Orsha Linen Mill invested Br53 billion in production in 2008-2009.

December 28, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. RUPTP "Orsha Linen Mill" invested Br53 billion in production development in 2008-2009, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the enterprise's General Director Vladimir Nesterenko. Technical re-equipment of all four factories of the mill has been underway since 2007. The largest project during this period was the re-equipment of Factory No. 1. A Swiss-German line for processing short flax fiber, a spinning and spinning preparation equipment complex of Swiss production, and modern weaving equipment have been installed here. The modernization has made it possible to produce cottonized fiber and produce high-grade yarns from it - linen and blended (two- and three-component). "Initially, it was planned to sell this yarn as commodity products, but we revised the assortment, and today its actual main part goes for our own consumption as import substitution. The yarn is used to replace decorative cotton yarns, which had to be purchased before, as well as for sewing suit fabrics," said Vladimir Nesterenko. Technical re-equipment has allowed the linen mill to master the production of new types of products and significantly expand its assortment. At the same time, one of the main goals of modernization was to master the production of fabrics and yarns with new properties and improve their quality. "Overall, we have managed to achieve this goal," emphasized the General Director. He also added that currently, the most important area of activity for the enterprise is the production of fabrics in the form of finished products, as this significantly increases the cost of the final product. In addition, the linen mill places tolling orders at sewing enterprises of the republic. Regarding the results of the closing year, Vladimir Nesterenko noted that in the first half of the year, the linen mill experienced a decline in production volumes associated with the global financial crisis. However, in the third and fourth quarters, it managed to reach 88% of last year's output and positive profitability. By the end of the year, profitability is expected to be 1-2%. As of December 1, compared to January 1, 2009, the volume of commodity products in warehouses decreased by 1 million meters of fabric, or by 8%, to 11 million meters. In the current year, the linen mill has been developing sales markets. Trial batches were supplied to Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, and Japan. In total, sales were carried out in more than 30 countries. "Exports in January-November increased by 11% compared to the same period in 2008, but in terms of the share of delivered products, due to the fact that the domestic market consumed more, the share of exports slightly decreased and amounted to 56%," said the head. Orsha Linen Mill was established in 1930. The leading enterprise of the light and textile industry of Belarus includes four factories. The mill produces over 30 million linear meters of finished linen fabrics per year. The main assortment of finished products includes table and bed linen, and half-linen bedspreads. There are over 120 branded sections of the enterprise operating in Belarus. The number of employees is about 6,000 people. -0-