Nature of Business

Fabritec International Corporation sells equipment and chemicals used in drycleaning, garment and related textile maintenance applications in the United States and throughout the world.

Fabritec sells under the following trade names:

Sanitone®

Fabritec®
Stamford®
Adjust-a-Drape

Sanitone is sold under a license arrangement to quality drycleaners throughout the world. Fabritec Area Managers market the Sanitone process directly to the drycleaner. The Sanitone program consists of a completely integrated package of high quality products, technical service and promotional advice which are designed to help drycleaners maximize profits. Sanitone products are the most advanced in the drycleaning industry. A specialized technical sales force is maintained to serve licensees throughout the United States and abroad. Licensees also receive complete sales promotion packages for their local use that include recommendations from well-known clothing manufacturers. Sanitone celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2007.

Fabritec is a line of cleaning products from the makers of Sanitone. Designed for cleaners who just want great cleaning products and great results, here's the idea behind Fabritec: consistent cleaning quality in an affordable, easy-to-use product line. No license required.

The Stamford products - drycleaning detergents and chemical specialties are marketed primarily through distributors. They are not sold on a license basis. Stamford products are superior to competitors and are geared toward the drycleaner who does not need the technical or advertising support that Sanitone provides.

Adjust-a-Drape is a drapery finishing process which is licensed to drycleaners who own an Adjust-a-Drape machine. The machine's outstanding feature is that it will "block" a drapery to the same length it was when received. It also imparts a decorator's fold. The licensee is backed by advertising and replacement parts and service.

Fabritec's History

In the 1930's, the Sanitone process was developed and patented by Emery Industries, Inc. The Sanitone process was the method developed to remove water soluble substances from water sensitive fabrics in the drycleaning process.

The Sanitone process was licensed to drycleaners. The license provided a total drycleaning process which included operating methods and chemicals. The licensee was allowed to use the Sanitone trademark and was provided with substantial promotional support both on a local and national basis.

The Sanitone process grew steadily throughout the 1940's, 50's, and 60's. Because SANITONE was sold on a direct and selective basis, a large segment of the drycleaning chemical business was not available to SANITONE.

In 1965, Emery acquired the Stamford Chemical Company which manufactured drycleaning detergents and chemicals that were sold to the industry through distributors. STAMFORD added an important segment to the business, as the chemicals could be sold to the whole drycleaning industry - direct through SANlTONE and through distributors by STAMFORD.

In 1965, Emery acquired the ADJUST-A-DRAPE business. This patented machine could be sold under a licensee agreement through Sanitone salesmen.

Also in the late 1960's, Emery began an internal development to manufacture and sell detergents for the industrial drycleaning market. This business became the EMERBRlTE product line.

In 1968, Emery acquired the W. M. Cissell Manufacturing Company to go with its drycleaning chemical business. CISSELL was a private company that made laundry and drycleaning equipment. It is no longer a part of Fabritec.

The businesses of SANITONE, STAMFORD, EMERBRITE, ADJUST-A-DRAPE, and CISSELL formed the Fabric Care Group of Emery Industries.

The drycleaning industry went through a substantial decline during the early 70's. Drycleaning tonnage and outlets were reduced approximately 30% due to the development of synthetic fibers.

This decline along with several other events which occurred in the late 1960's and early 1970's had a substantial effect upon the Fabric Care Group of Emery and eventually led to the sale of these businesses to Funding Systems Corporation in 1977.

In the fall of 1980, Fabritec's President, Albert H. Jordan, bought the Company (excluding Cissell) from FSC Corporation (formerly Funding Systems Corporation).

Future

Drycleaners have survived their problems of the 1970's and have begun a new era of growth and progress. Fabritec, in line with its close association to the industry, has also begun a new era of growth and progress.

Natural fibers and blends have returned as the preferred product for consumers. Also, during recessionary periods in the economy, consumers tend to delay purchases of new clothes and take care of existing garments through drycleaning services.

Currently, Fabritec is a financially strong company with over 70 years of drycleaning ingenuity. Fabritec has the opportunity to grow domestically in countries seeking drycleaning know-how.