Positive 2021 for Vicenza-based company operating in the international tanning sector and offering cutting-edge technology
“When the post-pandemic world market stabilises and the economic recovery gets underway, quality will be even more crucial than before”. This is the opinion of entrepreneur Santino Mecenero, owner of TEKNOLEATHER in Arzignano (Vicenza), a company operating in the international tanning sector and offering cutting-edge technology, service flexibility, know-how and high-quality chemical products, to ensure the best possible performance at all stages of processing. In the last two years, dominated by Covid-19, the Veneto-based company, located in Arzignano and the Chiampo valley, the world’s most important leather district, has continued to grow in terms of research and development of high-performance, high-tech, environmentally friendly products.
“The final analysis for 2021 is positive”, said Santino Mecenero, when we interviewed him at the start of February, “and the outlook for 2022 is also good, especially if, as is expected, global consumption returns to growth in the post-Covid period. The reality is that the main cause of concern in recent months has been the sometimes rash price increases for raw materials. Added to that and equally out of control is the cost of gas and fuel, which is impacting businesses severely, with the risk of a worrying slowdown in production, which has already been sluggish for the last two years. The travel difficulties, which have continued since the beginning of 2020, is a huge drawback, because connecting “remotely” is useful but, in our case, it is essential to present products to customers in real demonstrations”.
Is there a risk this situation will hold back economic recovery? “Definitely. It’s a pity, because the market is ready to start up again, with spending set to grow, especially in the sectors we operate in, such as automotive, leather goods, footwear and furniture. In addition to what we have said, there’s no doubt that we’re facing a speculative bubble, as is the case with containers, whose prices have tripled and it’s not clear why there is suddenly a shortage. The biggest issue is that we don’t know when the increases will stop. We’re all guessing. It was supposed to be a few months and instead the situation is getting worse and worse”.
Thinking about 2022 and the years to come, how have you planned your work? “In the last two years we intensified our research activity, something we had never been able to do in just under a decade of activity for lack of time. A little over a year ago, we opened the new chemical laboratory upstairs, which is the operational hub of the business that will shape the future. It’s a modern facility, equipped with the most advanced technological instruments, which will allow us to boost and improve the research and development work that has always been one of the main aspects of our company. The final renovation and extension work on the building will be completed by the end of the spring”.
How are you continuing your commitment to sustainability? “Recently our focus has been on the further restrictions on bisphenols in leather, one of the big issues in the industry. It should be said that “green” policies can’t be invented overnight. We have the advantage that we’ve always set great store by environmental issues since our beginnings in 2013. In the post-pandemic period, the world tanning market will recover and will follow the three major profiles of sustainability, biodegradability and traceability. This aspect in particular is fundamental because everyone now requires leather to be completely traceable. Fashion companies are asking us expressly to do this, whereas in Europe and America, regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. This is a considerable advantage because everything is globalised now, there are no more first-class and second-class markets”.
What’s your export situation and what’s your outlook for the world markets? “In the last two years, our exports have fallen from 40% to 30% of our turnover. The travel restrictions, especially to the Far East, have created severe limitations in business relations for companies in all sectors, not just ours. We’ve managed to make up for this drop by operating more in Europe and also in Italy, which remains our preferred market, especially in high fashion and big names, which continue to lead the market. Obviously, the higher end is not the only market. The Italian chemical industry will also have to target the mid-range, but, more than anything, do better at selling its image”.
You don’t usually exhibit at international fairs, but you’re always there. How much have you missed them these last two years? “A lot, because the major events are an opportunity not only to meet customers but also to exchange views with other entrepreneurs and to find out what’s new in the industry. We’ll be visiting the LineaPelle exhibition in Milan in the next few days; it’s been greatly anticipated, perhaps because the major Asian fairs are constantly being postponed. At a certain point you have to have the courage, as we have in Italy, to organise major events, although with all the necessary precautions, perhaps combining a series of events, close to each other, as in the case of Fashion Week, so that buyers can plan a single trip to attend different exhibitions”.
Will you also be going to the next international trade fairs? “We’re planning trips. It was officially announced a few weeks ago that, after two cancelled editions because of Covid, the Hong Kong fair will be held in Dubai this year, between the end of March and the beginning of April. A prestigious location where Expo 2020 is also being held in these months. It’s a good idea on paper because it’s halfway between Europe and the East, but we need to understand whether Eastern operators will be there, since the Hong Kong event mainly targeted that market. Being cut off from the East has been detrimental, but even Eastern operators are looking forward to returning to Europe, especially Italy”.
Lucrezia e Santino Mecenero all’ultima edizione di APLF a Dubai