Performance Chemicals businesses to OMNOVA.GenCorp will continue
to operate Aerojet, its aerospace, defense and fine chemicals segment and its Vehicle Sealing
operation.Its exciting to have this long process behind us so that we can begin to take advantage
of the opportunities made possible by the spin-off, said John Yasinsky, former chairman and CEO of
GenCorp, and current chairman and CEO, OMNOVA.Operating as two focused, independent companies, we
believe both GenCorp and OMNOVA will be better able to tailor capital investments and resources to
particular business requirements, more aggressively pursue growth and operate more efficiently. The
potential to create greater value for our shareholders, customers and employees was the driving
force behind the spin-off and will lead our efforts to succeed going forward.OMNOVA Solutions is
headquartered in Fairlawn, and will have annual sales of approximately $766 million. The company
will also have 2,600 employees worldwide.GenCorp will move its headquarters to Sacramento, Calif.,
where its Aerojet business is based. Aerojet President Robert Wolfe has been named chairman and CEO
of GenCorp. GenCorp will now have sales of over $1 billion and 7,300 employees worldwide.
(See “Dyeing, PrintingandFinishing News,” ATI September and October 1999.)
November 1999
Levi Strauss, San Francisco, has created a unique on-line experience that combines advertising and
experiential e-commerce on its website, www.levi.com.Consumers will be able to watch a commercial,
click on the featured clothing to view, learn more about the product and make a purchase while the
spot runs.This internet experience, created by Convergence Mediagoup®, San Francisco, uses a
variety of innovative e-commerce capabilities, including interactive questions and reward
elements.Allowing consumers to interact with a commercial empowers them to explore the advertised
products in a whole new way, said Barth Ballard, digital marketing manager, Levis brand.Along with
accessing product information, consumers can play an interactive game. If they find the invisible
Levis jean Red Tab with their mouse, and answer questions about the commercial, they have a chance
to win $1,000 in Levis jeans Red Tab product.As people get more accustomed to making transactions
on the Web, they will start to demand more from their brands,” said Azi Tabachnik, founder and CEO
of Convergence Mediagroup.
November 1999
Kermel, France, will supply 30,000 sets of fire-resistant bunker jackets and over-trousers made
from Kermel HTA fabric to the Italian fire services by the end of the year. The gear was tested
under real-life conditions from 1997 to 1998 by 350 Italian firemen.Kermel HTA fabric is designed
for outer shell use in fire-resistant jackets or splinter-proof vests. It is produced using a core
spinning technique that optimizes the advantages of the two fibers used (64-percent Kermel and
36-percent paramide). Kermel fiber is a polyamid-imide polymer with excellent mechanical strength
along with exceptional heat resistance.The Kermel HTA outer shell fabric combines an impermeable,
breathable membrane, a 100-percent Kermel felt and a Kermel/Viscose FR lining to form an
anti-static, fire-resistant fabric.
November 1999
Harbinger Co., Kennesaw, Ga., has introduced Steppe for corperate interiors. Steppe uses DuPont
Legacy® nylon and has a 16-color palette. It uses multi-level loops and two-tone colorations
appearance and overlapping geometric shapes to create a multi-dimensional appearance.
Circle 311.
November 1999
Superior Fabrics Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., has recently expanded its broad line of reinforcing
scrims.The scrims, which have a wide variety of uses within the textile and apparel as reinforcing
and stabilizing components, are available in widths up to 180 inches and have a variety of weights
from 0.5 ounces per square yard to over 3.0 ounces per square yard.The company also announced that
it has recently expanded its operation to include the production of warp-knit tricot fabrics.
Circle 301.
November 1999
Avondale Mills, Sylacauga, Ala., has announced that Carole McFee has been named director, quality
assurance, Avondale Denim.In her new position McFee, who joined the company in 1985, will be
responsible the assessment of quality issues as they pertain to denim fabrics and production, both
in Avondales facilities and with its customers final products.The company also announced that Patsy
Royster has been named director, customer support, Avondale Apparel Fabrics.Royster, who has been
with the company since 1976, will be responsible for all aspects of apparel fabrics customer
service. This includes order entry, shipping, billing, outside warehousing and logistical support
for the Graniteville and Sylacauga offices.DuPont, Wilmington, Del., has announced several
personnel changes as part of its global restructuring. Dana B. McCauley has been appointed global
brand man-ager for DuPonts CoolMax and Thermolite® brands. McCauley, based in Wilmington, has been
with the company for over 13 years.Mark Conrad has been promoted to segment manager of Branded
Specialties The Americas. Conrad, who has been with DuPont for 20 years, is based in Charlotte,
N.C.Alyssa Koontz-Hammond has taken on new responsibilities as marketing communications manager for
CoolMax, TheraStat® and Micromattique The Americas. Koontz-Hammond is based out of Charlotte. She
has been with the company for 20 years.Kellwood Co., St. Louis, has recently announced that Martin
J. Granoff, chairman of Val dor and vice chairman of Koret Inc., was elected to the companys board
of directors. He has been with Kellwood since its merger with Koret in April 1999. Granoff recently
completed his term as chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association.
November 1999
