For more than 70 years, GST AutoLeather has provided fine automotive leather
interiors for the world's leading automakers and suppliers. GST AutoLeather,
formerly known as Garden State Tanning, may have a new name, but our commitment
to excellence remains the same.
Our history as one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive leather actually represents a dual heritage of entrepreneurship that merged in the Maryland countryside some 144 years after the first hide was tanned. This is our story.
The Origins
1832 - Byron Tanning was established in Roxbury, Massachusetts, by Joseph Byron. Sixty-five years later, Joseph's grandson, William D. Byron, opened his own tanning business after finding the perfect location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Maryland. He chose a 100-acre site close to the Potomac River where there was an abundance of rock oak stands, the prime source of tannic acid used in the vegetable leather-tanning process.
1897 - Soon the tanning industry was thriving and Byron Tanning continued to grow, modernize, and enhance its capabilities. In 1897, William built his first tanning plant on Conococheague Creek in Williamsport, Maryland.
1926 - A salesman named Alfred Fried reluctantly accepted leather skins in lieu of wages. Being an opportunistic young man, he launched his own tannery and trading company specializing in handbags and belts in Manhattan.
1933 - Alfred's brothers joined the business and soon the Fried brothers decided to tie their fortunes with another tannery called John Flynn and Sons to form Garden State Tanning. They began expanding their business, opening plants in Newark, New Jersey, and Cleveland, Ohio.
1946 - Garden State Tanning expanded into the automotive leather market components business. To meet the growing demands of the American automotive industry, Garden State Tanning acquired additional leather tanning facilities. For the next 20 years, Garden State Tanning continued expansion, adding new facilities in Pennsylvania.
1976 - With the expanding auto leather market, additional production capacity was needed. In 1976, Garden State Tanning acquired the Williamsport, Maryland, operations formerly known as Byron Tanning.
The Modern Era
For the past 25 years, GST has continued its tradition of producing quality leather for the automotive industry. A number of key actions and initiatives in recent years have helped position the Company for the future. They include the following:
1990's - GST partners with Toyota to become the first American supplier to learn and implement the Toyota Production System.
2000's - Citigroup Venture Capital Portfolio Corp. acquires GST providing a strong financial backing for future growth.