Visits by global management pave way for expansion at A&E Lanka

Visits by three top management representatives of American & Efird Inc. (A&E) have laid the groundwork for a new phase of expansion for A&E Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., the Brandix Lanka subsidiary manufacturing world class sewing and embroidery thread.

The visits within the past five months by Fred A. Jackson – President; John Leslie Miller – Executive Vice President – Sales and Operations; and Robert Hallett  Vice President International Operations at American & Efird Inc. were primarily to evaluate potential for expansion of A&E s operations in Sri Lanka to cater to increasing demand and new opportunities in the market, the company said.

 “The resurgence of the apparel sector and anticipated further strengthening presents possibilities and challenges for A&E Lanka,” Janaka Gamage, CEO of A&E Lanka said.  “The three visits to provide expert guidance to leverage these opportunities to their potential underlined the commitment of A&E to its local operations. This also enabled the parent company to assess firsthand the readiness of the operation to keep pace with the latest developments in the industry.”  

He added that as a result of recent developments, speed of delivery to market and flexibility of all aspects of the production process to meet challenges posed by the apparel sector are key areas of focus.

During his visit Fred A. Jackson was also a guest at a unique fashion show, ‘Realising Our Dreams Together’ co-produced by A&E Lanka and the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology of the University of Moratuwa.

American & Efird Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. is a joint venture partnership between American & Efird Inc. USA, one of the world’s premier Industrial Sewing Thread Suppliers; Brandix Lanka Ltd, Sri Lanka’s single largest apparel exporter and Brandot International Ltd., USA. Established in 1891, A&E Inc. boasts of over 120 years of textile experience.

Currently, the A&E global supply network has 31 manufacturing centres and 76 distribution points in 41 countries.

A&E Lanka’s manufacturing facility and dyeing house utilise a fully-integrated on-line computer network, and the entire manufacturing process is monitored by in-house laboratories governed by internationally established standards for production and quality.