MILITARY ARMOR COMPANY BUYS PLASTICS PROCESSOR
The purchase of Penn Fibre & Specialty Company, Inc., has been announced by The Specialty Group, Inc.A privately-owned company, The Specialty Group is a major producer of such military equipment as combat helmets, combat packs and body armor, as well as aircrew survival vests, and other personal survival gear. According to John P. Sweeney, President, management sees its acquisition of Penn Fibre as part of The Specialty Group's strategy to diversify from strictly government contracting. Founders and key officers of the company are Ronald J. Wainchisen, Chairman/CEO and Mr. Sweeney. Penn Fibre is a leading manufacturer and supplier of a broad range of engineered-thermoplastic parts and materials, which are used in countless thousands of industrial applications throughout the U.S. and abroad. In discussing his firm's recent sale, William E. Minogue, President of Penn Fibre, emphasized that all phases of the company's business remain unchanged. He added that, while The Specialty Group has assumed operating control, day-to-day customer contact, order service and production, plus the ISO 9002-governed product quality and overall responsiveness on which Penn Fibre's reputation has been built, are not affected by its recent purchase. "If anything," Minogue added, "the engineering skills and financial resources provided by The Specialty Group can only enhance Penn Fibre's leadership position throughout the many industries which we serve." In another major move, last June, Penn Fibre completed the acquisition of Polymer Corporation's thin-strip operations. Richard F. Wagner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said that the Polymer acquisition covered all of that company's thin-gauge production equipment, customer and business data, and related expertise, as well as four Polymer Corporation registered trademarks: Polypenco Nylon®, Polypenco Acetal®, Nylatron® and Nylatron GS®. "Coupled with our own Pennite® brand," Wagner said, "these trademarks provide Penn Fibre with the additional identification which has long given each of these products ready recognition throughout industry." The purchase of Polymer's thin-strip business also included considerable manufacturing equipment, plus, very importantly, the addition of experienced, well-trained production personnel. Bill Minogue emphasized that the result has been increased productivity and the continued expansion of Penn Fibre's operations. He said that these additions have provided Penn Fibre with a 24 hour-a day production facility featuring ten extrusion lines and multiple precision slitters.

For more information, contact Rick Wagner, Penn Fibre & Specialty Co., Inc., 401 Commerce Dr., Ft. Washington, PA 19034, 800-662-7366, 215-793-9200, FAX 215-793-0700.