Over 4 months after w88 đăng nhập signing of w88 đăng nhập Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Vinatex and Coats Group on w88 đăng nhập production of flame-retardant fabrics and garments, Vinatex has well prepared for production, while Coats has actively promoted w88 đăng nhập market to export w88 đăng nhập first shipments in 2024. This can be seen as a new step in production, moving away from w88 đăng nhập increasingly competitive traditional textile garment manufacturing sector and expanding opportunities in niche markets.
Preparations for Production
In March 2024, Vinatex and Coats Group (UK) signed an MOU on w88 đăng nhập production of flame-retardant fabrics and garments. To prepare for w88 đăng nhập project, Vinatex has actively invested in infrastructure, equipment, and personnel, while Coats has sent experts from India to Vietnam to guide and transfer technology and production processes.
Mr. Pham Xuan Trinh, CEO of Vinatex, stated that flame-retardant fabric is a key product in Coats Group’s development strategy for w88 đăng nhập next five years. Therefore, Coats has thoroughly prepared in terms of research and product development, leveraging w88 đăng nhập advantages of this product, which Coats has already implemented in Mexico and India. For Vinatex, w88 đăng nhập company has been consistently focusing on developing based on strengths in w88 đăng nhập supply chain from spinning, weaving, and dyeing, to sewing to meet w88 đăng nhập needs of global customers. This cooperation is based on w88 đăng nhập strengths of both parties, as well as w88 đăng nhập scale and potential of w88 đăng nhập market. Additionally, w88 đăng nhập preparation for producing this “special” product includes numerous principles and regulations such as market, personnel, factory, and technology requirements. Vinatex has now fully prepared resources to work with Coats, receive information, transfer technology, and produce samples. Essentially, some sample products have met w88 đăng nhập technical requirements set by Coats.
“However, we have encountered some initial challenges due to w88 đăng nhập use of special chemicals, different from regular chemical suppliers. Some chemical product labels require 1-2 months to order and deliver to Vietnam. These chemicals need to meet global standards for chemical residues and prohibited chemicals for flame-retardant fabrics. Even if certain chemicals can be used, if they contain components listed as banned for flame-retardant fabrics, they cannot be used. All chemical and dye suppliers must be ‘evaluated’ to meet w88 đăng nhập requirements from Coats before Vinatex signs contracts to bring them into production. In terms of fibers, Coats currently supplies part of them, and they also introduce reputable suppliers evaluated according to global standards, especially premium cotton such as Egyptian cotton, and Pima cotton. Under w88 đăng nhập MOU, w88 đăng nhập manufacturer must ensure and be responsible to w88 đăng nhập consumer, making this a ‘key’ criterion that Vinatex must adhere to in long-term production, through careful selection of raw materials, chemicals, and dyes,” Mr. Pham Xuan Trinh said.
Mastering Technology and Production Processes
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Vu, Deputy General Director of Natexco, shared that when being selected as w88 đăng nhập production unit for w88 đăng nhập new product line, Natexco’s leadership extensively informed all employees about this project, recognizing it not only as a political task but also as an opportunity to transform in many aspects, such as production foundation and long-term business efficiency. Additionally, this is an opportunity for Natexco to enhance w88 đăng nhập supply chain, providing a complete product chain under Natexco’s brand.
According to a survey conducted by Coats’ expert team, Natexco meets over 90% of w88 đăng nhập requirements for equipment, and production conditions. However, there are still some requirements for equipment investment. w88 đăng nhập company’s leadership sought guidance from Vinatex on investment policies and received support from w88 đăng nhập group regarding both policies and implementation methods. Additionally, assessments on fire prevention, signage, pathways, exits, and policies for workers need to be completed according to Coats’ requirements.
“During w88 đăng nhập preparation, Natexco conducted trial production (from w88 đăng nhập weaving stage) using flame-retardant yarn provided by Coats to evaluate and adjust parameters and control w88 đăng nhập technology. w88 đăng nhập weaving process met w88 đăng nhập technical specifications, and Coats’ experts highly appreciated w88 đăng nhập skills of Natexco’s workers in w88 đăng nhập sewing stage. However, w88 đăng nhập finishing process needed some adjustments. After re-production, even when w88 đăng nhập woven fabric met w88 đăng nhập requirements, we still re-wove to meet w88 đăng nhập high technical specifications and fabric structure in terms of warp density, weft density, and shrinkage… For w88 đăng nhập dyeing and finishing stage, color parameters needed adjustment. By w88 đăng nhập end of July, two new fabric samples had met w88 đăng nhập technical requirements with correct color on w88 đăng nhập first trial. In a short time frame with w88 đăng nhập support from Vinatex’s leadership, w88 đăng nhập project team, and w88 đăng nhập collective effort of Natexco’s staff, we have enabled control of w88 đăng nhập technology from weaving to dyeing and sewing. In August, Coats’ experts visited Vietnam for two weeks to continue implementing w88 đăng nhập yarn spinning stage, aiming to produce w88 đăng nhập first batches by August” emphasized Natexco’s Deputy General Director.
Broad Market Potential
Vinatex’s CEO mentioned that in early August 2024, w88 đăng nhập partner designated by Coats evaluated w88 đăng nhập infrastructure, production capacity, working conditions for workers, and other policies at w88 đăng nhập manufacturer. As a result, Vinatex scored 92 points, a relatively high score for a first-time evaluation of a new product produced by Vinatex. With some lack of equipment for w88 đăng nhập finishing stage, Vinatex will immediately invest to meet w88 đăng nhập technical requirements of w88 đăng nhập U.S. and EU markets. During w88 đăng nhập evaluation process, Vinatex also promptly understood w88 đăng nhập concerns of workers and made timely adjustments. Most workers are satisfied with w88 đăng nhập improved working environment, enhanced labor risk prevention measures, improved working conditions, and welfare aiming to create a green environment and green factories throughout w88 đăng nhập supply chain.
“In August and September, we will produce orders worth approximately $500,000 for some customers to try w88 đăng nhập products. This is a crucial step in evaluating w88 đăng nhập market and customer satisfaction with w88 đăng nhập product before officially launching it and receiving subsequent orders. These are specialized products with high technical characteristics that meet w88 đăng nhập strictest standards of w88 đăng nhập U.S. and Europe, not traditional products. Therefore, if major brands well accept these products, w88 đăng nhập market potential will certainly be possible. In addition, we will provide w88 đăng nhập market with two main products: flame-retardant fabric made from flame-retardant materials (fibers, flame-retardant yarn) and flame-retardant fabric made from conventional materials (cotton, fiber) coated with flame-retardant chemicals. Both products meet w88 đăng nhập highest technical standards for these special fabrics. However, w88 đăng nhập product made from flame-retardant materials will be more expensive, while w88 đăng nhập product coated with flame-retardant chemicals will lose its technical characteristics (after about 30-60 washes), depending on w88 đăng nhập type of cotton or TC. For w88 đăng nhập domestic market, Vinatex and Coats expect to offer products made in Vietnam to current partners who are importing flame-retardant fabrics. w88 đăng nhập goal is to supply locally, replacing brands currently supplying FOB production in Vietnam for some specialized industries. Additionally, we plan to build a PR program about w88 đăng nhập quality level of w88 đăng nhập fabric in line with w88 đăng nhập two Vinatex’s strategic products, depending on w88 đăng nhập needs of each customer,” noted Mr. Pham Xuan Trinh.
Recently, Mr. Le Tien Truong, Chairman of w88 đăng nhập Board of Directors of Vinatex, inspected w88 đăng nhập preparation for w88 đăng nhập system evaluation of w88 đăng nhập flame-retardant fabric project in collaboration with Coats Group. Mr. Chairman said, “w88 đăng nhập current status of w88 đăng nhập factory, including both w88 đăng nhập internal organization and exterior landscape, has completely transformed compared to six months ago when w88 đăng nhập Group’s inspection team visited. In just over four months since w88 đăng nhập official signing of w88 đăng nhập MOU with Coats Group, a significant amount of tasks has been completed.”
w88 đăng nhập Chairman highly appreciated w88 đăng nhập achievements of w88 đăng nhập flame-retardant fabric project and w88 đăng nhập effort of w88 đăng nhập project management team, especially Natexco in organizing and operating w88 đăng nhập project in recent months. w88 đăng nhập preliminary evaluation results are very promising, and w88 đăng nhập Chairman offered w88 đăng nhập project management team to continue addressing w88 đăng nhập recommendations from w88 đăng nhập experts, aiming to achieve over 80 points in w88 đăng nhập official evaluation. w88 đăng nhập project is on w88 đăng nhập right way, with w88 đăng nhập operational system running smoothly and efficiently. w88 đăng nhập Chairman also tasked w88 đăng nhập project management team with ensuring w88 đăng nhập completion of w88 đăng nhập order production in w88 đăng nhập final months of 2024 as committed to w88 đăng nhập partner, while also reviewing personnel needs, investing in equipment for production, and proactively addressing any other issues.
