Gustavo Pacitti

Senior Leather Finishing Specialist and Technical Manager with over 30 years of international experience across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Proven track record working with industry leaders such as BASF, Sadesa, Stahl, and TFL. Expert in R&D, chemical application, quality control, setup of new finishing facilities, and troubleshooting production lines.

Adept at managing supplier relationships, optimizing process efficiency, and driving product development for domestic and export markets.

Independent Leather Consultant / Quality Control Inspector at Independent (2015-01 – Present)

• Quality Control (2023): Conducted seasonal quality control for crust leather inspection at Sadesa's facility, managing high-volume container logistics weekly for international customers.
• Technical Advisory: Providing freelance technical assistance, formula development and finishing advisory for local and international leather projects.
• Continuous Learning: Currently upgrading technical skills through hydroponics, bicycle mechanic and personal training certifications.

Technical Specialist at LePa Pielcolor (2014-08 – 2015-05)

Managed leather finishing processes and application trials, focusing on product quality and production optimization.

Technical & R&D Specialist at Halo Touch / Timothy Oulton (2012-09 – 2013-12)

• Led product development and replication of leather articles originally produced in China at a different country.
• Organized factory facilities, implemented strict crust selection criteria (substance, grade, color shade), and engineered premium handcrafted articles.

Technical Manager at North American Tanning Group (2007-04 – 2007-12)

• Managed raw material selection, supervised production schedules, and ensured strict delivery dates for international customers supply.
• Resolved critical quality and thickness issues on-site with customers in Vietnam. Optimizing raw materials inspections to prevent machinery damage and/or downtime.

Technical Application Specialist (Dealer) at Stahl China (2005-07 – 2006-06)

• Spearheaded technical product demonstrations, customer visits, and application troubleshooting for the Chinese market.

Plant Setup Consultant / leather Finishing Technician at Hispano Argentina (2003-07 – 2005-06)

• Coordinated the establishment, machinery sourcing and commissioning of a brand-new leather finishing plant facility.
• Supported international sales teams in high-level customer meetings and technical negotiations. Leather samples development.

Technical Application Specialist at TFL Australia Pty Ltd (2000-07 – 2003-05)

• Executed technical leather finishing application trials and provided expert troubleshooting for major regional customers. Promoting Roda Cool System.

Regional Technical Manager (Asia-Pacific) at BASF Textile and Leather Centre (1997-09 – 2000-05)

• Directed technical finishing operations across the Asia-Pacific region, providing on-site customer support, trade fair technical backing, and sample development.
• Successfully developed and implemented specialized "foam systems" for automotive upholstery leather, gaining a competitive edge in key accounts.

Technical Consultant / Leather Specialist at ECCO (1997-04 – 1997-08)

• Provided leather conditioning optimization. Development of finishing samples for very high company standards.

Leather Finishing Technician at Sadesa S.A. (1995-03 – 1997-03)

• Managed quality issues, adapted operations to local tanneries and developed custom samples, colors and textures for key regional accounts.

Leather Finishing Technician at La Hispano Argentina (1992-07 – 1994-08)

• Successfully commissioned and restored legacy curtain-coat and roller-coat production machinery.
• Developed a wide array of new leather articles, enabling the company to initiate international exports after years of domestic-only supply.

R&D Leather Finisher at Federico Meiners Ltda / Sadesa S.A. (1987-12 – 1992-06)

• Promoted from color matcher to R&D Leather Finisher due to strong technical performance.
• Formulated finishing chemical combinations and led color matching for large-scale industrial manufacturing.

Chemical Technician – ENET Nº 1 General José de San Martín

Advanced Professional Training in Automotive Leather Finishing Systems – BASF AG

Advanced Professional Training in Automotive Leather Finishing Systems – TFL Academy

Advanced Professional Training in Sales & Presentation Skills – Stahl