COMPANY PROFILE
For a business that started in a garage 30 years ago, Somac Threads hasn’t done too badly. The Chester- based, family-run firm sets the bar for quality threads, great customer service and keeping the tradition of UK thread manufacturing very much alive. DEBBIE EALES reports.
So far, sew good H
ome to Somac is a sprawling complex of buildings which house the industrial and embroidery threads side of the business, the winding, waxing and lubricating processes. General manager, Paul Dunderdale, joined Somac last February, after more than 20 years with Remploy. He brings extensive sewing experience (with contracts including the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office) to the table and has a vision for where he wants Somac to be as it enters its fourth decade. Top of the agenda is building on the undoubted success of the embroidery threads side of the business which has become a one stop shop for embroiderersʼ needs. “We pride ourselves on the level of service we provide all of our customers,” says Paul. “We offer a next day delivery service with full technical support and no minimum quantities.” Importantly, Somac is friendly and approachable – and far from being a faceless entity.
Somac supplies the brand-leading Kingstar Polyester thread on an exclusive basis throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Mind boggling
Kingstar Polyester thread comes in a mind-boggling 600 shades while Royal Rayon embroidery thread is offered in 500.
The company has sales managers covering the UK and Europe, all with excellent experience in industrial and embroidery thread requirements in a great variety of industries, including carpets, mattresses, upholstery, bedding, safety harness webbing, footwear, embroidery and many others.
Somac also supplies a range of accessories from backing materials to stitch erasers, scissors, prewound bobbins, under thread and stitch erasers. “Weʼre pretty much the best kept secret in the thread world,” says Paul, who is on a mission to catapult Somac into the forefront of printwear embroiderersʼ psyche.
threads. Itʼs fair to say that the manufacturing process has changed little over the years. The winding and twisting machines are efficient and run constantly over a two shift system. “We have an in-house mechanic whoʼs absolutely worth his weight in gold. The parts arenʼt readily available. We fabricate them – we also use local engineers to assist us when needed,” Paul tells me. “Those old twisting machines may not be brand new but they do a fantastic job and the end process is about waxing, polishing, lubricating and thatʼs where the science comes in. Itʼs all about the finishing and where the end product goes.” Twisting the yarn is a skilled job and many of
A | 72 | February 2012
s we walk around the production units, Paul tells me that the threads business is split squarely between industrial and embroidery
Somacʼs staff have been with the company since the beginning. Paul continues: “These guys know what theyʼre doing. Itʼs a very specialist area.” Walking around the production floor, Paul comments: “What weʼre seeing here are winding and twisting machines for polyester and nylons for industries such as the bedding industry, upholstery, carpet and filtration markets. Weʼre probably the biggest supplier to the bedding industry.”
Another profitable side to the business is the manufacture of linen threads and twisted threads. “Itʼs very much a specialist thing thatʼs for high end bedding and the upholstery business,” explains Paul. “Thatʼs still a very large part of Somacʼs set up.”
24 hours a day.” H
“Some of our product will end up in prestigious stores such as Harrods – so clearly everything has to be right – including the thread. “We import raw material from quality overseas sources for our linen products,” continues Paul. “There used to be a thriving linen business but fewer people are in that market.”
I ask if the cotton crisis had an impact on Somac. “Like all thread manufacturers, we have to be aware of whatʼs happening in the market, and where we can, we buy ahead – we buy the raw materials on a three month cycle,” Paul tells me.
When it comes to embroidery thread, customers love the product and love the service, Paul continues. “Some people arenʼt interested in doing small orders but we are. We offer that flexibility. “Itʼs always a balance between servicing small to medium customers and the larger ones we have. I believe all our customers deserve the best we can offer – thatʼs what we strive for.” More recently, Somac signed up as an exclusive
A brief history of thread . . . T
hread has been essential since the very first garments were made. Early thread was made from thin strips of animal hide which was used to stitch together larger pieces of leather and fur. With the advance of civilizations, spinning and dyeing of thread was introduced.
The Egyptians were highly skilled artisans, making thread from plant fibre, wool and hair from domestic animals.
The Egyptians and Phoenicians pioneered the use of berries and plants to make colourful and long lasting dyes while the Chinese and Japanese introduced the art of spinning silk fibres as thread to
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
e believes that in the UK, Somac are unique. “There are not many people winding to this extent,” he continues. “These machines are going
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