Clariant outline the future for leather
14 June 2011Swiss speciality chemical makers, Clariant which includes a Leather Services business unit, outlined their future plans at a recent Media Day, held at the London Stock Exchange on June 8. Since 2009 the company has undertaken a broad restructuring program to add cash and reduce cost and complexity. The new company structure is made up of 10 business units including the one for leather which accounts for about 4% of Clariant's global sales.
'An internal review of the Leather Services business unit is due to be completed by September of this year. Once this has been completed, Clariant will focus on key products and markets, particularly China and India', Mathias Luetgendorf, Member of Clariant's Executive Committee told Leather International. It is anticipated that production of some commodity wet-end dyes may be manufactured outside of the Clariant manufacturing structure and the company is to invest more into what Luetgendorf described as 'synthetic leather' products.
'We only see a finite growth of maybe 1% in the world cattle population while the demand for leather and synthetic materials is expected to grow beyond the raw material supply. We want to broaden our offer', he added.
In the review of each business unit presented at the Media Day Clariant stated that they intended to become 'asset-light' for wet-end dyes and enter into non-leather based functional surface coatings. Both of which formed part of their strategical priorities.
Clariant also highlighted the launch of their Granofin F-90 Easy White Tan chrome-free tanning system, solvent free finishing technologies and said that they wanted to strengthen their automotive leather presence and focus on specialties in wet-end chemicals. They also aim to grow in the footwear and furniture leather niches.
