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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

             COURT AGREES TO REINSTATE CMI'S SECURED CREDIT FACILITY
                      PRESS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         Columbia, South Carolina, May 11, 2001 - CMI Industries, Inc. announced
today that the Honorable Joseph J. Farnan, Jr. of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
the District of Delaware has entered an order which authorizes the Company to
access its secured credit facility in the same manner as it did prior to the
filing of the involuntary petition. The court's action affirms that the filing
of the involuntary petition does not affect the ability of CMI to incur debt or
encumber property under the existing financial arrangement with its secured
lender, Fleet Capital Corporation.

         Said Joseph L. Gorga, President of the Company, "The Company
appreciates the support and confidence that has been provided by its customers,
suppliers, associates and other stakeholders. That support has enabled CMI to
respond appropriately and responsibly to the involuntary petition filed last
week by a minority of bondholders in a manner inconsistent with the agreement
between the parties. We look forward to Monday, when we can again focus our full
attention to providing unparalleled customer service and superior quality
fabrics."

         In addition, as previously announced, the Company has filed a motion in
the U.S. Bankruptcy Court requesting a dismissal of the involuntary petition
filed against it late last week by certain holders of the Company's 9 1/2%
Senior Subordinated Notes. According to the motion, on the date of the filing,
the Company was current with its unsecured creditors, owed nothing on its
secured credit facility and had $12,000,000 of borrowing capacity under that
line of credit. The Court's action today enables the Company to continue to
operate in the ordinary course and to work to achieve its strategic objectives.

         CMI Industries, Inc., and its subsidiaries manufacture textile products
that serve a variety of markets, including the home furnishings, woven apparel,
elasticized knit apparel and industrial/medical markets. Headquartered in
Columbia, South Carolina, the Company operates manufacturing facilities in
Clarkesville, Georgia; Clinton, South Carolina; Greensboro, North Carolina; and
Stuart, Virginia. The Company had net sales from continuing operations of $194.7
million in 2000.

         This press release contains statements that are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws and are
based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions, which are subject
to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, among
other things, global economic activity, the success of the Company's overall
business strategy, the Company's relationships with its principal customers and
suppliers, the demand for textile products, the cost and availability of raw
materials and labor, the level of the Company's indebtedness and the exposure to
interest rate fluctuations, governmental legislation and regulatory changes, and
the long-term implications of regional trade blocs and the effect of quota
phase-out and lowering of tariffs under the WTO trade regime, restrictions on
the Company's business and operations imposed by the Company's lenders and the
court processes, and the Company's ability to operate under current industry
conditions.

         For further information, contact J. A. Ovenden, Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer at 803-771-4434.