Develops ‘Linen Look’ for regional customers
Universal Textile Co. Ltd., one of Taiwan’s oldest manufacturers of textiles, will complete 50 years of its very strong presence and commitment to the industry. It has particularly enjoyed very close relationship with Indian businessmen who have settled in Taipei several decades ago.
Mr. David Yao, President of Universal Textile Co. Ltd., has been part of the company for more than four decades and shares very close relationship with the Indian community in Taipei.
Universal strongly feels that India will be a very important market in the future and hence is trying to understand the Indian consumers and their requirements. Mr. David Yao says that cotton and linen will be the main products for the Indian market. But the company has been specializing in synthetic woven fabrics and yarns. With its in-house manufacturing of yarns, Universal has finally developed a completely new range of fabrics as good as linen fabrics.
Universal has developed this new range of linen fabric using synthetic yarn. It has invested a lot in R&D activities and finally developed a fabric which is easy to handle with no pilling after wash and, more importantly, coming at half the cost of linen.
Universal has been successfully selling this product over the years in the Indian market. The company has its dedicated marketing team to cater to the Indian market and its customers. To further create excitement in the market, on the lines of the Linen Look, the company has now developed a Jute look fabric from synthetic yarn.
Universal has been supplying key customers in India, including Gokaldas, and many others in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Mr. David Yao says: “Taiwan suppliers are leading the functional fabrics area in the world with innovation in moisture absorbent, UV resistant, water repellent, special coatings, cooling yarns, anti bacterial and many more.
Universal has two weaving factories with a capacity of three million yards and one yarn factory with a capacity of 2,500 tons per month. Universal currently has 300 looms out, of which 192 are Picanol airjet looms and 72 Tsudakoma water jet machines. In the spinning unit, the company has machines from Muratec and TMT.
Universal believes sustainable manufacturing and is conscious about its responsibility towards environment. The company facilities were certified to ISO 50001 in 2014 and will be certified to ISO 14064 shortly.
Universal is in regular touch with its customers all over the world, understanding their requirement and changing market trends. The company exports 90 per cent of its products to the US, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Its current turnover is $75 million.
Mr. David Yao believes that India will become the largest market in the future with a GDP growth rate of 7.5 per cent and a young population. Universal is well poised to cater to the growing Indian market.