Crest Leather, the UK-based finished upholstery leather company and part of the East Hides Group, have bought the former Valdapone tannery in Vestenanova, Arzignano, from the Italian Leather Group.

The acquisition was finalised in November 2002 and production commenced under Crest management at the beginning of December. The tannery is now fully operational under the name Conceria di Vestena.

The purchase of the Vestenanova tannery provides Crest with their own facility capable of producing up to 6 million sq ft of finished leather per month. In addition, Crest also intend to continue contract processing at selected tanneries in Arzignano, as they have been doing since they first started producing finished leather in 1996.

The company aim to increase their current production to 4-5 million sq ft per month by December 2003 and the new tannery will enable them to achieve this target without compromising on rigorous quality controls or reliability of deliveries.

Furthermore, with all the facilities and control of their own tannery, Crest will now concentrate on broadening their range of new, high-quality full grain and aniline upholstery leathers, at the same time increasing the production of their existing ranges.