Based in Trissino, Vicenza, Komet was founded in 1991 by Gianfranco Baldo. Today, the company stands as a leader in providing products, support, and expert consultation for finishing leather and synthetics.
The story of Komet is a testament to the entrepreneurial and family spirit of the Baldo family in Trissino, a town deeply rooted in the Arzignano leather district. Komet’s specialization lies in supplying and assisting with products and consultancy for finishing leather and synthetics. The head of the family, Gianfranco Baldo, masterminded this venture. After extensive experience in designing and constructing machinery for leather and synthetic finishing, he established Rollmac in 1991. Rollmac swiftly became a benchmark in the finishing sector, thanks to its innovative technologies, and was later acquired by the Gemata group. That same year marked the beginning of Komet’s journey. Building on accumulated expertise, Komet specialized in the sale of release paper, cylinders, tapes and other accessories, providing complementary and specialized services to clients in this industry. Over three decades of growth and innovation have seen the company conquer challenges and solidify its position in both the Italian and international markets.
The company is now spearheaded by Gianfranco’s three children: Mattia, Sara and Gioia. Speaking of their father, they shared, “He’s eased his workload a bit, but he’s still active and present in the office every day. He taught us an immense amount, and even now, he offers invaluable advice. His contribution is fundamental to developing new projects. We’ve always stood by our clients, seeking solutions that anticipate trends in leather goods, footwear, furniture and automotive through the creation of innovative products. This extensive experience has allowed us to build a substantial ‘database’ rich in diverse designs and solutions, enabling us to deliver a unique service and meet every customer request.”
How is your company structured?
“Providing swift service and efficient warehouse management are crucial to us, even with the considerable costs and investments involved. It’s our primary strength, enabling us to consistently be prompt. With the release papers we keep in stock, we can fulfill orders within 24 hours, and even on the same day when using our own vans. Our warehouse boasts hundreds of A3-sized sheets of available designs for initial lab tests, alongside an equal number of 50- and 100-linear-meter rolls for industrial trials. We also maintain an adequate stock of industrial rolls for immediate delivery to meet production demands.”
Given that your company has been innovative for a long time, what are your core strengths?
“Our core strengths also include the selection of top-quality products and creativity, supported by original proposals tailored to specific business needs.
Another cornerstone of our strategy, recognized even by competitors, is our ability to provide exceptional service and consultancy. This isn’t just about our inventory; it’s about offering diverse and innovative solutions when presenting a particular item. Beyond release paper, we supply other finishing products, including foils and printing cylinders. Finally, there’s an added value: the finishing product is just one piece of the puzzle. The technique used is equally crucial. Thanks to our extensive experience in designing application machinery and systems, we’re adept at selecting and recommending the best solutions to achieve the desired outcome.”
Considering the selective nature of the tanning and fashion industries, who would you say are your key partners?
“Our primary partners are, of course, the companies within these sectors. However, we also cultivate significant collaborations with leading chemical product manufacturers. They frequently enlist our help on specific projects, knowing that our products can help them create flawless articles for their clients.”
Which sectors are you primarily serving at the moment?
“Our client base has always included both tanneries and synthetic material manufacturers. The latter have seen consistent year-on-year growth, forming the ‘bedrock’ that helps us navigate fluctuations across various sectors. The specific types of products vary depending on the Italian and international districts. For instance, in Santa Croce, fashion predominates, while in Arzignano, the focus is on furniture and automotive. Overall, the automotive sector has consistently accounted for the majority of our turnover for several years, spanning both leather and synthetics.”
What’s your assessment of the Italian and international markets since the start of the year?
“It’s important to acknowledge that the economic trend in recent months has been volatile and forecasts remain uncertain. Currently, our market share is higher in Italy, with exports hovering around 40%. Internationally, we’re observing a slowdown, particularly in Europe. However, there are notable differences not only between continents but also within individual countries. Lately, we’ve faced challenges abroad, as synthetic material clients, despite having long- term plans, have experienced intermittent work due to declining consumption. Nevertheless, we weren’t caught off guard. We’re actively developing innovative projects for car and train interior linings. We recently traveled abroad to showcase samples developed with fresh ideas. The automotive sector, in particular, is increasingly seeking new concepts to stand out from the competition.”
How are automotive trends evolving, including color palettes?
“Previously, car interior colors were typically subdued, with classic, understated lines. Now, with electric models, there’s a strong drive to make cabins more vibrant, focusing on geometric designs like larger dots and circles, often colorful and fashion- forward. These are undoubtedly diverse proposals that require development, and we are well-equipped to provide various solutions.”
Anything significant on the regulatory front?
“Regulations imposed by the European Union are crucial to consider, particularly concerning deforestation. This will oblige full traceability for paper manufacturers, including knowing which forests were utilized. It appears not all Japanese manufacturers intend to comply, but as for our partners, we have paper arriving in our warehouse that already holds FSC certifications. While this will undoubtedly increase costs, we firmly believe it’s the right path, allowing us to achieve traceability ahead of others.”
Regarding Komet: what will be the main innovations for 2025?
“We’ve recently embarked on new tests, responding to the demands of numerous companies that, lacking adequate systems, are seeking new finishes with cutting-edge, high- performance release papers. For these clients, we’re introducing innovations like rolls with pre- coated paper. By utilizing a hot rotary press, a common piece of equipment in tanneries, the pre- coated film on the paper perfectly adheres to the leather, ensuring high-definition designs in reduced time. Simultaneously, we’re conducting research and tests with major chemical companies to achieve novel coating effects on paper.”
How do you position yourselves in the market?
“In February, for the third consecutive year, we exhibited at Lineapelle, a fair we’ve attended in the past. We’re extremely pleased with this edition; we made numerous contacts, and some new clients are already testing our products. Furthermore, our presence at the fair provided valuable support to both long- standing and new clients in the release paper finishing sector, where the operational methods aren’t always widely understood. It was an excellent opportunity to introduce our system’s dynamics and opportunities to those interested in learning more.”
What key strategies are you prioritizing?
“Our strategies include, for instance, a wide range of our applications. Our catalog is remarkably extensive, featuring over 200 unique and innovative designs, offering solutions that many might not have thought possible. This approach allows us to meet the needs of tanneries that often work with standardized products, lacking the flexibility to modify designs and shapes. Komet’s strategy, however, guarantees this flexibility, even for a limited number of hides. It’s increasingly common for a partner to visit our Trissino office with an end-user, bringing a sample or sketch from which they envision developing a new article or project. On such occasions, we are always delighted to share our expertise and collaborate with the client to bring their project to fruition.”