MANUFACTURING company Omni Industries, sections of which were gutted by fire over a week ago, is back to full production, the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) announced yesterday.

Omni's sister company Flexpak Limited is back at 80 per cent production capacity, "ensuring that all industrial customers are adequately supplied with their packaging needs", the JMA said in a release in an obvious effort to prevent any further losses to the company.

The fire, which started in the wee hours of January 19, gutted a warehouse at Omni Industries and partially damaged machinery used in the manufacturing of its various Thermoplastic products.

The fire, which burnt well into the following Monday, forced the company to temporarily send home approximately 70 workers, whom general manager of the company, Noel Alcott, said would be called back when the company begins to "restore areas of our operations".

Yesterday, the Jamaica Observer could not ascertain how many workers were recalled.

In JMA President Brian Pengelley said that there was no need to import products that the companies supply.

"...Production has now been resumed, demonstrating resilience in the midst of adversity," he said in a release.

According to the chairman of Omni Industries, Uwe Kumst, "We want consumers to know that Omni Industries and Flexpak are alive and kicking after the destruction of our warehouse and 20 per cent of our machinery."

Omni Industries has started manufacturing PVC pipes again, which is key to its operation, with a full range of pipes now in stock. In addition, the Injection-Moulding Department has managed to get two production units running at full speed in manufacturing bottle crates, industrial buckets and houseware. Another four production units are expected to be up and running this week.

"We are very proud to have the support of hard-working employees who literally worked around the clock to make this happen. And we are equally proud to share that the majority of our workers will be able to return to work within the next few days," stated Kumst.

A team of JMA officials is expected to tour the factories on Thursday.