PGI to Establish Center of Excellence for Research in Nonwovens

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Polymer Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: POLGA; POLGB) (PGI) today announced it will establish a research "Center of Excellence" (COE) to develop new nonwoven technology platforms yielding differentiated, higher-performing materials for the global healthcare, hygiene and industrial markets.

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The company's newest regional COE will be located at the PGI facility in Suzhou, China, in an expanded research facility.  The center will focus on developing new technologies to significantly improve barrier, opacity, breathability, softness and comfort in engineered polymeric materials.

A dedicated team of PGI scientists, researchers and engineers will come together to advance these properties that are critical in providing improved performance in infection control devices, hygiene products and protective apparel.

The COE will develop a collaborative work structure with PGI's other global R&D facilities in the U.S., Latin America and Europe. It also will tap into Asia's growing research and development capabilities and leverage existing technology expertise in Europe and North America by forming alliances with research companies, universities, technology think-tanks, raw material suppliers and customers.  

The COE will support the company's recently announced expansion in Asia and the U.S., where PGI is adding its proprietary capabilities to new state-of-the-art, custom-built spunmelt machines designed to deliver differentiated and innovative products to the market. Fabrics with the enhanced performance properties from these new lines and proprietary technologies will be commercially available in mid-2011.

"This newest regional Center of Excellence in China will be an extension of PGI's ongoing global R&D initiatives and continued investment in technology to deliver differentiated, higher-performing products to the market," said Mike Hale, PGI's chief operating officer. "Having dedicated research centers and teams around the world fosters creativity, promotes collaboration and serves as a best practice model for our company and customers."    

Polymer Group, Inc., one of the world's leading producers of nonwovens, is a global, technology-driven developer, producer and marketer of engineered materials. With the broadest range of process technologies in the nonwovens industry, PGI is a global supplier to leading consumer and industrial product manufacturers. The company operates 15 manufacturing and converting facilities in nine countries throughout the world.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date of this release.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forwardlooking statements include: general economic factors including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, foreign currency translation rates, consumer confidence, trends in disposable income, changes in consumer demand for goods produced, and cyclical or other downturns; cost and availability of raw materials, labor and natural and other resources and the inability to pass raw material cost increases along to customers; changes to selling prices to customers which are based, by contract, on an underlying raw material index; substantial debt levels and potential inability to maintain sufficient liquidity to finance our operations and make necessary capital expenditures; inability to meet existing debt covenants; achievement of objectives for strategic acquisitions and dispositions; inability to achieve successful or timely start-up on new or modified production lines; reliance on major customers and suppliers; domestic and foreign competition; information and technological advances; risks related to operations in foreign jurisdictions; and changes in environmental laws and regulations. Investors and other readers are directed to consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed by Polymer Group, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

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SOURCE Polymer Group, Inc.