Belgian firm opens textile machine parts factory<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): PT Southwest Screens & Filters, a subsidiary
\nof a Belgian company, officially opened on Tuesday Indonesia's
\nfirst screen and filter factory.<\/p>\n
President of PT Southwest Screen & Filters Paul Heymans said
\nthe new plant, the first screen and filter production facility in
\nIndonesia, would be able to reduce textile producers' dependency
\non imported textile machine components.<\/p>\n
The factory, he said, started producing last September tailor-
\nmade screen and filter components the synthetic fiber industry
\nused for its machines.<\/p>\n
\"We don't mass produce, each customer wants a different
\nproduct,\" Heymans said during the opening of the factory.<\/p>\n
He projected sales this year would reach US$1 million in the
\ndomestic market and $500,000 in export sales, citing Thailand and
\nTaiwan as countries which had already placed orders.<\/p>\n
Among the major local buyers, he said, were PT Texmaco Taman
\nSynthetics and PT Indorama Synthetics.<\/p>\n
The company is wholly owned by Belgian-based Southwest Screens
\n& Filters Belgia with an investment of $800,000 and 32 employees,
\nincluding four expatriates.<\/p>\n
Its production capacity for screens is 100,000 pieces while
\nthat of filters reaches 500 pieces.<\/p>\n
According to data from the Central Statistics Office (BPS),
\n1999's imports of textile machine components amounted to $55
\nmillion, down from $98 million in 1998 and $130 million in 1997.<\/p>\n
Agus Tjahajana, the director general of metal, machinery,
\nelectronics and miscellaneous industries, said the declining
\nimports were a result of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Opportunities for a textile machines component industry were,
\ntherefore, still wide open,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
Belgian Ambassador Luc Darras said Indonesia could expect
\nstrong commitments from Belgian investors, even though their
\ninvestments were relatively small.<\/p>\n
\"Belgian are modest investors,\" he said commenting on the
\ninvestment of Southwest Screens & Filters.(03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/belgian-firm-opens-textile-machine-parts-factory-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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