Italian Leather Group To Introduce Chrome Free Leather

Furniture World Magazine

Incanto Group will introduce an new "ecological" leather product called ‘Arborea’– at IMM Cologne. According to Italian Leather Group, ‘Arborea’ is the first collection of ecological leather available for for furniture applications. Conceived and realized by Italian Leather Group a leading Italian leather producer and owner of the ‘LongLife’ brand - ‘Arborea’ will be presented as a world preview at IMM Cologne by Incanto Group which is the first company to apply this leather to its sofa collections. Italian Leather Group has created ‘Arborea’ as a result of a research project started years ago, with the aim of addressing the increasing environmental sensitivities of consumers and factors such as design and naturalness in furniture trends. The new manufacturing process, includes a technology that results in ecological leather (‘Free of chrome’), whose naturalness is even higher than the ones produced until now. In particular, the new leather has no environmental impact when ultimately disposed and composted It has a natural touch and coat which, in some versions due to a special treatment, is waterproof and therefore more protected than a normal “aniline”. ‘Free of chrome’ leather, already in use in the automotive industry due to environmental concerns and its durability, will now enter through “Arborea” in the furniture market. Italian Leather Group whose headquarter is in Monopoli (Italia), is the Italian leader in tanning for car and furniture applications. It operates through three factories, two in Italy (Monopoli ed Arzignano) and one in Argentina (Villa Flandria), as one of the biggest groups for manufacturing capacity. In 2006 Italian Leather Group has processed about 2,2 millions hides for an estimated consolidated turnover of 175 millions euro and 1.300 employed persons. Export represents over 60% of its turnover, mainly directed to EU, Asia and USA. Incanto Group was founded in 2000 and has rapidly become one of the most dynamic and successful Italian companies specialized in designing, manufacturing and distributing sofas and furniture accessories. The company was created by Giovanni Sforza and currently employs 470 people operating in 2 factories: one in Jesce (MT - Italy) and one in China. With over 3.500 seats manufactured every day and 1768 customers in 5 continents, Incanto Group has reached a consolidated turnover of 75 millions euro in 2006, 80% of which is made from export. In Italy the company is present with 8 mono brand shops: "Sforza Living".