3TEX Launches ''Boat in a Box'' Program; Signs Market Development Alliance with Reichhold, Inc.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK AREA, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2001

3TEX, Inc (http://www.3TEX.com), a world leader in designing and developing revolutionary 3D fabrics and composites, announced the introduction of a "Boat in a Box" program which will provide boat building customers with a manufacturing system of unique products and technology.

The "Boat in a Box" program is centered on 3WEAVE(TM) preforms and Resin Infusion molding techniques to deliver superior structural performance and increased productivity in a low VOC environment.

Reichhold, Inc. (www.Reichhold.com), the world's leading supplier of thermoset resins for composites has joined 3TEX in a market development alliance to advance the materials technology. Under the market development agreement, 3TEX will market this revolutionary manufacturing process around the world and Reichhold will provide technical support in addition to development of Infusion Resins for the process. Using 3TEX's patented 3WEAVE(TM) preforms and Reichhold's newly developed Hydrex(R)-HF Infusion Resin, boat manufacturers can achieve higher quality boats that are more durable and less expensive per unit. The 3TEX preforms and Reichhold resins are integral components of the system in achieving the superior mechanical properties of finished laminates. 3TEX is providing access to the technology for customer/partners purchasing the components as a system and sold as "Boat in a Box" products.

"Reichhold and parent company DIC are recognized globally as the world's leading supplier of unsaturated polyester resins for composite applications," said Brad Lienhart 3TEX CEO. "Reichhold's expertise and our patented 3WEAVE(TM) technology will allow us to expand our current activities in this rapidly growing marketplace. This market development alliance is a major strategic step for the 3TEX Marine Products Division. We are pleased to join resources with Reichhold to create innovative new products for our process with technologies that can change the rules. We have a strategic alliance in place with SONIC USA of Hollywood, Florida and have discussions underway with a number of other leading boat manufacturers. The response has been overwhelmingly positive."

"3TEX has a unique patent-protected product with processing advantages that we believe will further revolutionize the boat manufacturing industry," said Bud Sjogren, Consumer/Recreation Market Manager at Reichhold. "The market development alliance with 3TEX provides Reichhold an expanded platform to address the changing needs of the boat building industry; quality, productivity and a MACT compliant manufacturing environment. We have launched our support of 3TEX's "Boat in a Box" program by developing Hydrex(R)-HF Infusion Resin. The product is formulated for extremely rapid infusion speed when used with 3TEX's 3WEAVE(TM) products. A low peak exotherm and extended gel times make Hydrex(R)-HF ideal for large structures and molds. We see the 3WEAVE(TM) preforms offering boat builders new design options to create lighter and stronger structures."

About 3TEX, Inc.

Based in the Research Triangle Park Area, NC, 3TEX is a world leader in designing and developing revolutionary 3-D fabrics and composites. A spin-off from N.C. State University, 3TEX has design, product development, and production facilities in Cary and Rutherfordton, NC. With strategic alliances in place with technology centers and Universities around the world, and more than half a dozen revolutionary design patents approved or pending, 3TEX is developing next generation materials that are stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum. 3TEX has been featured in Fortune, Textile Industries, Composites Technology, as well as a wide variety of other business and industry publications.

About Reichhold, Inc.

Reichhold, with its world headquarters and technology center in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a leading manufacturer of adhesives, coating resins, polyester resins and synthetic latex emulsions for the coatings, adhesives, plastics, paper, textile, carpet, construction, transportation, marine and graphic arts markets. With manufacturing operations throughout North America, South America, Europe and the Middle East, the company has annual sales of $1.2 billion. Founded in 1927, Reichhold is a subsidiary of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals (Tokyo, 4631), the world's largest producer of printing inks and polyester resins.