Our History
In 1974, Uwe Kumst, a German export merchant from Hamburg (who came to Jamaica in 1964), founded Omni Industries Ltd. as a manufacturing concern for PVC plastics products. Starting with plastic garden hoses, the company quickly grew to manufacture PVC conduit pipes for electrical use, and shortly after started the extrusion of a wide range of PVC water pipes.
In 1984, Wilfried Bergmeier, a German plastic engineer, joined Omni Industries Ltd. as Technical Director, and the company’s expansion continued. An Injection-Moulding Department was added which manufactured PVC pipe fittings and in 1986, Von White, a Jamaican marketing expert, was brought in to lead a highly motivated sales force of 12 persons and its own fleet of delivery trucks.
In 1996, Patrick Kumst, MBA, joined the company as Financial Director. Over the years, Omni Industries Ltd. saw tremendous growth annually, both in production output and sales.
Omni Industries Ltd’s success in the marketplace spurred their expansion into PVC water pipes and fittings, for pressure and drain applications. Also, the Injection-Moulding Department offers a wide variety of molds for bottles crates, houseware items for the kitchen, laundry, garden and commercial containers.
In 2002, Omni Industries Ltd. purchased well-known Thermo Plastics Limited and relocated their operation to a larger facility in Spanish Town. This acquisition allowed for the expansion into new product lines, creating Omni Industries Ltd. as the only manufacturer of industrial packaging products.
We are now considered the leading distributor of PVC pipes in Jamaica.
Omni Industries Ltd.
Despite a sluggish economy over the past few years, Omni Industries Ltd. still managed to consistently grow and from 2016 to 2019, sales grew by 30%. The year of 2020 brought with it numerous challenges due to the effects of the COVID19 pandemic and operations were impacted in several ways. Firstly, with the implementation of social distancing measures, opening hours were reduced which resulted in a loss of business opportunity. Secondly, production hours were lost when mandated protocols called for general curfews and manufacturing activities were scaled back by 1/3rd of capacity (normally a 24-hour operation). Thirdly, when the government ordered a total lock-down of all economic activity in the parish of St. Catherine, Omni Industries Ltd. had to close.
This closure, however, was short lived because Omni Industries Ltd. manufactures packaging materials for the food industry (buckets and crates), they were deemed an essential service and an exemption was given. Production commenced, however, customers could not access Omni Industries Ltd’s facilities as this lockdown restricted their movement. Omni Industries Ltd. continued to make deliveries utilizing a fleet of trucks, but the capacity of this was limited and as a result sales suffered.
COVID-19 also impacted the industry and market segments in which Omni Industries Ltd. operates. The closure of the tourism industry impacted the company’s customer base and many hardware stores on the North Coast and Westmoreland, who were being supported by the hotels, either closed their doors or scaled back on their purchases. The temporary closure of all construction activities also affected sales and those two segments represent a large market segment of Omni Industries Ltd’s sales.
Lastly, the COVID pandemic disrupted supply chains as countries closed their borders and trade had virtually ceased. Omni Industries Ltd. was able to maintain a steady flow of supplies by shifting orders from one region to the next, however, this came with additional challenges and at a higher cost.
Despite these challenges, and when COVID19 crippled world markets, Omni Industries Ltd. managed to maintain a high level of sales. This was attributed to the fact that the company services several market segments and while the tourism industry has yet to see any major improvements, construction activities have resumed.
Projects
Investing In Our Future
Solar Energy Retooling
Omni Industries Ltd. is continuously looking to lower operating costs and increase production efficiencies in order to become more competitive globally.
Investing In The Community
Covid-19 Initiative
Omni Industries Ltd. engaged in the ministry’s “Adopt a Clinic” programme, which has pulled in more than $130 million in support from charities and corporate entities to upgrade health facilities across the island in its first five years.
OUR FUTURE
Our company has invested in renewable energy and installed 300 KW of solar panels which effectively reduced electrical expenses. Three new Injection-Moulding machines were purchased in the last two years to replaced old equipment and have resulted in increased efficiencies. In its present stage of development, Omni Industries Ltd. has successfully maintained its market share over the years and in order to continue to do so means to continuing looking at ways to lower operating costs, increasing production efficiencies, and becoming more competitive globally.
There are plans to continue to replace older equipment with new, more efficient machines and also to invest in new injection moulds to expand into new markets.