At the Simac Tanning Tech exhibition, the Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa) company cemented its commitment to sustainability. Further bolstering its green credentials, Dermacolor is currently advancing a sulfur-free enzymatic liming project, slated for refinement and broader implementation by 2026
Dermacolor’s “green” mandate remains its cornerstone. At the 2025 edition of Simac Tanning Tech, the company, a specialist in formulating and manufacturing chemicals for leather processing, spanning both wet- end and finishing stages, based in Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa), reaffirmed its long-standing dedication to social and environmental sustainability, a strategy that has repeatedly proven its merit. The Tuscan firm once again showcased an exceptionally elegant stand, featuring a carefully curated and extensive display of fine leathers.
“Our core focus this year,” stated Andrea Meucci, Dermacolor’s Technical Manager, “has been driven by evolving market demands that necessitate minimizing bisphenol content in leather. We have also placed considerable emphasis on biobased products, which are delivering stellar performance. For example, our Dermalene PRF, a keratin hydrolysate, is a new-generation, bioactive filler that significantly enhances the fixation of components onto the hide. It effectively acts as a ‘liquid skin’ supplement, boosting the leather’s reactivity and overall performance with subsequent chemical treatments. This product generated significant interest among both domestic and international operators throughout the fair.”
The push for sustainability and environmental stewardship is particularly pronounced, driven by the luxury and high fashion sectors. “Alongside this,” Meucci elaborated, “there is a persistent and growing demand for traceability and uncompromised quality, coupled with improved consumption efficiency. The current challenge is maintaining our high- quality benchmark while simultaneously optimizing production costs. Process efficiency has been a key driver in our R&D over the past year: we successfully developed a product, for example, that helps minimize chrome tanning effluent, and the results have been excellent. The market trajectory is firmly set in this direction; there is no going back. In this complex and economically uncertain climate, our chosen strategy is to elevate product standards even further, leveraging quality as our primary competitive edge.”
Discussions surrounding the future dynamics of international markets, particularly the uncertainty surrounding global duties and tariffs, were also prominent at the event. “In recent years, our revenue split has remained stable, with approximately 75% focused on the Italian market and 25% on export. The export percentage has significant growth potential, given our established presence and successful expansion into new territories: quantitatively, our export figures continue to climb. Crucially, we are also experiencing growth in the domestic market, meaning the ratio remains constant with our overall turnover increasing on both sides.”
Looking ahead, Dermacolor’s leadership continues to allocate substantial capital to its technical and research departments, with several major projects already slated for the coming year. “We are heavily invested,” Meucci concluded, “in a sulfur-free enzymatic liming process. This project is already well into advanced trials, and in some cases, live production, with results exceeding expectations. Throughout 2026, we plan to fully refine this process and expand its application across a wider network of tanneries.”
