SATRA seminars raise curtain on Asia Pacific Leather Fair

SATRA are finalising plans for a series of seminars as a curtain raiser to this year's Asia Pacific Leather Fair at the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre from March 29 to April 1, 2004. Specialists at the UK technology centre will lead four footwear seminars in China and Hong Kong in the days prior to the fair. New standards for safety footwear offered for sale in Europe will be explained to South-East Asian resourcers and manufacturers on March 24 at the Royal Lagoon Hotel, Dongguan, China. The theme of modern shoemaking 'Western style' is developed on March 25 and 27 at the Royal Lagoon Hotel, Dongguan, and Marco Polo Prince Hotel in Hong Kong, respectively. The content of these full-day programmes is based on the SAFT (SATRA Accredited Footwear Technologist) training programme with topics covering lasts and fitting, materials, testing, processes, quality assurance and auditing. A half-day event, on March 26, also at the Royal Lagoon Hotel, is devoted to health and safety issues - including VOC reduction, dust, noise, lighting and mechanical safety. SATRA deputy chief executive Richard Turner says: 'As the world's leading technology provider to the footwear industry, SATRA's experts are in great demand in the Far East, particularly South-East Asia. 'These seminars are attracting a great deal of interest and we fully expect the safety footwear and health and safety events to sell out well in advance.'