31st IULTCS congress underway
28 September 2011The 31st International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) congress officially started today with the Heidemann lecture delivered by Dr Heinz-Peter Germann the Director of the LGR in Reutingen, Germany. With a paper entitled 'A natural plant crosslinker from olive waste for leather tanning' Dr Germann gave the lecture following a series welcome speeches from a number of senior figures from the Spanish tanning industry.
Around 300 people are attending the conference from around the world, which is taking place at the SH Palace hotel in the Spanish city of Valencia. The largest number of delegates come from China (47 with a further group of 13 from Taiwan) and the current IULTCS president is Professor Bi Shi following the previous congress which was held in Beijing in 2009.
During the IULTCS central committee meeting which was held on September 27, Dr Volkan Candar from the Turkish association was elected as incoming IULTCS President with Patricia Casey of the Argentine leather chemists association, AAQTIC elected as Vice-President. The 32nd IULTCS congress is set to take place in Istanbul in May 29-31, 2013.
As the first session ended with the Aqeic lecture which was delivered by Anna Bacardit of the Igualada Engineering School in Spain and was titled; 'Study of the weathering variables on chrome-tanned leather ageing'. Aqeic, the Spanish leather chemicals manufacturers association are the host organisation of the 31st congress.
The 31st IULTCS congress continues in Valencia to September 30.
