Record income as SATRA expands

SATRA Technology Centre have announced a record annual income of £7.68 million. This was 6% above 2003 and maintains SATRA's remarkable record of continually increasing income year on year for 35 consecutive years and not once running at a deficit on revenue. Chief executive Dr Ron Whittaker reported on what he felt was a significant year for SATRA's development at the centre's annual meeting (June 14). He said: 'This achievement is even more impressive considering firstly the global change in production and sourcing of footwear and other consumer products, and secondly the major investment in new facilities at SATRA. SATRA's activities in the core footwear leather and leathergoods sectors increased significantly in servicing the current sophisticated global product supply chains. It has also increased work in other consumer product sectors such as furniture, safety products, fabric care, floorcoverings and automotive products by more than 15% compared to the previous year.' SATRA opened a 26,000 sq ft extension to its Wyndham Way, Kettering, property in 2004. This has now enabled 75% of all research and testing activities to be carried out in modern state-of-the-art laboratory accommodation on a new greenfield site. For almost 60 years SATRA has operated from its site in Rockingham Road in Kettering, but the new development opened by Lord Sainsbury, the UK Minister for Science, represents major progress in SATRA's target to have all activities housed in modern purpose-built laboratory and office accommodation during the early years of the 21st century. An investment of nearly £2 million has created a new visitor reception area and meeting room accommodation, centralised administration, accounts and IT facility, executive offices, sophisticated chemical analytical and homeware laboratories, a 5,000 sq ft furniture, bedding and floorcoverings test and office facility, dedicated safety footwear and personal protective equipment testing facility and three high specification flammability chambers. Dr Whittaker stressed that every aspect of the new extension has been totally funded from SATRA's own resources. The spread of SATRA's footwear and leather membership is global and increasingly being focussed in the Far East where more than 80% of the world's footwear production is now based. 'Accordingly our strategy now enables SATRA staff to balance a high overseas commitment with testing, consultancy and research based at Kettering', added Dr Whittaker. A total of 110 new members joined SATRA last year and membership income increased to £2.07 million; the second consecutive year it has exceeded £2 million. SATRA now has now more than 1,600 members in 70 countries. Almost three-quarters of them are outside the UK, demonstrating the centre's growing international role.