JPS Textile Group Inc., Greenville, S.C., announced that it will cease operations at its Angle
Plant in Rocky Mount, Va., by June 25, 1999, and consolidate the operations into the company’s
South Boston, Va., plant.The Angle plant is part of the JPS’s wholly owned subsidiary, JPS
Converted and Industrial Corp., and employs approximately 180 people. It produces unfinished
filament apparel fabrics for use primarily in the women’s fashion wear market.”After an extensive
study of our total apparel business it became clear that we needed to consolidate the operations of
the Angle facility into the more modern and versatile South Boston plant,” said Jerry Hunter, JPS
Textile’s chairman, president and CEO. “This action is necessary to meet our customer requirements
in the highly competitive fashion apparel segment. It will allow us to better capitalize our
existing business and make it stronger and more competitive for the future.”

March 1999

Planners for the American Textile Machinery Exhibition – International 2000 (ATME-I 2000) reported
that they have received applications from 300 companies requesting almost 70 percent of the total
exhibit space.ATME-I 2000 is scheduled for October 23-27, 2000, at the Palmetto Expo Center,
Greenville, S.C., and will feature machinery, equipment, supplies and services for fiber, yarn and
nonwovens manufacturing and general plant engineering maintenance.The most applications have come
from the United States, with 174 companies exhibiting at ATME-I 2000. Germany is second with 42,
while Italy has 32 exhibiting companies.Other countries that will have exhibitors include France,
Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Hong
Kong, India, Iran, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Scotland.The second segment of ATME-I
cycle (ATME-I 2001) is scheduled for machinery, equipment, supplies and services for the weaving,
knitting, dyeing, printing and finishing processes.

March 1999

At its recent 60th anniversary meeting, the National Cotton Council of America (NCC), Memphis,
Tenn., initiated a new program designed to increase cotton producers’ understanding of the Council
and its policy development and implementation process.As part of NCC’s new Policy Education
Program, 13 cotton producers from across the Cotton Belt have begun an intensive orientation and
educational process.In addition to an overview of the Council’s organizational structure, mission
and policy development process, the group was briefed on issues facing the industry and on the
programs and activities addressing the Council resolutions that will support its mission.The
producers were also given insight into activities of the American Cotton Producers, The Cotton
Foundation and the Council’s export promotions arm, Cotton Council International (CCI).”Many
members fail to recognize the benefits of membership until there are opportunities to become
specifically involved in the Council structure,” said Phillip Burnett, Council executive vice
president.”That involvement could range from serving as a state delegate or an issue task force
member to being elected as a Council director or officer.”Burnett said the program is designed to
enable Council producer members that are not involved in the organization’s structure to become
much more familiar with its policy development process, its leadership roles and the interaction
between Council leaders and industry members in carrying out the Council mission.

March 1999

Pillowtex Corp., Dallas, announced it will be consolidating production of kitchen and institutional
towels at the company’s Opelika, Ala., weaving facility into three other plants located in Phenix
City, Ala.; Fiedale, Va.; and Kannapolis, N.C.According to the company, the Opelika plant will be
closed. It was acquired as part of PIllowtex’s purchase of the Leshner Corp. in 1998.”Based on
initial study of the Opelika facility, we determined the spinning operations should be moved to a
newer plant that we purchased in Tarboro, N.C.,” said Jeffery D. Cordes, president and chief
operating officer. “We have now concluded the company will achieve significant operational
efficiencies by consolidating the remaining weaving operations into other company sites.”

March 1999

Springs Industries Inc., Fort Mill, S.C., announced plans to invest $20 million to convert the
Elliott Plant in Fort Lawn, S.C., from an apparel weaving facility to a state-of-the-art home
furnishings weaving plant.Consolidations of greige manufacturing and the recent sale of Springs’
apparel fabrics division led to the decision to convert the Elliott Plant to a home furnishings
plant with the installation of modern weaving equipment.”The Elliott Plant is steeped in the rich
history of our company,” said William K. Easley, Springs’ president of Textile Manufacturing.”Built
under the leadership of H. William Close and named for Colonel Elliott White Springs, the plant
will undergo a transformation from an apparel weaving facility to one that will supply Springs with
fabrics for our home furnishings business.”He added: “this modernization project is a continuation
of Springs’ ongoing plans to modernize, streamline and consolidate manufacturing to reduce costs
and improve productivity.”According to the company, as a result of the sale of the apparel fabrics
division, Springs will also phase out the weaving operations at the Lancaster Plant, Lancaster,
S.C., beginning in April. Approximately 65 jobs will be eliminated, but the company anticipates
that all affected associates will be offered jobs at the nearby plants, including Elliott, Frances,
Leroy, Katherine and Eureka.

March 1999

Marcella Nacmias, associate publisher and international manager of ATI and its sister publication,
Textiles Panamericanos, has been named a vice president of the magazine’s parent company,
Billian Publishing Inc., Atlanta.Nacmias will continue as associate publisher of the magazine while
increasing her corporate role as vice president of International Operations for the company, said
Billian Publishing founder and CEO Douglas C. Billian.”Marcella’s knowledge of the worldwide
textile scene, her comprehension of what could be done with our magazines and The Textile Red Book
directory, her work ethic and her leadership cannot be exaggerated,” Billian said. “She is truly an
asset of which we are all very, very proud.”In addition to its textile publications, Atlanta-based
Billian Publishing produces two other magazines ArtandAntiques and
Boating World and a series of directories in the healthcare field.”As Marcella continues
her vital role with ATI and
Textiles Panamericanos, we shall be looking to her for direction in expanding the role of
our other properties as truly international media,” Billian said.Nacmias, a native of the Czech
Republic, earned her undergraduate degree in languages from Charles University of Prague. She later
earned a doctor of philosophy degree from the Sorbonne in Paris.Fluent in six languages, she joined
ATI as a sales/administrative assistant and worked as a marketing and advertising representative in
the United States and Europe before becoming international manager, and then being named associate
publisher in 1996.

March 1999

Burlington Industries Inc., Greensboro, N.C., reported that diluted earnings per share were $0.14
for the first quarter of fiscal year 1999, compared with $0.22 for the first quarter of fiscal year
1998.Net income was $8 million, compared with $13.2 million in the first quarter a year ago.Net
sales for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 were $407.2 million, compared with $481.7 million for
the first quarter of fiscal year 1998.After adjusting for businesses that have been closed or sold
since last year’s first quarter, sales were down 10.4 percent.Burlington also announced that its
board of directors has authorized $25 million for the repurchase of shares of Burlington Industries
Common Stock. This is expected to reduce shares outstanding by approximately 5 percent.Share
repurchase will be funded from existing cash, internally generated funds of bank debt and will be
in open market or privately negotiated transactions, the company said.CromptonandKnowles Corp.,
Stamford, Conn., reported that fourth-quarter earnings increased 68 percent before special items to
$14.9 million, or $0.21 per share basic and diluted, compared with $8. million, or $0.12 per share
basic and diluted, in the 1997 fourth quarter.Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $80.9
million, or $1.11 per share diluted ($1.13 basic), compared with $6.7 million, or $0.09 per share
basic and diluted, in the fourth quarter of 1997. Net sales in the fourth quarter were $401.8
million, down 6 percent from 1997 fourth quarter sales of $428.1 million.The deconsolidation of the
Gustafson seed treatment business in December accounted for about 2 percent of the decline.Springs
Industries Inc., Fort Mill, S.C., reported that both fourth-quarter and full-year 1998 sales and
earnings were lower than in 1997.Sales in the fourth quarter of 1998 were $508.4 million, down
almost 12 percent from the fourth quarter of 1997. After the effect of several unusual items, net
income for the quarter was $13.1 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $15.2 million, or
$0.74 per diluted share a year ago.Excluding the effects of these unusual items, fourth-quarter
1998 earnings would have been $14.5 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to $18.4 million,
or $0.90 per diluted share in 1997.Russell Corp., Alexander City, Ala., reported results for the
fourth quarter and full year 1998.Sales for the fourth quarter ended January 2, 1999, were down 17
percent, to $274.86 million. For the year, sales were down 4 percent; $1.18 billion in the current
year compared with $1.23 billion in the period ended January 3, 1998.For the quarter, the company
recorded a loss of $4.63 million or $0.13 per share, versus income of $11.8 million in the same
period of 1997. Results for the full year reflect a loss of $10.38 million or $0.29 per share.These
results include an after-tax charge of more than $8.59 million in the quarter, and $47.997 million
for the year, related to severance and the write-down and sale of certain assets in the quarter and
year included as part of a previously announced multi-year strategic plan.WestPoint Stevens Inc.,
West Point, Ga., reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 1998. Net
sales for the fourth quarter of 1998 increased $24.5 million, or 5.5 percent, to $470.1 million
compared with $445.6 million for the fourth quarter of 1997. Excluding the sales of Liebhardt
Mills, which was acquired during the fourth quarter of 1998, net sales increased 4.1 percent.Net
income for the fourth quarter of 1998 increased to $29 million, or $0.49 per share diluted (a
29-percent earnings per share increase), compared with net income of $23.1 million, or $0.38 per
share diluted, for the fourth quarter of 1997, the company said.Operating earnings for the fourth
quarter of 1998 were $72 million, or 15.3 percent of sales, compared with operating earnings of
$64.1 million, or 14.4 percent of sales, for the same period of 1997. Net sales for 1998 increased
$121.5 million, or 7.3 percent, to $1.779 billion, compared with $1.657.5 billion for 1997, a new
annual sales record for the company. Net income for 1998, before the extraordinary charge related
to the refinancing, increased to $90.6 million, or $1.51 per diluted share (a 36-percent
earnings-share increase), compared with income from continuing operations of $69.3 million, or
$1.11 per diluted for 1997.Pillowtex Corp., Dallas, announced earnings results for the fourth
quarter and fiscal year 1998.Net earnings for the fourth quarter ended January 2, 1999, increased
to $15.1 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, from a loss of $3.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted
share in the fourth quarter of 1997. Net sales for the fourth quarter increased 87.1 percent to
$391.6 million from $209.4 million in the comparable quarter of 1997.Net earnings for the fiscal
year ended January 2, 1999, increased 487.7 percent to $42.9 million, or $2.52 per diluted share,
from $7.3 million, or $0.66 per diluted share for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1998, due
primarily to the acquisition of Fieldcrest Cannon Inc. in December 1997.Fiscal year 1998 net
earnings, before a $1.5 million pretax restructuring charge, are $4.3 million, $2.57 per diluted
share. This compares to fiscal year 1997 net earnings, before a $6 million pretax restructuring
charge of $10.9 million, or $0.98 per diluted share.Net sales for the fiscal year 1998 went up
160.3 percent to $1.5 billion from $580 million in fiscal year 1997.

March 1999

MillikenandCo., Spartanburg, S.C., was awarded the Best Industry Program Award from the Department
of Health and Environmental Control’s (DHEC) Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling at the
1998 Recycling awards, held recently in Columbia, S.C.Commissioner of South Carolina DHEC Doug
Bryant presented the award. Milliken was honored for the adoption of a formal environmental policy
in 1990 that established a goal of zero waste. A strong commitment to this goal has resulted in
less than 5 percent of Milliken’s total domestic waste being sent to landfills. Milliken has worked
with customers, suppliers and DHEC to see that 95 percent of its waste goes to applications such as
reuse or recycling. In 1998, 43 of Milliken’s 55 domestic locations sent zero waste to
landfills.The company’s Earth Square carpet process renews and restyles old carpet, allowing re-use
by the customer, and eliminates tons of old carpet to landfills. The revolutionary process earned
the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) first Evergreen Award for sustainable development
in 1998. (See “Fiber World News,” ATI
November 1998.)

March 1999

Ridgeview Inc., Newton, N.C., announced that it plans to close its manufacturing facilities in
Seneca Falls, N.Y. Ridgeview has been manufacturing rugged outdoor and heavy-weight casual socks in
Seneca Falls since acquiring Seneca Knitting Mills Corp. in 1995.According to Ridgeview, it plans
to relocate a substantial portion of its Seneca Falls operations to its manufacturing facilities in
North Carolina.Approximately 160 hourly and salaried employees at Seneca Falls will be affected by
the closings.Upon completion of the relocation of these manufacturing operations to North Carolina,
we expect to realize substantial cost savings that will help us achieve our goal of returning
Ridgeview to profitability as soon as possible, said Hugh Gaither, president and CEO.

February 1999

According to the state of trade report from the International Textile Manufacturers Federation
(ITMF), in the third quarter of 1998, world yarn production was down by 4.7 percent against the
preceding quarter as a result of global cutbacks.Europe registered a drop of 12.4 percent.
Reductions were moderate in the United States with a 4.2-percent drop. Asia had a 0.4-percent
decrease.ITMF reports that global yarn stocks were higher for the sixth consecutive quarter, with a
1.8-percent increase.Worldwide fabric production fell by a moderate 2.6 percent against the
preceding quarter, the reductions especially affecting Europe (-11.3 percent) and the United States
(-3.4 percent), whereas Asian output rose by 8.3 percent, driven mainly by Pakistan with a rise of
12.6 percent.Compared to the same period last year, ITMF reports that both global and regional
fabric output remained unchanged.

February 1999