Volpi celebrate 50th anniversary

Heavy leather tanners, Volpi Giuseppe SpA, officially celebrated 50 years in business on May 12, 2001, at their headquarters in Ponte a Egola, a province of Pisa, Italy. Volpi Giuseppe snc was established in 1951 by Giuseppe Volpi and today he operates the company with his two sons Romano and Vinicio. The Volpi tannery became an SpA in 1985 and today there are three tanneries in the group. The founder's grandson, Giuseppe Volpi, is also involved in the business as managing director. The Volpi, Aberdeen and Rocca tanneries produce traditional vegetable tanned leather for footwear soles. Despite recent technological innovations, about 70 days are still needed to produce fine quality leather using many traditional practices. Approximately 80% of the company's production is for sole leathers. 'The company has been around for 50 years and the future for sole leather looks fine. Italian designers have bought leather soling back into fashion again', Giuseppe Volpi, managing director, told Leather. 'Since 1999 the market for sole leather has been growing and we forecast that the rest of this year and into 2002 will continue to see sole leather popular with consumers', he added. The Volpi Giuseppe tannery produces leather for men's footwear, while the Aberdeen tannery specialises in producing leather for women's articles. The Rocca tannery uses hides exclusively from Switzerland for the production of the finest quality leather for items such as leathergoods or belts. Other hides and skins are imported from France. At present, the entire family participates in administrative functions both inside and outside the business. Emanuela Fiammelli, Romano Volpi's wife, is currently president of the Consorzio Vero Cuio Italiano (The Real Italian Leather Consortium) and vice-president of the Tanners' Association of Santa Croce. Production: Upon delivery hides are checked and cut by experienced cutters. First, the hides undergo various preparatory drum procedures before being immersed in vats containing vegetable tannin, chestnut extract, for a natural tanning process. The hides proceed from the liming department to the tannage and finishing department. The Volpi's tannery also produces cut soles for both Italian and foreign clientele. Their warehouse based in Boston supplies the entire United States.