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R. Balaji

Plans to set up more shoe lasts facilities

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Chennai Feb. 1 Kunz Shoe Last Development (India) Pvt Ltd, the subsidiary of Brazilian maker of shoe lasts Formas Kunz, hopes to commence production at its Chennai facility by September, according to Ms Roseli Gewehr, Director, Kunz Shoe Last.

The company is initially investing $1 million to set up a factory to make shoe lasts, the foot-shaped mould around which a shoe is built, for footwear manufacturers.

The facility with a capacity to make 1,000 pairs of lasts a day is coming up at Irrungattukotai industrial park near Chennai.

Ms Gewehr said that once the facility starts production, the company plans to immediately set up more such facilities to cater to the increasing demand for shoe lasts.

There are less than a handful of high quality shoe lasts manufacturers in India and footwear exporters look to China and Italy for their needs.

Target audience

Kunz would manufacture lasts for a range of shoes for men, women and children.

The Brazilian company is one of the largest manufacturers of shoe lasts with a capacity to produce over 75,000 pairs a month at its 10 factories in Brazil.

The company is yet to tap the Indian market. "Distance was a limitation," she said.

But with the growth in shoe exports from India and more capacities being established continuously, Kunz Shoe Last decided to set up a facility here.

Production delayed

The company had earlier planned to start production early in 2007 but had to reschedule because of various reasons including the monsoons, she said.

Mr Mike Eliseou, Director, Texon (India) Pvt Ltd, the company that is to handle the distribution and marketing of shoe lasts in India, said that shoe manufacturers would need about 300 pairs of lasts for every 1,000 pairs of shoes.

Indian exporters need over 5 lakh pairs of shoe lasts every year. Each factory handles about 40-50 styles of shoes a year.

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