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Southern Range garments ready for export
Southern Range Nyanza Ltd. is a long established and full-fledged textile mill standing on 140 acres near Jinja, Uganda. It was privatized in 1996. Since then, several million dollars worth of new investment have been dedicated to buying machinery, building an ultra modern garment unit, enhancing the printing and designing sections, and endowing the company with the capacity to produce a wide range of printed and dyed fabrics and garments. SRN Limited currently achieves about US$10 million in sales per annum and, with planned expansion, it should reach US$18 million in sales within three years.
By following a rigorous process of quality parameters standardization, the company has also gained significant global respect by obtaining ISO 9002 Certification.
The company is proud of its widening market share in both Uganda and the East Africa region. Soon the long-term objective of exporting to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunities Act will be realized.
Each department, including Spinning, Weaving, Processing, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Purchasing, and Stores & Dispatch, is headed by qualified and experienced expatriates and the Ugandan support staff are fully trained to carry out their jobs.
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Company Profile
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SRN Limited produces 100% cotton, PC blended and 100% polyester fabrics, producing about 1.2 million meters of cloth per month.
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History
SRN Limited was established in 1953 under British management; in the late 1970s the Government of Uganda acquired the company. In 1996 it was privatized and put under the authority of its present management. At this time, a concrete, phased Modernization Plan was devised and new investments worth several million dollars have since been made. Today, SRN Limited is a vertically integrated plant with Spinning, Weaving, Processing and Garmenting departments. It makes 100% cotton, PC blended and 100% polyester fabrics, producing about 1.2 million meters of cloth per month. SRN Limited is now ISO 9001:2000 certified by IQ Net-Norway.
Location
SRN Limited is located in Jinja, about 100 miles away from Uganda's capital city of Kampala. Jinja is the second largest city in Uganda and has a substantial workforce. The plant is located at the source of the River Nile near Lake Victoria.
Management
SRN Limited is 100% privately owned, with the majority of shares owned by the Jobanputra family. Mr. Kishor Jobanputra, the Chairman, is a renowned industrialist of East and West Africa and has several other companies under his leadership. His group companies include M/s Utexrwa Limited in Kigali, Rwanda. This is another vertically integrated textile plant that has modern production facilities. Our chairman puts considerable emphasis on his goal of beginning exportation to developed countries. He is an adroit and widely travelled person who is committed to working to increase exports from Southern Range Nyanza Ltd.
Day to day operations are overseen by Mr. Viren Thakkar, Managing Director. Mr. Thakkar is a chartered accountant and has been handling company affairs over the last four years.
Mr. V.K. Maheshwari supervises operations. He is a qualified textile engineer with a Post Graduate degree in Management, and has a total of 17 years' experience in the field. He has been associated with M/s Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (India) and has experience in exporting to developed countries. He has been with the company for three years.
Several million dollars worth of new investment have been used to build an ultra modern garment unit and enhance the printing and designing sections.
Qualified and experienced expatriates lead each department, including Spinning, Weaving, Processing, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Purchasing, and Stores & Dispatch. Additionally, the Ugandan support staff are fully trained to carry out their jobs.
Production Capacities
Yarn (for captive use) 200 tons/month
Grey Fabrics (for captive use) 1.2 million meters/month
Processed Fabric 1.8 million meters/month
Trousers 40,000 pieces/month or
Shirts 70,000 pieces/month or
Institutional Uniforms 20,000 sets/month
Quality System
Our Quality Assurance department is headed an experienced Quality Manager who reports to the General Manager. There is a Quality Control Laboratory which utilizes the following testing instruments: Shirley Analyser, Micronaire, Moisture Content Meter, Nep Counter, Uster-3, Wrap Reel, ASTM Appearance Board, Single Yarn Strength Tester, Fabric Tensile Strength Tester, Lea Strength Tester, High Temp Beaker Dyeing Machine, Hot Water Bath, Pilot Padding Mangle, Drying Oven, and Washing Machine. A documented Quality Manual is an integral part of ISO 9001:2000. It provides guidance regarding testing frequency and timing of corrective and preventive actions. SRN Limited is also certified by IMO for Production of Organic Textiles.
Product Range
Our product range includes bottom weights, drills, twills, plain canvas, etc., in 100% cotton and polyester/cotton blends. We produce bedsheets, dress materials, and local Kitenge prints. The garment product range includes shorts, security shirts and pants, blouses, skirts, Henley shirts, school uniforms, Army uniforms, caps, etc.
Utilities and Infrastructure
The total constructed area is approximately 70,000 square meters. Tarmac road connects the factory to the main road. All roads in the factory are concrete, with rainwater and other drainage facilities. Railway tracks are laid up to storage facilities within the factory. Very importantly, Southern Range has direct and uninterrupted power supplied by the Hydro Power Station at Owen Falls Dam. The power distribution system is reliably robust and adequate.
The factory maintains a large tank to store fuel oil required for 3 Nos Thermax Boilers. There is also a thermic boiler for stenters and several other machines. A large overhead cemented tank can store more than 450,000 liters of water at any time.
No. of Employees
Spinning 116 Nos
Weaving 177 Nos
Processing 106 Nos
Packing 96 Nos
Engineering 63 Nos
Quality Assurance 15 Nos
HRD+Misc 78 Nos
Garments 405 Nos
Total 1,056 Nos
IT Facilities
Website/Email/Internet/Networking available. The company has installed the latest ERP system from SAP.
Machinery—Spinning
Blow Room—Trutzschler
Cards—Platt
Draw Frame—Trutzschler
Draw Frame—Laxmi Rieter
Speed Frame—Zinser
Latest Open End—Schlafhorst SE-12—312 Rotors
Open End Schlafhorst—SE-7
Ring Frames—Laxmi Rieter (each of 1,008 spindles)
Murata—Autoconers
Warping—Benninger/Schlafhorst
Machinery—Weaving
Sizing—Zell/Sucker Muller
Sulzer Looms—130"—TW-11
Desizing and Singeing Machine
Machinery—Processing
Continuous Bleaching Range
Continuous Dyeing Range
Flat Bed Printing Machine—Buser
12 Color Rotary Printing Machine—Zimmer
Loop Steamer
Jet Dyeing Machines
Monforts Finishing Range Cum Stenter
Babcock Stenter
Calendering Machine
Single Needle Juki + Brother
Machinery—Garments
Double Needle Juki (LK-3168-7 and LK-3128-7)
Over Lock 3 Thread Juki
Over Lock 5 Thread Juki (MO-3916)
Eyelet Buttonhole Juki
Buttonhole Juki (LBH-781)
Button Sew Juki (MB-373)
Fell Seam for Shirt Juki
Fell Seam for Shirt Juki
Fell Seam for Jean Juki
Shank Button/Rivet Ngai Shing Pneumatic
Elastic W/B Kansai Special (DFB-1404 PMD)
W/B Setting Kansai Special (DLR-1508P)
Bar-Tacking Juki Kansai Special
Belt Loop Machine Kansai (B-2000 C)
Placket Sewing Kansai Special
Blind Stitch Juki (CB-641)
Twin Needle Chain Stitch Juki (MH-380)
Collar Turning Machine Ngai Shing
Heat Notchere Machine Ngai Shing
Flap Turning Machine Ngai Shing
Pocket Welting Machine Juki
Drill Marker Eastman
Shirt Folding Table Ngai Shing
Band Knife M/C Eastman BK-700
Machinery—Laundry
Washers 450 lbs. and 50 lbs.
Extractors 280 lbs.
Dryers 200 lbs.
Machinery—Pressing
Number of Irons: Steam
Number of Irons: Dry Heat
Thread Sucking Machine
Working Schedule
Total Working Days, 350 Per Year
Spinning/Weaving, 7 days 3 shifts
Processing, 5 days 3 shifts
Garments, 6 days 1 shift
Bankers
Bank of Baroda
Standard Chartered Bank
Annual Turnover
US$10 million
Quota Holding
Quota not required (AGOA country)
No duty for export to European Union
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