AmSafe Bridport opens new factory at BOI’s Wathupitiwala EPZ

• Move creates new production and employment opportunities

BOI enterprise AmSafe Bridport Ltd. opened a new factory in Phase III of the Wathupitiwala Export Processing Zone.

Amsafe Bridport Ltd. was established in November 2001 as Wathupitiwala and was formerly entirely British but is now a fully US-owned company. The company was originally named Bridport Aviation. Ian Kentfield brought this project to Sri Lanka.

The formal opening of the new factory included the unveiling of a plaque by AmSafe Bridport President Jason Abbott. Members of the AmSafe Bridport Board, who had arrived from the UK and senior officials of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, were also present at the occasion.

General Manager of AmSafe Bridport’s operations in Sri Lanka, Chandani Ekanayake, briefed those present on the new development. “The recent expansion reflects our company’s continual growth. We started with 35,000 square feet of space dedicated to production and later added another 75,000 square feet. Currently, we have a staff strength of 550 employees. This recent addition of 55,000 square feet will set the stage for even more production and therefore employment by AmSafe Bridport.” Ekanayake also spoke of the company’s innovative and niche products, saying: “Over the years AmSafe Bridport Ltd. has considerably expanded and diversified the range of products manufactured by the company. We began with cargo pallet net sub-assemblies but are now the world leaders in this product, with most international airlines being our clients. We now dominate the manufacture and supply of cargo pallet nets and tie-down straps. “We have now embarked on producing more complex products, many of which have been developed in Sri Lanka. These include a fire containment cover that can withstand 815oC of heat.  “Other novel products we manufacture are the fireproof barriers and 9g barrier nets that are made for the Airbus A400 military transport aircraft and the B767 tanker aircraft used by the US Air Force. AmSafe Bridport Ltd. has also started manufacturing non-steerable troop parachutes. We have also, at different stages, made camouflage nets and protection nets against rocket-propelled grenades. Naturally, these are products made to meet very high standards of manufacture. “

AmSafe Bridport Ltd. President Abbott also spoke of AmSafe Bridport’s highly-trained human resources.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the efforts of the dedicated and committed workforce in our plant in Sri Lanka. Your work ethic is amazing. In fact, 75% of everything which our company does comes out of here. I wish to add that the dedicated team is the reason why we continue to invest here. A company is only as good as its employees,” he said.

“This new facility was due to be opened in May but due to the recent tragic events we changed the date. This is a $ 2.3 million investment in Sri Lanka. We opened this facility as part of our commitment to continue our investment and growth in Sri Lanka. I wish to thank the BOI for its continued support. We will continue to invest in this country. Thank you for making this company what it is today.”