White Knight Engineered Products Introduces FlashBlock™ Flame-Resistant Industrial Apparel

CHARLOTTE, N.C., – March 17, 2010  White Knight Engineered Products today announced it has
partnered with PBI Performance Products to deliver FlashBlock™. FlashBlock, manufactured in the
United States, is the first industrial-apparel line of base-layer flame resistant (FR) gear
featuring PBI BaseGuard™.

The new FlashBlock FR gear features PBI BaseGuardTM fabric which is engineered with PBITM –
the ultimate in flame resistant fibers. PBI was originally developed for NASA® following the Apollo
fire. Today the fiber is used in highly-volatile products such as rocket booster insulation and
break pads, and in the personal protection equipment for United States military personnel for
defense against fire, electrical flash and chemical burn.

With the introduction of FlashBlock, the ultimate level of flame-resistance and thermal
protection is now available for Firefighters, Electrical Workers, Utility Linemen, EMT, Law
Enforcement Personnel, Chemical and Refinery Workers worldwide. In addition, unlike the harsh
chemical treatments applied to FR cotton apparel, the technology of PBI BaseGuard is contained
inside the fiber, so the benefits wonʼt wear off, wonʼt wash out, and wonʼt irritate the skin.
FlashBlock FR gear is available in long-sleeve and short-sleeve T-shirts, boxer briefs and
base-wear long pants.

FlashBlock benefits include:

  • Flame and heat resistant; wonʼt ignite, melt, drip or break open like other FR materials
  • Chemically resistant
  • Contain no harmful chemicals that will off-gas toxins
  • Low static buildup
  • Wonʼt shrink or embrittle
  • Lighter, thinner and cooler than aramid polymers, modacrylic and OPF blend yarns; minimizes
    heat stress
  • Wicks moisture better than cotton and aramid polymers
  • Microban® technology fights odor-causing bacteria
  • Incredibly lightweight and soft; no itch or irritation

FlashBlock is available in two levels of NFPA 70E-compliant protection:

  • HRC Level 1: 4.3 oz. Jersey  /  5.5 calories/cm2 (ATPV); lighter weight material than
    any other HRC Level 1 apparel in the market
  • HRC Level 2: 6.1 oz Interlock  /  9.9 calories/cm2 (ATPV); lighter weight material
    than any other HRC Level 2 apparel in the market

About White Knight Engineered Products

White Knight Engineered Products combines more than 50 years of big-business experience in
product engineering with the dexterity of a small company. We apply intelligent problem-solving,
innovative technology and knowledge-based service to tailor textile solutions for the
microelectronics, pharmaceutical, healthcare, construction and hospitality industries. Our
products, including custom clean-room garments and durable industrial-laundry uniforms, help
strengthen our clientsʼ ability to serve the most demanding industries in the world – better,
faster, smarter. Please visit
www.wkep.com.



About PBI Performance Products


PBI Performance Products is the worldʼs only producer of high performance, inherently
flame-resistant PBI fiber. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, PBI operates a dedicated
manufacturing facility located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and global sales offices in England,
Germany, Spain and Hong Kong. Through people, products and perseverance, PBI’s goal is to provide
insight into the most demanding applications. Our engineering, sales and technical support,
together with a family of polymers and fibers, offer the very best solutions to a variety of high
tearamid polymersch applications. Please visit
www.pbigold.com.

Posted on March 30, 2010

Press Release Courtesy of White Knight Engineered Products

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