| Financial data by segment |
Financial data by segment is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In thousands | Three Months Ended September 28, 2013 | Three Months Ended September 29, 2012 | | Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013 | Nine Months Ended September 29, 2012 | Net sales | | | | | | Americas Nonwovens | $ | 160,767 |
| $ | 163,321 |
| | $ | 473,216 |
| $ | 494,750 |
| Europe Nonwovens | 67,901 |
| 67,825 |
| | 219,113 |
| 219,506 |
| Asia Nonwovens | 44,886 |
| 42,900 |
| | 125,280 |
| 115,771 |
| Oriented Polymers | 15,425 |
| 16,051 |
| | 49,990 |
| 51,485 |
| Total | $ | 288,979 |
| $ | 290,097 |
| | $ | 867,599 |
| $ | 881,512 |
| | | | | | | Operating income (loss) | | | | | | Americas Nonwovens | $ | 16,075 |
| $ | 20,590 |
| | $ | 42,106 |
| $ | 51,333 |
| Europe Nonwovens | 2,524 |
| 2,249 |
| | 9,236 |
| 9,383 |
| Asia Nonwovens | 4,134 |
| 4,850 |
| | 13,723 |
| 13,194 |
| Oriented Polymers | 547 |
| 779 |
| | 3,570 |
| 3,800 |
| Unallocated Corporate | (9,108 | ) | (9,284 | ) | | (33,164 | ) | (27,802 | ) | Eliminations | (106 | ) | (19 | ) | | (166 | ) | 72 |
| Subtotal | 14,066 |
| 19,165 |
| | 35,305 |
| 49,980 |
| Special charges, net | (7,093 | ) | (1,732 | ) | | (10,647 | ) | (12,904 | ) | Total | $ | 6,973 |
| $ | 17,433 |
| | $ | 24,658 |
| $ | 37,076 |
| | | | | | | Depreciation and amortization expense | | | | | | Americas Nonwovens | $ | 8,137 |
| $ | 9,460 |
| | $ | 24,540 |
| $ | 26,825 |
| Europe Nonwovens | 3,089 |
| 2,858 |
| | 9,153 |
| 8,111 |
| Asia Nonwovens | 5,605 |
| 3,322 |
| | 13,802 |
| 10,141 |
| Oriented Polymers | 348 |
| 351 |
| | 1,044 |
| 1,063 |
| Unallocated Corporate | 430 |
| 411 |
| | 1,282 |
| 1,270 |
| Subtotal | 17,609 |
| 16,402 |
| | 49,821 |
| 47,410 |
| Amortization of loan acquisition costs | 607 |
| 686 |
| | 1,821 |
| 2,056 |
| Total | $ | 18,216 |
| $ | 17,088 |
| | $ | 51,642 |
| $ | 49,466 |
| | | | | | | Capital spending | | | | | | Americas Nonwovens | $ | 1,939 |
| $ | 1,132 |
| | $ | 3,990 |
| $ | 2,946 |
| Europe Nonwovens | 1,877 |
| 2,636 |
| | 2,926 |
| 7,194 |
| Asia Nonwovens | 3,914 |
| 6,422 |
| | 26,437 |
| 28,874 |
| Oriented Polymers | 572 |
| 284 |
| | 798 |
| 454 |
| Corporate | 697 |
| 42 |
| | 1,348 |
| 678 |
| Total | $ | 8,999 |
| $ | 10,516 |
| | $ | 35,499 |
| $ | 40,146 |
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