According to a report on www.news.lk this morning, the official government news portal for Sri Lanka, MAS Holdings is expanding its manufacturing scope with an investment in automated knitting technologies, fully renovating a 200,000 square foot facility to accommodate the largest, automated knitting plant in the region. No technical details regarding the investment were revealed.

“With an envisaged investment of just over US$ 70 million backing the revolutionary plant, MAS Fabrics (Private) Ltd, will become the group’s single largest investment in the history of its 25 years of operation,” the report said.

 The facility is located at Thulhiriya, within the MAS Fabric Park, an industry specific Export Processing Zone falling under the management of MAS Investments, a division set up by MAS to focus on strategic investment opportunities.

“In the past few years, the company broadened its focus, to provide design to delivery solutions to the global apparel industry and has diversified into the lifestyle and fashion space. It has been a steady transformation, from a contract manufacturer to a company that brings inspirational design and Innovation to global brands,” the report said.

“There is a lot of innovation and technology involved in this project, which makes this a strategic step for MAS and Sri Lanka in the field of textile and apparel. With a 55,000 strong workforce nurtured in an innovation centric eco-system, MAS Holdings has come to be recognized by clients as a company that not only excels in execution, but one that also strives to distinguish themselves through excellence in inspirational product and innovation.”

According to the report, Sri Lanka’s BOI stated: “This new facility at Thulhiriya is very significant as not only does it reflect the spirit of innovation characteristic of the Sri Lankan apparel industry, but also it is in line with some of the important strategic goals set by the Government. The BOI has identified the manufacture of fabric as a strategic import replacement industry since locally made fabric will reduce the dependence on imported fabric. The use of locally made fabric will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of Sri Lanka made apparel in world markets. For Sri Lanka the textile and garment sector is a strategic industry that contributes US$ 4 billion in exports (approximately 38% of total) and provides 276,000 direct employment opportunities”.

MAS knitting operations

MAS has a number of knitting operations in Sri Lanka involving raschel lace, warp knitting and knitted/ crocheted narrow fabrics.

In the lace field a joint venture between Noyon Dentelles de Calais and MAS Holdings, Noyon Lanka was established in 2005. Backed by a global network of sales offices and agents, and spanning a history of over a century in the manufacturing of lace, the company’s product line includes Raschel lace, Textronic and Jacquardtronic lace.

Noyon launches over 600 designs a year, closely complementing the latest seasonal trends. Additionally, it offers a design service that enables it to work closely with its customers, assisting them to select the best design, colour and type of lace for their product.

MAS' warp knit facility set up in 2008 originally as a joint venture is now a fully owned unit of the organization. The facility is said to be the first of its kind in South Asia, and manufactures warp knit fabric for swimwear and intimate apparel.

MAS Holdings, in its strategic technological partnership with Elastic Textile Europe GmbH, offers Trischel the competence to expand on its range of products to its customers through this collaboration in Sri Lanka. Trischel also produces high quality warp knit fabric which is prepared for print (PFP) through its printing arm Textprint.

The first supply chain plant to be established in Sri Lanka by MAS holdings, Stretchline was set up in 1996 as a three way joint venture between Brandot International, Charnwood Elastics UK and MAS Holdings. Globally established and strategically located, Stretchline serves an expanding base of retailers including world renowned labels such as Victoria's Secret, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, DIM, LBI, HBI, Nike, Chico’s and many more. Its state-of-the-art manufacturing units in Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Mexico and most recently Honduras, Central America, are supported by its marketing offices located in New York, UK & Hong Kong.

Stretchline has globally been recognized for its innovation by the Underfashion Club (Femmy Award) of USA, and continues to set the bar higher in the production of narrow performance fabric.

Textprint Lanka (Pvt) Ltd is a fully owned MAS operation, supported by Textprint SA of Spain. Established in 2007 within the MAS Fabric Park in Thulhiriya, the unit is said to be the only printing facility in South East Asia with state of the art Synthetic Fabric Printing Technology.

Using the latest in printing technology, ranging from flat-bed printing, rotary printing and digital printing, Textprint is also equipped with an in-house design and development unit, engraving unit, semi colour dispensing unit and other finishing methodologies.

The company mainly caters to products such as swimwear, lingerie and sportswear, and has an extensive customer base that includes acclaimed world brands such as Victoria Secret, Lands’ End, Triumph, M & S, BHS, A & F, Speedo, and La Senza.

Source: news.lk