Japanese scientists have launched an investigation into a possible new strain of BSE after a bullock was diagnosed as having the disease. Confirmation of a new strain would be a setback for Japan's cattle and beef industries which have struggled to regain public confidence after the first case of BSE was discovered in Japan two years ago.

According to the organisers, APLF Ltd, the Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF) 2003 October show had 30% more overseas visitors than last year (figures will be confirmed after examination by PricewaterhouseCoopers). The fair took place October 6-8.

Elmo Leather will stop manufacturing leather in Svendborg on the island of Fyn in Denmark from the end of the year. The group will concentrate manufacturing at their main plant in Svenljunga, Sweden. All 90 employees at the Danish subsidiary will be given notice of dismissal.

Elementis, the world's largest chromium producers, say the new environmental regulations under consideration by Brussels will force them to cut European manufacturing by up to 40% and move production to Asia were the red tape is less onerous. They are preparing to close two of their five European plants to minimise the cost of compliance with the new regulations.

The Philippines has re-opened its borders to Canadian beef following the reported case of BSE in a Canadian cow in May. This makes it the first Asian and the third country in the world (next to the US and Mexico) to relax its border controls on Canadian beef. However, the lifting of the ban is subject to various conditions.

Ethiopia is an important leather producer with a large indigenous livestock population. It is one of the largest leather producing countries in Africa and will host the fourth edition of Meet In Africa. The event will take place in the national capital of Addis Ababa, October 6-9, 2004.

Bayer Chemicals AG, along with two other divisions, achieved legal independence on September 30, 2003, when the carve-outs of their respective businesses from Bayer AG were entered in the commercial register.

The combined footwear and leathergoods exhibitions Modacalzado and Iberpiel formed part of the International Leather Week in Madrid during the final week of September. Both fairs were held in the Juan Carlos Exhibition Centre, September 26-28.

Japan confirmed its eighth case of BSE on Monday, 6 October 2003. The animal, a Holstein bull aged 23 months was born in the Tochigi Prefecture in October 2001 before being raised in the Fukushima Prefecture from May 2002. The animal was slaughtered in the Ibaraki Prefecture.

BLC Leather Technology Centre held their annual two-day seminar in the picturesque setting of Highgate House located close to Northampton, UK, October 2-3. The format of the seminar changed slightly this year as the first half of the first day was aimed more at the retail sector rather than the tanning industry. The remainder of the seminar was more focused on the leather producers present.

To make the BLC quicker and sharper in decision-making, the 23-man council has been dissolved and is replaced by a six-strong supervisory board comprised of leading lights from the leather industry. The introduction of a new board structure at BLC heralds a new phase in the evolution of the organisation. Now, under the leadership of Jonathan Muirhead, the supervisory board of BLC Research (the holding company of BLC Leather Technology Centre) will provide the operational team with constructive guidance, support and a wealth of experience.

Elmo Leather will start cutting leather for the automotive industry this autumn at a new production plant in Germany , in the old Swedish town of Wismar*. Elmo's investment for the first phase will be around SEK4 million and the plant at Wismar will employ between 50 and 60 people. Further machine installation is expected up to mid 2004 and Elmo Leather estimate that they will invest around SEK8 million in the German plant.

DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI) have announced that they will be called Invista with immediate effect. The change represents the company's next step toward separating the subsidiary from the parent company and forming an independent corporate identity for Invista. The change will effect the leather sector, as it will include the Lycra and Teflon brands. DuPont have established licences with leading tanners throughout the world to sell leather with Lycra and Teflon.

Online guidelines to help smaller businesses working in the leather processing and goods manufacturing sector understand their environmental obligations have been launched as research shows that many have a low awareness of environmental legislation.

Leather International and theSauerReport have formed a partnership to organise a two day conference in northern Italy around the time of the Lineapelle spring edition in April, 2004. This conference is the beginning of a wider partnership between Leather International and theSauerReport.

Novochrom Limited, established in 2002 on the basis of one of the former production shops of OJSC Novotroitsk plant of Chromium Compounds in Russia, have experienced a period of substantial growth. With production developing dynamically, output of the factory is expected to have grown up to 50,000 tons/year by the end of spring 2004.

Elmo Leather of Svenljunga have become one of the first companies in Sweden to receive the certificate which guarantees that the company meets the requirements of the automotive industry's global quality standard, ISO/TS 16949. The certification, which was carried out by Den Norske Veritas, DNV, the Norwegian certification organisation, is a key competitive instrument. It shows that Elmo Leather already match the requirements that international car manufacturers will be demanding from their suppliers in the future.

If fashion is truly an early indicator of an upturn in the economy, then the September 2003 salons are certainly signalling better times ahead for the economy. Following two seasons of economic stagnation in the sector, and without getting carried away with their significance, two aspects struck exhibitors and visitors alike to this fifth staging of Le Cuir A Paris: increased numbers of visitors coming from other countries, drawn from various backgrounds, both familiar and new to the sector, and a new underlying dynamism, even if many purchasing decisions still remain to be taken.

Leather International and theSauerReport have formed a partnership to organise a two day conference in Verona two days after the Lineapelle trade fair at the end of April. The conference will run from May 1-2, 2004. This conference is the beginning of a wider partnership between Leather International and theSauerReport. The subject of the conference will cover the entire upholstery leather sector and will bring together raw materials, tanning and the end users of the automotive, aviation, nautical and furniture leathers.

Two members of Satra have been honoured by the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists. Deputy chief executive Richard Turner has been made a Fellow of the society, while Ken Nokes — a membership developer for the leather industry — has been elected as vice president. Turner represents Satra on a number of key European and international committees responsible for leather test methods and also serves on the SLTC technical committee. A chemist by training, he has been a member of the society for more than 25 years and often lectures at its seminars.

Serbia and Montenegro's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather shoe uppers in Serbia and Montenegro in the first four months of this year totalled 288,000 sq m, compared with 320,000 sq m in the same period in 2002. The production of leather shoe soles totalled 35 tons and 11 tons respectively. The production figures for the January to April 2003 period are the most recent available.

Plans by Brussels to put a straight jacket on the European chemicals industry have been relaxed somewhat after the outcry from both the chemical sector and the most affected countries (Germany, France and the UK) who have argued that the legislation could cripple the industry. The two European commissioners who are sponsoring the law, Erkki Liikanen (industrial policy) and Margot Wallström (environment) have agreed to a revised proposal that will make the strict data registration compulsory for far fewer chemicals than originally envisaged.

Pittards have installed a unique £725,000 software package that links every aspect of their total operation. The system has been developed and installed by IFS UK and will be providing comparative date on all sections of manufacturing including support areas such as source and stock, technical and chemical procedures, despatch, sales, maintenance and even personnel.

'A stable market in unsettled times', is how Wilhelm Niedergöker, managing director at Messe Düsseldorf, summed up the results at this last GDS. '1,520 exhibitors on 80,000 m2 and 40,000 trade visitors - of whom about 27,000 came from abroad - show us that the GDS is a must at these difficult times for our sector. This means the stabilisation trend already recorded in spring has continued to prevail. This is an excellent result although the number of German shoe retailers, for instance, has fallen by 6.2% since the year 2000.'

Statistics Norway reports that Norway exported raw hides and skins worth US$43 million) in the first eight months of this year, compared with US$62 million in the same period last year.

Croatia's Bureau of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in Croatia in the first eight months of this year was 10.4% lower than in the same period in 2002. In comparison, industrial output in Croatia in the same period was 5.5% higher year-on-year.

Kyrgyzstan's National Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Kyrgyzstan in the first half of this year was 22.4% lower than in the same period in 2002, according to the Interfax news agency. Overall industrial output in Kyrgyzstan during the January to June period was 2.5% higher year-on-year.

Kazakhstan's National Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Kazakhstan in the first eight months of this year was 20% higher than in the same period in 2002, according to the Interfax news agency. In comparison, overall industrial output was 8.4% higher year-on-year.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Hungary in the first seven months of this year was 22.5% lower than in the same period in 2002. Total sales of leather and leather products by producers in the same period were 22.4% lower year-on-year, including falls in sales of 22.3% on the domestic market and 22.5% on export markets.

Tanning Tech, the worldwide showcase for leather making machinery and chemical technology, is set to take place October 28-31 2003. It will be held at the Bologna Fiera, Italy alongside the Lineapelle fair. The fair will open from 9am-6pm and is organised by the 'Italian footwear and leather machinery manufacturers association' (Assomac).

The current buoyancy in the Indian leather industry is based on a responsible industry-wide and governmental approach which has involved building on natural strengths, creating relevant policy frameworks, and aggressively working towards providing customers with 'total solutions offerings', from design to shelf-ready end products.

Clariant's Business Unit Leather have launched their new shade card illustrating the latest fashion trends for shoe and garment leather with accessories. The colours are for the autumn/winter 2004/05 season.

Turner is a famous name in the leather industry. Generations of tanners have used their machinery, dating back to the 1920s. The Turner name is linked with reliability, workmanship and quality.

across the world, environmental engineers have been looking into new or alternative methods of reducing tannery waste. It is no longer acceptable, anywhere, to discharge waste directly into the environment and it is becoming increasingly more expensive to landfill solid waste, especially in the developed world.

Abstract

The problem

Hair slip occurs when the hair or wool in raw hides or skins has been sufficiently degraded by enzymes to allow it to be removed from the hide or skin with relative ease.

With the SARS epidemic and the Iraq war now behind them, China has been witnessing increased activity, particularly in the footwear sector.

The summer continues to drag on for the Mexican leather business. Regardless of tannery size, most tanners are currently enjoying a 1-2 week holiday along Mexico's lovely Riviera, soaking in the glorious sun and ocean breezes. This general rest and relaxation is not only long overdue for what has proved to be a most challenging year but, additionally, they are taking advantage of this slow period with hopes of returning with renewed strength for the autumn tanning season, which has always proved to be strong and profitable.

THE KENYA TANNING industry faces total collapse owing to massive evasion of export duties and under-declaration of weight by hide and skin exporters, according to a just-published industry report.

July was very quiet in terms of business done due to the UK tanners going on holidays at the end of July/early August. Italy is also on its traditional holidays in August and the phones are dead.

The Jacobsen Publishing Company have expanded their hide market coverage to include Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina and the Jacobsen International Hides Bulletin is available in Mandarin Chinese, as well as English, to meet the needs of their growing Asian membership.

Prices across most selections remained stable in July with heavy native heifers increasing slightly. Prices began picking up slightly into mid-August although summer holidays mean that demand is limited.

Led by heavy Texas steers, the price of the most voluminous American Hide selections rose during the month of July. This caught many by surprise due to vacations amongst the US industry as well as in Korea and the beginning of European summer holidays.

I n recent times, Saric were one of the leading companies to develop casein-free pigments known as their CF Pigment range. Such products are useful for upholstery leathers and their resistance to water prevents water spotting on the leather.

Leather International provides a worldwide selection of raw materials prices for the leather industry. Although we update these on a regular basis, they are only intended as a guide since market fluctuations occur constantly.

Thomas Thompson, president of Tannin Corporation, headquartered in Peabody, MA, USA, has announced the appointment of Robert J Masker as senior technical sales representative.

When did it all start?

The gentleman makes his points well (Leather International, August) and I am sure he is more experienced than me in many aspects of this trade. My letter was not meant to imply anything negative about his reports which are a good and acurate picture of movements on both sides of the water.

I have just finished reading your July edition. I am a little concerned with a statement which has been made in the report concerning Howe Leather. It is stated that production of automotive leather in South Africa receives government subsidies.

Re: subsidies and world trade ...

Thanks for reading Limeblast and thanks for commenting. You have obviously not read the June Limeblast in which I spoke about EU subsidies to EU industries. I suggest you log on to my website [http://www.limeblast.org] and read the June article which will show you that we think along the same lines.

Changing patterns in air travel are giving leather a higher profile and redefining its superior performance characteristics. Discount-fare airlines have re-engineered planes, routes and landing agreements to fill the vacuum after operational losses and the SARS virus grounded many of the better-known air names. Some of these cheeky upstarts are making money on short-hop flights by slicing operating costs and this includes refitting, servicing and maintaining interior seating.

The significance of fashion as the mainspring of the global leather industry will be highlighted at the fifth edition of the biannual Le Cuir A Paris, September 17-19, 2003, where the whole event is devoted to leading the leather industry into the next season.

Operators interested in the leather sole industry, therefore, have the institutional duty to supply correct and exhaustive information about their products.

Assomac, the organisers of the Tanning Tech exhibition, say that the chemicals sector (Hall 34) has sold out as is customary, with some names standing by.

Dutch leather chemical producers Smit & Zoon have announced that they have appointed Dirick von Behr (a Reutlingen graduate) as their new technical manager leather.

With the doubleface season running late in Türkiye, expectations are high and a vein of optimism runs through the sector. It helps that Türkiye's economy is settling into a comparatively stable pattern. Despite advantages, tanneries are still hampered by lack of finance and short-term credit.

The International Golf Championship of the Shoe, Leather & Allied Trades is held annually in the UK but, with growing European participation, it raises valuable funds for the footwear and leather charitable organisations. This year the overall winner was Nicholas Draper, managing director of Drapers of Glastonbury. The only other winners from the leather industry were Geoffrey W Mawer, Geoffrey Mawer Leathers, who is also the president and who won the local Leicester area trophy, and John Woodward of Bradford Hide & Skin Co Ltd. Woodward owns several raw skin businesses and recently took over McConomy and Holmes Hall. He won the Gibson Cup which is the Yorkshire and north east area cup. Next year's event is scheduled for June 17-18 in Blackpool.

Lately, Türkiye's leather export figures have posted some encouraging gains, into double figures each month. However, increased export value is explained less by sales than by the fact that many more producers have now swelled the ranks as registered, official exporters and have become members of regional exporting unions, such as Istanbul's ITKIB.

RESEARCHERS from the leather industry are being invited to gather with their colleagues from the textile, pulp and paper sectors in a European Union workshop focusing on recycling water and the treatment of wastewater. The September 18-19 meeting in Copenhagen is being organised by the EU-funded PANATEX project. It is concerned that although these three industries have well developed research communities working to solve their similar environmental problems, communication between these experts 'is very limited'.

Turkish tanners returned from the Moscow Leather Fair (July 8-10) full of optimism.

Türkye's leading leather fair, International Leather Days (ILD), is gearing up for its 13th edition next January. The forthcoming edition is set to take place at the Tüyap Beylikdüzü Fair Centre, Istanbul, between January 8-10, 2004.

On page 4 of the August issue, we incorrectly stated that the dates of this year's BLC seminar were November 2-3, 2003. The correct dates are October 2-3, 2003, and the seminar, to be focused on strategy, innovation, performance and quality, will be held at Highgate House Conference and Training Centre, Northamptonshire. For more details, contact Rita Phipps at rita_p@blcleathertech.com

The polyethylene wax plant is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and BASF, one of the world's leading suppliers of polyethylene waxes (Luwax), can look back over 75 years of experience of manufacturing waxes - in the beginning with montanic waxes.

'The fact that methods of hide and skin preservation have been thoroughly covered in previous John Arthur Wilson presentations serves to highlights its importance to the leather industry. That salt, in spite of its inherent impact on the environment, is the most widely used preservative today shows how difficult it has been to find a suitable alternative.'

The inaugural World Footwear Congress focused on: footwear economics and trade; corporate responsibility; sustainable production; attractive shoe sales; innovation as a basic drive. In a global context, the footwear economics and trade session was probably the most important and its presentations ranged from obtaining better statistical information more quickly - to avoid the mistakes of the past - through to environmental safety issues in Japan.

Throughout time, changes occur. This is a natural phenomenon. But lately things have been happening at an accelerated rate. The ups and downs of the leather industry seemed to have merged into an almost constant down. Globalisation has become rampant.

Leather for car interiors is often tanned using chrome or glutaraldehyde-based processes. This has been the case for many years even though chrome processing renders the leather difficult to recycle and concerns remain about the long-term health and safety aspect of glutaraldehyde.

Bayer Chemicals, a division of Bayer AG, have developed a new retanning material with a high buffering and neutralising capacity. It is known as Tanigan PAK. It can be used either on its own or in combination with conventional neutralising agents such as sodium bicarbonate or sodium formate etc to neutralise all chrome tanned leathers.

THAI LEATHERGOODS exports have slipped for the third consecutive year, as manufacturers of international brands of leathergoods move away from the country to tap cheaper labour costs in China.

Natuzzi have opened their first two leather galleries in Japan, in Osaka and Tokyo.

A LABORATORY OF Environmental Sciences has been set up in Lahore by the Pakistan Tanners Association Lab Society with the financial and technical assistance of the government of the Netherlands. The laboratories were inaugurated by Makhdoom Ashfaq, provincial minister of environment protection, Government of Punjab, in June.

Bayer Chemicals, a division of Bayer AG, are investing some €400,000 in renovating, modernising and expanding their leather pilot plant in Leverkusen.

Second-hand footwear could face stiffer tariffs in new government efforts to revive the embattled leather industry.

The Competition Tribunal has conditionally approved the merger between Daun et Cie AG and Kolosus Holdings. However, it is conditional that Kolosus may not retrench more than 150 employees in any 'affected firm' for one year after the date of the order regardless of whether such layoffs are the result of the merger or arise in the ordinary course of business.

Latvia

Stephen Seidel, founder and chairman of Seidel Tanning in Milwaukee has died. He was 74. After more than half a century overseeing his family's tannery, he had become, perhaps, the most senior tanner in the region but had seen the industry around Milwaukee reduce in numbers from more than 30 tanneries in the middle of the 20th century to a mere four today. He died in his sleep on Friday night, July 18.

Mexican machinery makers, Pons Maquinaria, have produced a stainless steel vibrating filter for screening tannery wastes. The machine separates solids from water during the initial liming operations. The vibrating movement in the filter makes the solid particles gather in a single mass.

Satra have a new business manager for their materials and product testing programmes. Steve Rose has been promoted, having successfully managed ongoing development of the UK-based technology centre's test procedures for several years.

Dr Reuben Rose has been appointed general manager of livestock production innovation by Meat and Livestock Australia and will oversee MLA's $30 million annual investment in on-farm research and development.

The October 2003 edition of the Asia Pacific Leather Fair has received a significant boost with an influx of new and established brand names in footwear and leathergoods exhibiting for the first time.

The splits that are produced during the horizontal separation of the hide during leather production are often mistaken for high-quality products. 'Real' leather is really too good a material for products with a short lifespan. Leather specialists at Bayer Chemicals, a division of Bayer AG, have therefore developed pioneering methods for turning split leather into articles with high value added. The products from the Levacast range enable very fashionable and heavy duty surfaces to be obtained, which cannot be distinguished from even the highest-quality fully grained leather. Virtually any surface structure can be reproduced - even exotic leathers. The particular advantage of this coating, which is polyurethane-based, is its high scratch and abrasion resistance.

Abstract

The new General Secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber, has been looking at new leather technology for golf.