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French connection
The major industries supplying materials and services to the global fashion industry gathered
once again at Paris-Nord Villepinte for Première Vision Paris to discuss...
Good vibrations Over six days on 9–14 April, the Salone del Mobile fair in Milan attracted over 386,000 visitors, a significant increase compared with 2017 and a fitting testament to the event’s...
A warm welcome An air of optimism prevailed at Indo Leather & Footwear 2019 – which this year took place on 4–6 April – with an estimated 12,500 visitors descending on the Jakarta International Expo...
Technically speaking Held for the first time in the historic city of Dresden in Germany, the 2019 IULTCS Congress will be framed with a multi-faceted social programme to promote environmental education...
Forward momentum Not even the ongoing trade war between the US and China, weakened demand and low prices could sully the atmosphere within the exhibition halls at this year’s ACLE. A mix of resolve...
Lead by example Hides producers must pay close attention to customers’ changing desires and the latest technologies that can make production more efficient. For a big integrated company like...
The business of waterproofing With over two decades of industry knowledge, Lionel Champanhet joined Stahl following its acquisition of the BASF Leather Chemicals division in 2017 and is now senior technical...
The missing link Volker Rabe, Rene Graupner-von Wolf and Martin Kleban from the Leather Business Unit at Lanxess discuss minimising emissions of automotive leather, a major topic they addressed at...
A raw deal M Fakhrul Alam, author of ‘The Science of Leather Manufacture’, reveals why the raw hides and skins industry in Bangladesh continues to suffer following Qurbani 2019.
View from the US April saw the US hide market turn very negative, with not only lower prices, but also unusually low volumes on sales. Any sellers who were well forward sold watched as those...
View from the US After two years of steadily declining prices, US hides were finally able to hold onto firm levels for a couple of months. At the end of September, packers were still well sold on...
Proceed with caution Price pressures, a global automotive industry in transition and changing consumer behaviour all constitute major challenges for the leather industry. Following APLF, Andrea Guolo looks...
View from the US The prices of US hides started to see their steady levels erode in late March after the APLF in Hong Kong. Despite some sellers being well positioned ahead of the Chinese Lunar New...
Uncertainty in a world of autonomy At the Lectra Motor Show in March, the leather and automotive industries came together to examine the future trajectory of car design. The development of self-driving cars may appear...
Lead the way on sustainability More than 800 exhibitors showcased their products and services at this year’s APLF Leather & Materials+ fair, which took place on 13–15 March. Sustainability in all its forms was top...
Brazil means business The 43rd edition of Fimec, which took place on 26–28 February in Novo Hamburgo, reflected a change of fortune in the leather footwear industry in the country. Visitors flocked to...
Waste not A team from Biosk, including Richard Daniels, Jiasheng Su, Falei Zhang and Zhuangdou Zhang, examine ways to eliminate effluent from liming, acid and salt pickling, and chromium...
A problem of perception Leather remains in demand, despite fashion trends, negative media commentary and new alternative materials. Andrea Guolo reports from Micam and Mipel in Milan, and looks at how...
Beyond the tariffs The 35th APLF Leather and Materials+ trade show, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, is a chance for China to reinvent itself as a sustainable industry...
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