Specialized in the manufacturing of drums and paddles in wood, plastic and steel, Vallero International has managed to win over the international markets, thanks to more than one hundred years of experience in fulfilling all kinds of technical needs concerning the tanning industry. We interviewed Doriano Paglia, sales manager at Vallero International, who explained to us the true corporate mission – to supply customers with technological solutions developed thanks to the skills acquired over the decades. While keeping a keen eye on environmental safeguard.
Doriano Paglia, sales manager at Vallero International
A corporate history whose roots date back to the previous century. When was Vallero International founded? Vallero International was established back in 1847, originally conceived as a manufacturer of barrels and vats for the wine-making sector; a few years later, it started to take on the production of tanning drums. At the beginning, it focused on wooden models, then it expanded its range of materials: the very first drum was made for the historic firm CIR (Concerie Italiane Riunite) based in Turin, in the early years of the XX century. Later on, the corporate catalogue was further diversified and widened. In the period between the two World Wars, the enterprise was met with great success, especially in Italy; however, it was after WWII, during the economic boom, that our company experienced a soaring growth that led to its internationalization.
What are your distinctive traits? Nowadays, everyone can produce a drum: according to some, it is enough to assemble a simple rotating cylinder. Instead, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the tanning process, to be able to solve and face any issue that might come up, to have some knowledge in chemistry and physics applied to leather, to fully grasp the customer’s needs and to use the right technology. This is what we do: we provide technology aiming at process upgrading and at reducing the environmental impact – the present and the future of the tanning sector are deeply tied to this factor. We define our drums “phisical- chemical reactors”, as the inner construction helps and favors the chemical reaction that transforms the raw material into that unique and noble element that is leather.
Said technology is embodied in the highly advanced drums’ managing systems. Yes, this is one of our flagship qualities compared to other competitors and we are really proud of it. We believe that it is better to differentiate the types of work in order to achieve top-notch results: for this reason, for the automation of our drums, we have undertaken a collaboration with one of the leading companies in the sector. Nexus has confirmed to be a valuable and experienced partner, able to fully understand our needs and to develop bespoke solutions. Obviously, some aspects are devised together, so as to effectively combine our expertise in the tanning field with their know-how concerning IT tools and technology: the ultimate goal is to give life to a thoroughly efficient product, in full compliance with our environmental standards and abreast of our expectations.
In regard to environmental awareness, do you think that sustainability is a pivotal factor for your sector? Absolutely. Right from its foundation, Vallero has been always paying close attention to the environment, supported by a constant commitment to research, development and innovation. Over the years, we have specialized in the manufacturing of eco-friendly drums called EcoDrum. Actually, this concept encompasses several factors: the recirculation and filtration systems as well as those for temperature control are designed to effectively remove chemicals during the processing cycle, so as to avoid polluting emissions. Among the other eco-friendly technologies manufactured by Vallero, the Vortex system, suitable for all the wet phases, can operate a low speed while ensuring high performances, resulting in a marked decrease in the consumption levels of energy (-70%), water (-20%) and chemicals (-10%). In this way, we can guarantee first-rate process quality at competitive production costs. Our sector must be aware of its environmental impact and take action: in a few years, the regulations concerning sustainability-related issues will become increasingly stricter, thus affecting those who will not comply. That’s why Vallero rests easy: our attention to the environment, is bearing fruits and our customers can be sure they’re using the best technology.
Vallero relies on more than one hundred years of experience. What are your main end markets? Our marketing and sales network is designed to operate on a global scale. We have gained a strong foothold in strategic markets such as South America, the USA and Mexico, but we are pretty satisfied with the results achieved in South Africa and Oceania as well. We are praised for the quality and the guarantees we provide, independently from the price: cutting-edge, low-impact, durable technologies requiring little maintenance. For instance, Oyster, the PPH drum built in one monolithic piece featuring heavy loads capabilities, have been upgraded and improved, thus ensuring excellent performances and top reliability, much to the customers’ satisfaction. Currently, approximately 4000 drums of all types made by Vallero International are installed worldwide: we are proud to have actively contributed to the development of tanning industry in over one hundred years of experience in the business, and we will continue to do so in the next as well. www.vallerointernational.com
