In June 2022 TFL completed the acquisition of LANXESS Organic Leather Chemicals business
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | June 2022
A lot has happened since the 1st June 2021 and the new TFL is still in the process of finding itself and to grow together as a new, successful team. This is completely natural and normal when experiencing a change – the merger of two successful companies in the leather industry - like we did last year, as change doesn’t happen within a day, it is process that can be supported by many factors.
That’s easier said than done and that’s why the time period following a change sets the course for the future. For the first months of 2021 the employees of TFL and LANXESS OLC have been excitingly waiting for what’s to expect them as of 1st June 2021. Uncertainty, yet also joyful anticipation filled the corridors, labs and production sites.
A lot has happened since the 1st June 2021 and the new TFL is still in the process of finding itself and to grow together as a new, successful team. This is completely natural and normal when experiencing a change – the merger of two successful companies in the leather industry - like we did last year, as change doesn’t happen within a day, it is a process that can be supported by many factors. Unfortunately, we have been limited in organising meet-and-greet-events due to COVID-19. Thus, we haven’t been able in the beginning to meet many of the colleagues face-to-face but had to use digital media for that purpose. We had already internalised and learnt this in the months before, nevertheless it would have been more effective and pleasing to have met in person. However, we haven’t been passive during those months and have, thus, mainly within Europe, organised first workshops for experts of both companies to meet, talk about their specific portfolio and get to know the corresponding products. For example, we have had workshops in Beamhouse, Wet-end, Waterproof, Fatliquors, Automotive Finishing, Shoe & Leather Goods and Dyestuffs. Besides getting to know the products and exchanging experience, the focus was on getting to know each other personally. Nowadays, it can be said that especially in the technical field the teams have grown together very fast and very tightly. The knowledge acquired wasn’t meant to be restricted to Europe, therefore the corresponding teams subsequently organised webinars for the colleagues in other regions. There was much interest and strong participation.
In other sectors, unfortunately, integration as of day 1 had to take place almost entirely online. This however, hasn’t hindered colleagues to find the interest and willpower to jointly work on solutions, to overcome system-related challenges of the first weeks/months, to offer our customers the best service possible. In the past year, our colleagues in Sales and Supply Chain had to take on a lot , which they can be proud of today. Their commitment and action have made it possible that we were able to deliver to our customers – initially with some delays – and that we always had a sympathetic ear for them. At this point, we would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding in those first months.
Even before day 1 a team has formed dealing with corporate culture. The Executive Board as well as the employees have realised at an early stage, that a new common culture will be vital for the success of the new TFL. During the first year, different workshops have taken place during which a European team has planned the corner stones of the new culture and presented their findings to the Executive Board. After a global roll-out beginning of this year, these guiding principles and values have been heard in all countries and it is now up to each individual supervisor and employee to bring them to life within the teams and oneself. Especially pleasant was a first personal meeting of the German speaking team members in Leverkusen in May – personal exchange gives you so much more than purely virtual workshops and events.
How fortunate, that we currently have the possibility to encourage personal exchange. Let’s seize this opportunity as long as possible to further work on creating the new TFL.
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | August 2024
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | June 2024
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2024
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | April 2024
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | November 2023
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | September 2023
TFL Wet-end leather technologist Felix Wengenroth spoke to Frank Recht who chairs the examination board for leather specialists at the Reutlingen Chamber of Industry and Commerce about training young people to become tanners, how it has changed and why the craft is still something very special. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | April 2023
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | December 2022
Just look around. Countries have started to implement protectionism, Brexit, supply chain problems created by Covid-19 and the aggression against Ukraine have all helped derail the wave of global integration that was triggered by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | October 2022
Historically, leather was human’s best friend in terms of protecting from harsh weather conditions and it is still the most fashionable material to date. So, what is the real deal with leather? – It is a common term which pops up in the global fashion industry, associated with luxury. Leather is one of the most sustainable and luxurious materials but unfortunately perceived as not environmentally friendly. What an irony! (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | September 2022
Personal interaction was very rare during the last two years. Business-wise the solution was video conferencing, which worked very well and even Face-to-Face meetings could take place in some form. Nevertheless, I still believe that personal interaction cannot be replaced. Possibly, a mix of of virtual and face-to-face encounters will be the future solution as we have seen that travelling is not always necessary and some issues can also be solved online, but from time to time it is just priceless to meet in person. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | July 2022
Summertime is holiday time for many of us. But especially during these few weeks, there's a lot to think about when it comes to cybersecurity. Whether it's booking your trip online, web surfing on the go, or sharing your latest holiday snaps on social media. Always keep in mind: The bad guys are never on vacation! (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | April 2022
Leather is the core business of TFL, but do you actually know how leather is manufactured? To fill this gap the Leverkusen Lab Team took the most pragmatic approach available, a “tour de cuir”. At regular intervals the colleagues in Leverkusen give tours around the process of leather manufacturing. From business partners to school classes, the technical staff was always able to teach everyone something they hadn’t yet known about this material. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | March 2022
As of 2022, the “anti-gaspillage” law is effective in France. Approved in 2020, this pioneering rule forbids the destruction of unsold products of the fashion industry. The principle applied here is the same that already fully regulates the French national food industry, and it is definitely a campaign against waste: if you overproduce, it is illegal to destroy the remnants. The possible alternatives are either recycling the goods or donating them to charity. In any case, the idea behind it is to foster the sustainable production of goods. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | February 2022
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | October 2021
From November 3rd – 5th the international R&D community of the leather industry meets again for the IIIVI. IULTCS Congress in Addis Abeba/Ethiopia. It is the every-two-years recurring event, where latest technologies and new ideas get exchanged in the field of tanning, leather machinery, environmentally friendly process changes, etc. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-situation it will be a hybrid form, which means only a small group of participants can be present, but all presentations and discussions will be available by internet access. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | July 2021
When researching material to create a new article, I stumbled across these quotes on leather and felt compelled by them. We tend to discuss leather from a technical point of view, but these quotes go to show that leather is so much more than that. It creates memories, talks to the senses and in some cases is a companion for many years. Enjoy the read! (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2021
I like to compare bringing two businesses together with a couple getting married, thus, bringing two families, family cultures and habits together. Do you remember when you first met your partner's family? Everything was new and you first had to get an idea of how they look at things, what their very individual "family rules" are and how they live different traditions etc. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | April 2021
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | February 2021
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | December 2020
Fashion is fun, fascinating, a piece of art and an intrinsic part of society. A glamorous world bringing fresh wind to everyday life and exciting new trends every season. As attractive this may seem, there is also the other side of the coin. Regarding sustainability fashion is straining this planet remarkably. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | October 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | September 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | August 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | July 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | June 2020
As I have described in my first blog article in June 2019,, the major discussion in the leather industry is how to become “greener & sustainable”. The Covid-19 crisis "opened the door" for the (leather) fashion industry to avoid trash. (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | April 2020
We are facing very challenging times. By "we" I do not refer to an isolated group like Europeans or Asians, by “we” I’m talking about mankind as such. We are all living with a global pandemic and many countries are being shut down and running pandemic plans. Life did change tremendously for each and every one of us during the past weeks. What are the values we can rely on during these difficult times? (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | March 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | February 2020
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | December 2019
Veganism is a practice… the practice of abstain from using animal products. Could vegan shoes be part of that practice? Vegan leather and faux leather are just two different names for the same material. They describe shoes, boots or jackets that look like leather but are made from artificial leather. No animal hides or skins are used in the production of the leather alternative. Is vegan or faux leather a more sustainable option? (...)
Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | December 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | October 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | September 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | August 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | July 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | June 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | June 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2019
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Main Reaction - The TFL Blog | May 2019
Regular cleaning with appropriate cleaning agents is a good start - but there is so much more you can do! Observe our hints and enjoy your sustainable product for a lifetime (...)