Torento moulds Lankan shoe manufacturing

Shirajiv Sirimane

FOOTWEAR MACHINERY: Torento Engineering Enterprises, which was launched by a former employee of Leather Corporation, is today Sri Lanka's only footwear machinery manufacturing company.

The company started by Dayantha de Soysa in 1986, using his own capital exported their first shipment to Papua New Guinea last week and will export to India next week. De Soysa said when he initially started his business there was no Bank ready to offer him credit. "So I have to find my own finances and today the banks are behind me offering so many benefits," he said.

De Soysa said that he has come to this position without borrowing and he wished to remain like that in the future too.

He said that during the time he started his manufacturing plant there was an acute shortage of footwear manufacturing machines and this was the reason he got in to the business. "Since machines were imported from Europe they were very expensive.

Using his experience at the Leather Corporation he introduced several machines which were well accepted in the industry and even today top local shoe manufacturing companies are using his products since they are cheaper than the imported machinery and durable too.

De Soysa was also the recipient of the United Nations Jeewanshuri award. He said that several small time shoe manufacturers too entered the local market, as his machines were affordable to them. "Today my machines have created several self employment products," he said.

Today by purchasing three or four machines manufactured by Torento Engineering Enterprises, an entrepreneur could become a shoe manufacturer. However today the Chinese machines are entering the local market and this may be a concern. "However my products are still cheaper," he said.

Torento Engineering Enterprises, have also won a series of awards including first place at the Techno 2000 exhibition and the factory is also placed among the top 100 factories for Excellent Business management.

There are about 35 employees, at the Weboda Factory. At the same time a large number of people have recovered job opportunities.

The prevailing labour laws of the country have rested the onus and responsibility of the workforce to the employer.

The Government who is responsible for creating employment for the citizens should make sacrifices of their own.

"As such, the Government must intervene and relax the stringent labour laws which affect the employer and also take steps to refrain from imposing income tax, VAT and grant time for payment of EPF and ETF until an institution achieves stability. In conclusion ideally what should happen is to formulate taxes at concessionary rates and relax stringent labour laws to ensure continuity of the industry," de Soysa said.

With over 20 years of experience, Torento Engineering is equipped to handle all machinery, cutting dies and mould needs for footwear, leather products, garment, packaging and headwear industries.

For small to big clients our products are consistently produced with highest quality and at the lowest possible cost. Most companies rely on us for tight precision at high manufacturing speeds, reduced downtime and maintenance costs that is integrated into an efficient manufacturing process.

Top companies throughout Sri Lanka look to Torento for answers to their questions and solutions for shoe machinery, moulds, cutting dies and other machinery needs.