Synergistically suited

Traditionally involved in the textile sector, Rotta GmbH identified that both the textile and leather finishing businesses have a great deal in common and often the technology overlaps. So when the opportunity arose to buy Heim Lederchemie, one of Germany's most established leather chemical companies, they took it. 'Rotta has been built up on a strong commitment to research and development, and when we decided to acquire Heim Lederchemie we could see that there was a natural synergy and an overlap in technology between textiles and leather', says Dr Albrecht Müller, managing director, Rotta GmbH. 'The only difference is that the man-made fibres used in the textile industry are more homogeneous and uniform than those of leather. We can see some cross-fertilisation of the businesses and we feel that it is possible to develop Heim further using Rotta's excellent R&D and application facilities', he added. Dr Müller was invited by the owners of the company to join Rotta in 1999 following 30 years' experience in the nearby BASF plant at Ludwigshafen. Since his appointment, Müller has overseen the amalgamation of Heim into the Rotta organisation. The leather division of the company will now be marketed as Rotta Heim Leather Chemicals. Heim Lederchemie were established 50 years ago and have built up a business producing leather finishing products and pigments. Klaus Freund, the current marketing manager at Rotta Heim, is the third generation to be involved with the company since his grandfather established the business in Eppstein close to Frankfurt. Faced with strong competition from companies such as Stahl, Clariant, Bayer and BASF in the leather finishing market, Heim reached a critical point in their history and needed a partner to grow the company further. Freund explains: 'Our former factory was in the middle of Eppstein and to expand we needed to build a new larger and more modern factory out of the town centre. That's when we met up with Rotta and decided that they could help us to realise our expansion ideas.' The Rotta family acquired Heim for an undisclosed sum and have recently completed the relocation of Heim from Eppstein to Mannheim, close to the Rhine in western Germany. The production and sales departments were moved step by step and were completed last April. Also at that time, a modern production plant for pigment preparations was put into operation in Mannheim. From August, the leather marketing department, headed by Freund, transferred and a new enlarged application laboratory for leather was completed. The leather department now accounts for around 15% of the Rotta Group's sales, while textiles account for 65%. Rotta employ 250 people worldwide of which 30 are directly employed in the leather division. Heim produce around 250 different finishing products and pigments for leather. 'Heim were one of the first companies to produce cationic finishes and pigments as long as 15 years ago. Heim finishes of this type are famous with tanners all over the world', says Freund. They also produce pigments and other products for other companies. Approximately 95% of all leather products are exported. Major markets include China, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan in Asia, Italy and Germany in Europe and Mexico in Central America. Rotta also have a facility in Türkiye. Last year, Freund spent 220 days travelling and he estimates that he visited 40 different countries. 'The market is looking for compact finishes, waterbased top coats and cationic finishing systems', he says. 'Recently, we have been developing new pu resins following requests from customers.' The majority shareholder of Rotta is Dr Gertz Rotta, the third generation of the family to control the business. A smaller stake in the business is also held by Dr Dolf Stockhausen. The Rotta Group also have business interests in adhesives and recently sold part of their business to the German chemical conglomerate Hoechst. For further information contact: [http://www.rotta-group.com]