Tannery of the Year winner commits to ongoing innova - leatherbiz: Lea Leatherbiz

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Tannery of the Year winner commits to ongoing innovation

07/09/2011
Like many companies in the leather industry, the Tannery of the Year for 2011, Heller-Leder, is a family firm. Joint managing director Thomas Strebost represents the fourth generation of a family that has worked at the tannery in Hehlen, Lower Saxony, since the start of the twentieth century and took over the ownership of it in 1920. It has the capacity to produce up to 1,500 hides a day and concentrates mostly on locally sourced raw material. Heller-Leder’s biggest customers are high-end automotive manufacturers, including Porsche, and makers of leather furniture.

On receiving the Tannery of the Year award, Mr Strebost paid tribute to the company’s 165 employees and said he was sure they would all be proud of the achievement.

He explained that the company’s commitment to innovation will continue. One recent development, Wetgreen, is a tannage based on residues from the olive oil industry, principally the leaves of the olive trees, which are traditionally discarded and burned. It produces a leather with a shrinkage temperature of about 76 degrees Celsius; it’s suitable for retannage using traditionally vegetable or synthetic tanning material. No aluminium, chromium product or salt is necessary. Heller-Leder will start Wetgreen production before the end of 2011.


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