Lasa Diversifies Offerings With Recent Mill Acquisition
January 5, 2001
Nespereira, Guimarães (Portugal) — Terry producer Lasa has acquired a nearby large textile mill, renamed Luzmonte 2, to complement the group's range of bathroom and bedroom products.
The purchase enables Lasa to move into bed and kitchen products and other household textiles. The acquisition is part of a continuous development plan that has seen Lasa grow consistently since it was founded in 1977 by Armando da Silva Antunes and his family.
Lasa makes a wide range of terry products such as bath towels and beach towels as well as bathrobes for children and adults. The company has a turnover of around $30 million. With 400 employees, the group is completely vertical and includes facilities for spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing, embroidery and making-up.
The units cover an area of 20,000 square meters, with the spinning plants of group subsidiary Filasa adjacent to the main production area.
The modern yarn-spinning facilities operate year-round on a three-shift basis. They include two integral open-end plants (12 frames) and also a ring spinning plant (four frames) for combed yarns installed in 1996. The yarn-dyeing department began operating in 1997 and is considered one of the most modern in Europe. Dyeing processes include yarn dyeing on cone and both batch and continuous dyeing for fabric.
The units cover an area of 20,000 square meters, with the spinning plants of group subsidiary Filasa adjacent to the main production area. These operate year-round on a three-shift basis and include two integral open-end plants (12 frames) and also a ring-spinning plant (four frames) for combed yarns installed in 1996.
Computer-controlled color-matching equipment ensures consistency of shades. The company said that its finishing processes achieve an excellent handle that has set the standard for plain-dyed terry.
Sixty of the latest-model Sulzer Textil weaving machines have an output of 3,000 tons a year. Four Karl Mayer warp-knitting machines produce an additional 400 tons a year of knitted terry towel garments.
The making-up department includes continuous side- and end-hemming equipment for towels, while a multi-head embroidery machine offers an embellishment service for contract goods.
Gift boxing and packaging such as towel bales are also offered.
Lasa works to international standards and has achieved the ISO 9002 and Oëko-Tex quality certificates.
The company exports around 85% of its production, principally to Europe and the U.S.A. Customers include designer names, multiple retailers and major store groups, as well as converters and mail order groups. Lasa has sales offices in Spain and Italy, and plans to open more in other countries in the near future.
"While there is currently a lot of pressure in the market, we are not so concerned with the competition from Asia. Customers know our quality," said da Silva Antunes. "Lasa is always the first to have the latest equipment and we are continuing to invest in quality, design and service."
He explained that while improving efficiency and reducing costs are part of the current strategy, Lasa's inward investment is now concerned with maintaining its technological lead rather than expansion of the operation.
"Lasa is consolidating its export market share by innovation, quality control and shorter lead times to create a basis for lasting customer satisfaction," added daughter Fatima Antunes. "This strategy is working well."
• Lasa - Armando da Silva Antunes SA, Lug. das Pedrinhas-Nespereira, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal. Tel: +351 253 584747. Fax: +351 253 567000. E-mail: lasa.geral @lasanet.pt. Heimtextil: Hall 5.0 Stand C64.
The purchase enables Lasa to move into bed and kitchen products and other household textiles. The acquisition is part of a continuous development plan that has seen Lasa grow consistently since it was founded in 1977 by Armando da Silva Antunes and his family.
Lasa makes a wide range of terry products such as bath towels and beach towels as well as bathrobes for children and adults. The company has a turnover of around $30 million. With 400 employees, the group is completely vertical and includes facilities for spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing, embroidery and making-up.
The units cover an area of 20,000 square meters, with the spinning plants of group subsidiary Filasa adjacent to the main production area.
The modern yarn-spinning facilities operate year-round on a three-shift basis. They include two integral open-end plants (12 frames) and also a ring spinning plant (four frames) for combed yarns installed in 1996. The yarn-dyeing department began operating in 1997 and is considered one of the most modern in Europe. Dyeing processes include yarn dyeing on cone and both batch and continuous dyeing for fabric.
The units cover an area of 20,000 square meters, with the spinning plants of group subsidiary Filasa adjacent to the main production area. These operate year-round on a three-shift basis and include two integral open-end plants (12 frames) and also a ring-spinning plant (four frames) for combed yarns installed in 1996.
Computer-controlled color-matching equipment ensures consistency of shades. The company said that its finishing processes achieve an excellent handle that has set the standard for plain-dyed terry.
Sixty of the latest-model Sulzer Textil weaving machines have an output of 3,000 tons a year. Four Karl Mayer warp-knitting machines produce an additional 400 tons a year of knitted terry towel garments.
The making-up department includes continuous side- and end-hemming equipment for towels, while a multi-head embroidery machine offers an embellishment service for contract goods.
Gift boxing and packaging such as towel bales are also offered.
Lasa works to international standards and has achieved the ISO 9002 and Oëko-Tex quality certificates.
The company exports around 85% of its production, principally to Europe and the U.S.A. Customers include designer names, multiple retailers and major store groups, as well as converters and mail order groups. Lasa has sales offices in Spain and Italy, and plans to open more in other countries in the near future.
"While there is currently a lot of pressure in the market, we are not so concerned with the competition from Asia. Customers know our quality," said da Silva Antunes. "Lasa is always the first to have the latest equipment and we are continuing to invest in quality, design and service."
He explained that while improving efficiency and reducing costs are part of the current strategy, Lasa's inward investment is now concerned with maintaining its technological lead rather than expansion of the operation.
"Lasa is consolidating its export market share by innovation, quality control and shorter lead times to create a basis for lasting customer satisfaction," added daughter Fatima Antunes. "This strategy is working well."
• Lasa - Armando da Silva Antunes SA, Lug. das Pedrinhas-Nespereira, 4800 Guimarães, Portugal. Tel: +351 253 584747. Fax: +351 253 567000. E-mail: lasa.geral @lasanet.pt. Heimtextil: Hall 5.0 Stand C64.
