PGI to Establish Center of Excellence for Research in Nonwovens

Polymer Group Inc., Charlotte, N.C., announced it will establish a research "Center of Excellence" (COE) to develop new nonwoven technology platforms yielding differentiated, higher-performing materials for the global health care, hygiene and industrial markets.

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 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 research and development 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."

About Polymer Group Inc.

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.

For more information on the Polymer Group Inc., visit www.polymergroupinc.com.