CANADA: Porvair merges Permair leather operations in North America

Porvair International, manufacturer of the Permair performance leather finishing system for footwear, has acquired the Endura business of Eagle Ottawa Canada Ltd which it will merge with the existing business of Permair Leathers Inc to form a new North American operation trading as Permair Leathers Ltd.The new company, based in Acton, Ontario, commenced trading on 3rd April. The Permair Leather Inc facility in Salem, Massachusetts will be closed at the end of April, with all activities being transferred to the new operation.Gordon Williams, previously CEO of Eagle Ottawa Canada Ltd, will head the new operation. Paul Bridge, previously sales manager at Permair Leathers Inc and Allan Hall, previously sales manager at EaglemOttawa, will be responsible for sales and marketing, and Bill Landsborough, previously technical manager at Eagle Ottawa, will be responsible for production."The merger of these operations provides us with an opportunity to combine the best of both businesses in a manner that will provide benefits to our customers and strengthen the Permair Leather brand in the critically important North American market," says Lew Bingham, managing director of