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The Italian tanning industry is based in three distinct areas: Solofra, Arzignano and Santa Croce. In Solofra, south of Naples, the tanneries are specialised in garment leather production. Arzignano in the Veneto region is comprised of larger upper leather and upholstery leather tanners, though at present many companies are converting to upholstery leathers after many years of upper leather tanning.
The tanning sector in Tuscany is divided into two distinct areas. In Ponte A Egola, close to Santa Croce, 90% of production is sole leather and the tanneries in this small town are responsible for about 80% of European sole leather production. Santa Croce, however, is in the fashion business.
The town has hundreds of small tanneries and, as such, it lacks the production cost advantages found in the larger tanneries of Arzignano, but their relative size gives them flexibility. The elected chairman of Unic, Dr Mario Di Stefano is a tanner in Santa Croce and is president of the Nobel tannery. His own tannery is fairly typical of those in the region, employing around 50 staff and producing footwear fashion leathers. `As a main characteristic Santa Croce has the ability to respond quickly to changes in fashion', confirmed Dr Di Stefano. Short production runs and the ability to change lines quickly is...