Moygashel, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland – To re-establish itself in the contract business, one of the most prominent manufacturers in Irish linen, Moygashel of County Tyrone, is going back to basics.

''From our rather muddied image of a few years ago,'' said Helen Poulter, who was recently promoted to Managing Director, ''we are now returning to our core competence — linen manufacturing based on good design.''

Poulter said that linen's durability and unique handle make it universal in the contract sector. ''We are developing more ranges to re-associate Moygashel with linen.''

Under Project Moygashel, the company will launch four ranges that will target the hotel interiors and cruise line sectors in the new year.

The new products result from the company's design-based product development strategy, said Poulter. ''We have good designers and good products together with our own printing facilities in England,'' she said. ''We have all the right credentials to make an impact in the contract sector.''

In supplying the British National Health Service and the Ministry of Defence, the company has a long-standing, lower-end contract business, too. ''The U.K. contract market, including the health care sector is really good,'' said Moygashel Sales Director Graham Rhodes.

Moygashel is vertically organized and weaves, prints, dyes and finishes most of its products within the one-group structure. ''We are growing on the back of a traditional Irish design style, taking classical design themes, incorporating linen into the program whenever possible and aiming for the discerning end of the market,'' said Rhodes.

The Moygashel design office, showrooms and warehouses are in the village of Moygashel in Northern Ireland, approximately 40 miles west of Belfast. The dyeing and finishing plant is in Bannbridge just south of Belfast; the main print works (Alexander Drew) are in Rochdale, England. Moygashel is part of Lamont Textiles.