Officina Meccanica TADDEI, leader in the production of steel drums based in Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa province), is creating an innovative machine intended for the domestic and foreign market
The UNIMATIK drums, built by Officina Meccanica TADDEI, have always stood out for their highest quality: made entirely of stainless steel, boasting unique and almost eternal technical features, they are primarily intended for the high-end fashion industry. The company took advantage of the lockdown months to carry out further research and development projects, which will lead to important innovations that are presumably going to be presented at the beginning of 2021. Working in the Tuscan leather district since 1995, Officina Meccanica TADDEI designs and builds a range of machines for the tanning, retanning, dyeing and fatliquoring of UNIMATIK leather, brand owned by the company. OFFICINA TADDEI, well-experienced in the production of filtration and purification systems applied to laboratory drums, also boasts many years of experience in the repair, overhaul and reconditioning of machines for the tanning industry, in compliance with current regulations in terms of safety (CE mark). Thanks to its long experience in terms of technical assistance, it also offers any kind of consultancy, both mechanical and electronic, also relating to the production cycle. “All the machines we produce – states the owner Federico Taddei – are completely built in stainless steel, and mainly consist in an external static drum and a basket divided into three compartments rotating inside the drum itself. We have gained experience in the use of our UNIK-PEL machines both for the classic and traditional dyeing of bovine and ovo-caprine leathers meant for furnishings, footwear, leather goods and clothing, as well as for the dyeing of fine leathers such as reptiles, from the crocodile belly, to the whole python skin.”
Federico Taddei
Mr. Taddei, what news are coming for your brand? Recently, we starting to develop the prototype of a new machine, our engineers and technicians are completing the designs. We still do not want to reveal the project in all its details, however I can anticipate that it is a hybrid between a “washing machine-like” and a drum; it could represent an important innovation in the tanning sector, we believe it will be very successful. On the timing we’re still uncertain: at the beginning of year, before the health emergency, the set target was to launch it at 2021 Tanning Tech in Milan. The lockdown inevitably have slowed us down but we intend to proceed quickly: by the end of the year we will take the final decision.
Has the pandemic changed your plans? No, the contrary has probably happened. We believe that this machine can be very appealing especially during hard times, economically speaking. As said, I don’t want to reveal the project, but I can confirm that this machine has been conceived in recent years, when working volumes got smaller and the need to offer Italian and foreign customers a more versatile machine, capable of processing all types of leather, has arisen. Coronavirus, extended to all continents, will further slowdown the economy; we are thinking about that, also under the design perspective.
In addition to the study of the projects, did you also use the lockdown period for an internal reorganization? Yes, we did, even if at TADDEI we were already equipped with a lean and efficient structure, so the work was limited, as well as the time needed to comply with the health regulations imposed by the Government.
During this year, how was your business been affected? The coronavirus has certainly slowed down the growth plan, interrupting, at least in terms of numbers, the positive trend that has been going on for some years. The uncertainty of the international situation is actually alarming: customers have fewer enthusiasm in investing, especially when it comes to new machinery. Despite the fact that all the companies had reopened in May, during summer they worked with hesitation, without having any certainty for the future, also due to the fact that the big names did not launch their market inputs. We are living in a precarious situation, objectively not easy at all.
Have you recorded any timid “awakening” in any country throughout June and July? Something has moved, but it is certainly too early to talk about a real recovery.
One last question: are you confident of a market recovery in the second half of 2020 and in the following years? We must necessarily be, this stagnation cannot go on for a long time. It is clear that we expect good news, as well as from Europe, especially from the United States and the East in general. This year will end with negative figures, I guess for all companies, even in other sectors, but it is important to restart the economy and, above all, consumption. www.officinataddei.it