Ongoing investment at Packer

Australian finished leather manufacturers, Packer Tanning, have just completed the installation of a new automatic drying and finishing system at their plant in Narangba, close to Brisbane, Queensland. The upgrading of the plant is part of an ongoing modernisation of the tannery which processes mainly kangaroo skins for gloving and footwear applications. Packer was fairly upbeat about the company's future when Leather International spoke to him at the ACLE in Shanghai. 'We are still positive about the market situation and business in China is going well at the moment. We are fulfilling a number of contracts for large companies who manufacture finished products using our leathers in China and south east Asia. China is not always an easy market to sell finished leather into but we produce a material which is unique to Australia and having brand recognition is important to the Chinese', he said. Packer also said that the weakness of the Australian dollar (A$48 cents = S$1) also helped them when exporting finished leather. Packer have major markets in the north, central and southern regions of Asia as well as the US and Europe. Approximately 80-85% of Packer's production is kangaroo. Kangaroo has unique physical properties providing lightweight leather which is also soft and has a high physical strength. These properties make Kangaroo ideal for soccer boots, gloves and bowling shoes as well as dress footwear.