Mohawk and DuPont Partner to Introduce Most Revolutionary Carpet Fiber Technology in 20 Years

WILMINGTON, Del. and DALTON, Ga., November 4, 2005

Mohawk’s SmartStrand™ made with DuPont™ Sorona® polymer offers innovative stain resistance

Mohawk Industries, Inc. and DuPont today announced an exclusive partnership to provide a new line of residential carpet to the flooring industry. Under the terms of this agreement, DuPont will provide its newest polymer technology to Mohawk who will manufacture and market it under the brand SmartStrand™ with DuPont™ Sorona® polymer. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Mohawk Industries’ CEO Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum said, “This innovative new product adds a whole new dimension to fiber technology, it is unlike anything the industry has seen in over 20 years. It’s exciting to find this level of durability, stain resistance, and softness all in one fiber. Our confidence in this product is evidenced by Mohawk’s Limited Lifetime Warranty offer for stain resistance.”

Mohawk’s SmartStrand™ made with DuPont™ Sorona® polymer is in stores now. This new technology, offered exclusively by Mohawk, promises consumers durability, superior performance, stain resistance, and comfort, along with the confidence that comes from Mohawk, one of the most recognized names in flooring, and DuPont, a leading supplier of innovative materials and technologies.

With SmartStrand™ made with DuPont™ Sorona®, Mohawk is able for the first time to provide the durability of high-performance fibers with stain resistance that is engineered into the fiber, so it will never wear or wash off, no matter how many times it is cleaned. Mohawk’s SmartStrand™ made with DuPont™ Sorona® polymer is naturally stain resistant because there are no acid dye receptor sites to attract many stains. At the molecular level, SmartStrand™ carpets made with DuPont™ Sorona® will not allow stains to stay permanently attached to the fiber. This built-in stain resistance reaches new levels of protection, allowing tough stains such as mustard, red wine and cherry Kool-Aid® to be removed simply with warm water and a mild detergent, or with Mohawk FloorCare™ Essentials.

DuPont Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer Thomas Connelly said, “We are pleased to partner with Mohawk and are confident that their more than 125 years in the flooring business creates a perfect fit for our new technology. DuPont™ Sorona® is one of the most recent scientific innovations from DuPont, with unique attributes that have never before been delivered to the flooring industry.”

There are 10 new Mohawk SmartStrand™ products, ranging from tight and loose cut piles, standard textures to friezes and berber flecks. For the first time, Mohawk is offering a Limited Lifetime Stain Warranty for any SmartStrand™ carpet made with DuPont™ Sorona® polymer.

Mohawk (NYSE: MHK) is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of broadloom carpet, ceramic tile, wood, stone, laminate, vinyl, rugs and other home products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which include Mohawk, Karastan, Ralph Lauren, Lees, Bigelow, Dal-Tile and American Olean. Mohawk’s unique merchandising and marketing assist our customers in creating the consumers’ dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations.

Contact Information

Cathy Branciaroli

DuPont Performance Materials

DuPont

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