Smit & Zoon commemorate 180 years

The Dutch leather chemical manufacturer Smit & Zoon celebrated 180 years in business during the Asia Pacific Leather Fair held in Hong Kong last month. The actual anniversary was on April 1. The company invited staff and agents to the Jockey Club in Hong Kong followed by a barbecue at the nearby Lantau Island. A lottery for customers was also held on the company's stand during the show. Habib Shaikh of Shaikh Brothers Tannery was the winner. The company have a background of blending and purifying oils for the leather industry. They moved from Amsterdam to Weesp in 1971 and started concentrating on producing special fish oils. In the early 1980s Smit & Zoon started developing synthetic retanning agents. Today, Smit & Zoon provide a modern range of fatliquors, waterproofing agents and syntans for the leather industry from their purpose built factory in Amersfoort which was completed in 1987. Virtually all of their production is exported to 70 countries worldwide. They have introduced a number a new innovations which were highlighted during the APLF. These included a range free formaldehyde syntans.