Minsk Leather Production Association

The Minsk Leather Production Association (ОАО «Минское производственное кожевенное объединение», or MPKO) is a Belarusian manufacturer of natural leather and one of the largest and most technically advanced tanneries in the Republic of Belarus and the wider post-Soviet region. Its official history traces back to 1895, when five small leather workshops operated on the outskirts of Minsk along Lyakhovka Street (now Oktyabrskaya Street), owned by Rubin, Salman, Goltberg, Den and Improt. In 1917 these workshops were reorganized into four state enterprises and a leatherworkers' vocational school. The modern enterprise's official history begins in 1927, when the second chrome production facility, machine hall and raw-hide base were completed and all production was merged into a single plant named "Bolshevik." In 1932 the plant was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour by the Belarusian government. After Minsk was liberated in 1944, the plant resumed full operation on 4 August 1944. Over the following decades it expanded into a multi-site production association, and in 1985 a decision was made to build a new tannery near the village of Gatovo outside Minsk, relocating the Bolshevik association to a new industrial site. The new leather plant, designed by the Italian firm Concerie Cogolo S.p.a., was commissioned on 31 October 1988, with capacity for 500 million dm² of finished leather and 200 million dm² of split-leather goods per year. In 1992 the association was transformed into a lease enterprise, and it later became an open joint-stock company (ОАО) under the Belarusian state light-industry concern BelLegProm. Today MPKO describes itself as one of the most modern tanneries in Belarus and one of the most technically equipped in the post-Soviet space. Its product catalogue includes crust, furniture leather, shoe leather, haberdashery leather and wet blue, with 91 product names and around 560 employees. The company markets itself on "many years of quality traditions," competitive prices across the CIS, fast order fulfilment, volume discounts and accredited laboratory services. A four-year modernization of production was completed in December 2016, including a new boiler house, a steam-generating unit, and reconstruction of tanning drums and the dyeing gallery. The company's stated mission is that all fashionable footwear in Belarus should be made from leather tanned by MPKO.

The history of the Minsk Leather Production Association begins in 1895, when five small leather workshops were located on the outskirts of Minsk along Lyakhovka Street (now Oktyabrskaya Street). They belonged to Rubin, Salman, Goltberg, Den and Improt. These semi-artisanal workshops had no mechanization, ventilation or electric lighting, and only a sedimentation well in the yard for wastewater. In 1917, on the basis of these workshops, four state enterprises and one leatherworkers' vocational school were created. In 1927, construction of the second chrome production facility, the machine hall and the raw-hide base was completed. All production facilities were merged into a single plant named "Bolshevik." This date marks the official beginning of the history of the Minsk Leather Production Association. In 1929, a glue-boiling shop was built, a "Wolf" locomotive was put into operation to supply the plant with steam and electricity, and the first hydraulic press appeared. For the first time the plant began producing coloured leather goods. A planning department and a labour and wages department were created, and three engineers and two technicians joined the staff. In 1932, for successful work, the government of Belarus awarded the plant the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. After the liberation of Minsk from German-fascist invaders, personnel returned to the plant on 4 August 1944 to carry out restoration work, and the Minsk leather plant "Bolshevik" resumed full operation. By 1959, the Bolshevik leather plant included two chrome production facilities, a glue-boiling shop, a patent leather shop, a split-processing shop, a consumer goods shop, and a wool and bristle processing shop. Treatment facilities were built, and technological equipment was introduced, including four machines for processing peripheral sections of hides, roller spreading presses with hot rollers, and vertical closed dryers with sliding frames. In 1962, the Minsk Production Leather Association "Bolshevik" became a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Belarusian SSR. In 1976, the association comprised the head enterprise in Minsk at 19 Oktyabrskaya Street, the Smilovichi leather plant (Cherven District, Minsk Region) and the Minsk plant for primary processing of leather raw materials (Gatovo village, Minsk District). In 1985, a decision was made to build a leather plant near the village of Gatovo outside Minsk and to relocate the Minsk Production Leather Association "Bolshevik" to a new industrial site. On 31 October 1988, the new leather plant in Gatovo, built to a design by the Italian firm Concerie Cogolo S.p.a., was commissioned. Its new production capacity was designed for 500 million dm² of finished leather and 200 million dm² of split leather goods per year. In 1992, the Minsk Production Leather Association "Bolshevik" was transformed into the lease enterprise "Minsk Production Leather Association." In December 2016, a four-year modernization of production was completed. A new boiler house and a steam-generating unit producing a tonne of steam per hour were put into operation, and the ash and tanning drums and the dyeing gallery were reconstructed. The company is now an open joint-stock company under the Belarusian state light-industry concern BelLegProm, operating one of the most modern tanneries in Belarus.

• 2016

  A four-year modernization of production is completed in December, including a new boiler house, a steam-generating unit, and reconstruction of tanning drums and the dyeing gallery.

• 1992

  The Minsk Production Leather Association "Bolshevik" is transformed into the lease enterprise "Minsk Production Leather Association."

• 1988

  On 31 October, the new leather plant in Gatovo, built to a design by the Italian firm Concerie Cogolo S.p.a., is commissioned with capacity for 500 million dm² of finished leather and 200 million dm² of split leather goods per year.

• 1985

  Decision is made to build a leather plant near Gatovo village and relocate the Minsk Production Leather Association "Bolshevik" to a new industrial site.

• 1976

  The association comprises the head enterprise in Minsk, the Smilovichi leather plant and the Minsk primary leather raw materials processing plant in Gatovo.

• 1962

  The Minsk Production Leather Association "Bolshevik" becomes a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Belarusian SSR.

• 1959

  The plant comprises two chrome production facilities, a glue-boiling shop, a patent leather shop, a split-processing shop, a consumer goods shop and a wool and bristle processing shop; treatment facilities are built.

• 1944

  After the liberation of Minsk, the "Bolshevik" leather plant resumes full operation on 4 August.

• 1932

  The government of Belarus awards the plant the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

• 1929

  A glue-boiling shop is built, a "Wolf" locomotive is put into operation, the first hydraulic press appears, and the plant begins producing coloured leather goods.

• 1927

  Construction of the second chrome production facility, machine hall and raw-hide base is completed; all production is merged into a single plant named "Bolshevik." Official start of the association's history.

• 1917

  Four state enterprises and one leatherworkers' vocational school are created on the basis of the workshops.

• 1895

  Five small leather workshops operate on the outskirts of Minsk along Lyakhovka Street (now Oktyabrskaya Street), owned by Rubin, Salman, Goltberg, Den and Improt.

One of the most modern and technically equipped tanneries in Belarus and the post-Soviet space, offering competitive prices across the CIS and many years of quality traditions.

• Crust leather

  Crust leather offered in the product catalogue.

• Furniture leather

  Leather for furniture upholstery.

• Shoe leather

  Leather for footwear, central to the company's mission.

• Haberdashery leather

  Leather for small leather goods and haberdashery.

• Wet blue

  Wet blue hides offered in the product catalogue.

1. 1Минское производственное кожевенное объединение — official websitempko.by
2. 2История — official websitempko.by
3. 3О компании — official websitempko.by
4. 4Услуги — official websitempko.by
5. 5Minsk Leather Production Association — Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Мінскае вытворчае гарбарнае аб’яднанне — Wikipedia (Belarusian)be.wikipedia.org