Hightex : wins the IAA Award of Excellence for fabric art

Hightex Group plc (AIM: HTIG, "Hightex"), a leading systems engineering company for textile architecture and cable systems of large area membrane roofs and façades worldwide, is delighted to announce that it has won the IAA-award for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications for the art installation "Leviathan",

Press Release
Hightex wins the IAA Award of Excellence for fabric art
Orlando, Florida, USA/Bernau, October 30th, 2013.

Hightex Group plc (AIM: HTIG, "Hightex"), a leading systems engineering company for textile architecture and cable systems of large area membrane roofs and façades worldwide, is delighted to announce that it has won the IAA-award for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications for the art installation "Leviathan", a work created by the British artist Anish Kapoor. The award was conferred on Hightex at the IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo 2013 which took place in Orlando, Florida, USA, between 21st and 25th October 2013.

"Leviathan" was exhibited at the MONUMENTA event in the Grand Palais, Paris, in May 2011 and which is one of the largest sculptures Kapoor has ever created. Hightex was responsible for the engineering, production and installation of the sculpture. Hightex is recognized as a leading partner for large scale artistic projects that take the form of membrane structures and was also responsible for earlier Kapoor projects, including "Marsyas", an installation in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern (2002), "Melancholia", installed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Hornu, Belgium (2004) and "Widow" in Brescia, Italy (2004).

The "Leviathan" sculpture was made of a PVC-coated polyester membrane skin spanning an area of more than 13,000 sq.m. Hightex engineers welded the sculpture, which was delivered in four pieces, into one outstanding artwork with high frequency welding. The walk-in sculpture was 100 meters long, approximately 35 meters high and weighed 12 tons. It looked like an inflatable object, clamped on the ground. It was coloured in the Bordeaux-red specifically requested by the artist.

Frank Molter, Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are pleased that our work on Anish Kapoor's art installation "Leviathan" exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris 2011 has won the award of this renowned design prize. This is an acknowledgement of our excellent technical competence and the performance of the Hightex team in engineering and installing international large-scale projects. Furthermore it is an extraordinary motivation bringing in our Hightex-membrane expertise in future outstanding projects".

The International Achievement Awards ("IAA") for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications is organized by the Industrial Fabrics Association International ("IFAI"). IFAI is a not-for-profit trade association whose 1,800 member companies represent the international specialty fabrics marketplace of 55 countries in more than 30 product segments.

This year's competition included 29 categories. IFAI received a total of 236 entries from companies in 13 countries. Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function. Judges included industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals who were chosen for their knowledge in a particular field of study or product area.

About Hightex
Hightex Group is a leading systems engineering company, which designs, fabricates and installs large area, light weight membrane roofs and façades worldwide, including cable and retractable systems. The membranes are typically used in roofs and façades for sporting stadiums and arenas, airport terminals, train stations, shopping malls and other buildings. This type of structure is a competitive alternative to glass as it is cheaper, lighter in weight so that it can span larger areas and safer as well as being flexible to create complex shapes. Hightex uses environmentally friendly materials and is focused on innovative technology and coatings, which help to reduce a building's energy costs.

Hightex, one of only two international companies to design and install these structures worldwide, has been involved in the construction of a number of very high profile buildings including the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, hosting games of the FIFA world cup in Brazil 2014, the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, venue for the final of Euro 2012, the first retractable membrane cushion roof at BC Place, the Cape Town Stadium and the roof of the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Wimbledon Centre Court retractable roof, the Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai and the roof of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.

The global market for membrane structures is estimated by the Hightex directors to approach around €350 million a year, and is growing as a result of the demand for energy efficient buildings and the popularity and cyclical nature of sporting events, which give rise to a continuing need for upgraded and new buildings and stadiums.

Headquartered in Bernau, Germany, the Group employs approximately 45 people and is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE: HTIG). Further information on Hightex Group plc can be found atwww.hightexworld.com

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Relating Article on the IAA website

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