Aletti Giovanni e Figli srl, the company that with its passion for innovation and technology has earned the title of being a point of reference for the Italian tanning sector, offers customised solutions and an after-sales service of the highest level, confirming its leadership in the market.
In the splendid setting of Varese, among the green hills and crystal-clear waters of Lake Maggiore, there is an enterprise that has been a point of reference for the Italian tanning industry for over seventy-five years: Aletti Giovanni e figli srl. Founded in 1947 by tanning industry pioneer Giovanni Aletti, the company has been able to grow and develop over the years, becoming one of the most innovative and technologically advanced companies in the sector.
Technological innovation is in fact one of the strengths of Aletti, which has always invested in new technologies to improve the quality of its products and services. Thanks to its experience in the sector, the company has succeeded in developing state-of-the-art machinery for leather processing, which allows it to obtain top quality products with unparalleled efficiency and precision. The innovation of this company does not only stop at the production of machinery: it has also developed advanced software solutions for production management, which allow the entire production process to be monitored and controlled in real time. Of absolute excellence, the highly professional and customised after-sales service guarantees prompt technical intervention to solve any problems and provide technical support to its customers. In short, Aletti Italia is an example of how innovation and technology can be at the service of people and the environment. Thanks to its passion for innovation and quality, the company has succeeded in gaining a leading position in the Italian tanning sector, offering customised solutions that include a modern range of machines for sheep and goatskins; a series of technologically advanced machines for bovine and pig skins; special machines for textiles, microfibre and non-woven fabrics, such as the belt grinder, an innovative product with particularly advanced technology that allows, among other things, exclusive ‘pattern grinding’; machines for the rubber, cork and synthetic materials sectors; a complete range of dust removers for all cleaning requirements; and, finally, the flagship, the complete range of buffing machines, of which Aletti is proud to be the oldest manufacturer in the world, still in operation. Ezio Aletti, third generation at the head of the company, opens the doors of his business and grants us an exclusive interview.
For a company like yours, keeping up to date with technology is of fundamental importance. However, given the current world situation, how is the market responding?
“Speaking of the current market, I have the feeling that we are in a period of great uncertainty, characterised by multiple factors that are converging negatively on consumer goods. Inflation, interest rates and changes in materials are just some of the elements that are contributing to a difficult situation.
Personally, I do not see any market that can claim a bright situation at an international level. Although, it is important to emphasise that, despite the difficulties, there are always opportunities for companies that know how to adapt and innovate like ours. This is something for which we are internationally recognised’.
In which markets are you most present?
“In recent years, the market has been very variable, but China has played an important role. Our company, which operates not only in the leather sector but also in other sectors, decided to specialise in a very specific type of machine in order to find different applications and innovative developments. This choice has allowed us to offer a fairly wide range of machinery used in many different sectors. In particular, we are known for our grinders that work on flexible materials such as leather, cork, synthetic leather, PVC, rubber and microfibres. Although the experience we have gained has been crucial in tackling the problems we have encountered, we cannot deny that working in often challenging technological fields such as these requires constant effort. However, we are aware that specialisation is a key element to remain competitive and innovative, and we continue to invest in research and development to constantly improve our products’.
You have a long history…
“In the tanning industry, we have a lot of experience gained from our work at Santacroce. In fact, we were the first to introduce the conveyor belt machine and we have perfected this type of machinery thanks to the feedback from the subcontractors we work with. In addition, we have developed new dust extraction machine models, including a six-headed one with a brush that was the first of its kind on the market. We are constantly researching and developing new solutions to meet our customers’ needs and remain competitive in the market.
In recent years, you have produced machines of considerable size. Is this a trend?
“Five years ago we started our project with the 3200 conveyor belt machine, and now we are proud to say that we have taken this model to the next level with the 3300 machine. This has proved to be a successful choice, despite the fact that the current market situation has limited the number of machines produced. Nevertheless, we have managed to produce several machines of this type, and we continue to work to constantly improve the quality of our products and meet the needs of our customers. We are aware that research and development are key elements to remain competitive in the market and we will continue to invest in this area to ensure our future success.”
You are a company in constant evolution: what technologies are you working on now?
“As a company, we work a lot on microfibre and are constantly looking for new innovative products that can improve our work and lead to previously unthinkable results. In particular, we are focusing on a number of products that will offer new processing possibilities, with the aim of meeting the needs of our customers and maintain our leading position in the market. We are convinced that innovation is the key to evolving and growing as a company, and we continue to invest in research and development to ensure our future success.
Your success also depends on the fact that your machines also work on very difficult materials…
“In this sector, calibration to the “hundredth of a millimetre” is essential to achieve the desired results. In particular, for printing rubber, it is necessary to have a material with specific characteristics of coarseness, the control of which is extremely sophisticated. We have developed a machine, with a 1800 mm table, that can read the material and guarantee accurate measurement with a tolerance of 0.01 mm. In addition, we have created a thickness control system with electronic drive, which can be controlled via touchscreen. Although it is a very challenging area, we have managed to overcome the difficulties and have already set up two production lines that guarantee excellent results. We will continue to work to improve our technologies and meet the needs of our clients.
Innovation above all?
“As a company, we are proud to say that the latest innovation related to the leather industry was developed by us. The new technology, which we call ‘3D buffing’, has been employed in a new belt grinder equipped with a ‘combined double oscillation’ of the abrasive paper belt, which allows a special movement and guarantees exceptional buffing. The unique combined double oscillation system (patented) represents a significant step forward compared to traditional machines, allowing any scratches produced by the abrasive on the leather to be eliminated, resulting in a ‘super-finish’. Longer sandpaper life and consistent sanding quality are further advantages of the new technology. The innovation, after long and successful experimentation and after the patenting phase, will be presented at the next Tanning Tech 2023, with the intention of reaffirming the leadership of Aletti in the sanding sector”.
Is there a material that represents a limit for your machines?
“We specialise in the buffing of flexible materials. Since 1947 we have been designing and building buffing machines for leather and since 1967 we have been designing and building belt buffing machines for all sectors. We are convinced that, thanks to our unique experience in the buffing industry and the significant range of products tested on our machines, there are no particular obstacles in capitalising on our unique belt buffing technology.
from the left: Carlo and Ezio Aletti