Dermacolor, company based in Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa province) and specialized in the development and production of leather processing chemicals, took part in the event held in Arzignano: environment-wise, the corporate commitment is steady
At the forefront in terms of research investments and commitment to environmental safeguard. DERMACOLOR was established in 1981, when the two partners met, that is, Umberto Palagini and Carlo Meucci, the former a technician and the latter a businessman: over the years, they have managed, with passion and determination, to turn their company into a benchmark for the leather sector, gaining immediately the leadership in the Tuscan district. Headquartered in Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa province), the firm is now specialized in the study and production of leather processing chemicals, both for the wet-end and the finishing phases: the R&D department is located in fully-equipped, state-of-the-art laboratories, where, through safe chemical formulations fully compliant with the current regulations, it develops chemicals conceived to meet the enterprises’ requirements. The corporate structure features two major areas, sales and technical, and it ensures a well-established know-how by grasping market inputs and by promptly implementing the required solutions to guarantee the utmost customer satisfaction. The sales branch comprises the overseas as well as the Italian departments, the shipping division and the administration, while the technical unit consists of the analysis and research laboratory, quality control and the tanning workshop. Recently, DERMACOLOR was one of the key protagonists at ProssimaPelle, held on October 29th, 2021, in Arzignano (Vicenza province): it was a new experience for the Tuscan enterprise (at least as far as the Veneto-based exhibition is concerned), given that it did not attend the maiden edition in 2019, while, in 2020, the show was cancelled due to the health emergency and to social distancing regulations. The event, promoted by UNPAC (the Italian association that gathers Italian manufacturers of chemical tanning auxiliaries), welcomed 39 exhibitors (overall, the attending brands were approximately fifty), most of them proceeding from the local tanning district: among those coming from other regions, there was DERMACOLOR too. “For this event,” explained Andrea Meucci, technical manager, as we met him during the event, at the elegant corporate stand, “we have showcased FUTURE WHITE, that is, the new Wet-White pre-tanned article, devoid of glutaraldehyde: it is a product that features a remarkable dynamic stability, as well as excellent storability and preservation capacities when dry, so much so that it allows to dry leather and re-use it even after years, without problems. All the leathers on display, both chrome-tanned and metal-free, were made with this latest innovation.” In the last couple of years, marked by the health emergency, DERMACOLOR has managed to grow, in spite of the difficulties, thanks also to the significant investments in both R&D projects and in environment-oriented activities. Hence, the numerous innovations launched on the market, set to earn the clientele’s positive recognition, even that of high-end fashion brands.
“We are constantly on the lookout for something innovative,” added the technical manager, “for products that can gain a strong foothold on the domestic market as well as internationally. Luckily enough, we have been dealing with this kind of pre-tanned solution for approximately twenty years; therefore, we have acquired a sound experience. It is an article that DERMACOLOR has been manufacturing in-house for quite some time, and several enterprises are using it. Moreover, it is currently undergoing tests concerning biodegradability in compost.”
A source of worry, on the other hand, lies in the economic and market situation, deeply affected by truly anomalous external factors, that might result in a new stalemate phase production- and trade-wise.
“Luckily, the last months of the year,” stated Andrea Meucci, “have highlighted a positive trend when it comes to sales rate, a data counterbalanced by the bad news concerning raw materials. As a matter of fact, despite the slow, yet progressive growth registered throughout 2021, the market has been forced to witness constant, substantial price increases, as the costs of several products have risen threefold or even fourfold. A trend directly tied to the raw materials’ increases.”
In any case, as a whole, this year, now close to its conclusion, has been definitely a positive one. And this is an encouraging sign that bodes well even for 2022 turnover and proceeds.
“Right in the early weeks of the year,” confirmed Meucci, “we launched on the market an innovative, certified process line called D-Light Blue, awarded with the ISO 17033-2019 certification, conceived to completely skip pickling operations, that is, the most dangerous phase in chrome tanning, thus resulting in remarkable benefits with regard to the environmental and social sustainability of the production cycle as well as in a marked decrease in manufacturing costs and time. The positive results achieved in 2021 make us mildly confident in view of 2022, even though we hope that the raw materials’ situation can be solved rapidly. Our firm’s commitment will focus, as always, on the research and development of new, increasingly sustainable solutions, just like Future White and leather biodegradability.”
Andrea Meucci e Marco Soro