TRUMPLER GmbH & Co KG have recently introduced a new enzymatic soaking agent under the name Trupowet NS. The product is based on novel enzyme chemistry and exhibits optimal effectivity at neutral pH levels.

Customs officials in Lithuania are investigating the origin of a consignment of suspected counterfeit leather clothing seized at Vilnius Airport in late February, according to the LETA news agency. The coats and jackets had labels with the 'Rose Saga' trademark, which is a registered trademark protected under Lithuanian law. The clothing originated from China.

According to the People's Daily, Beijing, half a million Vietnamese footwear workers face redundancy as a result of the EU anti dumping legislation. It said that nearly 500,000 employees in industry are likely to lose jobs of which 80% are women.

Leather automotive seat manufacturers, Aunde, claim they have been 'severely prejudiced by the South African government's decision to disallow Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) incentives on leather seat-cover exports to Australia.' Managing director Siegfried Kuhn says: 'We are the only exporter of automotive leather seat covers as original equipment to Australia. Our future growth could be threatened, as could employment levels.

During the APLF show, Pittards signed a partnership and licensed manufacturing agreement with the Taiwan-based leather group Tehchang Leather Products Co Ltd. This is part of the Pittards restructuring programme which will see the closure of the Leeds tannery with production of bovine leather switching to Yeovil and also to Taiwan. A similar move was undertaken a year earlier with some of the Yeovil production of hairsheep reverting to Ethiopia.

On the day before APLF opened in Hong Kong, Leather International together with BLC Leather Technology held a very successful Footwear Leather Conference. It was sponsored by APLF and LANXESS and the high quality of the presentations from the global brands along with groundbreaking ideas for new footwear materials ensured an interesting day for delegates.

Buckman Laboratories have consolidated their operations in Africa and Asia. With the retirement of the managing director in South Africa, Waldie Jooste, officials in Memphis decided to centralise responsibility for Asia and Africa in the company's Singapore office under the leadership of Leigh Mann who has become general manager of Buckman Laboratories - Asia and Africa.

The prize giving ceremony for the Best of APLF Awards was held on the second evening of the show and there were 19 categories across Top Style, Fashion Access and Materials, Manufacturing & Technology. This was the third year of the awards and the chairman of the judges was Suzanne Marest, chairman of the Comite Francais de la Couleur with whom APLF collaborate for the APLF trends.

At a press conference on March 27, 2006, the Vietnam Leather & Footwear Association (Lefaso) officially announced that the country's footwear industry is facing losses when the EU applies anti-dumping duties. The projected rate will be 4.2% from April 7; 8.4% from June 2; 12.6% from July 14 and 16.8% from September 15. The price of each pair of Vietnamese made leather shoes exported to the EU market is expected to increase by 1.5-2 euros. Though sports footwear and children's shoes are not subject to anti-dumping duties, losses for the footwear industry in Vietnam could be huge.

During a review of the US trade regulations by the WTO, a WTO report found that while average US industrial tariffs were low, in some sectors they remain high. While 38% of all tariff items were entered the US duty-free in 2004, the average for industrial goods was 4% but for textiles and apparel the average rose to 9% and ranged as high as 37.7%. For footwear the figure could be as high as 58%.

Stahl Asia have recently celebrated their Silver Jubilee. The company was founded on November 12, 1980 and to celebrate the 25th anniversary, a video clip and poster were made and were launched at the company's Annual Dinner and Dance at the Swissotel The Stamford.

Spain's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Spain in January was 10.8% lower than in the same month in 2005. In comparison, industrial output in Spain in January was 5.3% higher year-on-year.

The SIMAC 2006 application period ends with a satisfactory initial result. Despite the recession that has weighed heavily for three years on the western manufacturing industry and despite the huge difficulties encountered by the Mediterranean footwear and leather goods sector, SIMAC 'is holding on' and confirming its role as the leading footwear and leathergoods technology event. The international trade fair framework, as selected by the market, is rewarding events with the most content and SIMAC is certainly the one with the greatest draw.

Two technologists have joined an exclusive group of footwear specialists who have achieved the status of SATRA Accredited Footwear Technologist (SAFT).

The Leather & Hide Trades Benevolent Institution will hold their annual general meeting on Thursday May 18, 2006, at 12 noon, at the Leathersellers' Hall, St Helen's Place, London. The meeting is followed by their annual luncheon which costs is £40 per head and is well worth attending.

Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel exported leather and leather products worth US$2.6 million in the first two months of this year, the same value as compared with the corresponding period in 2005. Israel imported the same types of commodities worth US$14.1 million in January and February, unchanged year-on-year.

Mike Parsons of the UK is the new president of the International council of Tanners, succeeding Kozo Tokunaga of Japan. At the ICT meeting held in Hong Kong on March 27, Parsons presented Tokunaga with a gift on behalf of ICT members in recognition of his services to the council.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Macedonia in the first two months of this year was 20.8% lower than in the same period in 2005. In comparison, the annual fall in industrial output in Macedonia in the first two months of this year was 0.3%.

In order to satisfy the needs of the market, fair organisers Igedo Company have had numerous discussions with exhibitors, buyers and associations about the scheduling of the autumn edition of CPM - Collection Premiere Moscow. Instead of the previously announced dates of September 11-14, the autumn edition will be held on September 6-9, 2006 at the Krasnaya Presnaya Expocentr exhibition grounds.

Brazil's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather products in the Brazilian state of Ceará in January was 14.7% higher than in the same month last year. Production of leather products in the state of Rio Grande do Sul was 5.1% lower year-on-year in January. In comparison, industrial output in Brazil in January was 3.2% higher year-on-year.

With the European Union applying anti-dumping charges to footwear from China and Vietnam, other countries in Asia were discovering an upsurge in business even before the taxes came into force. At a press conference at the APLF in Hong Kong at the end of March the host country India was asked how they viewed the European move. They responded by saying that they saw it as an opportunity. The Thai pavilion also reported a welcome rise in footwear business.

In an attempt to help owners and managers in the UK Leather Merchants & Wholesalers industry, a new study by industry analysts Plimsoll Publishing aims to help executives looking to buy or sell a company make the right choices when approaching target companies.

ILM Winter Styles finished in Offenbach on a positive note. For the autumn/winter 2006/07 season, 215 exhibitors from 13 countries presented their fashionable bags and leathergoods at the three-day long trade fair.

After a positive March event, GDS - The Premier Shoe Event and GLS - International Event for Leather Goods & More are looking optimistically to the next season. In order to consistently develop both trade fair concepts and best cater to the needs of the market, trade fair organisers have held numerous talks with international representatives from the footwear and leather goods sector.

Leather and footwear exports from Bangladesh are set to increase following the new anti-dumping duties due to be placed on Chinese and Vietnamese leather and footwear products.

January 20 saw the finish of the over thirty month scheme whereby cattle over thirty months of age were slaughtered, the carcases destroyed and the hides had to be wet-blued within the UK. For almost ten years this has enabled some UK tanners to source mainly cows at very competitive prices.

Federally inspected slaughter figures for the four-week period ended February 10, showed an average weekly kill of 580,250 head, against 579,500 a year earlier. The kill is currently running at 0.7% below 2005.

A case of foot and mouth disease has been reported from Corrientes province in Argentina. The disease has already caused heavy losses to the South American meat business in the past and Brazil and Chile have immediately closed their borders for Argentinean meat. Change in slaughter caused by this new problem could influence hide supply and prices have already jumped by 7%. Experts say if handled properly, the leather industry should not really be touched and the price increase should not last. We shall watch and see.

Hide prices have advanced a great deal since our last issue which was a surprise to many in the industry. Many Asian tanners had anticipated lower prices in January that did not occur, but were then confident that prices would fall during the Chinese Lunar New Year in late January and early February. However, most producers anticipated the lack of Asian participation during the holiday and were sold far enough forward to resist lower bids.

German company Zins Ziegler Instruments have launched their stick-slip test stand SSP-01. When leather is brought into contact with other materials, this can cause unwanted squeak and groan noises and friction. Warranty complaints and loss of brand image can result from this problem. There are many effective solutions to these stick-slip problems, eg by placing suitable materials together, using a surface graining or covering the materials with an anti-friction coating.

Idrofilter is a new fine mesh filter that can be used in all types of industry to separate solids from effluent with mesh filters ranging in size from 100 to 1200m. According to makers Ecoplus, it is ideal for use in the separation of medium-fine solids from effluent and liquid processes.

Serbia and Montenegro's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Serbia and Montenegro in 2005 was 0.4% higher than in 2004. In comparison, the annual increase in industrial output in Serbia and Montenegro last year was 0.7%.

South Korea has delayed reopening its market to US beef until it receives scientific proof that the BSE cow found in Alabama was born before 1998. Unlike Japan, South Korea has not explicitly accepted examination of teeth as proof of age.

A new generation SG300 substance gauge has been developed by MSA Engineering in conjunction with BLC. The unit is light (weighing 1.3kg compared with 1.8kg of the previous design) and comprises a specified anvil arrangement and spring force so that it more closely conforms to ISO 2589:2002. The SG300 can be calibrated through a screw-adjustable, constant force, spring mechanism. This allows it to be adjusted, if required, using an electronic load cell to factory parameters conforming to ISO 2589:2002.

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that Ireland imported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth 2.8 million euros in 2005, compared with 3 million euros in 2004. Irish exports of the same types of commodities in 2005 were worth 75 million euros as against 85 million euros in 2004.

German and Italian furniture manufacturers are also preparing formal complaints for the EU accusing China of selling upholstered sofas and other seating at unfairly low prices. Germany and Italy are said to produce about half of the EU's total output of furniture. Retailers rely heavily on cheaper imports from Asia to remain competitive so will not favour the move. If the EU adopts further it will only exacerbate the existing tensions between the two world powers which have escalated recently over similar allegations over textiles and footwear.

During the past several years it has become increasingly difficult for Claytons of Chesterfield to operate profitably from their site in Cosgrove, Milton Keynes, where subsidiary company Samuel Sharp (Curriers) Ltd have a history of serving the equestrian sector for more than 400 years. While Claytons remain totally committed to providing premium bridle and other leathers for existing and new customers, rising overheads, massive fuel price increases and the cost of production on the small factory site mean that they have had to consider how effective economies can be made to allow business to continue and customers remain serviced.

In January and February, China and Hong Kong combined took 51% of US raw hide exports. This is 45% more than during the same time in 2004 and is presumably an attempt by Chinese tanners to stock up on as many raw hides as they can under the old handbook system which allowed imports without payment in advance of VAT and import duty. Once the handbooks have expired, one assumes business will slump while tanners use up their stocks so it will be a while before trading under the new regulations can be assessed.

According to France's trade union body l'Union Francaise des Industries de l'Habillement, the leading source country of imported garments in France for 2005 is China. China has overtaken Italy as the chief source of French garments. This is just more fuel in the intensifying debate over whether duties should be imposed on low-cost imports.

All but one Canadian meat plant visited by Japanese inspectors have been approved to export beef to Japan. A technical team visited Canada to inspect plants in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The Health Ministry has given the seven plants approved permission to begin shipping beef to Japan.

Indian biotechnology specialists Textan have launched Ezyme-A Liquid, a 100% sulfide-free unhairing enzyme, the first of its kind in India. With this product, the company have shifted away from enzyme assisted unhairing methods to enzyme only unhairing methods. Ezyme-A Liquid removes sodium sulfide from the unhairing process, reducing both BOD and COD parameters.

Trumpler have introduced new micro emlsion fatliquors. The demands of today's modern leather manufacture have brought about many changes in fatliquoring technology and thinking.

Blancorol RB liquid is a chrome-containing synthetic retanning material which can be used in the production of all types of leather. Leathers retanned with Blancorol RB liquid have a more brilliant colour than those treated with typical chrome syntans. The resulting leather is also free of the typical 'green tinge' normally imparted by such materials. Blancorol RB liquid is also outstandingly suitable for the fixation of water-repellent leathers, since it does not impair the water repellency.

Newest offer from Forestal Mimosa is Mimosa CR which is a modified mimosa (wattle) extract which has been reacted with a chrome salt to give a water soluble veg/chrome powder. Mimosa CR is ideal for waterproofing processes and for retannages requiring fullness and softness. The resulting leather also has good lightfastness.

Introduction

With exports of tanned leather, leather garments and leathergoods to the tune of US$950 million in the year to June 2005, the total production of leather has gone up to around $700 million. Muhammad Naseem Shafi, managing director of the Shafi Group, said that the export of tanned leather, according to the Department of Statistics, is $304 million for the year July 2004 to June 2005. There were also $639 million worth of leather garments, leather gloves and leather products sold overseas. This means that leather worth about $400 million has been consumed for the manufacture of these items.

During the 1950s, shoemaking methods were changing and becoming more automated to keep up with faster production methods. Machines that exerted greater stress levels on both the crust leather and the finish began to replace operations that were earlier carried out by hand. Solvent-based adhesives were used to attach linings, stiffeners and sole units. Exposure to steam and heat enabled the mechanised lasting of the upper without cracking.

Pellital were originally part of the Surfactan SA leather division but began to operate independently in 1986 when Surfactan spun-off their leather division. They still retained the support of the parent company, a family concern which recently celebrated their 40th anniversary.

The British School of Leather Technology is part of The University of Northampton and offers a wide range of training and education courses in all aspects of leather processing. The full time courses range from one year to three years in duration, but shorter courses are also available. The School has its own tannery and laboratories where students gain practical experience in making and testing a wide variety of leathers.

In an increasingly competitive market where quality and speed of response are vital to commercial success, BLC offers a total solution to the needs of the leather supply chain from raw material through tanning technology to the finished leather product at retail.

Elections held during their general assembly in December by members of the Conseil National du Cuir and Semaine Internationale du Cuir were as follows:

Rafi Salinger, a pioneer dedicated to the development of Southern Africa's leather industry, died recently after a long illness. He was 78.

Rafeeque M Ahmed, chairman of the Council for Leather Exports, has been elected chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Ahmed is also chairman of the Farida group of companies, a member of the board of trade in the ministry of commerce and industry, and president of the All India Skins, Hides, Tanners and Merchants Association. He is also chairman of the Ambur Economic Development Organisation and director of the Indian Institute of Leather Products.

Amanda Michel and Chris Powley-Williams have launched Leather Wise Ltd to offer problem solving and training services to the leather supply chain. Leather Wise will provide professional problem solving and arbitration services relating to leather and leather products, as well as training courses on all aspects of leather production and use in consumer products.

Born and educated in Finchley, North London, and the London Polytechnic, he entered the world of work in 1935. After one month with a paper company, he joined James Garnar & Sons of Bermondsey, tanners, the company he would stay with for the rest of his working life.

Mario Pucci, formerly International Relations Manager of Assomac, has been appointed consultant of the new Indian Leather Desk in Milan. Pucci has extensive knowledge and contacts in the Italian leather industry.

Agha Saiddain has been re-elected as president of the Environment Society of PTA (NZ), a position he has held for the past three years. Agha Saiddain said that the World Bank along with the Ministry of Environment have generated a report entitled 'Pakistan Strategic Country Environmental Assessment' which gives an overall picture of country's environmental affairs.

Selin Projects unveiled their 'NEW TRANSFER for wet-blue' auto area measuring and thickness sorting machine at Tanning Tech. The machine is an update of the company's Rollmir Transfer WB model and is suitable for measuring any wet-blue leather.

Hüni will be at APLF to present their product range which consists of the following:

Once again Flamar Italia will be exhibiting at APLF. The company's commercial staff will provide technical information about their latest range of machinery. Flamar are currently focusing their efforts on the manufacturing of high quality shaving machines and buffing and dedusting groups. These products are available in a range of working widths for use with different types of skins; from 1,300mm for sheep and goat skins to 3,200mm for whole hides (upholstery).

With more than 50 years experience in the tanning sector Fratelli Carlessi will present the following innovations at APLF:

SATRA will focus on water resistance of footwear as its theme at SIMAC, the annual international fair for footwear and leathergoods machinery to be held in April in Bologna, Italy.

Specialist glovemakers for the film, theatre and fashion industries, Pamela Woods Gloves (www.pamelawoods-gloves.co.uk) have joined the British Glove Association (www.gloveassociation.org), the UK's principal representative organisation for business within the glove trade.

On February 23, 2006, the European Commission announced that it had found compelling evidence of serious state intervention in the leather footwear sector which is contrary to WTO rules. By selling shoes at less than production costs (dumping) the two countries had hugely increased their shares of European markets leading to a fall of 30% in EU production, a slump in prices of 30% and the loss of 40,000 European jobs.

Zschimmer & Schwarz have a worldwide acknowledged professional competence in the field of wet-end processing. All the leather auxiliaries are produced in Germany, guaranteeing a constant high level of quality.

At the APLF this year, Tanac will be focusing on their very natural products, some of which are specially designed for manufacturing a large variety of veg tanned leathers:

Sisecam initially set out to meet the requirements of Türkiye as regards to glass products. In the 1960s, they turned their attention to exports on the principle that 'the whole world is our market' and have taken their place among the leading manufacturers in the world.

As globalisation marches steadily across the business landscape, Shafi Reso-Chem have chosen a course on target with the times. Together with Alpa SpA of Italy, Shafi Reso-Chem (Pakistan) have jointly organised as exhibition entitled Fashion Forecast Autumn and Winter 2006 aiming to portray the latest fashion for the leather industry forecasted for the coming season. The event was first held in September 2005 in both Karachi and Lahore.

The Quimser company, established in 1960 and located in Spain, have more than 45 years of experience in the manufacture of chemicals for the tanning industries.

Thanks to their high commitment in R&D, ATC have taken a step forward and are introducing new concepts in beamhouse, tanning, retanning and finishing:

MÜNZING CHEMIE are using the APLF to showcase their latest chemical novelties for the wet-end production of leather in tanneries.

Quimser continue to improve their international beamhouse range products. Of particular interest are some newly-developed TRD (soaking and degreasing), Rindol (acid and alkaline and wet-blue bating) and Bactol dehairing products, increasing the Quimser enzymatic range in answer to the tanner's needs.

Expansion plans are in place for Haryana Leather Chemicals, an Italian joint-venture in India, and leading producers of specialty chemicals for high-end/high performance leathers such as gloving, upholstery, and automotive.

In line with tradition, Alpa SpA will be present at APLF in Hong Kong to be as close as possible to all their customers in Asia and their production segments in the shoe, leathergoods, garment or furniture upholstery sectors.

DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise (DCSE) will showcase new leather substrates featuring Advanced Teflon leather protector tanning technology. Introduced in 2005, DuPont Advanced Teflon leather protector technology provides all leathers with distinctive features and benefits including unmatched washability and unique, durable dual-action stain and soil repel/release properties. Advanced Teflon has demonstrated potential in applications where waterproofing, breathability and oil and water repellency are desired, plus it offers excellent machine washability without losing the fine aesthetics of a natural leather product.

Dr Eberle Clever Chemistry GmbH, serving the leather industries since 1875, are poised for further development and an increased profile.

Cromogenia Units, producers of speciality chemicals for the leather, have launched two new products for heavy bovine leathers which provide a significant increase in area yield.

Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd, Kolkata based Indian corporate conglomerate, are engaged in a diverse range of activities ranging from services such as cargo and container freight to manufacturing as in industrial packaging to performance chemicals. Established in 1867 by two Scottish gentlemen Balmer & Lawrie, the company have an unchequered history of more than one hundred and forty years.

Schill + Seilacher AG will be showing new advances in wet-end technology at the APLF 2006.

As well as demonstrating their extensive range of established products for all stages of the manufacturing process, BASF will be focusing on innovative products and processes that offer ecological and economic advantages. This year's highlight will be the presentation of the world's first reactive dye for leather, Lugafast Black AN.

Smit & Zoon have announced they are now officially represented by the company Dyeing Tech in Mexico. The agreement was signed at the official opening of Dyeing Tech's new warehouse and office on November 29, 2005.

The name may be old but the Turner company, reformulated in 2001, are in the vanguard of technical innovation. Turner is an old and well respected name which is recognised in the leather industry the world over and still opens doors in South America and the Middle East. The company bearing the name is the successor of not just Turner but also Mercier Turner and was reborn in 2001, under the main ownership of Didier Chambon, and located in Annonay, France. The premises, which used to house Mercier Turner, are now dedicated to constructing tanning machinery in the distinctive green and white of years gone by. But a growing proportion of the machinery currently being sold is based on bang up-to-date technology which did not exist prior to 2001.

Introduction

What is Bicast?

Bicast (or Bycast, Bykast, Baycast or Bikast as it is sometimes known) is essentially an alternative method of finishing a split leather. In cattle hides, the collagen fibres in the corium are much larger than they are in the grain. Therefore, when the leather has been split, the split surface will be very rough . If a conventional finish is sprayed to this rough surface, it will still appear very rough.

Anti-dumping measures are under consideration by the European Commission in the wake of a massive inflow of Chinese made shoes after the lifting of import quotas by the EU at the beginning of 2005.

Advanced technology from Biomass Engineering Limited has been used to set up the company's first commercial biomass gasifier. The showcase plant, at Mossborough Hall, Merseyside, is on a mixed-use farm with a green waste licence and will be used to save money by gasifying chipped logs and clean waste wood into a usable energy source.

2004 was a key year for SRL. By August their new facilities - factory, office and warehouse - were virtually completed and ready for occupation. From then on came the painstaking job of moving the various production divisions to their new homes.

Cape Produce Company have installed a R5 million incinerator as part of an ambitious scheme to reduce tannery waste by 90%, in a way that meets South Africa's strict (but usually unenforced) air pollution laws, and generates a saleable byproduct (steam) in the process.

Leather chemicals have been a core business for BASF since 1898. To add to this, BASF have now been active in the Chinese leather industry for around 50 years and are among the top three suppliers of leather chemicals in China.

Ostrich Production Namibia (OPN) has been replaced by a new company called Karas Abattoir and Tannery or KAT. Managing director of KAT, Frikkie Mouton said that slaughtering still includes ostriches but that the business focus had changed from specifically slaughtering ostriches to sheep and springbok, all of which Mouton says are readily available.

Interhides Plc expect a sales growth of 35% this year, according to executive director and chairman Ongart Thumrongsakunvong. The firm make car-seat leather from cow and buffalo hides. Their new plant will be completed later this year, doubling production capacity to 2.6 million square metres.

CTC, a leading global resource providing quality assurance solutions for the footwear and leathergoods industries, is reinforcing its presence in Asia with the opening of its fourth site in Western China.

The West Bengal government has granted approval to footwear specialists Bata India to construct an integrated housing complex. The government allotted 262 acres of industrial land for real estate development in South 24 Parganas district, about 50 km from Kolkata. The complex will be developed with infrastructural facilities within two years.

TFL's Colour Trends & Fashion Inspirations catalogue for autumn/winter 2007/08 is set to lead the reader into the fantastic world of fairytales. The new fashion trends invite designers to take garments from some of the great classic fairytales and rework them with a modern slant. The bicentenary celebrations of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, the 'father' of fairytales, is set to influence the fashion world. 'You do not need much to dream, an enchanted accessory is enough to turn you into a real princess.'

For summer 2007, Stahl predict that there is unlikely to be one single strong trend. Instead several colour groups will feature equally. However, there will be greater confidence in the use of colour, a trend that will become increasingly recognisable as the season approaches.

Currently, tanners undergo rigorous auditing by all their major customers and this means a lot of commitment of resources. However, under the Environmental Forum concept, there would be just one two-day audit a year which would cover all major customer environmental requirements.

Clariant's Leather Business have launched their new shade card illustrating the latest fashion colours for the forthcoming autumn/winter season 2007/8. The company give their clients an insight on trends in the shoe, garment, upholstery and accessory markets twice a year. In cooperation with an international trend consultancy, Clariant will be in the fortunate position to be first to present this exclusive information directly to their customers, more than 20 months ahead.

At Tanning Tech 2005, the ALPA stand featured a studio section which showcased fashion accessories for spring and summer 2007 to demonstrate their various wet-end and finishing products. Atelier Alpafashion is an inspirational service for designers using leather. ALPA say that: 'Where there is colour, nature cannot be missing; where there is nature, art exists. Art is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the whole industry of creativeness.'

French leathergoods and perfumery company, Eden SARL, Paris, failed at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to trademark the 'smell of ripe strawberries', because judges deemed this insufficiently precise. The firm had cited a case where the ECJ had ruled non-visual signs, such as sounds or odours, could become trademarks if 'they can be represented graphically', for instance a 'scratch-and-sniff' mark.

According to the CTK news agency's Business News, the Czech company Oktopus purchased the assets of the bankrupt CZB (formerly Strojosvit - F. CZ) at an auction in late November. CZB were the only producer of tanning machines in the Czech Republic. The price paid for the assets was said to be US$1.18 million) which was actually higher than the starting price. The report is unconfirmed.

Assomac have announced that the edition of Tanning Tech due to be held in October 2006 has been postponed. The next edition of Tanning Tech will now be held in April 2007 over three days instead of the customary four and the event will run alongside Lineapelle and footwear machinery show SIMAC. Contrary to the rumours circulating at the last edition, the fair will remain in Bologna for the time being.

Leather handbag company Medici Grimm have failed to secure damages from the EU Council of Ministers in a marathon dispute over anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) dismissed a claim that it be paid e168,315 in damages (or another sum if the judges had decided otherwise), for having been wrongly forced to pay more than DM1.6 million in anti-dumping duties on imported handbags made by China's Lucci Creation Ltd.

Russia's State Statistics Committee reports that leather industry companies in Russia had overdue debts on bank loans and credits worth US$3.51 million as of October 1 last year.

Russia's Economic Development and Trade Ministry is considering abolishing the import duty on leather products, according to the Interfax news agency. The current duty is 5% of the customs value of the imported goods. The proposal is part of a package of measures designed to promote light industry in Russia. It is subject to consultation with interested parties.

Effective January 5, SVR Leathers (Hull) Ltd have sold their plant, machinery and business interests to Claytons. This is a transfer of a going-concern, judged as mutually beneficial by both parties. Steve Reynolds remains in charge of the contract finishing unit at the Beverley address and Claytons of Chesterfield take responsibility for all production activities. The arrangement is one of 'business as usual'. All existing and previous customers of SVR and Claytons are advised that now the administrative burden has been taken from Reynolds, he will have much more time to concentrate on finishing leather.

Madrid's International Fashion Week (Sipiel) will be held from 23-25 March at the Feria de Madrid. More than 600 companies have already confirmed their attendance and the net exhibition area has reached 32,000 sq m.

So far this year, there has been a feeling of waiting for things to happen. Firstly, there was the conjecture over whether or not China would proceed with their threatened import taxes on raw materials. When they did, on January 1, everyone began waiting to see what effect this would have. The traditional quiet time at the beginnng of each year as westerners return to work after their seasonal holidays is further protracted by the Lunar New Year in Asia. Thus, it is still too soon to judge the real effects of the legislation.

According to daily Bangkok Post, troubled state firm, the Tanning Organisation, is to be shut. The Defence Council resolved in late January to dissolve the organisation, a state enterprise under the Defence Ministry, which has been in financial trouble for many years. The dissolution takes effect from March 31.

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered the closure of fifteen tanneries in Kanpur.

Italian chemical manufacturers Kemia Tau have announced that they now have three agents in India, the company's second largest market.

Vietnamese leather manufacturers are experiencing a shortage of leather, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. Demand for leather at footwear factories has almost doubled in the past seven years, from 14.8 million sq m in 1998 to 27.8 million sq m in 2005. Figures from the Trade Ministry indicate that demand will rise to 46.4 million sq m a year by 2010.

The 21st India International Leather Fair came to a close in early February following a successful four-day exhibition. The 2006 edition of IILF was said to be the biggest convergence in terms of participation, size, range of products on display, turnout of visitors, importers, buyers of leather and leather products in recent history. With exhibition space up 30% on last year's total, IILF is possibly the fastest growing exhibition in the leather industry calendar.

For several years Cromogenia Units Group have been collaborating in the vigorous Chinese leather market. They have been providing service via a commercial office, warehouses, application laboratories, as well as a technical team devoted to advising the tanneries.

Apache Footwear, a Singapore-based contract supplier of footwear to Adidas shoes, are planning a US$12 million production facility on a 315-acre site in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Last year Limeblast reported on the zero success of the Raw Hides & Skins Grading & Pricing Systems CFC sponsored multi million dollar project with Esalia as Project Executing Agency. Consultants and traders have backed Limeblast by confirming that the project in question didn't make any, not even the slightest, difference to the trading, grading and price structure in the countries that were involved and favoured by the project.

Statistics Norway reports that Norway exported hides and skins worth US$23 million in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 23%.

Ukrainian production in January and February

The United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reports that the US imported hides and skins worth a record US$130,000 from Lithuania in 2005. These were the first American hides and skins imports from Lithuania since at least 2001.

The XXIX congress of the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies will be held jointly with the 103rd annual meeting of ALCA. The events will take place in Washington DC, from June 20-24, 2007. The deadline for submission of abstracts for lectures or posters for the combined Congress and Annual Meeting is October 1, 2006. Abstracts should be sent to the technical committee chair, Dr William N. Marmer, USDA-ARS-ERRC, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038-8551, USA; email wmarmer@errc.ars.usda.gov.

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The USDA have published statistics showing that in 2005 federally inspected cattle slaughter totalled 31,823,877 head. This compares with 31,997,844 in 2004. The report said that steers accounted for 52.71% of the total in 2005 and 50.32% the year before. The percentage of heifers in the 2005 slaughter was 30.7% compared with 32.19% in 2004. Cows amounted to 15.04% of the total slaughter in 2005 of which 7.93% were beef cows and 7.15% dairy cows. Bulls and stags were 1.56% of total slaughter, slightly down on 2004.

US beef is due to go back on sale in South Korea in early April, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Officials in Seoul originally had said that sales would be likely to resume some time this month. Korean inspectors are due to visit the United States to check slaughterhouses and processors that are allowed to export beef, said Lee Yang-ho, an agency spokesman.

Customs officials in Lithuania are investigating the origin of a consignment of suspected counterfeit leather clothing seized at Vilnius Airport in late February, according to the LETA news agency. The coats and jackets had labels with the “Rose Saga” trademark, which is a registered trademark protected under Lithuanian law. The clothing originated from China.

In 2005, Brazil is said to have an ostrich population of 335,000 ostriches with over 14 associated regions, 17 individual cooperatives and one federal regional cooperative. There are some 3,000 ostrich growers. There are three abattoirs with a working capacity to slaughter 200,000 ostriches a year, one of which is situated in the State of Sao Paulo and will export the produce of some 20,000 ostriches this year.

Irving Tanning Co have joined Sensible Solutions Inc, Oklahoma, to create a new product that binds leather scraps into a useable leather 'fabric'. Hundreds of tons of scraps trimmed from the edges of tanned hides were previously destined for landfill. According to CEO Dick Larochelle, the new technology has taken more than a year to develop. 'This product will change the face of this company drastically', Larochelle told Governor John Baldacci during a recent tour of the facility. 'Our problem now will be managing the growth.'

The United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reports that the United States exported hides and skins worth US$416,000 to Croatia in 2005. There were no American hides and skins exports to Croatia in 2004.

Adidas-Salomon AG, the world's second-largest sports goods manufacturers, reported a fourth-quarter loss. This was attributed to the cost of integrating Reebok and also for the costs associated with marketing the World Cup soccer tournament. The net loss was $4.8 million. However, sales rose 27% to 1.52 billion euros. Adidas, whose $3.8 billion acquisition of Reebok acquisition in January doubled their share of the US market and narrowed the gap with larger rival Nike, raised sales with orders tied to the World Cup and demand for products such as the Superstar 35 sneaker in the US.

On April 1, it will be 185 years ago that Albert Smit founded A Smit & Zoon. Since that time, the Dutch family business has expanded and, currently, the 7th generation (Marc Smit and Mrs Valerie Smit) is managing the company.

A new chapter has been added to the success story of CPM MOSCOW. Posting 15,800 registered trade visitors (+14% compared with the previous event and +32% compared with the same event last year) from all regions of the Russian Federation and extremely satisfied exhibitors, the sixth edition of CPM (February 28 - March 3) drew to a close in the Russian capital. Organised by the IGEDO Company, a company of the Messe Düsseldorf Group, CPM MOSCOW further consolidated its position as the largest and most important international fashion fair and fashion trading platform in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Of the 31,500 visitors to GDS, about 25% came to the premiere of GLS - the International Event for Leather Goods & More from 35 nations. GLS in Düsseldorf ran concurrently with GDS - The Premier Shoe Event - and presented the trade audience with a first-class, international range of leathergoods from all segments. Commenting on the event Armin Stader, Project Head at GLS, said: 'We are satisfied with the GLS premiere which posted a solid result. Even during the fair renowned exhibitors, international visitor delegations as well as members from manufacturers' and retailers' associations announced their participation at the next GLS.'

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