Smit & zoon is to open its first leather application laboratory outside of the Netherlands in Ranipet, India.

Smit & zoon CEO Hans van Haarst was in India last week to sign the contract with Mr A Mohamed Jan at M/s Shaheen Leathers. The new laboratory is expected to open in Q2 and will be managed in cooperation with Kem Finishes, Smit & zoon’s agent for South India.

"Smit & zoon is very pleased to have found such an experienced partner in M/s Shaheen Leathers to start this project and is looking forward to a fruitful collaboration," said Jan Koopmans, sales manager at Smit & zoon. "We consider this step as a further investment towards a strong Indian basis."