Date:25/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/10/25/stories/2007102551252300.htm

Back Lindstrom sets up shop in Chennai

Mr Jukka Roiha

Our Bureau

Chennai, Oct. 24

The Finland-based textile service company Lindstrom has set up a service centre here that will cater to corporate work — wear maintenance and rental.

The centre will offer services such as designing and tailoring employee uniforms, laundry services, packaging, transportation and storage of garments. Three washing machines and two dryers have been brought on rent from the company’s plant in Finland to run operations at Chennai, Mr Jukka Roiha, Chief Executive Officer, Lindstrom Group, said at a press conference on Wednesday. “Currently, we have not made any investments in Chennai but will do so in 1-2 years,” he said.

Perlos Corporation, located at the Nokia SEZ in Sriperumbudur, is Lindstrom India Services’ first client. Lindstrom would deliver about 30,000 garments in the next 2-3 months to Perlos.

Fabric for the garments (anti-static ESD variety for electronics industry and polycotton for regular uniforms) and their tailoring would be done at Lindstrom’s China service centre. “We are looking for local fabric suppliers and tailoring units to cater to clients in future,” Mr Roiha said.

Corporates would have to rent these garments at price ranging between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000 per employee per month, including maintenance charges. There is no benchmark on the minimum number of garments one needs to rent.

The company is currently targeting all industries in and around Sriperumbudur. It expects to have an inventory of 50,000 garments in the next one year and generate revenues of €5 million (about Rs 30 crore) from India by 2012.