In late October, Stahl USA invited customers to their laboratories in Peabody, Mass, to attend a week-long combined training and problem solving seminar. Organised by Milt Barker, Business Manager, Leather Finish, Stahl USA, discussions and practical workshops were designed to show how some of the everyday problems that are encountered on tannery finishing production lines can be overcome and also introduced new product technology.
Visitors represented tanneries producing leather for high quality footwear, leathergoods, furniture and aircraft market segments. They brought with them samples of their crust leathers on which they were shown the result of applying new high performance products developed by Stahl. This included a new generation of crosslinkers and top coat polymers designed for ease of application and optimal performance achieved with fewer coats. There was considerable interest in techniques and products designed for finishing waterproof leathers and these were demonstrated alongside new fashion effects prepared for the Autumn/Winter 2006/2007 season. Methods of application were discussed and troubleshooting trials were carried out to provide suggestions for ensuring trouble-free application on the production line in the tannery.
Jerry Levy, who runs the Research and Development team in Peabody, closed the week with an input session during which he explained why the products were developed and the nature of their interactions when formulated into a finish.
