950803

Korea-supported unit matches imported quality

Commercial production

of shuttleless

looms starts

AMANULLAH BASHAR

KARACHI: Pakistan's engineering sector has made a major breakthrough by manufacturing "Shuttleless Looms" with technical collaboration of South Korea and, of course, with the assistance of the government.

This first shuttleless loom manufacturing unit based in Karachi, which has already started commercial production and thus far avoided publicity, is planning to demonstrate its product in the third week of next month in Islamabad.

This landmark achieved by the private sector, informed sources said, may play a vital role in the revival of the textile sector in this country.

So far the textile sector was relying on the imported shuttleless looms which are no more than 7000 in number in the entire industry, being so costly.

The Pakistani shuttleless loom will be four times cheaper than the Japanese looms installed here while qualitywise will be equal to the imported ones.

After meeting the local demand, the manufacturers have chalked out an ambitious marketing plan to supply looms to the countries of the region.

The landed cost of one imported loom is around Rs 35 lakh while the local manufacturers have been able to offer it in the range of Rs 9000 to Rs 10,000 a unit.

At present most of the weaving units are using second-hand European looms, purchased at a cheaper cost but suffering frequent breakdowns, which result in production losses. A large spare parts inventory has to be maintained for these looms and finer count fabric and heavy fabric cannot be produced on them.

Credit for manufacturing of looms in the new unit also goes to the Engineering Council of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce which had assigned the engineering sector of Pakistan to feed the engineering needs of the Saarc region.

Following are the special advantages of Pakistani shuttleless looms:

1) Special introductory price;

2) Excellent after-sale service;

3) Ensured supply of spare parts;

4) Warranty on best available terms;

5) Training of operation and maintenance personnel;

6) Availability of finance on concessional rates under LMM scheme from banks (13 percent on LMM);

7) Various coarse and finer counts can be used for weaving;

8) Having the advantage of six colour and sixteen-frame dobby one can make two to six colour checks and can give a dobby and jacquard effect on the fabric.