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2012-03-27 08:00:02 CEST 2012-03-27 08:00:09 CEST REGULATED INFORMATION Neo Industrial Oyj - Company AnnouncementNEO INDUSTRIAL INVESTS IN ANTIMICROBIAL FIBRE MANUFACTURINGNEO INDUSTRIAL PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 27 March 2012 at 9.00 am NEO INDUSTRIAL INVESTS IN ANTIMICROBIAL FIBRE MANUFACTURING Avilon Ltd, part of Neo Industrial's Viscose Fibre Segment, invests in production line of antimicrobial special fibres in Valkeakoski factory. With this investment one of the factory's post-processing machines will be modified for antimicrobial fibre manufacturing. The value of this investment is EUR 200,000. Post-processing investment will support Avilon's strategy to specialize in special fibres. The company is planning to start the commercial production of antimicrobial fibres gradually during next summer and autumn. The production is based on bought fiber until Avilon restarts its own production of viscose fiber production. With this post-processing investment the company will achieve the growing market of antimicrobial special fibres. The estimated annual production will be about 3,500 tons, which is almost 5 % of global production. After the viscose factory will be restarted, the production can be increased in accordance with the market situation. Antimicrobial fibers are used e.g. in hospital and sport textiles, working clothes and in various hygienic products. The market is growing, especially in the United States. The manufacturing process of antimicrobial fibres is based on the ionomer-technology developed by Avilon's Finnish partner. This technology utilizes the well-known antimicrobial effect of silver in a new- patented technic. Avilon invests in post-processing equipment, which can modify the raw fiber into antimicrobial products. The same technic can later be used on Avilon's other production lines in a greater scale.The antimicrobial fibre produced by this cost-efficient technology is ideal for making high-quality and durable antimicrobial textiles In spite of the corporate restructuring process, Avilon has continued actively research and development projects. Besides antimicrobial fibres the Viscose segment has developed PPV-technology, enabling the usage of paper pulp in the viscose manufacturing process. Global marketing of this technology has just started. The environmental friendly carbamate-technology was announced in January 2011. This method, enabling the viscose production without carbon disulphide, is planned to be commercialized in 2013. Neo Industrial Plc Markku E. Rentto Managing Director For further information, please contact: Sari Tulander, Managing Director, Avilon Ltd, tel. +358 207 800 500 www.neoindustrial.fi Neo Industrial's strategy is to invest mainly in industrial companies with similar synergic benefits. The aim of investments is with active ownership to develop the purchased companies and establish additional value. Returns are sought through both dividend flow and an increase in value. Neo Industrial's class B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange. Neo Industrial's business segments are Cable , Viscose Fibers and Single Family Housing. |
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