‘Although the problems caused by the global financial crisis have not been overcome yet, our restructuring measures are starting to bring about an effect’, says Henning Witte-Abel, DyStar’s newly appointed Business Head Leather. He took over the responsibility for DyStar’s leather business on August 1 from Michael Breitsamer who is to leave the company.
Earlier this year, DyStar set up a broad cost saving program in response to the global economic slow-down. The global organisation was streamlined and some responsibilities transferred to local country level.
According to Henning Witte-Abel, DyStar is able to be more flexible and customer-focused in the local markets now.
In China, for instance, DyStar is expanding its leather expertise. In order to supplement it’s already well established global range of high-quality leather dyes, DyStar has recently launched a new range of locally produced dyes aimed at the domestic market. This initiative has been made possible by taking full advantage of DyStar’s manufacturing facilities in Wuxi and Nanjing.
In the global headquarter of DyStar’s leather business at the German site Geretsried it is planned to employ additional leather technicians and field workers to further optimise customer service.
‘We have seen a slight recovery in recent months in the local markets and will keep on asserting our leading position as provider of high-quality products and outstanding services’, said Witte-Abel. This is to be demonstrated at the ACLE in September in Shanghai where DyStar will showcase its full range of dyes and auxiliaries for leather and woolskin processing, including the launch of some new products.