First Automotive Leather Conference

The first Automotive Leather Conference is being held at the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos, Barcelona, from May 19-20. It is being organised by LeatherXchange Global Information Services and will feature authoritative speakers from some of the most important industry players globally. For car manufacturers, tanners, raw material producers and end users, the conference will address crucial issues such as the future supply and demand outlook in different regions, legislation, quality requirements from the car manufacturers perspective and technical/commercial issues. This conference will bring the key sectors together under one roof for the very first time, ensuring an essential, un-missable two days for all involved within the automotive leather industry, be it from an engineering, purchasing, technical or selling perspective. . How much automotive leather does the world actually produce? . How much is that of the total bovine leather production? . How important has it become in comparison with other leather consuming industries such as footwear, garments and leathergoods? . What is its influence on the price of hides in the world? . How much does each one of the main countries produce for automotive leather worldwide? The conference will pose these questions and consider why the car industry is one of the fastest growing consumers of leather yet hide production has hardly Increased. So which industries have been the losers? Key speakers are listed as: Dennis Van Stee, Seton; John Koppany, Cidec; Colin Jackson, Bentley Motor Group; John Williams. Ford Motor Company; Trule Troedson, Kontrolhuder; Leonardo Swirski, Bracol; Rudolfo Fernandez, Curtidos Ruffino; Marcel Branaa, Curtiembres Branaa; John Semmelhaak, Friedrich Sturm GmbH & Co; Carlheinz Vohl, CarTrim; Sergio Vinent, TLW; Don Ohsman, Hidenet. Discussion points Market outlook, supply and demand Overall supply outlook for the coming five years Origins of supply: USA, South & North America, Asia, Europe, South Africa and Australasia Quality, technical and supply chain issues Quality development of raw materials, now and future, including split leather Commercial relationships and contracting methods in the supply chain Technical/commercial problems of tanner in dealing with car manufacturers Car Industry requirements Quality requirements now and future, including Chrome Recycling legislation and its impact on quality Supply chain management from car industry perspective