Chronicle of a Family Business

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Established back in 1926 in The Hague by Henri Cuylits as acommercial enterprise for metals,Culimeta was continued by hisson Alfons Cuylits with the foundation of a sole proprietor-ship in Monheim in 1958 for the import and export of thermal-electric insulating hoses and textile glass fibre gaskets. The present-day company name ofCulimeta originates from 1926:Henri Cuylits Metalhandel.In 1961 the company was movedto Leverkusen, providing the prerequisite for its own pro-duction. However, as a spatialextension in Leverkusen was not a medium-term option, arelocation became imperative.In 1967 the decision was madein favour of Bersenbrück, whereproduction began in new buildings.

In 1981 a textile plying mill waslaunched in Ankum. In 1985 theproduction was relocated from

Ankum to Mölln; at present thiscompany site provides an area of approx. 4,500 sqm after various structural extensions.This is the third generation of the fast expanding company,managed by the sons of AlfonsCuylits, Vincent and DiederikCuylits, since 1996.Over the past 50 years a high-performance group of companiesdeveloped – represented in the European Economic Area and market leader in this trade sector – supplying customers onall continents with technicalglass fibre textiles.

50 Years of Culimeta – A company history

Henri Cuylits

Alfons Cuylits

Vincent und Diederik CuylitsGeneral Managers since 1996

New building of a production hall in Bersenbrück, 1967

Administration and production in Bersenbrück, 1972

Production plant Mölln, 1985

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Continuity andsteady growthshape the companyat all times

Sales graphs and Balance Sheets from 1958:Back then everything had to be done without computers

Impressions from the shop floortowards the late sixties

Customer proximity and satisfaction arekey factors for the success of a companyand have therefore always been given theutmost priority when making any corporate decisions. As far back as in the eighties,the company was able to class many well-known electrical companies, household and heating appliance manufacturers among its regular customers due to the market-oriented development of its range of products. The company focuses on technological advancement. During theeighties and nineties, new manufacturing technologies were integrated in existing production processes within the context of the vertical integration strategy, and the company logo was expanded, adding “Textile Glass Technology“. In accordancewith the company concept ›technicallyaccomplished and market-oriented‹, alreadyin 1996 the distribution company CulimetaBenelux, located in Belgium, was foundedwith the partner Dries Warlop.The development of the company logoover 50 years of company history

Textile glass technology

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Already the 25th Anniversary of the company was celebrated in style

In1983 the 25th company anniversary was celebrated with the General Manager atthe time, Alfons Cuylits, and his employees.Politics, the Chamber of Industry and

Commerce, customers and suppliers even back then attested the company enterprising spirit and vision.At that time 75% of the sales were basedon new developments of recent years,with exports already accounting for 25%.

30th Company anniversary 1988in Bersenbrück

When the clients actuallyacknowledge, it is something,

to be particularly proud of:A quality certificate from the client

BOSCH-SIEMENS from 1989

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Progress and flexibilitydemand higher production capacities

In 2000 the production area in Bersenbrück was extended significantly. In order to accommodate the finishing and dressing machine for insulating hoses and gaskets,the braiding shop was relocated from Mölln to Bersenbrück. Thus, in return theMölln plant gained the urgently neededspace for the desired increase in capacity.Over the years, the core competences were utilised in order to distinctly developthe strategically crucial business areas.Through various outsourcing agreementsand acquisitions of business divisions with customers and competitors, Culimeta gained a good international reputation.With the acquisition of the French companyNouvelle Tissafil S.a.r.l. in 2003, the corner stone for the internationalisation of theindustrial activities was laid.

Culimeta becomes the flagship trademarkfor the Cuylits Industrial Group, which is strongly represented in the EuropeanEconomic Area with nine plants in Germany,Belgium, France, Great Britain, Latvia and Italy.

New building and topping-out ceremony of the production hall for the braiding mill in Bersenbrück in the year 2000

Extension for finishing and dressing machines in Bersenbrück in the year 2004

A strong combine – an industrial group presents itself

Stand team of employees from all plants of the group of companies at the Techtextil 2007 in Frankfurt

Vincent and Diederik Cuylits withDr. Janpeter Horn at an in-house exhibition

of the Herzog Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KGin Oldenburg

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Administration and plant Bersenbrück (Germany)

Production area4500 sqm

Products:• Gaskets• Hoses and insulating sleeving• Laminated fabrics and felts• HT glass products• Microporous Insulation System

Plant Mölln (Germany)

Production area3000 sqm

Products:• Plied yarns• Textured yarns and threads• Hybrid plied yarns• Sewing threads

Office and warehouse Merelbeke(Belgium)

Distribution

Products:• Silicone coated hoses• Gaskets• HT glass products• Textile glass threads

Plant La Grand-Croix (France)

Production area3400 sqm

Products:• Plied yarns• Assembled yarns• Tissmelt (glass & polyester)• Hybrid plied yarns• Sewing threads

The approx. 220 employees display a high degree of flexibility, expertise and motivation, as every day is about facing the challenges of global competition.More than 5000 tons of glass fibres are processed annually. For this purpose a production area of approx. 26,000 sqm and a modern machinery are available in order to develop and manufacture the technical textiles.

Société NouvelleTISSAFIL S.a.r.l.354, rue du CanalFR-42320 La Grand-CroixFrancePhone +33 (0) 477 / 73 24 06Fax +33 (0) 477 / 73 30 53

Culimeta Textilglas-TechnologieGmbH & Co. KGAdministration and plant BersenbrückMax-Planck-Straße 15 - 19DE-49593 BersenbrückGermanyPhone +49 (0) 5439 / 94 16 - 0Fax +49 (0) 5439 / 94 16 -10

Culimeta Textilglas-TechnologieGmbH & Co. KGPlant MöllnGrambeker Weg 167DE-23879 MöllnGermanyPhone +49 (0) 4542 / 64 63Fax +49 (0) 4542 / 10 51

Culimeta Benelux BVBAKapellestraat 15BE-9820 MerelbekeBelgiumPhone +32 (0) 93 / 840 094Fax +32 (0) 93 / 840 098

SOCIÉTÉ NOUVELLE

GROUPE CUYLITS

Since 1967

Established 1958 in Monheim (Rhineland)

Since 1985 Since 1996 Since 2003

CUYLITS

G R O U P

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Plant Auberives-en-Royans(France)

Production area3000 sqm

Products:• Yarn products made from glass,

polyester, polyamide, viscose and cotton

Plant Dukinfield (Great Britain)

Production area6000 sqm

Products:• Acoustic and thermal insulation• AcoustaFilTM

(sound absorbing insulation)• Thermolastic® (pipe insulation)• FireHaltTM (fire protection fabric)• DualtecTM (body protection textiles)• Manufacture of technical textiles• Sewn and fabricated products• Dye cutting

Plant Valmiera (Latvia)

Production area4400 sqm

Products:• Plied yarns• Textured yarns and threads• Manufacture of technical textiles

Plant Bitterfeld (Germany)

Production area2000 sqm

Products:• Coated/impregnated yarns• Dyed yarns• Sewing threads• Technical fabrics

Plied and textured yarn products, thermal and acousticinsulation and seals, screens, fire and body protection textilesas well as finished components represent the greater part of the product range.

Culimeta-Saveguard Ltd.Tame Valley Mill, Wainwright StreetGB-Dukinfield SK16 5NB (Cheshire)Great BritainPhone +44 (0) 161 / 344 24 84Fax +44 (0) 161 / 344 24 86

Culimeta-Saveguard ItalyEvolution Special Parts Srl233, Vialle Carlo 111IT-81020 San Nicola La Strada CEPhone +39 0823 / 1 76 50 85/6Fax +39 0823 / 1 87 18 06

Moulinage d’Auberives Le VillageFR-38680 Auberives-en-RoyansFrancePhone +33 (0) 476 / 64 49 46Fax +33 (0) 476 / 36 54 08

SIA „Culimeta Baltics“Cempu iel -a 33LV-4201 ValmieraLatviaPhone +371 / 78 81 275Fax +371 / 42 30 499

P-D aitec GmbHMühlenweg 3DE-06749 BitterfeldGermanyPhone +49 (0) 3493 / 77 97-0Fax +49 (0) 3493 / 77 97-7

Since 2004 Since 2005 Since 2006 Since 2006

Culimeta Textilglas-TechnologieGmbH & Co. KGAdministration and plant BersenbrückMax-Planck-Straße 15 -19DE-49593 BersenbrückGermanyPhone +49 (O) 5439 / 94 16-0Fax +49 (O) 5439 / 94 16-10

www.culimeta.deinfo@culimeta.de

®

Employees plant and administration Bersenbrück

Employees plant Mölln