Established in 1998, Fencolor Italia provides a comprehensive range of chemicals for both the wet-end and the finishing phases
Fencolor Italia’s story started back in 1998, in Santa Croce sull’Arno (Pisa province), even then acknowledged as a prominent leather district, thanks to two business partners with a remarkable experience in this sector. This brand-new adventure was supported by the willpower and determination of a team of experienced, dynamic technicians, who banded together to tackle the increasingly innovative demands put forth by the domestic as well as by the international markets: hence, the development of a comprehensive range of cutting-edge products, from the beamhouse to the finishing, and the close attention paid to environmental issues. In 2009, the array of drum and finishing articles was completed.
The results of such as a steady growth are apparent: over twenty years of in-depth research have led to the development of a whole line of chemicals, for both the wet-end and the finishing phases, thus providing the tanning industry with constant innovation. Fencolor Italia guarantees not only professional assistance throughout the leather processing cycle and efficient technical support, thanks to its laboratory and to a skilled team of technicians, but also a first-rate, prompt service aimed at solving daily issues. Engaged in the research and development of articles in line with the latest fashion trends, it manages to devise solutions fully compliant with the increasingly strict regulations concerning safety and environmental safeguard.
“The range of wet-end articles,” stated Manuele Zocchi, Fencolor Italia’s Wet-end products manager, when we met him at the corporate headquarters, “encompasses the whole wet processing cycle, from the beamhouse phase up to dyeing through vegetable mineral tanning. The combination of our retanning agents, resins and fatliquors allows to develop a varied array of high-demand solutions. Our company, thanks to a highly qualified staff, ensures the customization of the product according to the customers’ requirements: we work closely with them, so much so that they often become our partners so as to guarantee that constant drive to development that, especially in the fashion industry, is a true competitive asset. Furthermore, the undisputed quality of our articles is further certified by the application of modern technologies such as ZDHC. One of our flagships lies in the so-called “soft dye”, chosen by the most prominent fashion brands and then copied by other enterprises: this pivotal step, that took place between 2009 and 2010, has led to massive breakthrough.”
“The thing we have always guaranteed,” explained Zocchi, “is product customization. Research as well is always carried out together with the customer, through the technical and visual development of the articles: bearing that in mind, we are a full-fledged partner to tanneries, both technically and creativity-wise. Nowadays, the market is looking for something fashionable featuring top-notch technical properties.
Lately, even before the sanitary emergency, brands worldwide have been interested in sophisticated articles and in strict, almost binding, technical specifications, resulting in the high cost of the end products. After all, added-value items, like, for instance, a leather bag, require first-rate quality and characteristics, that must be confirmed even 1-2 years of use.” “As for markets, since the early spring, the situation has become volatile due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
One of our company’s edges lies in the fact that we can rely on an international clientele: therefore, the effects of the pandemic have been partly toned down by customers’ variety. Some markets are starting to recover slightly, we are trying to be ready. We are developing several products for China, India, and, generally speaking, for the whole East, as well as for the USA. A continent we are willing to explore is Africa, both the northern area bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the central one, the latter especially when it comes to footwear. It is an immense, yet strategic territory, with interesting prospects for the future both production and consumption-wise.”
Last but not least, it’s time to focus on environmental safeguard. “Our whole range of chemicals,” explained Manuele Zocchi, “is fully compliant with the current requirements and regulations. Our “green” strategy applies to all production levels: as far as the finishing phase is concerned, the goal is to reduce the amount of substances sprayed and tanneries have been pointing out this issue. The lockdown period has speeded up changes that were already tangible in the tanning sector. Unlike before, during last spring, the entrepreneurs had more time at their disposal to think about and find better solutions for production cycles, while paying special attention to waste reduction and to the use of eco-friendly solutions.”
www.fencolor.it
A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF PRODUCTS DIVIDED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES
Fencolor Italia’s products can be divided into the following categories:
1. Syntans, divided into Fentan (replacement syntans) and Feniren (liquid resins and powders).
2. Auxiliaries, divided into Neutrofen (dyeing auxiliaries) and Fenkal (degreasing auxiliaries, bactericides, fungicides, beam house products).
3. Fenoil Fatliquors, including natural, synthetic and semisynthetic fatliquors, featuring excellent dyeing performances and high exhaustion.
4. Fencolor Dyes, an ample color range standing out for its high exhaustion, for its top-notch PVC and light fastness, washable and mixable in all proportions.