On of Turkey’s best known tanning groups, Sepiciler, has taken the decision to stop producing its own leather. Instead, the group will source leather from partner tanneries to continue to supply customers. By Leatherbiz.

A producer of vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned and soling leather until now, Sepiciler had operated tanneries since 1930. It won the Tannery of the Year award for Europe in 2013.

In the last decade, it established its own solar energy plant close to its facility in Torbali, near Izmir. It also set up a new company to increase business in the US market and moved its wet-end processing to a new facility at the leather cluster in Bursa.

Sepiciler was also one of the first leather manufacturers to embrace Silvateam’s Ecotan range of technologies and Biocircular concept.

Chief executive of the family-run group, Mehmet Sepici, told Leatherbiz: “We are exiting production but we will continue to serve our customers as a leather supplier, using our technical know-how and experience to select the best leathers for them from carefully selected tanneries worldwide.”

He said the family’s decision had been unanimous, but also tough and painful. He added: “Being a tanner is our family tradition, and has been for generations.”