Nakshbandi

Mill Report

The Exporting Giant Adheres to International Standards

Pakistan's Nakshbandi Industries Ltd. increases its range of Monforts dyeing and finishing equipment with a new "Sanforiser" to meet expansion and maintain international standards.

A long established user of Monforts dyeing and finishing equipment, Nakshbandi has taken delivery of a new "Sanforiser" to meet increased demand and maintain international standards.

Nakshbandi was the first publicly owned company in Pakistan to specialize in the extensive and diversified manufacturing of terry towels, bathrobes, terry accessories, sheets, pillow covers, duvet covers and apparel fabrics.

Director Murtaza Teli says that Nakshbandi is principally exportoriented, with its markets including the U.S., EU (primarily the U.K., France, Germany, Sweden and Italy), New Zealand, the U.A.E. and Bangladesh.

As such, he says, the company is continually endeavoring to meet the increasing international standards of buyers in these and other overseas markets.

"We are certified to ISO 9002:2000, having originally gained ISO 9002 in 1998," he says. "Nakshbandi also considers socially responsible manufacturing to be of paramount importance, and we have already been audited by Gemex and Wal-Mart for SA-8000 and found to be compliant.

"Additionally, we have the OEKOTEX 100 label to show that our products are eco friendly, and we are well on the way towards achieving ISO-14000 certification."

Among the environmentally friendly measures undertaken by Nakshbandi is the purchase of all its dyestuffs and chemicals from ISO certified European and American manufacturers, and the construction of a water recycling plant on the premises to process all the water contaminated by the manufacturing process.

"We are a global concern/' says TeIi. "Our standards also have to be global."

The company took delivery of its first Monforts unit, a "Pad-Thermosole", in 1988 followed by a second in 2001. Nakshbandi installed its first Monforts stenter in 1997 and also took delivery of a second in 2001. With the recent installation of the new "Sanforiser", the company today has a range of five Monforts units.

"We use Monforts technology because the company is the leader in dyeing and finishing," says Teli. "Because of our policy on international standards, we select the kind of equipment that we know will help us achieve those standards."

As a high-volume producer, Nakshbandi's output is formidable. The company processes 50,000 meters of fabric a day, which adds up to 1.5 million meters a month.

Production of towels alone runs to 20 tons per day, with plans to double this next year, with Nakshbandi playing a dominant role in towel weaving, processing and towel made-ups. The company specializes in pure white institutional towels, under the brand name "Seagull", while solid colors, geometries and florals are produced to specification.

"With checks at every stage of production and post-production to measure the quality status of the product, we are able to assure our clients of a consistent, high grade product of terry towels," says Teli.

The two Monforts stenters are working at production speeds of 70 meters per minute, working on fabric widths of 1.8 meters and weights of 280 grams per square meter.

Nakshbandi, which employs 1,800 people, has a turnover of US$25 million per year. TeIi says that the company sees its export markets expanding in the fields of bedwear, towels and garments, and is very optimistic for the future. Investment plans include more facilities for color printing and for the production of narrow width fabrics.

Nakshbandi is a supplier to many of the leading brand-name stores, including Walmart, Macy's, Carrefour, IKEA, Gap, and JC Penney.