Lambert Howarth, the largest supplier of footwear to Marks & Spencer, have invested in slip resistance and abrasion testing equipment, establishing their in-house testing centre in Burnley as the UK's most extensively equipped retail suppliers' laboratory. The equipment was purchased from Satra Technology, who also provided training and competence assessments of laboratory personnel.

Gerber Technology, USA, announced the launch of Taurus XD earlier this year. This is their next generation Taurus leather cutting system which offers many new features that deliver increased speed, accuracy and reliability for the lowest cost per cut unit in the industry. &rtreturn;Taurus XD scans 15% faster than the previous generation and, depending on the application, cuts 10-20% faster to deliver a substantial improvement in throughput. New CutWorks 5.0 software drives the Taurus XD, and includes many important enhancements which deliver increased material utilisation, easier data exchange, improved nesting functionality and on-board capabilities to create and edit parts. &rtreturn;Taurus XD is also equipped with two operator panels, one on each side of the system, for improved ergonomics and productivity and four tool holders in the cutting head for greater flexibility. Several new design features increase the durability of the system, reducing wear and maintenance even in 24/7 production environments. &rtreturn;Gerber relied on feedback from the market to help guide the design and engineering of this new system. Jim McAloney, vice president of operations for Distinctive Designs Furniture Inc, a beta test site for Taurus XD, said: 'We have witnessed first-hand the evolution of Gerber's three generations of leather cutting systems, from the TLCS to the Taurus, and now the Taurus XD. Since installing the XD three months ago, we have so far realised a 15% improvement in output and are now cutting 13-15 hides per hour. Like us, I think new users will be impressed by its low maintenance requirements. We put it to the test by running it 24 hours a day - the Taurus XD proved to be a truly heavy-duty system.'&rtreturn;McAloney adds: 'With the new CutWorks 5.0 software we have been able to increase the size of our work orders which have led to increases in productivity and yield.' CutWorks provides managers with comprehensive production data on every hide cut, including, among other things, production output and nesting yields. As an additional benefit, the system calculates total hide area. Therefore, manufacturers are able to compare the system's scanned hide area to the area reported by the supplier, and identify any differences between the two.&rtreturn;The Taurus XD leather cutter is a modular cutting system featuring automated colour hide scanning, flaw capture and multiple nesting packages. It enables most users to reduce leather waste by 4-10%. &rtreturn;The Taurus XD also eliminates both the need for pattern templates and cutting dies and operator injury associated with manual hide cutting. The system also improves worker safety by eliminating repetitive stress injuries brought on by the handling of heavy dies.&rtreturn;A digital colour camera, mounted to the cutting beam, scans the entire hide, locates the perimeter and captures and identifies pre-marked flaws. Operators mark hides using different colours to represent individual flaw grades. The software then automatically distinguishes up to four grades of flaws based on these colour markings. The Taurus XD system supports fully-automatic nesting as well as manual nesting. &rtreturn;The Taurus XD delivers consistent, reliable cut quality and accuracy. As a result, users realise a reduction in recuts. Unlike manual leather cutting, cut details such as notches are guaranteed to be included. Therefore, sewing operators can complete the assembly process faster than when using leather parts cut manually. &rtreturn;Gerber do not just cater to the volume market but also supply a single-station Taurus XM, the most affordable automated leather cutting system designed to cut full hides. Taurus XM is designed for companies with low volume leather cutting demands, including those that do small order production cutting, production recuts, and aftermarket service and repair cuts. The XM is also the perfect solution for engineering and product development departments that make frequent sample and prototype cuts. &rtreturn;Taurus XM was developed using the core technology of Gerber's successful Taurus XD leather system reconfigured into a smaller, more affordable package. 'The XM is offered at a significantly lower price point than any other full-hide leather system available today', says Shawn Cole, Gerber's product manager for single-ply cutters. 'While working with our customers, we discovered that many did not require the full production capacity offered by larger, more expensive leather cutting systems.' The Taurus XM is the answer to these customers' needs.&rtreturn;Taurus XM offers flexibility on many levels. The XM has a small footprint and can fit in areas that larger systems cannot. It can be easily disassembled and moved when facility layouts change. Users can also install multiple Taurus systems sharing one centralised management database for the ultimate flexibility in balancing production demands and capital investment costs. Taurus XM enables customers to keep up with growth in demand without overextending their output capacity or their budgets. &rtreturn;For companies outsourcing leather cutting to overseas contractors, the XM is an ideal solution for in-house, high-speed sample making and prototyping. Traditionally, salaried designers and engineers have cut leather manually in this environment. This is both costly and time consuming. Taurus XM simplifies this process through automation and provides both time and cost savings. Many overseas contractors are already using Taurus technology for automated leather cutting. Taurus XM also facilitates CAD data exchange with contractors. &rtreturn;Taurus XM offers the power, flexibility and cost justification previously unavailable to a large segment of the leather cutting market. 'With this system, Gerber have designed the easiest-to-operate, most affordable and feature-rich system on the market today', added Cole. 'Through the introduction of XM, we look forward to helping more manufacturers automate the leather cutting process and increase profitability.'

Since the mid-1970s, Verbo have provided a full range of finishing chemicals including polyurethane binders, produced in the two manufacturing plants in Izmir, to customers in Türkiye and throughout the world.

Exandal Corp are one of the largest producers of tara powder (Tanex FP). Exandal's corporate office is located in California, USA, and their production plant is located in Lima, Peru. Exandal's facility operates with the most modern and efficient technology and, therefore, they are able to guarantee a top quality tara powder at the most competitive and stable price.

Sarugan W 928 M is an aqueous, dull polymer dispersion with high viscous liquid. It produces a dull, medium-soft film. Sarugan W 928 M exhibits a pleasant, soft and dry handle. Due to the high dulling degree, Sarugan W 928 M produces very dull surfaces and avoids any grey break after milling.

The Central Leather Research Institute and the National Chemical Laboratory, both in India, have developed a new method of synthesing bromochloromethane (BCM) as an intermediate for fungicides. BCM is an important intermediate of TCMTB synthesis and this new process of producing BCM is simpler and cleaner than previous methods.

Eureka 884 is a development from Atlas Refinery based on a combination of high quality natural oils. Eureka 884 gives excellent softness without compromising the break of the leather. Unique in its versatility, Eureka 884 can be used in all types of shoe upper, garment and furniture leathers. Simply adjust the quantity offered for the desired temper.

Following recent announcements on new Corilenes and Synektans, a further group of products consisting of formaldehyde-free Renektans, two more Corilene water repellency boosters and a new Bemanol multi-purpose wetting/soaking agent will be available immediately.

With the unique Melio Aquabase Technique, Clariant's Business Unit Leather is serving the industry with another convincing upgrading solution.

The British School of Leather Technology will have a stand at Tanning Tech. The school is aware that some students find it difficult to study in the UK for extended time periods. It has, therefore, developed distance learning provision for some courses. The first courses to be offered are the Master of Business Administration (MBA - Leather) and the MSc in Leather Technology. These courses are offered from January 2005.

Tanneries Nouvelle Pechdo, France, specialise in the manufacture of soft cowbelly leathers which they say come from the best European origins and have an average size of 9 sq ft. Because the belly is the softest part of the hide, they have been able to develop garment leathers.

Southern Hide Exports are an Australian company processing hides and skins from the main beef and sheep producing states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Western Australia. They say they understand their customers' expectations: 'We know that quality, efficiency and economy play important roles in your decision-making process. Ideally you want more than just a supplier; you want a business partner who cares as much as you do about your market. That's where Southern Hide Exporters can exceed your expectations. We have a large customer base worldwide who use our products with great satisfaction and we continue to look for new ways in which to strengthen and develop our business relationships at every opportunity.'

L H Nichols Ltd - the specialist producers of slink lambskins (sometimes known as babylamb) - continue to expand their range of new finishes.

The National Council of SPCAs, South Africa's biggest animal welfare organisation, has been involved with the campaign to end the epidemic of avian influenza among ostriches in the Eastern Cape from the beginning. Culling started on August 11, and around 17,000 birds had been slaughtered by mid-September.

The hide market stumbled through August restricted by low kill allied to scarce demand. Kills were so low that the lift in prices experienced in July carried on into August.

George Rapsomanikis presented a paper which looked at the supply of hides and skins and the demand for leather and leather products which had been modelled within a partial equilibrium framework.

With the exception of some Asian countries and some of the economies in transition whose expansion exceeded the global average, economic growth was disappointing and, in some cases, negative growth was registered. Consequently, global demand for leather and leather products has been weak over the same period. Yet production of hides and skins continued to increase, with the expansion in developing countries more than offsetting the decline in developed countries. The fall in hide and skin prices continued in 2003 and can be attributed to a combination of factors.

In early September, those returning home from Shanghai spoke about a good number of visitors and participants, but little business on the spot in spite of healthy demand; no new clear directions about prices; and a concentration on upholstery leather at this fair and less on shoe leathers. This is a fair of growing importance which, more and more, competes with the Hong Kong equivalent according to some. In my opinion, it is the leading Chinese leather fair, while Hong Kong is bound to remain the leading global leather fair.

Henan Prosper are one of the biggest wool-on lambskin and sheepskin tanners and manufacturers.

Prices of Australian woolskins remain high as Chinese tanners buy available stocks and the continuing drought has depleted numbers. According to John Gorman, president, Australian Hide, Skin and Leather Exporters Association (AHSLEA), the country has endured five years of dry conditions with a dramatic effect on the national flock numbers. 'The sheep population in Australia now stands at around 92 million head. This is the lowest figure for 55 years and it will be at least two years before stock numbers begin to recover', he said.

Braspelco were established in 1986 by Brazilian entrepreneurs, who gathered together their experience from working for decades in the leather industry and formed a new company.

The big event for the US trade and, for that matter, industry members from most other nations in the world, was the Shanghai leather fair held during the first days of September. Trade fairs, especially those that are international in scope, are essentially designed to establish new contacts and enhance old ones.

Cargill Foods are undertaking a major expansion which will utilise the most advanced equipment processes in the cattle-harvesting section of their operation. Phase one of the $32.5 million project has already increased the workable slaughter space of the existing facility in High River, Alberta, Canada, by 30,000 sq ft to a total of 450,000 sq ft to help the company meet or exceed food safety requirements.

Otto Specht have unveiled a brand new pH-Meter called Vario that is available at an unbeatable price. It is a light, handy and robust Pocket-pH-Meter which fulfils all GLP (good laboratory practice) requirements.

Vallero International are pleased to announce their new product range.

Visitors are invited to Hall 35, stand B19/C18 where the latest products from Fratelli Carlessi will be on display. Staff present at the exhibition include: Duilio Carlessi, Gianluigi Carlessi, Ezio Paravisi, Claudio Gualandris and Eliana Preda.

The Hardy Leather Group, Hardy USA & Hardy UK Ltd, have evolved into a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of quality leather processing knives.

BIMA's new pneumatic leather inspection table allows the tanner to stretch the leather and easily find any hidden faults in the grain or colour of the skin. Expensive rework, such as replacing certain parts of the leather at the finishing stage, is therefore avoided. The stretching action can be adjusted precisely or is powered by directed impulses of compressed air.

Morocco's Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries says that Morocco is keen to co-operate with Vietnam in the production of leather shoes, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. This was announced during a visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to Rabat in mid-November.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkey's leather industry was operating at 57.1% of its total capacity in October 2004, as compared with 73.7% in the same month in 2003. The main reasons given by Turkish leather industry companies as to why they were not operating at full capacity were low demand on foreign markets, followed by low demand on the domestic Turkish market. In comparison, manufacturing sector companies in Turkey were operating at an average of 72% of their total capacity in October, a year-on-year fall of 1.2%.

Supporting exciting projects at high profile UK universities is an important element of BLC's ongoing drive to innovate through research and development. BLC has engaged with a number of leading universities to collaborate on key projects to support underpinning science for the leather industry.

The new global company, Lanxess, presented themselves to the public on November 25, 2004. Formed from the chemicals arm and some of the polymers activities of Bayer AG, Lanxess will begin operating as an independent company at the start of 2005. A completely new company with some 20,000 employees, their own corporate structure and 2003 sales of euro6.3 billion (based on the combined financial statements) has been created in record time since the decision was taken to spin off these operations in November 2003. It is expected that Lanxess will rank sixth among Europe's listed chemicals companies.

Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel imported raw hides and skins, and leather and leather products, worth US$59 million in the first nine months of 2004, as compared with US$49 million in the same period the previous year. Israeli exports of the same types of commodities were worth US$9.1 million in the January to September 2004 period, as against US$9.6 million in the same period in 2003.

Iran and Cuba are planning to sign a bilateral agreement in 2005 that will substantially reduce customs duties on goods traded between the two countries, according to the IRNA news agency. The agreement could lead to higher sales of Iranian hides and skins on the Cuban market.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that a total of 38,487 head of cattle of a total net weight of 7,895 tonnes were slaughtered in Croatia in the third quarter of 2004, as compared with 32,648 head of a total net weight of 6,747 tonnes in the same quarter in 2003.

For the first time, DNA has been extracted and analysed from leather for the purposes of species identification. This groundbreaking research has enabled a positive species identification for chamois leather.

Argentina's National Statistics Institute reports that Argentina exported leather and leather products worth US$684 million in the first nine months of 2004, a year-on-year increase of 17.4%. Imports of the same types of commodities were 78.1% higher year-on-year at US$49.0 million.

On November 12, 2004, the Lederinstitut Gerberschule Reutlingen celebrated their 50th anniversary. The name Lederinstitut Gerberschule Reutlingen (LGR) is well known in the leather industry and combines education with practical research and quality inspection.

Zschimmer & Schwarz will present leathers and working methods for shoe upper leather, clothing, upholstery and automotive leather in Bologna.

Seta's (Sociedade Extrativa Tanino de Acácia) staff will attend Tanning Tech again this year. Although Seta exhibit at almost all worldwide exhibitions, Tanning Tech has a particular importance. This event has always allowed the company to meet with all of their worldwide agents and customers, and play a part in the exhibition that sets the fashion trends of the leather industry around the world.

Smit & Zoon will be displaying a brand new collection of products at Tanning Tech, featuring applications manufactured with the latest technology in fatliquors and syntans. The focus will be on FOC; waterproof systems; car upholstery; milling nappa leather; washable leather; and doubleface.

BASF will again be attending the Tanning Tech exhibition and can be found in hall 34, stand B20. This year's motto is 'Experience the next generation of BASF products'.

TRUMPLER International will once again be present at Tanning Tech with a new stand design reflecting their modern, innovative approach to the leather industry.

New products for the wet-end and finishing will be shown by Bayer/Lanxess under the motto: 'Energising Chemistry for Leather'.

DuPont global market manager Jeroen Jacobs made a presentation on the benefits of his company's Teflon leather protector during this year's ACLE in Shanghai, China.

Clariant will be attending this year's Tanning Tech, displaying their full range of products for the wet-end and finishing.

Carpetex products on display in Bologna:

Boehme have been known for many years for their hiqh-quality product range for automotive, upholstery, shoe and garment leathers. This year, Boehme will present a variety of automotive and upholstery leathers which have been fatliquored with the recently patented Cutapol SYS system. With this system, automotive leathers with optimised emission and very high fastnesses can be produced. The system also results in leathers with a tight grain, excellent heat yellowing fastness, outstanding fogging values, good softness and a fine mill grain. In addition, excellent float exhaustion can be achieved.

With the extension of this year's Tanning Tech, Münzing Chemie will be exhibiting on a bigger stand in hall 31, stand B15-C14.

Italian chemical manufacturers ALPA have their head office in Milan, which not only incorporates a highly-automated production line, but also consists of an up-to-date research laboratory and a pilot plant.

'Cheer up! Collaboration is the keyword as companies, scientists and designers join forces to combine skills and creativity.' This new phrase will be an important factor in Stahl's presentation of leather fashion at Tanning Tech. The new emphasis will be complemented by

The problem

It has been found that there are some contradictions in the definitions of aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented leather in the available literature. This has inevitably lead to some confusion within the industry, particularly over the description of semi-aniline leather.

Historically low slaughter rates led some packers to raise prices on the most plentiful branded selections but tanners' responses were lukewarm. Cow hides fared better but at lower prices.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that Ukraine exported raw hides and skins, leather and leather products, worth US$149 million in the first nine months of 2004, an increase of 16% per cent as compared with the same period the previous year. Ukrainian imports of the same types of commodities were 11% higher year-on-year at US$52 million.

The next Upholstery Leather Conference being organised by TheSauerReport.com, Leather International and partners is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong immediately preceeding the Asia Pacific Leather Fair and APLF will be one of the main sponsors.

The XXVIII IULTCS congress will take place in Florence, Italy, from March 9-12, 2005, at the Palazzo dei Congressi. The theme will be research and new technologies together for the future of the tanning industry.

Statistics Norway reports that Norway exported raw hides and skins worth US$62.5 million in the first ten months of 2004, an increase of 6.6% cent as compared with the same period the previous year.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Turkey in the first nine months of 2004 was 16.5% higher than in the same period in 2003. In comparison, manufacturing industry production in Turkey in the January to September period was 12.6% higher year-on-year.

Madrid International Leather week, Sipiel, has unveiled its new commercial team. Félix Pérez Fajardo is the new commercial director of Sipiel, which includes Modacalzado, and Iberpiel Marroquineria, and Julia García acts as the fair's coordinator. Pola Iglesias continues in her role as director of International Leather Week.

Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau reports that Latvia exported raw hides and skins, and leather and leather products, worth US$1.11 million in September. Within the overall export figure, exports to the 25 member countries of the European Union were worth US$637,326 or 57.6% of the total hides, skins, leather and leather products exports.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary exported leather and leather products worth US$65.1 million in the first eight months of 2004, a year-on-year fall of 9.9%. Hungarian imports of the same types of commodities were 8.6% higher year-on-year at US$243 million.

According to Concord monitor online a fire at the former Penacook mill and tannery in New England, USA, on Monday November 15, 2004, a suspicious plume of smoke rising from a demolition site prompted emergency officials to evacuate part of Penacook and close the village to traffic for several hours.

Croatia's National Statistics Bureau reports that the production of leather and leather products in Croatia in the first ten months of 2004 was 6.5% lower than in the same period the previous year. In comparison, overall industrial output in Croatia in the January to October 2004 period was 2.8% higher year-on-year.

President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has said that he wants to see an end to barter trade by Belarusian companies during 2005, according to the Belta news agency. Companies in the leather industry are believed to be among those bartering their products for other types of goods. Lukashenko noted that Belarusian companies must receive 'real' money for their sold products. The system of writing off debts at enterprises will also be ended.

In our modern, industrialised society, responsibility for active environmental protection is becoming more and more important. Not surprisingly, environmental awareness has grown immensely in leather production just as it has elsewhere. Tough official regulations governing effluents, waste air and solid waste disposal provide the legislative background to this increased environmental sensitivity.

For organisations read tanneries and, specifically, the need to meet the plethora of environmental regulations that come from the regulatory authorities.

Nowadays, mobility plays a very important role in every aspect of life in industrialised countries. People have never spent as much time in their cars as they do today, and they expect to feel just as at home in their cars as they do in their living room.

The implications of EC chemicals legislation are far wider ranging than Europe since the European market imports huge quantities of products and consumer goods from the global basket. And the most influential market of all, China, is taking a very careful look at European regulations as well as issuing proposals for the control of the chemicals industry within its own borders.

All tanneries have good ecological intentions but at Sepiciler Caybasi Deri, Ms Gulsum Oyman is a full-time environmental engineer. Oyman is a key figure in the 200 or so work force and, working with Dr Yalcin Dikmelik, has perfected a process that extracts fat and protein from tannery waste. The recovered protein is used as a fertiliser and the fat is industrial grade so can be recycled for detergents and other cleansers.

The stockholders of Bayer AG have cleared the way for the spin-off of Lanxess. At the extraordinary stockholders' meeting on November 17, 2004, in Essen, they voted by a majority of 99.66% of the capital stock represented to approve the spin-off and acquisition agreement between Bayer AG and Lanxess AG as proposed by the board of management and the supervisory board. The Lanxess unit, which is currently operating as a Bayer subgroup, can thus be spun off. Lanxess comprises most of Bayer's chemicals activities and about one third of their polymers business. Bayer will thereafter concentrate on the primarily innovation and technology-driven core businesses of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials.

At the Extraordinary Stockholders' Meeting in Essen today, November 17, 2004, the stockholders of Bayer AG will vote on the planned spin-off of the new chemical company Lanxess. Bayer AG management board chairman Werner Wenning described the vote as a milestone on the road to implementing Bayer's strategic realignment. 'Having thoroughly examined the various possible ways to accomplish the separation, we are convinced that a spin-off is the best option', said Wenning, outlining the opportunities resulting from the planned spin-off. The Bayer CEO also introduced Dr Rolf Stomberg, who is designated to serve as chairman of the supervisory board of Lanxess until the company hold their first stockholders' meeting. Wenning also reaffirmed the Bayer Group's operational earnings targets for the current year.

The SPE Central Europe 9th Automotive Division Awards 2004 for automotive developments are widely regarded as the 'Plastics Oscars' of the automotive industry. The awards are presented every 18 months by the European Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers recognize innovations in four areas: external applications, internal applications, power train and management. At the ninth Award Night on October 18, 2004, in Düsseldorf, automotive manufacturers and direct suppliers were honoured for a total of five developments manufactured using products from Bayer MaterialScience; two out of these five prizes were for raw material developments.

The other value of this upmarket preselection is that it is the first in the season and comes just as Europe's tanners have returned to work after the summer vacations. Regular visitors include Christian Dior, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Jitrois, Hermès, Chanel, Swarovski, Baccarat....

Derma Soft

In the late 1960s a group of Brazilian shoemakers revealed their emerging industry to the American market. At that time, and subsequently, Brazilian footwear exports, particularly to the USA, were booming. Brazilian tanneries, eager to capitalise on this, invested heavily and prepared to meet the footwear industry's demands for finished leather.

Slovakia's State Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Slovak Republic in the first nine months of 2004 was 9.5% lower than in the same period the previous year. In comparison, overall industrial output in Slovakia during the same period was 5.1% higher year-on-year.

The Slovak Statistical Office reports that Slovakia exported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$80 million in the first eight months of this year, a year-on-year fall of 19.8%. Slovakia's imports of the same types of commodities were 3.3% lower year-on-year at US$177 million.

Billed as the first event ever for competitively priced footwear and related fashion accessories, in Brussels - the heart of Europe, Fashion First is the talk of Europe, as Brussels prepares to welcome thousands of buyers to Europe's first exhibition specifically for competitively priced fashion accessories, according to Michael Duck, director of Asia Pacific Leather Fair Ltd, the organisers.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Hungary in the first nine months of 2004 was 17.8% lower than in the same period in 2003. Total sales recorded by Hungarian leather industry companies in the January to September 2004 period were 16.5% lower year-on-year, including a fall in sales of 15.4% on the domestic market and 16.9% lower sales on export markets.

Assomac say that Tanning-Tech 2004 offered a perfect snapshot of the international tanning technology system; a snapshot taken from the Italian stands and that highlights the serious difficulties in which the Western leather/footwear/leathergoods system finds itself.

Finland's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reported in early November that anthrax had been detected in a calf on a farm in southern Finland, according to Baltic Business News. The disease was found in a sample sent to the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute of Finland (EELA) in October. Finland's chief veterinary inspector, Jessica Löfgren-Eriksson, was reported as saying that the situation is no cause for alarm. Finland had previously recorded anthrax cases in cattle in Orimattila in the 1970s and in Ostrobothnia in 1988.

The Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences Committee (CSESC), China's non-governmental environmental protection association, is currently carrying out a survey of chromium pollution throughout China, according to the Interfax news agency. Recommendations will be made on how to deal with this pollution and overcome the problem of large chromium supplies at bankrupt producers. The leather industry is one of the largest consumers of chromium in China, but is not yet clear how the results of the survey will affect chromium supplies to the industry.

The 14th edition of International Leather Days and the Golden Horn fair have been postponed. They were due to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from December 10-12 but despite having 129 exhibitors from 16 countries booked in, the organisers Ezgi Ajans decided to pull out due to 'ongoing uncommon sectoral situations'. They are hopeful that the 'uncommon situation' will be resolved in due course.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that Ukrainian leather and leather products manufacturers' sold products worth US$124 million in the first nine months of this year. This figure accounted for 0.3% of total sales of industrial products in Ukraine during the period.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Koteks company in Tesanj have started purchasing hides of domestic origin with the intention of exporting them, according to the Serbian Unity Congress.

Estonia's Statistical Office reports that 77,700 tons of livestock was slaughtered in Estonia in the first nine months of this year, compared with 80,700 tons in the same period in 2003. There were 258,500 head of cattle on farms in Estonia as of September 30, as against 259,500 on the same date in 2003.

Croatia's Central Statistics Bureau reports that Croatia exported raw hides and skins worth US$17.8 million in the first nine months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 25.1%. Croatian imports of the same types of commodities were 17.3% higher at US$19.1 million.

Following on from the Footwear and Glove Trend Books, Bureau de Style has produced a leathergoods version which is geared to the specific needs of this sector. Picking up the mood of the times and the main fashion trends for the coming season, it is a useful tool for designers, full of imaginative ideas that they can take hold of and develop as they please.

Belarus' Ministry of Statistics reports that Belarus exported leather shoes worth US$73.4 million in the first eight months of this year. No figure was given for exports in the same period last year.

Attendees of the AGM for the 107th annual Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists (SLTC) were invited to discuss new ways of making the society relevant to the leather making industry in the modern era.

Despite steady demand from the automotive sector, German leather production fell by approximately 5% to 16 million sq m last year. The downward trend continued through the first half of 2004, with weaknesses in the domestic market and increased competition in export markets being attributed to the strength of the euro. 65% of finished leathers went to the automotive and furniture industries, 25% to the footwear industry and the remaining 10% to the leathergoods and garment sectors.

More than 200 Sensors, the SATRA-developed temperature and humidity monitors for the footwear industry, have now been sold worldwide. The pocket-sized device was introduced by SATRA in 200l and Pentland Chaussures' purchase of two, plus a downloadable data-reading device, represents a sales milestone for the UK-based technology centre.

Orchid BioSciences Inc (Nasdaq: ORCH) have announced that their animal genetic testing facility in the UK has completed DNA testing of their one millionth sheep for scrapie susceptibility. Since 2001, Orchid have been a major supplier of genotyping services offered to UK sheep farmers under the government's National Scrapie Plan (NSP), which is designed to help farmers breed sheep with reduced susceptibility to this mad cow-like prion disease. Orchid are also the exclusive genotyping supplier to the Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan and provides a commercial testing service directly to farmers in the UK. Orchid recently announced that the UK government has renewed Orchid's scrapie genotyping contract for an additional two years.

On October 1, 2004, Thomas Sattler took over management of the BASF regional business unit Performance Chemicals for Leather Europe, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. In this capacity he succeeds Eckart Stein, who has been given new responsibilities within BASF.

Lanxess presented their speciality products for the manufacture of high-quality leathers under the motto 'Energizing Chemistry for Leather'. The focus was on new products for the wet end and finishing and on a new, efficient basis for a customer-orientated technical service. In this connection, Dr Bernhard Wehling, head of the leather business unit, stressed: 'Over the past few years, cooperation with our partners in the market in the field of research, production and marketing has already played an important role in enabling us to offer our customers attractive services.'