Modernisation gives Sri Lankan fibre mills the winning touch
Sri Lanka’s business prospect of coir, the golden fibre, is now looking positive with a traditional fibre mill modernisation programme for the first time countrywide by Tropicoir Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, a leading exporter of coir based products.
The upgrading of the traditional fibre mills to a modern industry is in line with the present day requirements such as environment protection and high quality products for the export market, officials said.
A fully modernised and upgraded ‘Helena’ fibre mill at Weerapokuna Bingiriya was opened recently kicking off the ambitious initiative.
Five such mills countrywide will undergo modernisation under this programme making a paradigm shift in the minds of traditional fibre millers and to match with current and future industry requirements.
“There is tremendous scope, and we are determined to make the best use of it,” H.K. Udaya Rupasinghe, Chairman, Coconut Development Authority (CDA) of Sri Lanka said.
Traditional uses for the elastic and durable fibre include ropes and twines, brooms and brushes, doormats, rugs, mattresses and other upholstery, often in the form of rubberised coir pads.
But technology and applications have undergone rapid changes and now, geo-textile; ply boards, pith organic manure, garden articles and even ornaments can be produced using coir, he added.
This programme aimed at moving forward the current Sri Lankan fibre industry to a modern one incorporating modern technology to the existing traditional system was assisted by the CDA, he pointed out.
Another objective is to upgrade the stakeholder’s knowledge on modern technology, standard processing and quality aspects of the export industries.
Dinesh Fernando, Managing Director of the Tropicoir Lanka told the Business Times that “this initiative will be a model of modern fibre mill to the fibre mill industry” while guiding the quality processing and handling the raw material without contamination especially from sand, weed seeds and pathogens.
It also ensures to maintain proper physical and chemical parameters of the raw materials, he added.
He noted that there was a threat to the industry from competitor countries such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines which has the highest coconut yield.
These countries are benefited due to resources availability, scale of the industries, low cost of production and efficiency due to system automation, he said.
Research and Development (R&D) and innovation are the key factors for survival and sustainability of the industry, he noted.