Leather Wise Ltd have expanded their range of services to now include swatches of different leather types. The company routinely use the swatches in their training courses as an invaluable aid to help demonstrate the differences between leather types eg aniline, pigmented, nubuck etc. Clients find them useful when guiding a customer towards products most suited to their needs. The swatches can contain a range of different leather types and can have any company logo printed on the leather cover at not extra cost. For more details, visit [http://www.leatherwise.co.uk/leatherswatches.htm]

The XIII World Ostrich Congress takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 26-28 October 2006. Delegates can register for the event at http://sec.adaltech.com.br/vertical/woc/2006/novainscricao.asp

It was with satisfied faces, an 8% rise in exhibitors and many new innovations and further developments in fair design that the 102nd GDS - The Premiere Shoe Event closed at Düsseldorf's exhibition centre on 17 September. Over three days, the orders and information platform attracted 33,000 visitors (a 4.5% rise) from 82 countries who came to gather information on the forthcoming shoe trends for Spring/Summer 2007. Trade buyers were 'spoilt for choice' with the over half a million shoe styles presented by 1,398 exhibitors (previous event: 1,301), including the likes of numerous international top designer labels. From exclusive and elegant to young, trendy and experimental, the range offered at GDS was comprehensive. Generating particular interest was the premium segment 'white cubes' - Messe Düsseldorf's successful and entirely new concept for exhibitors.

In October 2003 Unido Vienna promoted, sponsored and financed the construction and installation of an SFF at the Addis Ababa Abattoir in collaboration with the Ethiopian Tanners Association. Although little time was available for training and experimentation the installation was objectively a success. Such a success that the ETA organised a (Unido sponsored and financed) well attended workshop, and the abattoir in question, after seeing the SFF work for bovines, wanted to develop a baby SFF for sheep and goat on the spot.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that the Turkish leather industry was operating at 59.3% of its overall production capacity in August, compared with 63.3% in the same month last year. In comparison, Turkey's manufacturing industry was operating at 71.6% capacity in August, as against 70.2% in August 2005.

The Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists have relaunched their website which can be found at [http://www.sltc.org]

Statistics Norway reports that Norway exported raw hides and skins worth US$54 million in the first eight months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 14.6%.

IULTCS and ISO have announced a memorandum of understanding towards a new working relationship. The document between the two organisations was signed in December 2005, establishing a mechanism by which ISO and IULTCS can publish joint standards. The IULTCS commissions are in the process of compiling the database of method to be sold as a CD-ROM. This will include all IULTCS methods.

The Paris show grew by 12% in exhibitor terms at the September edition from 19-22 at Paris Nord Villepinte. This is in comparison with the previous autumn show which, traditionally, is bigger than the spring show. Le Cuir A Paris is organised by the SIC Group and is now part of a combined fashion industry group of fairs at the Villepinte showgrounds under the Premiere Vision Pluriel banner.

Kyrgyzstan's National Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Kyrgyzstan in the first half of this year was a substantial 260% higher than in the same period in 2005, according to the Interfax news agency. Production in the leather footwear sector increased by '44 times' year-on-year, while production of leather made from sheep or goat skins increased by 8.1%. However, the production of leather made from cattle hides fell by 42.4%. Production falls were also recorded for leather products such as suitcases and leather bags. In comparison, the year-on-year decrease in industrial output in Kyrgyzstan in the January to June period was 6.8%.

On the opening day of the latest edition of Le Cuir A Paris, the French 'Conseil National du Cuir' have launched a three-year television ad campaign. The two films, each of 30 seconds duration, express the different 'personalities' of leather such as garment, footwear, leathergoods, upholstery and safety.

Budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB), is introducing all-leather seats to further improve passenger comfort and its operating and maintenance efficiency.According to CEB marketing director Candice Iyog. 'Leather, while more expensive upfront, costs less over time because it lasts longer than the traditional material. Leather is also faster and easier to clean,especially in case of a spill. This means a quicker turnaround for the aircraft which is critical to the airline's on-time performance. 'The resulting savings are passed on to passengers in terms of low fares. So now we offer an unbeatable combination of low fares, on-time flights, brand-newplanes and leather seats,' said Iyog.

Rohm and Haas celebrated the official opening of the China Research and Development Center (CRDC) in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai on 20 September. Nearly 300 guests including government officials, customers, board members and executive leaders - and more than 500 Rohm and Haas employees - attended the grand opening ceremony.

The South African section of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists have issued a call for papers for their 57th annual convention which will be held in South Africa from June 8-10, 2007.

The Christchurch based sheepskin tannery G L Bowron is facing its fourth round of restructuring since 2003. 120 staff, including 80 production line workers will be asked to take redundancy. The Japanese-owned company currently employs 335 staff, as 75 workers were laid off earlier this year. Bowron human resources manager Sue Hurst stated that the company were significantly restructuring their sheepskin tanning operation and were proposing to cut about 120 jobs at their suburban Woolston plant by the end of September. Restructuring proposals affected all departments from senior management to about 80 process workers, she said. 'The issues facing the company are the continuing strength of the New Zealand dollar along with increased competition from low labour-cost countries.'

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that 1.31 million tonnes liveweight of livestock for slaughter was produced in Ukraine in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 5.2%.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkey imported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$323 million in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 18.5%. Turkey exported the same types of commodities worth US$59 million in the January to July period, a year-on-year increase of 30.9%.

The grand opening ceremony for the new $18 million manufacturing facility for Stahl Coatings and Fine Chemicals (Suzhou) Co Ltd took place on Friday 8 September, immediately following the All China Leather Fair, in the presence of an audience of over 500 invited guests from China and South East Asia.

Statistics South Africa reports that manufacturers of leather and leather products in South Africa recorded sales totalling US$316 million in the first half of this year, compared with US$305 million in the same period in 2005.

Russia's State Customs Committee reports that Russia exported leather and leather products worth US$187 million to countries outside of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the first half of this year, according to the Interfax news agency. Exports of the same types of commodities to CIS countries were worth US$7.2 million. Leather and leather products imports from non-CIS and CIS countries in the same period were worth US$127 million and US$1.3 million respectively.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the number of people employed in Macedonia's leather industry in the first seven months of this year was 6.9% higher than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, the number of people employed in Macedonia's manufacturing industry was 4.3% lower year-on-year.

Nearly two years after the company was formed, LANXESS are increasingly aiming for organic and also external growth. 'We plan to grow into the role of a pro-active player on the global chemicals market. We have laid the foundations for this over the past two years', said LANXESS Management Board Chairman Axel C Heitmann at an international media and investor conference in Leverkusen.

Latvia's Light Industry Association says that half the shoes sold in Latvia are now imported from China, according to Baltic Business News. However, in value terms, Chinese shoes account for only a sixth of the Latvian shoe market. This is due to their generally low prices. Many Latvian shoe retailers are importing shoes directly from Chinese manufacturers.

Buckman Laboratories of Memphis, TN and OmniLytics of Salt Lake City, UT, have entered into an agreement to pursue the commercialisation of bacteriophage-based products for E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. Both firms are moving forward on a project that entails the external application of the bacteriophages to cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry livestock, both prior and post-slaughter. This unique technology will reduce the threat of human enteric infections encountered through contamination associated with these pathogens.

In 2006, exports of Thai leathergoods are predicted to show an increase of 15% over the previous year, to a total of US$1.8billion, with overall leather industry export contributing 1.4% of the country's GDP.

On Saturday, September 9, two days after the ACLE fair in Shanghai, Ruixin Company of Wenzhou opened a tannery in Haining, Zhejiang province, to produce grain leather for upholstery. The company already operate a split tannery for upholstery in Wenzhou.

GOSH Leather, part of the Schaffer Group, closed their doors on August 31 after thirteen years of making upholstery leather from wet-blue in their Aus$10 million tannery in Hamilton Hill, Fremantle, Western Australia. Prior to that they had grown from a small tanning operation called Calsil, which was established in the Shilkin tannery when it went bankrupt in 1984. They renamed themselves GOSH in 1988.

British Glove Association member, Dents, has launched its latest collection of gloves for Autumn/Winter 2006. The collection is linked to the company's new range of designer handbags called 'Portraits'.

A new tannery is due to open shortly in Jinja, Uganda, processing raw hides into leather for Chinese company, Skyfat Tannery Company Limited. Skyfat have invested $ 5 million in the facility and aim at adding value to Uganda's hides for export to China.

The All China Leather Exhibition in Shanghai was even bigger this year. Occupying five halls with the fifth devoted to the CIFF and Moda Shanghai footwear fairs, which this year had their own entrance to help alleviate bottlenecks at the registration desks.

From the organisers of Istanbul's Leather Days exhibition comes a new fair concept entitled fw:ist. Fun and Fashion Weekend Istanbul will take place on November 17-19 and will be held at the Hilton Convention Centre in the heart of the city.

DuPont have announced a breakthrough technology for leather products that withstands rainstorms outside, and washing machines at home.

Introduction

Elmo Leather have been active in reducing the environmental impact from leather production for many years and the company are continously seeking to improve their environmental performance. This has resulted in a number of actions carried out in order to make sure that the policy will be actively implemented. It has been possible to significantly reduce the environmental impact to water and air and reduce the amount of waste generated.

Speaking at the ninth session of the FAO Sub-Group on Hides and Skins in Tanzania earlier this year, John Koppany (CIDEC Argentina and a former president of the International Council of Tanners) gave a review of the Latin American tanning industry, graphically illustrating its position in the world as second only to Asia (principally China and India) in terms of production and especially potential.

According to Mrs Pranee Kuruvelukorn, president of the Thai Tanning Industry Association (TTIA), 'making leather is a tough job where art and science have to meet. From raw materials to the finished product the tanner adds a large amount of value.' She states that people should be conscious of the added value and start to pay higher prices for leather.'

Zschimmer & Schwarz have a worldwide acknowledged professional competence for the field of the wet-end processes. All the auxiliaries for this area are produced in Germany, guaranteeing a constant high level of quality. In Shanghai Zschimmer & Schwarz will present a wide range of leathers and working methods, demonstrating the manifold use of their auxiliaries. The main focus of the presentation will be on different shoe upper and automotive leathers.

WBI Leather are a full service company handling crust and finished leathers from South America. They carry famous leathers such: Cream, Atanado, Gloving, Alsina, Carolina C, Carolina F, M-Calf, Camel and many more.

At this year's fair Trumpler will exhibit a full range of fashion leathers demonstrating the use of their wide spectrum of beamhouse and dyehouse chemicals.

Tannin Corporation are pleased to announce the newest developments in their broad range of products for the retanning and fatliquoring stage of leather making. These developments are part of an ongoing effort to supply the leather industry the highest quality products to meet the most demanding specifications.

With much pride, Tanac launched their new Leather Technology Centre (TLTC) in July. This new space was designed for the application of the company's products as well as to provide a range of services to customers. It consists of twelve drums of various dimensions, as well as a laboratory for physical-mechanical tests.

The Sisecam Group of Turkiye are active in the field of glass and chemicals production. Their chemicals group produces and markets the well known Tankrom brand (basic chromium sulfate which is used in the tanning process).

Since 1994 Shafi Reso-Chem has made a continuous effort to innovate quality chemicals for modern needs. The company will be present at the ACLE in Shanghai and the following new chemicals have been developed:

Sarchem have been active in the Turkish chemical market for more than 20 years. The company specialise in the production of finishing chemicals and plan to place more of an emphasis on exporting their products in the future.

Rapihit, suitable for marking hides and skins in any wet stage eg raw, pickle, wet-blue, dyed, will be displayed at the Zwaans stand in Shanghai.

Brazilian tanning group Bracol will be exhibiting at ACLE. Their stand will highlight the following areas:

In the past Flamar Italia have participated in the Shanghai leather fair from the booth of their official agent in China, Taige Industry (Shanghai) Co. This year the company will have their own booth in the Italian pavilion in order to gain better visibility among Chinese customers and other foreign clients.

As well as displaying their established range of products for the whole of the leathermaking process, BASF will be focusing this year on innovative new products and processes that offer distinct ecological and economic advantages. The highlights at this year's exhibition are Relugan GM, Relugan Soft HF and Eusapon OE.

Synthol UF 737 provides all tanners need to fatliquor shoe and bag leather. Smit & Zoon introduced Synthol UF 737, a single fatliquor, to simplify the process. Conventional fatliquoring is often based on three or four fatliquors, whereas Synthol UF 737 is designed to be used alone. Using just one product makes logistics and handling on the factory floor easier.

Corichem are a technologically avant-garde Italian leather chemicals producer. They have a worldwide network of skilled technicians who guarantee ready, fast and decisive assistance. Their wide range of chemicals includes beamhouse and wet-end products, dyestuffs, leatherboard chemicals, finishing products, pu-transfer products, which are sold all over the world.

Fun for Shoes which reflects the new shoe concept of Münzing leather specialities for shoe upper leather is this year's highlight of Münzing's participation at ACLE. The company will exhibit leathers produced with Münzing wet process speciality chemicals produced with hides and skins of various origin.

Leather International will be showcasing their latest edition of Leather International China at the All China Leather Exhibition. Written in Mandarin, this publication is aimed at the increasingly important Chinese leather and leather products industries. Leather International China is a quarterly publication which is distributed to all members of the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA).

Carlessi will be present at ACLE and will highlight their latest spray cabinet, the rotary spray cabinet type 'Diamond'. Its main features include: stainless steel AISI 304 construction; large doors on the control side and on the suction side; easy access and use of the electric controls. The spray cabinet can be equipped with an internal water recycling system by electro-pump or with dry bottom (Diamond/S') or with static water system ('Diamond/ F').

At the ACLE 2006, chemical company LANXESS will be exhibiting a comprehensive range of products for the leather industry, including the innovations Retingan ZF, LubritanM XB, XS and Tanigan SR-C. The company will also be presenting their new X-tra range of finishing products for highly fashionable upper and bag leathers that meet the toughest requirements.

Hüni will be in Shanghai to keep customers informed about their wide range of wooden drums and paddles, stainless steel laboratory drums and polypropylene drums. Service and spare parts are available for Hüni, Billeri and Vallero drums (purchased technology) and others. They also supply process control equipment for tanneries: Aquamix; Prodomix and Prododos; Microtan; Visutan; Finimix; turn key tannery projects, engineering and special software application for tanneries. In addition they offer secondhand machinery, consulting, special applications (weighing, software, dilution, product storage).

Dornbusch Gravuren will present the following items on their stand at Shanghai: embossing rollers, embossing plates and printing rollers to finish the surface of leather and leathergoods. Their range will include a great variety of 30,000 different designs of traditional and fantasy character. All types of roller can be fitted to any kind of machinery. The combination of traditional hand-made and laser engravings ensure that the requirements of customers throughout the world can be catered for. The company has over 100 years experience and guarantee the best engraving results.

At ACLE 2006, visitors to the Cognis stand will see leathers which meet the usual and also the most special requirements of tanneries. An international team will be assisting the customers to offer expert advice.

Clariant welcome visitors to their stand at ACLE and offer best performance from wet end to finishing. They will highlight an innovative retanning system for full and soft chrome free leathers as well as their Clariant fashion service which looks at the latest leather trends and colours. This is published twice a year prior to the spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons.

Carpetex have recently introduced Merpin 8011, a special development for successful soaking of stale rawhides. The product is characterised by hydrotropic and dirt and scud dispersing properties. Deposits and impurities are converted in removeable condition by washing.

As already announced, DyStar, a leading supplier of products and services for the textile industry, signed an agreement to acquire the business activities of the Boehme Group. As a result the well known Boehme product range for wet processes in leather production will be complemented in future with dyes and the well established leather finishing range of DyStar.

ALPA will participate at the Shanghai Leather Fair to keep in close contact with their Asian customers in all lines of leather manufacturing including shoes, leather goods, garment and upholstery.

The ACLE fair due to take place in Shanghai in September will be bigger than ever and the organisers say that it is still growing from the international side. The focus of the fairs is the Chinese market which explains a growing number of international companies exhibiting as they want to increase their exposure and business with this market. CIFF (footwear) and Moda Shanghai (leather/fur garments and other leathergoods) will run alongside. For the first time this year, the two fairs, ACLE on one side and CIFF Moda Shanghai on the other will have distinct entrances and dedicated halls.

During early August the whole country appeared to have gone on holidays but just before they did a lot of hide business was done for September.

The European Union's import duties on footwear from China and Vietnam are beginning to seriously hurt Chinese shoe exports. A leading Chinese shoe manufacturer estimates that the industry in Guangdong Province has now lost 50% of its potential orders to countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. Last year the export value of shoes to the EU reached a value of US$760 million. This year 140 million pairs are allowed in duty free but then the punitive import duties will begin to limit increases in numbers.

After having dipped in the area of a dollar on steers as well as two dollars or more on branded cows, hide prices recovered to their June levels by early August. Tanners who were trying to outwait well forward producers finally acquiesced leading to a rapid price recovery by the last week of June.

Federally inspected slaughter figures for the four-week period ended August 5 showed an average weekly kill of 630,750 which is still running at 3.8% above the same time last year.

There are 115 employees at the Portão site which houses R&D labs and production facilities. There is an additional warehouse and distribution centre in Franca (São Paulo state). Stahl Brasil are part of Stahl Americas alongside Stahl USA, and Stahl Mexico.

The wealth of quality raw materials, land and an abundant employment pool makes Argentina an ideal place for tanning. Restrictions on exports of raw hides and wet-blue also offer incentives to local entrepreneurs to invest in the tanning sector.

Corium Quimica were founded in 1996, as a result of a decision by Rohm and Haas to outsource the sales and technical support for their leather industry products. Corium began to represent Rohm and Haas in Brazil and subsequently added Langro Chemie Germany to their portfolio, allowing Corium to offer a full line of finishing products to tanneries.

Umberto Cilião Sachelli is proud of the level of exports achieved over the past twelve months in spite of the difficulties provoked by factors such as high interest rates, high taxes and by the appreciation of the real.

Curtume Bolzano, based in São Leopoldo, are specialists in footwear leathers and their high tech tannery produces leathers for brands such as Cole Haan, Nine West and J C Penney.

Anthony (Tony) David Cox, MBE, died on July 3, 2006. He was 68. Scottish by descent, Tony had only recently returned to Perthshire, to retire. Born in London, he was a lifelong lover of football and became a British schoolboy international soccer player by the age of 14 years. He was so focused on the game by then that school seemed irrelevant.

Exel Tecnologie have announced the appointment of Sudhir Kumar Jha as country manager. Kumar Jha gained a bachelors degree in Leather Technology at the Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology and subsequently achieved a Masters in Business Administration. Kumar Jha worked for Indofil Chemical Company, Bombay, for over ten years, joining as a trainee. He then held various posts in R&D, technical services, and sales and marketing. He has also been actively involved in the company's exports to countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan and China. In his new role he will strengthen Exel's presence in growing markets such as South East Asia.

Shri S S Kumar, former national chairman of the Council for Leather Exports and currently chairman of the governing body of the Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology, is being conferred with a knighthood by the Italian government. The award 'Cavaliere dell'Ordine Stella della Solidarieta Italiana' or the 'Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity' is proposed by the foreign minister for Italy and is awarded under the decree of the Italian President for Italians and foreign nationals residing outside Italy, who have significantly contributed to the prestige of Italy by way of promoting Italian culture and language and by way of any voluntary activity or humanitarian service that enhances the cordial relations the Italian community enjoys in the world.

Marc Gummer has joined BLC as head of Diagnostic Services, working in the Technical Services Department, where he will be responsible for problem solving related to both the manufacture of leather and finished products. In addition Marc will provide support to the consulting team. Marc joined Pittards glove leather division in 2000, working in the research and innovations department, where he was involved in product support and worked on new products and technologies. During his time at Pittards, Marc studied at the British School of Leather Technology graduating with a first class degree in Materials Technology (Leather) in July 2005. Marc's experience with Pittards provides him with an excellent background to perform this varied and vital role at BLC.

Ken Nokes retired on July 28, 2006, after nearly nine years at Satra. During his time with Satra he visited offices, tanneries and factories in the USA, Brazil, China, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Korea, Russia, Türkiye and, of course, the UK. He says that he always tried to put a lot of time, energy and enthusiasm into the job and that his colleagues in membership/marketing and other parts of Satra will continue to look after the interests of clients in the leather and all the other industries served.

After 49 years in the leather industry, James (Jim) Broadhead has announced his retirement. Born in Skipton, Yorkshire, Jim attended the University of Leeds where he obtained a BSc (Hons) Chemistry of Leather Manufacturing.

Hugh A Vos died peacefully on July 6 in hospital after a long and difficult illness. He was 78. He was the son of Ben Vos, Chairman of B B Vos & Sons Ltd, Weston Street, Bermondsey, London, and director of the company for many years in charge of the E I Kip and Skin Department in London, and regularly visited India to meet suppliers. Latterly he traded with his brother Bernard from their warehouse in Northampton, until he retired from business in 1986.

The British School of Leather Technology has seen a number of staff changes in the past few months. Karl Flowers left at the end of March having spent four years at the school. Flowers had made a big contribution to reorganising the tannery and also visiting the fairs at Meet in Africa and Tanning Tech. Additionally he had accompanied the students on their annual visits to TFL on several occasions.

Barry Wood rejoins BLC as business development manager in Asia. Based in Shanghai, Wood will be involved in a wide range of consulting, product inspections and testing services, working closely with BLC-FYT Hai Ning Leather Test Centre, BLC's testing partner in China.

The Unido director general has selected Aurelia Calabro Bellamoli for the position of senior industrial development officer and deputy director of Unido Regional Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Gerber Technology have introduced Pivex cutting technology designed to increase cutting speed for intricate shapes while improving cut quality. This innovative reciprocating knife technology features the ability to change direction at high rates of speed. The first GerberCutter to integrate Pivex cutting technology will be the Taurus system, the leading full-hide leather cutter in the industry.

Condutex Gold, the latest modification of the Condutex belt for staking machines was unveiled at APLF in Hong Kong. Due to its special elastic memory Condutex Gold is able to return to its original shape and is therefore longer lasting. The product is particularly suitable for very soft or delicate leathers as it avoids wrinkles and pleats. Equitan report positive feedback from those tanneries currently using the belt.

I have read Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano's letter to Leather with interest. In my view it is in the interest of all developing countries to open their markets to a well defined number of foreign products provided they don't produce these themselves.

I would like to express a long held (& long overdue) sentiment of deep appreciation for the continued standard of excellence of your Leather magazine. The recent further improvements to the presentation and production are simply first class. You are in a class of your own now.

Dear Sam, Good to read your latest, but I wish that it did not depress me so!

Dung clad hides have always been a bone of contention and caused endless problems to both tanner and end user, not to mention attempting to sell the limed splits for collagen entering into the food chain.

Leather International magazine and the BLC Leather Technology Centre will co-host a major one-day conference aimed at the global leather making and retailing industries. Set to take place on Tuesday March 27, 2007 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, (HKCEC), the conference will precede the APLF which runs from March 28-30. It will feature presentations by leading figures from major international retailers, brands, tanners and other technical organisations.

The Warble Fly

There are two species of Cattle Warble Fly: Hypoderma bovis and Hypoderma lineatum. Hypoderma bovis is the species that principally affects Europe whereas Hypoderma lineatum occurs mostly in America.

The latest autumn/winter 2007/08 leather trends statement from Clariant's Leather Business Unit will allow tanners to be one step ahead when it comes to leather fashion. A newly improved fashion package has recently been published showing four major routes to follow: Streamlined, Nature Trail, New Traditions and Night Blooms - developed by Clariant's international Fashion Group. The stylish re-designed promotional kit is equipped with an eye-catching fashion poster swatched with real leather samples and comprehensive information about trends and corresponding interpretations on leather. All prototype articles are exclusively made by Italian stylists and will be displayed during Clariant's fashion shows and fairs around the world.

Coripol SLG is a newly developed fatliquoring agent from TFL which consists of a special combination of natural and synthetic fats that imparts softness and maintains grain tightness. Coripol SLG contains no formaldehyde and has good stability to chrome salts and electrolytes and is recommended for wet-blue and for wet-white leathers.

Tex Biosciences (P) Limited (formerly known as Textan Chemicals (P) Limited), were the first biotech company in India to come out with a proven technology to replace sodium sulfide in the unhairing process with their product Ezyme-A.

Two new fatliquors have been introduced into the Stahl range for use in producing softer leathers. Both products possess excellent light fastness and resistance to heat yellowing which makes them highly suitable for use on leathers which will be finished in white and pastel shades.

One single fatliquor is all you need to fatliquor your shoe and bag leather. Smit & Zoon have introduced Synthol UF 737, a single fatliquor to simplify your process. Conventional fatliquoring is often based on three or four fatliquors, where Synthol UF 737 can be used alone. The stage of mixing products of different compositions and emulsifying behaviour is much less critical when only Synthol UF 737 is applied. Synthol UF 737 helps make life in the tannery easier. In the end, Synthol UF 737 will lead to fewer mistakes. Using just one product makes logistics and handling on the factory floor more simple.

The latest TFL acid retanning system combines the advantages achieved when working in a low pH-range with those in a high pH-range without actually raising it and features Sellatan AR liq. This is a conditioning agent used to prepare for the retanning/fatliquoring processes for all types of leather, without the need for a neutralising step.

Oleoform-1005 is a special fatliquor from Fórmula Química, designed for vegetable tanned and semi-chrome leathers and suede. It imparts a special touch, softness and tear strength as well as special reactivity to wheel brushing at shoe factories.

Top Ground PL from Quimser is based on an acrylic - polyurethane in an aqueous means with auxiliaries. Developed for use on woolskins, the product offers good coverage for pigmented finishing. It forms an elastic and opaque film and has good levelling properties. In transparent finishings it does not affect the shade.

Stahl Asia have used the recent Guangzhou Shoe and Leathergoods Fair to launch a new marketing initiative based on their symposium theme 'Fashion Future' and a slogan to bring their emphasis on fashion as their focus, 'Fashioning Your Future'. The theme 'Fashion Future' and the slogan 'Fashioning Your Future' will be used in the coming months to link all presentations and fashion aids produced by Stahl Asia for their customers throughout the region.

Serbia's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Serbia in the first seven months of this year was 6.1% higher than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, the annual increase in industrial output in Serbia in the January to July period was 6.5%.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that manufacturers of leather and leather products in Ukraine recorded combined sales worth US$148 million in the first seven months of this year.

Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel exported leather and leather products worth US$11.5 million in the first seven months of this year, compared with US$10.0 million in the corresponding period in 2005. Israel imported the same types of commodities worth US$57.8 million in the January to July period, as against US$57 million in the same period last year.

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that cattle slaughter in Ireland in the first seven months of this year was 12.8% higher than in the same period in 2005.

The latest development in the on-going dispute over anti-dumping duties is the EU's recommendation that duties be set at 16.5% for Chinese shoes and 10% for Vietnamese shoes. The move, presented by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, is aimed at finally resolving the issue as to how much duty should be placed on imports of leather footwear from China and Vietnam. EU governments have one month to accept or reject the suggestion. The duties would then take effect on October 7 and last five years. They would replace the temporary levies of 19.4% and 16.8% for China and Vietnam respectively that were introduced in March and will expire on October 6.

Croatia's Bureau of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in Croatia in the first seven months of this year was 24.6% higher than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, industrial output in Croatia in the January to July period was 3.2% higher year-on-year.

Designers and retailers from in and around the city will be strutting their stuff at Chester Fashion 2006, (CF06) which runs from September 22-30. CF06 will be showcasing the fashion industry in Chester in an inaugural event that follows on directly from London Fashion Week.

BASF are raising their formic acid production capacity at the Ludwigshafen site by 25,000 metric tons annually with effect during the course of 2007. The move comes in response to a continually increasing demand for this versatile chemical intermediate. With a current annual capacity of 230,000 metric tons, BASF are the world's leading manufacturers of formic acid with production plants at their integrated Verbund sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Nanjing, China.

Exports of leather and leather products increased 7.98% during 2005-06 from $2.5 billion to $2.69 billion. M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman for Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said that the increase was mainly due to the rise in exports of leather footwear and leathergoods.

New capacity for the raising of 4,200 head of livestock was put into operation at Russian livestock farms in the first half of this year, a substantial increase as compared with the same period in 2005, according to the Interfax news agency.

Kyrgyzstan's National Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Kyrgyzstan in the first half of this year was a substantial 260% higher than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, the annual fall in industrial output in Kyrgyzstan in the January to June period was 6.8%.

Ireland's Central Statistics Office reports that Ireland exported raw hides and skins worth 41.2 million euros in the first five months of this year, compared with 28 million euros in the same period in 2005. Imports of the same types of commodities in the January to May period were worth 1.7 million euros, as against 800,000 euros in the corresponding period last year.

In late August Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed into law a free trade agreement with China, according to the Vietnamese News Agency in a report from Beijing. Under the agreement, 99% of Chile's exports to China, and 97% of Chinese exports to Chile, will be exempt from import duties by 2017.

Albania's National Statistics Institute reports that Albania imported leather and leather products worth US$28.3 million in the first five months of this year, compared with US$24.1 million in the same period in 2005. Albanian exports of the same types of commodities in the January to May period were worth US$6.96 million, as against US$5.70 million in the corresponding period last year.

On July 3, 2006, the Camel Tannery started operation under their new name Al Khaznah Tannery. Situated in the United Arab Emirates, the tannery is a one hour drive from the city of Abu Dhabi. Capable of producing leather from a variety of sources (camel, cow, sheep and goats), the Al Khaznah plant is located in the desert between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, around 200 km away from Dubai. On-site residential facilities have been provided for managers and staff who require it as well as accommodation for visiting technicians and engineers from chemical and equipment suppliers.

TFL have been awarded two prizes from their long-term customers Eagle Ottawa. The first is the 2005 Performance Award given in recognition of 'Continuous Improvement'. The second is the Eagle Ottawa 'Innovation Award' for TFL's achievements regarding 'Innovative Contributions', especially new technologies in beamhouse and the TFL Topcare System.

Derek Holmes has been appointed head of manufacturing for SATRA's equipment sales business centre. Last year the technology centre earned £2 million in revenue from the production and sale of laboratory test equipment.

Stahl sadly reports the recent death of two well-known UK leather personalities, Len Kershaw and Mervyn Alcock. Len Kershaw worked for Stahl UK Limited as Export Manager in the late 1970s. Prior to this, he began his career in the leather industry at Midland Leather Company where he became Technical Director for many years. He had also attended the Leathersellers College in London. Following his time with Stahl, Len worked for a number of shoe and leathergoods tanners in the north of England. Len was an enthusiastic and creative person throughout his working life and a family man to the end. He leaves behind his wife Valerie, his son Stephen and his daughter Rachel.

Global specialty chemicals suppliers Cognis have reported net external sales of €1,715 million for the six months to June 30, 2006, a 7% increase compared with the same period in 2005. Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before net financial result, income taxes, depreciation, amortisation and exceptional items) also grew by 7% to €214 million, and the company's overall profit margin was 12.5%. Furthermore, the company have announced that the process of reviewing the strategic options for Cognis has now been completed: The shareholders decided to continue their investment for the next couple of years.

Vietnam's Trade Ministry reports that Vietnam exported leather shoes worth only US$340 million in July, a fall of 6.3% per cent compared with the previous month, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. The fall in exports was attributed to the implementation by the European Union of a dumping duty against Vietnamese-made leather shoes.

Türkiye's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkish leather and leather products exports in June were 8.1% higher than in May and 29.1% higher than in June last year. Turkish imports of the same types of commodities in June were 13.1% lower month-on-month and 12.4% higher year-on-year.

Slovakia's Statistical Office reports that the Slovak Republic exported hides and skins, leather and leather products, worth US$66 million in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 22.2%. Slovakian imports of the same types of commodities were 2.6% higher year-on-year at US$125 million.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela said during a visit to Hanoi in early August that Venezuela can become a gateway for Vietnamese exports to the Latin American market, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. Chavez added that in turn, Vietnam can become a gateway for Venezuelan exports to the ASEAN member countries in South-East Asia.

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Ireland in June was 24.4% lower than in June last year. The combined turnover of leather industry companies in Ireland in June was 29.8% lower year-on-year.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary imported leather and leather products worth US$119 million in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year decrease of 12.2%. Hungarian exports of the same types of commodities were 12.4% higher year-on-year at US$64 million.

The Czech Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Czech Republic in the first half of this year was 13.6% higher than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, industrial output in the Czech Republic in the January to June period was 11.9% higher year-on-year.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Statistics Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first seven months of this year was 4.9% higher than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, the annual increase in industrial output in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the January to July period was 7.1%.

Belarusian diplomatic sources in Rome say that Belarus substantially increased its leather exports to Italy in the first half of this year as compared with the same period in 2005, according to the Belta news agency. No statistics were disclosed.

Statistics Austria reports that the value of livestock production in Austria increased by 1.6% in 2005 compared with the previous year. The number of cattle increased by 2.7% year-on-year. Livestock production accounted for 49% of total agricultural production last year, as against 45% in 2004.

The Casacide range of performance biocides from Thomas Swan & Co Ltd has been boosted by the acquisition of Tolcide TCMTB products from Rhodia. The move makes Swans a major player in the specialised sector of leather biocides with a complete portfolio of products for a diverse industrial processes.

The South African ostrich industry 'will have to learn to live with Avian Influenza', according to Dr Richard Burroughs, chief state veterinarian with the National Department of Agriculture in Pretoria. 'We're dealing with an infectious disease. We don't know where it comes from, an