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The new Prime Asia China joint venture tannery between Prime Tanning, USA, and Pou Chen, Taiwan, is undoubtedly impressive. Described as the most modern tannery in the world it took little more than a year to build and is a credit to those who brought the plan to fruition. Shelagh Davy was at the opening
Due to come on stream last month, the official opening of Prime Asia China's tannery was held in April to allow visitors to the Asia Pacific Leather Fair in Hong Kong to travel to mainland China for the day in order to attend. At the time of the APLF the year before ground-breaking had just commenced and it is noteworthy that such a huge undertaking was completed so quickly.
At the opening, Ken Purdy, president of Prime Tanning, said that the event was the highlight of his career. And this is the man described by Charlie Myers, president of the Leather Industries of America, as `a visionary'. C J Tsai, chairman of Pou Chen International Group, said that it was his aim to be the Mercedes of the leather world. A high achievement indeed.
Five years ago Prime Tanning management realised that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Prime or any other US tanner to ship leather to Asia to meet the delivery requirements of the shoemakers there. As a result, the following year they began producing leather in Taiwan in a tannery owned by Pou Chen, the largest...