Danese, “being Worldwide is essential”

DANESE srl, which closed the year with an overall growth in both turnover and orders compared to the previous, stands out among other companies, which in 2023 faced, in a sector such as the tanning industry, a widespread stagnation. These results were boosted by two important products, the emery powder compacting machine and the new, upgraded flesh treatment machine, launched at the Tanning Tech exhibition in Milan last September. In addition to the namesake parent company, founded in 1992 and specialized in the production of conveyor belts, tannery machinery, spare parts and accessories, the group owns other prestigious companies, starting with Calati (a brand founded in 1961 and then taken over in 2019), EzipCut and Carm, while Aircom and Hector Martinez are internationally distributed brands.
“We closed 2023 with a largely positive balance sheet,” assures owner Maurizio Danese, whom we interviewed at the headquarters in mid-January and who then exhibited at the Indian trade fair in Chennai at the beginning of February, “we do not hide our satisfaction. This is a sign of the growth of the business, which also brings criticalities: as far as trimmers and the Calati range are concerned, we used to make deliveries within a few days, but now, as orders grew, it takes several weeks, both in the domestic and foreign markets, although we always strive to make things easier for our clients. If indeed in 2024 there will be an upturn in the global market especially from mid-spring onwards, as analysts’ forecasts indicate, we are confident that our trend will continue upwards and we are getting ready to cope with the increase in demand.”
What are your forecasts for this year?
“At least for the first half of the year, I think there will be no major changes. Responding to market demands, we are constantly updating and evolving, precisely because we always want to find the required solution. For example, in the trimming department we were asked to make some modifications which we immediately made, customized work is part of our company philosophy. Also, the need for a faster machine to operate quickly on the flesh pump that a large tannery in Arzignano asked us to make, which we immediately resolved. Customization is always very important because tanneries operate very differently from one another; recently another factory, again in the Vicenza district, would like to use a double-piston powder compacting machine and we are studying the realisation of this modified machinery.”
You are constantly evolving and revolutionizing …
“Obviously the research and development department does not stop, as Danese we are working on several projects, then we have to see if we can develop them. Our strategy has always been to present ourselves with a safe, reliable and innovative product. We are a company with remarkable dynamism, for example in the staple fabric department we are currently carrying out trials using new materials that have never been used before.”
A recent innovation from Danese is the electropneumatic loader: what is it?
“The design office, loyal to the needs of its clients to reduce working time and increase production, has designed and produced a machine that, combined with a continuous press or a fleshing machine, is able to alleviate the transport work to the machine and at the same time increase hourly production. Among the main features are lifting and conveying speeds of 60 meters and 40 meters per minute respectively,a “long-life” sintered bushing chain and a control from a PLC that automates its use, but there is also a totally analogue version, which is easy to repair and has components that are not interchangeable over time.”
How are Calati and EzipCut doing?
“Both very well. Calati has always been the world reference for these measurements, it has become synonymous with the process. We have proceeded with some customizations for different processes: here too we are satisfying clients, but at the same time we are advancing the know-how of the company, with experiences that may be useful in the future. At the last trade fair in Milan, we presented the new analogue thickness gauge, which is enjoying great success and for which we are seeing interest not only in the tanning sector but also in the textile industry. In this respect, we will evaluate the possibility of being present at some specialized trade fairs. As far as EzipCut is concerned, these are strongly implemented products: the brand was created here, by our technicians, so the satisfaction is even greater, it is a great challenge, we have built each product piece by piece, proceeding with careful choices of designs and materials.”
Finally, the brand Carm…
“It is the latest arrival, but the numbers continue to surprise us favorably. The three types of paper on offer – white, red and canvas – continue to be in great demand both in Italy and abroad. Aware that we struggle to be innovative in this area, we had already exceeded the numbers for the whole of 2022 in November: we do not know the end-of-year figures, but we closed with good growth compared to the previous 12 months and turnover continues to increase.”
What is your export percentage and what are your target areas?
“Around 65-70%, we work all over the world, there are no prevailing areas, a policy that allows us to compensate for the alternating declines and crises of the various markets. Overall, we are satisfied: in the transition between the old and the new year, Turkey is growing, but also several countries around China, and other countries where labor is less expensive. For the rest, we cannot deny that the ongoing wars are affecting us negatively: after the collapse of Russia for well-known reasons, there is also the problem in the Middle East: we had an important order to send to Palestine, at this point it will probably not be done.”
What is your assessment of the economic situation in the East?
“I was recently in those areas, where I found a stagnant market with as much black leather (with surplus the tanneries produce black, ed.) as I have seen in a long time. I found a depressed working environment, even within the companies the intense activity of the pre-Covid period now seems a distant memory. Even in their domestic market, the demand for leather has declined, the hope is that the Asian market, especially the Chinese one, will recover: it is such a large market that it is able to affect the whole world. We will continue to monitor that area, even in the lesser-known markets, where we will try to penetrate, travelling and participating in industry exhibitions.”

www.danese.srl – www.calati.online – www.ezipcut.com – www.carm.global – www.aircom.it

Mubin Gafuri, Maurizio e Matteo Danese