After a few years of intensive collaboration, two historical names in the leather chemical industry, SODA and Tanin International, have joined forces in order to create a brand new company. However, unlike most new companies, this one will already have a solid background through years of previous experiences and the appreciation of hundreds of clients for their products.

Sharjah and an Italian exhibition organiser have tied up to launch a trade exhibition for the footwear and leather accessories industry. Expo Centre Sharjah, which operates under the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and Riva del Garda FiereCongressi, an exhibition and conference centre in Italy's Trentino pro-vince, said they will jointly organise the trade event for the Middle East region.

The UK's Shadow Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Energy, Alan Duncan, will officially open the Satra Technology Centre's new footwear and leather testing laboratory at its Wyndham Way site in Kettering, on April 20, 2007. Satra has recently introduced radical new methods for evaluating finished shoes for resistance to water, slip and comfort and all these tests will be incorporated in the new laboratory. With the footwear industry now globalised, Mr Duncan and industry guests will commence at 2pm with a tour of Satra's chemical analytical technology laboratory, vital to many aspects of modern legislation-driven testing, before moving on to cutting the ribbon to the new laboratory and Mr Duncan saying a few inaugural words.

Russia's State Customs Committee reports that Russia imported leather and leather products worth US$393 million from countries outside of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 2006. Imports of the same types of commodities from CIS states last year were worth US$4.9 million. Russian exports of leather and leather products to non-CIS states in 2006 were worth US$309 million, and to CIS states, US$17.5 million.

The government has refused to provide funds for the purpose of running the National Institute of Leather Technology (NILT) at Korangi (Karachi). The decision came during a board meeting of the Export Development Fund (EDF), headed by Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan, on March 1 in Islamabad.

The European Confederation of the Footwear industry (CEC) will present the results of its R&D project, CEC-Made-Shoe, for the first time at the SIMAC fair in Bologna on April 17. This project, involving 54 partners, an investment of €20.4 million and an EU contribution of €10.4 million, started in October 2004.

A meeting of members of the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO) on March 6 agreed to invest more in the production of materials, with the aim of boosting the competitiveness of Vietnam's leather industry, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. The industry is currently handicapped by a serious lack of domestically-produced materials and poor infrastructure. LEFASO also called on its members to increase their trade promotion activities.

Spain's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Spain in January was 3.5% lower than in the same month last year. In comparison, overall manufacturing output in Spain in January was 9.2% higher year-on-year.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that the number of cattle on farms in Ukraine on January 1 this year was 6.33 million, a decrease of 2.8% compared with the number on the same date in 2006.

Iran's Ministry of Industries and Mines reports that Iran exported leather and leather products worth US$76 million in the first ten months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2006 - January 20, 2007), a year-on-year increase of 27.3%.

Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel exported leather and leather products worth US$1.2 million in January, compared with US$1.7 million in the same month in 2006. Israel imported the same types of commodities worth US$8.6 million in January, as against US$6.4 million in January last year.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary exported leather and leather products worth US$170 million in 2006, a year-on-year increase of 27.8%. Hungarian imports of the same types of commodities last year were 5.6% higher year-on-year at US$326 million.

The Philippines National Statistics Office reports that the Philippines' leather products manufacturing industry was operating at 82.9% of its total production capacity in December last year, compared with 81.8% in the same month in 2005. In comparison, the Philippines' manufacturing sector as a whole was operating at 80.3% capacity in December 2006, as against 80.4% in December 2005.

Serbia's Statistical Office reports that Serbia exported leather and leather products worth 11.4 million euros in January, compared with 7.5 million euros in January 2006. Serbian imports of the same types of commodities in January were worth 12.5 million euros, as against 9.9 million euros in the same month the previous year.

Jordan's Department of Statistics reports that Jordan imported leather and leather products worth US%10.8 million in 2006, compared with US$9 million the previous year. Jordanian exports of the same types of commodities were worth only US$71,709) last year, following exports worth US$612,208 in 2005. Exports of raw lhides and skins last year were worth US$7.7 million, as against US$6 million in 2005.

On February 20, at the Park Tower Hall of Tokyo, the 2007 edition of Natural Sensations took place. The event was organized by the Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather Consortium with the collaboration of the Italian Trade Commission. Due to popular demand, two separate sessions were held and a total of 500 stylists, designers, leather manufacturers and press attended the event.

The March 1, 2007, deadline for GERIC members to cast their vote on ICPI's application for membership in GERIC has expired and members have unanimously expressed their agreement to enlarge the grouping and embrace ICPI as a new full member. ICPI is the Romanian Institute that hosts the domestic Leather Technology Centre.

Brazil's National Statistics Institute reports that Brazilian bovine leather and hides exports in 2006 were a substantial 59.7% higher than in the previous year. The production of leather and raw hides in Brazil last year was 5.2% higher than in 2005.

Footwear imports to the Czech Republic rose by a quarter in 2006 with some 97 million pairs of shoes imported with a value of CZK 8.5 billion, compared to 73 million pairs in 2005, according to Vlasta Mayerova, chair of the Czech Shoe-makers' Association._She stated that most of the growth can be ascribed to imports from China. Czech companies have been complaining about the imports of Chinese footwear for several years. However, Czech manufacturers produced 5 million pairs in 2006, unchanged from 2005. _

Year 2 Fashion student, Catherine Nevill is celebrating her success after being selected in a university competition to win a trip to Hong Kong to visit the Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF).

The Leather Working Group will be holding a meeting in Hong Kong on Monday March 26, 2007. The group, comprised of brands, tanners, and retailers has developed a peer reviewed environmental auditing process for tanners. The meeting will include an open session, offering interested parties an opportunity to find out more about the new audit protocol launched in January 2007 and to offer comments on the protocol.

Registrations are now being accepted for the XXIX Congress of the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress / 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Leather Chemists Association (ALCA) which will convene on June 20-24, 2007, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC, USA.

This was the fourth time that Le Cuir A Paris took place within the overall Premiere Vision Pluriel event, enabling it to benefit from the synergy with other trade shows. In all 10,107 visitors registered, 66% of which were from abroad, representing an almost 2% increase compared with February 2006.

DuPont are introducing a new, patented manufacturing process to remove more than 97% of trace levels of perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA), its homologues and direct precursors from their fluorotelomer products. This company milestone meets key commitments to the EPA voluntary stewardship programme for product content, three years ahead of schedule.

The COTANCE council welcomed a small delegation of the European Commission for reviewing progress on international trade issues relevant to the leather industry. Mrs Madeleine Tuininga in charge of Market Access and Industry in DG Trade, assisted by Mrs Regina Piovesana and Mrs Friederike Afokpa, reported on the adjustments of the EU's external trade policy and on how the interests of Europe's leather industry are going to be addressed in multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations. Mrs Tuininga commented that the fight against export taxes/restrictions on raw materials has reached in the EU the highest level of priority and that a policy change in that respect is out of question.

Kazakhstan's National Statistics Committee reports that Kazakhstan produced leather and leather products worth US$16.05 million in 2006, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, according to the Interfax news agency. In comparison, industrial output in Kazakhstan last year was 7% higher year-on-year.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that Ukraine exported leather and leather products worth US$307 million in 2006, a year-on-year increase of 45.6%. Ukrainian imports of the same types of commodities in 2006 were 22.6% higher year-on-year at US$136 million.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkey imported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$564 million in 2006, a year-on-year increase of 19.2%. Turkish exports of the same types of commodities in 2006 were 17.3% higher year-on-year at US$103 million. Turkey also exported leather products worth US$360 million in 2006, a year-on-year increase of 9%.

The 110th conference and dinner dance of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists will be held on September 29, 2007, at The Blossoms Hotel, Chester, UK.

Slovakia's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Slovakia in 2006 was 1.7% lower than in 2005. In comparison, industrial output in Slovakia in 2006 was 9.8% higher year-on-year.

Slovakia's Statistical Office reports that Slovakia exported hides and skins, and leather and leather products, worth US$155 million in the first eleven months of 2006, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%. Slovakian imports of the same types of commodities in the January to November 2006 period were 0.4% lower year-on-year at US$308 million.

Russia's State Statistics Committee reports that on January 1 this year, Russian agricultural producers had an estimated 21 million cattle, a decrease of 1.2% compared with the number on the same date in 2006, according to the Interfax news agency. The report noted that the mortality rate for cattle in Russia decreased from 2.5% in 2005 to 2.4% in 2006.

Romania's National Statistics Institute reports that there were 2.92 million cattle on farms in Romania on December 1 last year, an increase of 2.2% compared with the number on the same date in 2005. The North-East region, with 679,678 cattle, had the most cattle of any region in Romania on December 1 last year, followed by the North-West region with 501,714.

Kyrgyzstan's National Statistics Committee reports that the production of leather and leather products in Kyrgyzstan in 2006 was a substantial 148% higher in volume terms as compared with 2005, according to the Interfax news agency. In comparison, industrial output in Kyrgyzstan in 2006 was 10.2% lower year-on-year.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Federal Office of Statistics reports that tanneries in Bosnia and Herzegovina produced 235,000 square metres of leather for shoe uppers manufacture in 2006. Production in the first nine months of 2005 totalled only 96,000 square metres. The country also produced 3.22 million pairs of leather footwear last year, as against 2.20 million pairs in the January to September 2005 period.

Mongolia's National Statistics Office reports that Mongolia exported raw and processed livestock hides and skins worth US$31 million in the first ten months of 2006, compared with US$21.2 million in the same period in 2005. Exports during the ten-month period included sheep or lamb leather worth US$17.7 million, as well as goat leather worth US$5.7 million.

Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel exported leather and leather products worth US$18.7 million in 2006, compared with US$16.9 million in 2005. Israel imported the same types of commodities worth US$97.3 million in 2006, as against US$92.7 million in 2005

Russia's Federal Customs Service reports that Russia imported leather shoes from member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) worth US$6.5 million in 2006, a substantial year-on-year increase of 58.3%, according to the Interfax news agency. The value of leather shoes imported from non-CIS states increased by 110% year-on-year to US$652 million. Russia imported a total of 42.8 million pairs of leather shoes worth a total of US$658.5 million in 2006.

Belarus' Ministry of Statistics reports that Belarus produced 246 million square decimetres of chrome-tanned leather products in 2006, an increase of 20.1% compared with the previous year, according to the Interfax news agency. Footwear production was 8.4% higher year-on-year at 10.4 million pairs.

The Czech Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Czech Republic in 2006 was 6.2% higher than in 2005. In comparison, industrial output in the Czech Republic in 2006 was 9.7% higher year-on-year.

Albania's National Statistics Institute reports that Albania imported leather and leather products worth US$67.9 million in 2006, compared with US$58.4 million in the same period in 2005. Albania exported the same types of commodities worth US$15.5 million in 2006, as against US$13.2 million in the same period in 2005.

&rtreturn;Plans have been announced by the Addis Ababa City Administration Trade and Industry Development Bureau to construct 82 hide and skin collecting centres following repeated complaints from buyers and exporters of poor quality and damaged hides. This is according to department head, Girma Demissie, who said the birr1.4 million necessary had been mainly supplied by the USAID to launch construction.

Gluv are marking the launch of their biggest ever spring and summer range with a link to one of the UK's leading low-cost airlines, bmibaby.com whereby the leading women's comfort shoe brand supply shoes for all female cabin crew members who work for bmibaby, the airline with tiny fares. Gluv and bmibaby are ideal partners for demonstrating the everyday comfort and support offered by the shoes which are manufactured by William Lamb Footwear.

Uruguay has imposed special import duties on certain products from Argentina. The list includes footwear and apparel produced in the provinces of La Rioja, San Luis, Catamarca and San Juan. These are all provinces where industrial promotional regimes are in force. The duty imposed will be up to a maximum of 18%. It is estimated that sales totalling US$52.5 million would be affected.

On February 17, the Leon Poliforum will open its doors to the 32nd edition of Anpic, the International Leather and footwear fair. It will run from February 17-20 from 10am to 7pm. The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday February 17 at 13:00.

The exhibition layout for the new technological event in the leather sector is being planned. As already announced, SIMAC (footwear and leather-goods machinery) and Tanning Tech (tanning machinery, chemical products and laboratory and purification plants) will be held together at the Bologna exhibition centre from April 17-20. The decision to combine the whole technological supply under the same roof was prompted by the need to offer advanced solutions to all system production problems: those working in the manufacturing and semi-finished goods industry know they will find all the state-of-the-art technology in a single visit.

Smit & Zoon have finalized their new website. In their drive for ongoing improvements the goal was to have an easy accessible website. Through the site Smit & Zoon will keep customers informed on the latest developments concerning new products, leather related news and other topics that will help them to stay ahead of the game. Besides news, you will also be able to download 'technical data sheets' of their leather chemicals in only a few clicks.

Organisers of Le Cuir a Paris are forecasting an increase in the number of exhibitors at the upcoming February edition of the show which is due to be held from February 20-23, 2007, at Paris Nord Villepinte. Up to now, 16 new companies (including six Italians and three Brazilians, members of ASSINTECAL (Brazilian Association of Shoe Components) have confirmed their participation.

Asian sports shoe manufacturer Pan Group have installed new Satra software in their eight Thai factories in Sriracha, Kabinburi, Bangkok and Ayutthaya. SATRAData is a system designed to provide accurate and reliable time standards for the various individual elements or tasks carried out during footwear production, including lean manufacturing. It can therefore eliminate the need for conventional time study.

With two months to go before the staging of the 19th edition of SIPIEL, International Footwear and Leathergoods Week, the participation of 557 companies is already confirmed. The net exhibition area has also increased, totalling 30,622 sq m. Over the next few weeks, the number of exhibitors participating at Modacalzado and Iberpiel Marroquineria, the two fairs that make up the Week is expected to top 750. Sipiel will take place on 23-25 March at Feria de Madrid, a week earlier than initially planned, with a view to facilitating the attendance of foreign buyers. Thus SIPIEL will conclude the calendar of European international fairs.

Footwear Plus, the business-to-business magazine covering the footwear industry, announced the winners of their coveted Plus Awards at the WSA Show, the industry's largest trade fair, in Las Vegas on February 1. This year's winners represent the best in footwear fashion, as voted on by their retailer partners.

LANXESS have completed their acquisition of Dow Chemical's chrome chemicals business in South Africa with effect February 1, 2007. The relevant antitrust authorities approved the purchase of the 50% interest in Chrome International South Africa (CISA), Newcastle, by LANXESS, which already owns the other 50% of CISA. CISA will thus be fully consolidated in the financial statements of the LANXESS Group as of that date.This first-ever acquisition by LANXESS further improves the profitability of the Leather Business Unit's chrome chemicals activities.

100 VIPs have been invited by IULTCS to a summit meeting in Paris on September 17. The meeting will be called the International Leather Forum, also known as the 'Istanbul Initiative' and is aimed at holdingstrategic and marketing discussions on the global leather industry.

As a late consequence of Clariant's spin-off from Sandoz in 1995, the Leather Business is required to rename all products starting with the prefix &bsquo;Sand-&bsquo; within their product portfolio. The official launch of the new brand names is June 1, 2007, and the rebranding process is scheduled to be completed by January 1, 2008. The company stress that the different names will offer the same excellence.

Investment fund Fortelus Capital, UK, have acquired 100% of Bruno Magli SpA from Bulgari-backed equity fund Opera.

Australia is saying goodbye to the Blundstone boot as manufacturing moves offshore to Asia. The tannery which supplies the leather for Blundstone boots are now looking to export markets for their hides.

Fashion Access, the largest trade fair in Asia for handbags, footwear, luggage, leather & fur garments and fashion accessories, will be held on 28 -30 March, 2007, in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The production of leather goods was identified as an area of co-operation between Mozambique and Vietnam at talks between officials from the two countries in Hanoi in mid-January, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. Vietnamese officials said that Mozambique could become a gateway for Vietnamese exports to the African continent.

TFL has opened a new service centre in the US. Designed with customer needs in mind, the new site has an area of 2,000 sq m and houses state-of-the-art wet-end and finishing labs under one roof.

Professor Geoff Attenburrow has become the first Leathersellers' Chair of Materials Science at The University of Northampton following a formal inauguration ceremony in January at Leathersellers' Hall in London. The chair will be fully funded by the Leathersellers' Company and marks a significant development of the existing partnership between the University of Northampton and the Leathersellers' Company.

Russia's State Statistics Committee reports that Russia produced 2.1 billion square decimetres of chrome-tanned leather products in 2006, an increase of 41% compared with the previous year. Footwear production totalling 52.8 million pairs was 11.9% higher year-on-year.

Statistics Norway reports that Norway exported raw hides and skins worth US$79.4 million in 2006, as compared with US$65.2 million in 2005. Norway also exported leather and leather products worth US$42.6 million in 2006, compared with US$41.8 million the previous year.

The Kosovo Statistics Office reports that leather and leather products accounted for 5.9% of total exports from the UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo in December, according to SeeNews. Leather and leather products were the second most valuable commodity exported from Kosovo during the month.

Ireland's Central Statistics Office reports that Ireland slaughtered 1.77 million cattle of a total weight of 572,300 tonnes in 2006, compared with 1.68 million cattle with a total weight of 545,900 tonnes the previous year. A total of 3.48 million sheep of weighing a total of 70,300 tonnes were slaughtered last year, as against 3.61 million weighing 73,300 tonnes in 2005.

Hungary Central Statistics Office reports that the number of cattle on farms in Hungary on December 1 last year was 702,000, as compared with 708,000 on the same date in 2005.

Croatia's Central Statistics Bureau reports that Croatia exported leather and leather products worth US$123 million in 2006, compared with US$96 million in 2005. Croatia imported the same types of commodities worth US$116 million in 2006, as against US$145 million in the previous year.

Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister, Ivan Bambiza, says that sales of cattle and poultry for slaughter in Belarus increased by 12% in 2006 compared with the previous year, according to the Belta news agency. Bambiza added that 19 cattle-breeding facilities were modernised in Belarus last year.

Of one thing there can be no doubt, the Indian International Leather Fair continues to grow. This year, in addition to Hall 1A and 1B and Hall 2 and three hangars (temporary structures), the fair also encompassed the Chennai Trade Centre which is located on the same site but which had not been used for exhibitors before. There were also reports that thirty potential exhibitors had been refused because there was no more room.

The Genuine Leather Mark is a trade-mark registered by China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) in State Administration for Industry and Commerce. CLIA, as the third party, promises customers that a product bearing the Genuine Leather Mark meets the following standards: major materials are made of genuine leather; a good-quality product; and considerate after sales services are provided.

The US-based Timberland Company is working with Satra to establish a comprehensive testing regime throughout its worldwide footwear supply chain.

South African ostrich slaughter will fall to 200,000 birds in 2007 - from about 250,000 this year - and will decline further in 2008, in the view of Saag Jonker Group CEO Saag Jonker, the country's biggest ostrich farmer. 'The ostrich farming industry is shrinking', he said. 'Some of the best farmers, like Pieter Coetzee, Casper Wolff and Johan Senekal, have left the industry over the past two or three years and we are also seriously reconsidering our position. I'm emotionally wedded to ostrich farming but my sons look at it from a business point of view and they're questioning whether it's worth continuing.'

The Korea Shoes Trading Company are reported to have developed a new product from an un-named marine organism that removes fats and oils from leather without the need to use chemical de-oiling and softening agents, according to the KCNA news agency. The product is said to simplify the tanning process and reduce production costs. It is now being used by many tanners in North Korea.

In order to protect the national leather and footwear industry, the Jordanian government has begun a legal process that could lead to temporary safeguard duties being imposed on imports of most footwear. The World Trade Organisation says Jordan has launched a formal investigation into what the Jordan Footwear and Leather Industries Association calls an 'increase of imports which has caused serious injury to the domestic industry producing similar products'. Preliminary inquiries by Jordan's National Production Protection Directorate concluded there was 'an unexpected, significant increase [in imports] during 2001 to 2005.' Should Jordan impose safeguard duties, only ski boots, cross-country ski and snowboard boots would be exempt.

For the first time, a joint venture is being set up by three companies for the production of about 100,000 pairs of shoes for Pakistan. The shoes will be produced at the factory of K Shoes, Lahore, and the partners involved are Gulf Footwear Company of Dubai; Caser Everg GmbH; and K Shoes, Lahore. The project involves an investment of Rs50 million (US$827,000).

CTC, the leading global resource providing quality assurance for the footwear and leathergoods industries, has officially launched its CTC client campaign. The goal is to establish client loyalty, by creating the group's first International Network.

How does the TFL Cool System work?

During the next edition of Tanning Tech to be held in 2007, Mosconi will introduce the latest version of its Super Zenit splitting machine (version 2007). Super Zenit is known for its compliance with the most recent safety standards, its construction from premium quality materials, as well as for its precision splitting, performance capacities, reliability and low maintenance costs.

Introduction

There are a number of causes which result in surface contamination but three key factors are machines, people and the material being processed. For example, slitters and buffers create slivers and dust particles, operators contaminate through skin flakes, hairs and clothing fibres, hides and conveyors generate static which attracts dust particles as they are processed.

The quality of raw hides has decreased over the course of time and tanners have no influence on this. In addition, they often have very little influence on the way wet-blue and wet-white are produced (sometimes thousands of kilometers away). Therefore, retanning is often the only process step where the leather character can be influenced significantly.

Figures for the four-week period ended November 24 showed an average weekly kill of 600,250 which is down from the 634,500 of our last report. These figures are now running at 3.9% above the same time last year. Average weekly kill in the same four weeks last year was 566,750.

There is just not enough happening to cause any significant change in prices. Raw material prices remain firm or even firmer. Price reductions are hardly seen anywhere. With few exceptions, finished leather prices do not improve and margins for tanners and traders continue to shrink.

2006 has been quite a year in the American and, for that matter, world hide trade. Prices moved up throughout the year, led by American steers which advanced approximately 15%.

Summary

That's the word Ron Sauer used in his letter to me published in the August/September issue reacting to the June Limeblast: 'More wasted Money'. His letter practically confirms all I have been saying over the years. And he knows! Worst of all his letter confirms that the money wasting organisations and the project factories shrug their shoulders and consider themselves untouchable. Nice title for a next Limeblast 'The Untouchables'.

Just as reported last year, the trend selection area itself was decidedly unimaginative in terms of presentation and layout. However, the exhibits displayed within made up for this. Dull grey walls and display units provided the backdrop for three ranges: Peace - pale and subdued shades from cream through to toffee brown: Passion - reds and red shades of brown plus a bit of black: and Life - pale and warm shades of brown with a hint of green. Next year's black is clearly brown! Emphasis was definitely on the natural: soft and aniline textures.

Church & Co (Footwear) Ltd, the quintessential English manufacturers of hand-made shoes for men, are justifiably proud of their heritage which they describe as '133 years of desirable shoes made by generations of skilled and imaginative craftspeople'. A lot of time and attention to detail goes into each shoe and close inspection is carried out at every stage along the way. Around 4,000 pairs are made each week.

Earlier this year the EU announced a proposed amendment to Directive 76/769/EEC which is related to the marketing and use of dangerous substances and preparations. The aim was to restrict the marketing and use of perfluoroctane sulfonates (PFOS) in order to avoid health and environmental risks.  

The 'Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale' consortium brought their marketing campaign to London recently. The event, held at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, comprised a press conference and colour trends sessions for London-based designers. The aim of the event was to highlight the flexibility of the association's 27 member tanneries and their ability to adapt production to the seasonal whims of the fashion industry.

Following Zao Russkaya Kozha's ISO 9001-2000 certification by TÜV Thüringen in September, the Russian tanners are beginning to reap the benefits. They are only the second tannery in Russia to be awarded the certification and this has already made the company more competitive on the world market.

UK shoe-finish specialists Corium Solutions have launched a new aftercare product.

December 16 is the official opening day for Fenice's new modern manufacturing and storage facility in the small town of Valdagno, Italy. Having established the leather and footwear finishing chemicals business over 30 years ago, Fenice company founder and president, Dr Giuseppe Pisi, gave up his summer holidays this year to oversee the new factory.

Italian tanning machinery manufacturers, Feltre, have expanded their plant located in Chiampo next to the tanning district of Arzignano. The existing plant has been increased by 30% to provide a floor space of 2,100m2. An additional 800m2 has also been acquired across the road from the main site for additional storage space.

The European Union informed South Africa that it accepts the country's status as free from Highly Pathogenic Notifiable Avian Influenza (HPNAI). The export of fresh ostrich meat could therefore resume from November 1, 2006, according to the new ostrich protocol. This protocol allows for compartmentalisation of the ostrich industry and involves testing within 28 days prior to slaughter, with negative results.

Sapol ES7 is a combination of special non-ionic surfactants having excellent wetting, soaking and degreasing properties. It is especially suitable for white and pastel shaded leather with very fine and levelled grain. The recommended amount of use varies between 0.5 % to 2 % for very fatty hides.

Rompaleather were founded 100 years ago on December 20, 1906. Rompaleather began life as a veg leather tannery and expanded after WWII to provide upper leather to the Dutch footwear industry. At that time export levels were very low and the growth of the footwear industry in the southern part of Holland could consume the whole of the tannery's production.

A recent edition of la conceria, the Italian tanners' magazine, asks the question: What is the strategy of the giant chemicals plants when it comes to trade fairs? Their answer is: 'Simple: don't do them. Tanning Tech has been abandoned. The only fairs that are interesting (and then only a little) are those in Asia, as long as they are classed as regional.'

Stahl recently opened a design studio in Milan, Italy. This forms the centre for a newly formed Fashion Group comprising Stahl's Fashion Consultant, Rini van Vonderen; John Schoemans, Fashion Coordinator at Stahl Holland, Waalwijk; and Peter Jessop, Team Leader and also based in Waalwijk.

Serbia's Statistical Office reports that Serbia exported leather and leather products worth €123 million in the first eleven months of 2006, compared with €95 million in the same period in 2005. Serbian imports of the same types of commodities in the January to November period were worth €172 million, as against €133 million in the corresponding period in 2005.

Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel exported leather and leather products worth US$17 million in the first eleven months of 2006, compared with US$15.7 million in the corresponding period in 2005. Israel imported the same types of commodities worth US$90.5 million in the January to November 2006 period, as against US$86.8 million in the same period last year.

The US Food and Drug Administration is proposing to limit the materials used in some medical products in order to keep them free of the agent thought to cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). This is the latest in a series of safeguards that would bar material that has been found to harbour the highest concentrations of this fatal agent in infected cattle. These materials would be prohibited from use as ingredients in medical products or elements of product manufacturing.

Croatia's Central Statistics Bureau reports that Croatia exported leather and leather products worth US$110 million in the first eleven months of 2006, compared with US$86 million in the same period in 2005. Croatia imported the same types of commodities worth US$109 million in the January to November 2006 period, as against US$131 million in the corresponding period the previous year.

Albania's National Statistics Institute reports that Albania exported leather and leather products worth US$11.4 million in the first nine months of 2006, compared with US$9.75 million in the same period the previous year. Albanian imports of the same types of commodities in the January to September 2006 period were worth US$52.2 million, as against US$42.7 million in the corresponding period in 2005.

That's the word Ron Sauer used in his letter to me published in the August/September issue reacting to the June Limeblast: 'More wasted Money'. His letter practically confirms all I have been saying over the years. And he knows! Worst of all his letter confirms that the money wasting organisations and the project factories shrug their shoulders and consider themselves untouchable. Nice title for a next Limeblast 'The Untouchables'.