Our group enters its second century as a dynamic commercial enterprise, specialized in natural and synthetic cover materials with unusual surfaces. Founded in 1892 as a company of leather merchant, we have systematically diversified in developing synthetic materials to replace natural products which are either in short supply or present difficulties in manufacture or application.
Our products are widely used as cover materials in bookbinding and packaging, as veneers or upholstery fabrics, as wall coverings, floorings and decorative materials for shopfitting, window-dressing and interior decoration. Our emphasis is on unique characteristics in appearance, feel, quality and applicability. We take great care to make our products easily available and easy to work with, and we design them to respond to the specific requirements of our customers.We also present our products in a way that will distinguish them from all others and help our customers to sell them. We try hard not to market "commodities".We look upon our people as being our greatest asset.We have always placed the highest demands on our management team as regards their personality, ability and character. It is their dedication, their commitment and creativity, which have contributed so much to where we are today.We intend to continue in this manner and further build upon our traditional relationship towards real leather and other natural products, in order to develop new materials that will replace those which have been so successful.
	We recognize our responsibility towards the ecological requirements of our environments of our environment.We wish to produce our products in ways that will not be hazardous to those involved in their manufacture, will not expose those who buy and use them to any risk and will not pollute or endanger the environment by their eventual disposal.
We are proud of our achievement in this field over the past few years. To be prepared for the increase competition which will come in the wake of a united Europe, we have started to invest in those companies with whom we develop and manufacture our future products, and we shall continue to pursue this policy. We will also continue to commit our selves to fairness and credibility, and will attempt to make only such promises as we can keep. Our corporate objective is to maintain a balanced growth, relying on our employees and partners as well as on product research and development. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking our partners, customers and suppliers in equal measure, for putting their trust in us and helping us to develop so many excellent products. We hope that we can count on their continuing support. We would also like to express our gratitude to former employees who stuck with the company during the difficult times that we have also experienced in the past hundred years, and to those who, by their hard work and loyalty, have helped to lay the foundation for our recent growth and will ensure our continuing position as a leader in our chosen field.