Rainco

Rainco is a privately held Sri Lankan company best known for umbrellas, mosquito nets and rainwear. Its origins date to 1977, when entrepreneur S. L. M. Fausz began producing umbrellas with five employees from a small house in Kadugannawa, Kandy. The early business was built through experimentation and small-scale manufacturing rather than through a large industrial launch. After a separation from its original partners, the operation was re-established in 1990 as Sri Lanka Umbrella Industries, initially selling umbrellas under the Globe brand. The company adopted the Rainco name in 2000. Rainco developed from an umbrella producer into a broader consumer-goods business. Its umbrella range includes compact and straight models for women, men and children, as well as garden and beach umbrellas. It also produces custom-designed umbrellas for organizations and other customers seeking branded promotional or corporate merchandise. Rainwear, including raincoats and related garments, extends the company's core focus on protection from wet weather. Mosquito-control products form a second important area of activity. Rainco manufactures mosquito nets and has been described as the first company in Sri Lanka to receive ISO 9001:2000 certification for umbrella manufacturing. It has also been identified as the only producer of ISO 9001:2000-system-certified mosquito nets in South Asia. In addition to its own manufacturing, Rainco has served as the Sri Lankan distributor for PermaNet pre-treated mosquito nets and curtains produced by the Swedish company Vestergaard Frandsen. The portfolio has also included Cottonmax socks for adults and children, Silver shoe polish and other shoe-care products, baby mosquito nets, cot sheets, and baby feeding and nursing products. Rainco has additionally acted as the Sri Lankan representative for selected international brands, including Cartoon Network, indicating a business model that combines manufacturing, distribution and brand representation. By 2015, published descriptions reported four production factories in Kadugannawa and Mawanella, a workforce exceeding 1,200 across the wider company, and a dealer network of more than 7,000. Factory information also described monthly output of more than half a million umbrellas and over 50,000 mosquito nets, with more than 700 workers employed in the factories. Rainco's products were reported as being exported to the Maldives, India, Mauritius, Singapore and Seychelles. The company's market position rests on local manufacturing, a broad dealer network, product certification and a practical portfolio spanning rain protection, vector-control products and selected everyday consumer goods.

Rainco began in 1977 as a small umbrella-making operation in Kadugannawa, Kandy. Entrepreneur S. L. M. Fausz started the business with five employees and developed its manufacturing methods through trial and error. The initial enterprise was subsequently separated from its partners. In 1990, it was relaunched under the name Sri Lanka Umbrella Industries, with umbrellas sold under the Globe brand. The business adopted the Rainco name in 2000. This marked the beginning of a broader identity for a company that was no longer limited to a single umbrella label. Rainco expanded its manufacturing and distribution activities into mosquito nets, rainwear and other consumer products. Its mosquito-net activities included both locally manufactured products and the distribution of PermaNet pre-treated mosquito nets and curtains made by Vestergaard Frandsen of Sweden. Quality certification became an important part of the company's profile. Rainco was described as the first company in Sri Lanka to obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification for umbrella manufacturing. It was also described as the only producer of mosquito nets in South Asia with ISO 9001:2000 system certification. The company manufactured numerous umbrella designs for different user groups, including women, men and children, together with garden, beach and custom-branded umbrellas. Rainco's product scope later included raincoats and other rainwear, Cottonmax socks, Silver shoe polish and related shoe-care items, and baby-care products such as mosquito nets, cot sheets and feeding and nursing products. The company also represented selected international brands in Sri Lanka, including Cartoon Network. Published company descriptions from around 2015 reported four factories in Kadugannawa and Mawanella, a dealer network of more than 7,000 and a workforce of over 1,200. Factory operations were reported to employ more than 700 people and to produce over half a million umbrellas and more than 50,000 mosquito nets per month. Rainco products were exported to the Maldives, India, Mauritius, Singapore and Seychelles. Later 2019 coverage highlighted mosquito-protection initiatives, promotional campaigns and cooperation with the Education Ministry. The available reference material does not establish a current ownership structure, current executives, present production scale or a corporate website.

• 2019

  Mosquito-protection initiatives and promotions

  Sri Lankan media report mosquito-net initiatives, an Education Ministry collaboration and island-wide promotional activity.

• 2015

  Expanded manufacturing footprint documented

  [1]Raincoen.wikipedia.org

  Published descriptions report four factories, a large dealer network, exports to several countries and substantial umbrella and mosquito-net production.

• 2003

  ISO 9001:2000 umbrella certification

  [1]Raincoen.wikipedia.org

  Rainco becomes the first company in Sri Lanka reported to obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification for umbrella manufacturing.

• 2000

  Rainco name adopted

  [1]Raincoen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopts Rainco as its principal name and brand identity.

• 1990

  Business relaunched as Sri Lanka Umbrella Industries

  [1]Raincoen.wikipedia.org

  Following a separation from its original partners, the operation is re-established as Sri Lanka Umbrella Industries and sells umbrellas under the Globe brand.

• 1977

  Umbrella manufacturing begins

  [1]Raincoen.wikipedia.org

  S. L. M. Fausz starts a small umbrella-making operation with five employees in Kadugannawa, Kandy.

A Sri Lankan consumer-products company centered on practical weather-protection and household-protection products, with an emphasis on local manufacturing, certification, broad distribution and accessible everyday use.

• Weather protection · 1977

  Umbrellas

  Rainco's core product line includes compact and straight umbrellas for women, men and children. The company has also produced garden and beach umbrellas in multiple colors, designs and fabrics, and has undertaken custom production of branded umbrellas for organizations and commercial customers.

• Vector-control and household protection

  Mosquito nets

  Rainco manufactures mosquito nets and has been associated with ISO 9001:2000-certified mosquito-net production. It has also distributed PermaNet pre-treated mosquito nets and curtains in Sri Lanka as the local representative of Vestergaard Frandsen.

• Weather protection

  Rainwear

  The rainwear range includes raincoats and related garments offered in different colors and designs. It extends Rainco's original umbrella business into wearable protection for wet-weather conditions.

• Apparel

  Cottonmax socks

  Cottonmax is a Rainco-associated sock brand serving adults and children. The reference material identifies the range but does not provide additional information about its current assortment or distribution.

• Footwear care

  Silver shoe-care products

  Silver products include shoe polish and other shoe-care items such as shoe deodorants and renovators. The line broadens Rainco's portfolio beyond weather and mosquito protection into everyday personal-care maintenance.

• Baby and nursery goods

  Baby-care products

  The baby-care assortment has included baby mosquito nets, cot sheets, and feeding and nursing products. The available material does not specify individual product names, launch dates or current availability.

• 2019Thegi Dela Mosquito Net Promotion

  Sri Lanka

  A Rainco promotional initiative centered on mosquito nets and household mosquito protection.
• 2019Tharageta Kuda Halamuda island-wide promotion

  Sri Lanka

  An island-wide Rainco umbrella promotion under which winners were publicly rewarded.

  Outcome. Daily Mirror reported that promotion winners received rewards.
• 2019Education Ministry collaboration

  Sri Lanka

  Rainco collaborated with Sri Lanka's Education Ministry in an initiative reported by the Sunday Observer. The available reference does not specify the full program design.

• 2003

  Quality certification for umbrella manufacturingOther

  Background

  Rainco sought formal quality-system recognition for its umbrella manufacturing operations.

  Action taken

  The company obtained ISO 9001:2000 certification and was described as the first Sri Lankan umbrella manufacturer to do so.

  Aftermath

  Certification became a distinguishing part of Rainco's quality and manufacturing positioning.

  Source

• 2000

  Adoption of the Rainco brandStrategy

  Background

  After operating as Sri Lanka Umbrella Industries and selling umbrellas under the Globe brand, the company moved to a new corporate and consumer-facing identity.

  Action taken

  The Rainco name was adopted as the principal brand name.

  Aftermath

  Rainco subsequently developed a broader portfolio spanning umbrellas, mosquito nets, rainwear and other consumer products.

  Source

• 2019

  Rainco mosquito-proof nets endeavour to protect every household

  Campaign · Other

  Daily FT reported on Rainco's mosquito-net initiative and its stated aim of expanding household protection against mosquitoes.

• 2019

  Rainco teams up with the Education Ministry

  Campaign · Other

  Sunday Observer reported on a Rainco collaboration with Sri Lanka's Education Ministry.

• 2019

  Rainco Thegi Dela Mosquito Net Promotion

  Campaign · Other

  A Lanka Business News report covered Rainco's Thegi Dela mosquito-net promotional activity.

• 2019

  Rainco rewards winners of Tharageta Kuda Halamuda island-wide promotion

  Campaign

  Daily Mirror reported on Rainco rewarding winners of its island-wide Tharageta Kuda Halamuda promotion.

1. 1Raincoen.wikipedia.org