A new product of mosquito coil manufactured in Lautoka by a joint venture company with local and Taiwanese shareholders has hit the market, according to an article published by The Fiji Times on May 1, 1990.
The article said the product was made by Formosa Chemicals (South Pacific) Ltd at its factory in Drasa, off the Kings Road between Lautoka and Ba, which manufacture local mosquito coils.
Manager Kuolong Chen told The Fiji Times that shops in Fiji were yet to inform the company about the market response of the new product.
The company was pushing for government controls on mosquito coils containing the substance DDT, which is harmful to health, therefore, they began selling the product at a low price aimed at showing government that a local company could make mosquito coils.
Around 22 were employed with $300,000 investment to set up the factory including machines, raw materials and packaging.
Mr Chen said the factory was able to produce 80 tonnes or 30,000 coils a day and during rainy weather, the coils were carefully stored in a specially built room with a drying system which drew out moisture that prevented coils from bending.
Over 5000 trays were kept in stock, but the company aimed to achieve 10,000 trays so production could meet the South Pacific market.
Raw material such as sawdust was obtained locally, whereas other important materials were obtained from Singapore or Taiwan.
The article said the company used an ingredient, which ensured that the coil would burn up to eight hours.
