Smit & Zoon opens production facility in India

Smit & Zoon opens production facility in India

On January 31st, 2018, Smit & zoon has officially inaugurated operations in its production facility in Chennai, India.

The plant manufactures a selection of Smit & zoon’s wet-end and finishing leather chemicals to specifically meet the needs of customers in the Indian subcontinent. Smit & zoon already had a sales office, an application lab and a strong agent network in India. The opening of this production facility is an important next step in bringing Smit & zoon’s products and know-how closer to the Indian market.

“This opening is an important step forward in Smit & zoon’s strategy, strengthening our global position as a leader in the leather chemicals business,” said Hans van Haarst, CEO of Smit & zoon. “It enables us to grow our already significant presence in India and to be closer to our Indian customers and sales partners. At the same time, the expanded production capacity gives us more flexibility to increase production across Smit & zoon to meet global demand.”

Innovative new products

In the new facility focus will be on the production of Smit & zoon fatliquors, syntans and finishing leather chemicals, specifically suitable for customers in the Indian subcontinent. Besides that, a local R&D team is working on innovative new products.

Arun Janakiram, Country Manager India of Smit & zoon: “In India, Smit & zoon is well-known for its high-quality leather chemicals – especially its fatliquors – and its strong technical support. Developing and supplying locally produced Smit & zoon products will help us support our Indian customers even better in their needs to create high quality, sustainably produced leather.”

Global network

Besides its Indian branch, which includes a sales office and a plant in Chennai and a leather application lab in Ranipet, Smit & zoon also has branches in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and China. In addition to that, the Dutch leather chemicals specialist has a global agent network including agents in Ambur and Ranipet, Chennai and Vaniyambadi, Delhi, Jalandhar and Kolkata. Smit & zoon is known for its strong team of Leather Technicians, who are also operating throughout the Indian subcontinent.