Uztex, Uzbekistan based leader in the production of socks has inked a EUR 40 million contract with Lonati, world’s leading manufacturer of socks machinery that claims to output 30% of Uzbekistan’s textile production, for the supply of 1,024 machines. This is one of the largest orders in the history of the Brescia based textile machinery manufacturer signed in Zurich last month.

The deal also involves sock finishing lines manufactured by Tecnopea, the Lonati Group’s company specializing in automated machines for ironing and packaging of socks. The delivery of the equipment is scheduled to take place at the end of 2016 and in the beginning of 2017.

Ettore Lonati, President of the Brescia Group said that having selected by a company like Uztex as a partner for their new project for the production of men’s socks for the Russian market is a source of satisfaction and pride.

This order is the latest in a series of large orders received by the Italian company from Uzbek, which since 2015 has entered into a number of agreements for the supply of more than 1,000 of the latest generation automatic closed toe socks knitting machines, bringing to 2,064 the overall share of total equipment purchased.

The negotiations with Uztex, which was founded in 2007 and can spin 11,000 tons of cotton a year at its two plants in Tashkent and Shovot, began four years ago, with first meetings held in Uzbekistan, Italy and Turkey. They were followed by the closer assessment of the product to meet the real needs of the customer, the company reports.

Uztex has grown considerably over the years. Two years since its foundation, the company expanded with Uztex Chirchik for the production capacity of 11,000 tons of dyed yarns and fabrics per year.

Since 2010, a new department was formed for packaging 12 million items of clothing and in 2016 a new plant in Namangan was installed for the production of 7,000 tons of towelling material per year. In 2015 the company also doubled the Shovot site, which can now produce 8,000 tons of combed yarn per year.

Lonati, established in 1946, is today the world's leading manufacturer of men's and women's hosiery machines, with about 8,000 machines produced each year, exported to over 60 countries. Some of the most important markets for Lonati are China, Turkey, Pakistan, Central America and USA.