Eagle Ottawa is among the oldest automotive leather suppliers in the world. Our history begins long before the invention of the automobile. Eagle Tanning works, as it was then known, was founded in 1865. Headquartered in Whitehall, Michigan, the company produced leather items for the horse and buggy trade. By 1910, leather demand for the horse-drawn transportation was declining. The tannery's proximity to Detroit and the emerging automobile industry provided a unique opportunity – to provide leather for car seat upholstery. In 1916, Eagle Tanning Works merged with Ottawa Leather Company and became known as Eagle Ottawa Leather Company, the largest producer of upholstery leather in the world. The company began to diversify into leather for furniture, shoes, luggage, book binding, sports equipment, assorted novelties, valve packings and other industrial products. In 1961 the 96-year-old Eagle Ottawa became a subsidiary of Trostel Industries. Today we have more than 4,000 employees worldwide. We provide award-winning finished hides, cut leather parts, and complete interior leather solution engineering services for more than 30 customers and 100 current vehicle models around the globe. Eagle Ottawa has maintained a longstanding tradition of blending "old world" craftsmanship with leading-edge technology to create truly innovative products. With our unique blend of technical and artistic capabilities, we're able to provide the exclusive and detailed leathers that automotive designers demand. Our customized grains, textures, aromas, and high-durability performance often surprise and delight the most discerning of tastes. In addition to leather for seat covers, we produce products for nearly every other interior application: door panels, consoles and instrument panels. We also provide special services, including leather perforation, foam lamination, embroidery, component wrapping and sewing. Timeline 1865 Eagle Tanning Works of Whitehall founded 1910   Supplier of upholstery leather for Pullman railroad cars 1916   Eagle Tanning Works and Ottawa Leather Company merge and begin to make leather for the developing automotive industry 1936   Eagle Ottawa recognized as the largest manufacturer of upholstery leather in the world 1961   Eagle Ottawa acquired by Albert Trostel & Sons of Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1988   Operations begin in Waterloo, Iowa 1989   Pierpoint & Bryant in Warrington, England acquired 1991   Eagle Ottawa converts to water-based finishing - 99% reduction in air emissions Albert Trostel & Sons establishes Newaygo Farms, Inc. 1992   Operations begin in Warrington, England Operations in Mexico S.A. de C.V. established 1993   Callow and Maddox, U.K. cutting and interior trim facility acquired ISO-9002 System Certified 1994   ReTurn™ soil conditioner successfully tested at Newaygo Farms 1995   QS-9000 Certification earned 1996   Eagle Ottawa South Africa established Eagle Ottawa is the first automotive leather manufacturer to implement vegetable tanned, recyclable chrome-free leather into mass production 2000   Eagle Ottawa Fonseca joint venture established in Argentina 2002   Eagle Ottawa opens a leather cutting operation in Hungary Expands operations in Waterloo, Iowa 2003   Eagle Ottawa opens new plants in Mexico 2004   Temporary cutting facility established in Shanghai, China ISO 14001 certified 2005   European Headquarters and R&D Center in Stuttgart, Germany established Eagle Ottawa celebrates 140th anniversary New finishing and cutting operation opened in Shanghai, China 2006   New World Headquarters established in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA New trim facility opened in Shanghai, China Research and Development center opens in Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA Sales office established in Seoul, Korea 2007 Eagle Ottawa Brazil established in Cascavel, Ceara, Brazil.