Stahl has expanded its presence in India further with the recent opening of a new applications laboratory in Kolkata. The laboratory is the first to open in the new Banthala leather complex, where it is situated alongside the New Horizons tannery, and is fully equipped to process leathers from wet blue to finishing and for the application of aftercare products for leathergoods.

The laboratory was opened by Tim Amos and Chandan Basu - managing directors of Stahl India and New Horizons respectively – in the presence of many of Stahl’s customers and local distributors. The opening ceremony was preceded by an open house” event where tanners could walk around the laboratory and talk to Stahl staff while viewing the facilities. A specially-made collection of the latest leathers for shoe uppers, leathergoods, garments and upholstery was also displayed for the visitors to see.

The company hopes that the Kolkata laboratory will allow local Stahl technicians to provide a faster response time in producing samples and solving customer problems in the area.

Stahl has had a presence in Kolkata for almost 40 years and feels strongly that the new Banthala area will create a resurgence of Kolkata as a major player in the Indian leather industry as it was in the 1970s and 80s. The company’s association with New Horizons also has a long history going back over 30 years.