Satra has celebrated its 85th anniversary year by reporting a record annual income of £7.25 million. Chief executive Dr Ron Whittaker announced details at Satra’s annual meeting on June 15 when he also revealed that the centre has maintained an enviable financial record. Over the last 35 years of continually increasing income year on year the organisation has never run at a deficit on its revenue account. Dr Whittaker said: ‘This achievement for 2003 is even more impressive considering the global change in production and sourcing of footwear and other consumer products and our major investment in new facilities.’
Other milestones include increased company membership, particularly from China and the Far East, and higher work volume in consumer product testing — such as furniture, safety products, fabric care, floor coverings and automotive products — by nearly 20% over 2002. An office in China was also opened on January 1.
‘Satra’s membership income exceeded £2 million for the first time in 2003’, explained Dr Whittaker. ‘This was the result of more than 98% of companies retaining membership — and more than 110 joining for the first time. New members are also joining from the leather, clothing, furniture and other industries, although many are still involved in material supply, manufacturing, retailing and resourcing of global footwear. This combined subscription income, from more than 1,500 members in 70 countries, allows us to carry out research for all members, develop new services to aid members’ competitiveness, produce specialist membership publications and provide free services up to a certain level of subscription.’
During 2003 SATRA completed its 26,000 sq ft extension, costing £1.5 million, to its Wyndham Way site in Kettering. In early 2005 it should become the centre’s headquarters as more of Satra’s 190-strong staff transfer from the long-established site in Rockingham Road. However, the Satra board has no plans to dispose of old site which was first acquired in 1946. Satra’s main footwear and leather testing and research business centres as well as its fabric care facility will continue to operate from there.
A new venture called Satra Innovation has been launched to allow start-up and small growing high knowledge or technology businesses to occupy part of Rockingham Road. Currently, twelve businesses are on site — soon to be named Satra Innovation Park — but the number should double by the end of 2005.
For the third year Satra continued to mainly use its own funds to invest in key areas of research. These include a biomechanical test for measuring the abrasion resistance of whole soles and the development of an artificial sweating foot to evaluate comfort features of new materials and footwear is well advanced. Other projects have involved advances in sensor techniques, improved slip resistance and development of the new Starburst strength test for leather.
Satra staff are now represented on all the major international and European Standards committees for footwear, leather and associated products — including the development of the new EN 244 series of tests and requirements for safety footwear. Satra has also designed and manufactured new test equipment to meet these standards and its laboratories and Notified Body status allows the centre to provide the world’s leading evaluation facility for safety footwear.
