Oldest technical institute for leather celebrates 130 years

16/04/2015
Italy’s Stazione Sperimentale delle Pelli e delle Materie Concianti (SSIP) celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, making it the world’s oldest existing technical institute dedicated to the leather industry.

Based in Naples, La Stazione, as the organisation is usually known, was set up specifically to address the needs of gloving leather producers there to have a body for research, testing and technical assistance.

Its facilities include its own small tannery, which it uses to run tests and pilot projects on behalf of tanners all over Italy.