Synonymous with the production of leather, wool and fur dyes, Jos H Lowenstein & Sons Inc (JHL) have been a well known name in the leather industry for a number of years. The company was founded in 1897. In the past few years they have expanded their product range of leather chemicals and now they supply leather and wool dyes, fatliquors, syntans and finishing products.
‘JHL have been actively involved in the leather business for a number of years. In the last two years the company has put much more effort into leather chemicals and dyes’, says Zvonko Markovich, director, technical services, leather dyes and chemicals. ‘It is an area where we see a lot of potential growth, particularly in overseas markets.’
JHL have recently added three new products to their range and full description can be seen in the product news section of this issue. When Markovich joined the business last September he immediately reduced the product range and replaced a number of older items with an updated inventory of leather chemicals. The current range includes 25 dyes, 12 fatliquors, 5 syntans, 5 resins and 6 auxiliaries.
Lowenstein have a number of clients in the US domestic market but have decided to target foreign tanners as that is where they have identified growth in the tanning business. Over the past few months the JHL representatives have visited a number of overseas markets including Russia, the former Russian republics, China and the Far East. ‘We sell on superior quality, lead time and technical support’, says Markovich.
The JHL production plant (100,000 sq ft) is located in Brooklyn, New York, with easy access to local ports and airports. The current company president Stephen J Lowenstein is the third generation of the family involved in the business and the fourth generation have already become involved. As well as leather, JHL have active markets in hair colouring, fur and cosmetics.
The production plant in Brooklyn also features five research and quality control laboratories with the latest analytical testing equipment, a pilot plant, warehouse and offices. The company employ 120 people and have a worldwide network of agents and distributors.
As well as the production site in the US, JHL have production facilities close to Chennai in India and last year they began manufacturing some of their product range from a new plant in Xinfeng approximately five hours drive from Shanghai in China.