Stahl's three-day seminar a success

A recent three-day training seminar provided by Stahl's Colours and Tanning Products Division provided an opportunity for eighteen international students at the British School of Leather Technology to receive detailed information backed by practical training in the use of retanning, fatliquoring and dyeing products. Majoring on the Stahl brand name, the seminar was run by Jacques Daamen, senior C&TP sales technologist from Stahl Europe and Laurence Irwin, LPP Manager C&TP from Stahl International. The main reason behind the seminar was to introduce the students to the latest compact polymer technology from Stahl and to show them the various products within the family and how best to use these in leather processing. The processes used during the practical demonstrations showed the advantages of using compact polymer family products for simultaneous retanning and softening to achieve improved fastness and other physical properties as well as reducing the environmental impact on tannery effluent. The students were encouraged to develop new leathers for themselves by compiling their own formulations for specific purposes and which could be used in future trials in their own tanneries. Over the three days, the students produced various types of crust leather. Christopher Scopes is the new president of the Leather & Hide Trades' Benevolent Institution, taking over from Jonathan Freeston, who raised nearly £6,000 from his presidential appeal. LHBTI chairman William Tusting awarded himself with the leather bombard which is given annually to the team raising the most amount of sponsorship from athletic endeavours. Teams used to take part in the Meltonian/Kiwi Marathon and when this was cancelled they switched to the Waendel Walk in Wellingborough. Another worthwhile fundraiser is the International Golf Championship of the Shoe, Leather & Allied Trades which has been organised for many years by Geoffrey Mawer. The fundraising activities of the Institution which currently helps 89 annuitants, the oldest of which is 98, are always generously supported by the Leathersellers Company.