Specialized in the development of leather finishing chemicals, the Tuscan company has been met with great success not only in Italy, but also on the international markets. Headquartered in Castelfranco di Sotto, right in the heart of Tuscany’s leather district, Finikem has grown into a prominent name in the field of tanning chemicals, dealing with the development, manufacturing and sales of articles for the finishing phase. Established in 1990, the company is part of Lapi Group, one of the world’s leading corporations in the business: thanks to modern plants and cutting-edge technologies, Finikem provides its clientele with high-performance solutions featuring a competitive price/quality ratio, fully compliant with the increasingly demanding requirements set by technical and safety specifications. Moreover, the annual investment plan allow to pursue new growth and internationalization goals. To learn more about the success of this all-Italian enterprise, we interviewed Piera Lotti, Finikem’s general manager.
Can you tell us more about the corporate structure? The company was founded in 1990 under the aegis of Lapi Group, dedicated exclusively to the field of leather finishing chemicals. In Castelfranco di Sotto, less than one kilometer away from the hub of the Tuscan tanning district, we own a modern, efficient facility equipped with state-of-the-art production plants. Our pride and joy are the in-house laboratories: on the one hand, the chemical one focuses on research and quality control, while, on the other, the application lab is designed to look like a small tannery, where to effectively carry out the required tests. Moreover, the R&D department is constantly invested in the development of new products, in full compliance with the regulations concerning safety and environmental safeguard. We can also rely on a valuable cooperation with fashion and design studios, in order to give life to articles and finishes abreast of the latest fashion trends set by the most renowned brands as well as in step with the needs of the ever-changing market.
What is your role within the company? I have been working in this Group for forty-three years and I have had the chance to try out different divisions, both in the company Figli di Guido Lapi S.p.A and then in Finikem. I started off at the data processing centre, where I spent five years; later, I was moved to the sales and logistics department. There, I got to face a completely different reality. After the establishment of Finikem, I continued my experience in the sales sector, taking care of both sales and purchases: the company was just founded and, due to the lack of employees, we had to roll up our sleeves and cover many roles. The next step was to learn more about accounting, a major responsibility. I was determinate and a little bit afraid, but it has turned out to be a pivotal experience for my vocational training. From April 2017, after the retirement of the manager Ciaponi, the Lapi family appointed me as the General Manager. Even though I am not as young as I was at the beginning of my career, I have accepted this challenge with the same determination and less fear, as I am supported by a highly qualified team of collaborators.
What are the flagship qualities of Finikem’s products? The key to our success lies in the quality of our products. As a matter of fact, special attention is paid to all the phases of the processing cycle, ranging from the selection of raw materials to packaging, and each single details is thoroughly monitored. All the items undergo constant quality controls, both incoming and outgoing, so as to provide our customers with efficient, high-performance solutions. The corporate technicians are devoted to the research and development of new products, finished and effects. Furthermore, we take part in the most important trade shows worldwide, the perfect occasion to meet up with our agents and to keep us up-to-date on the latest market trends.
What are your main end markets? Finikem has been one of the first Italian companies in the chemicals feel to gain a foothold on the Chinese market, that, to date, is still one of our main export destinations, flanked by other strategic countries such as India, Turkey, Portugal, Mexico (that hosts Lapimex, a firm belonging to Lapi Group), Pakistan and Morocco. We sell our products also in Taiwan, Tunisia, Greece and Colombia; besides that, thanks to the Turkish agents, we can also make some deals in Iran and Palestine. Finally, we have recently launched partnerships in Bangladesh, Poland and Ukraine. Currently, exports account for 60% of the turnover, while the remaining 40% share refers to domestic sales. The main goals for 2018 concern the widening and strengthening of the domestic market, especially in our district, as well as the further expansion of the internationalization strategy.
What do you have in store for the upcoming future? At the latest edition of Simac Tanning Tech, we showcased a range of fluorescent dyestuffs as well as a new line of UV-detectable dyes, in order to meet the tastes of the “Millennial Generation”. Finally, there are high expectations for the launch of ReStar, low-impact products that ensure unprecedented standards in terms of finishing quality. They are designed to be used exclusively with TopStar, the machine manufactured by Gemata that manages to distribute the product in a continuous and uniform way, thus leveling out the grain and getting a natural effect at lower costs. We have in store other ambitious projects, but, I will not talk about them out of superstition. All the energies of my team are focused on guaranteeing a better service to our customers, both current and future ones. www.finikem.com
Established under the aegis of Lapi Group, Finikem is a prominent company in the field of tanning chemicals, especially for the finishing phase
