LANXESS open leather application lab

The LANXESS Leather Business Unit has achieved another important milestone in its Asian strategy on the Indian subcontinent. Recently Juergen Hackenbroich, regional manager Asia Pacific and S M Naseem, chairman of Pakistan's Tanners Association, officially opened LANXESS's first leather application laboratory in Pakistan. It is located in the heart of the leather-manufacturing industrial zone in the Korangi industrial area of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and the gateway to the country. Pakistan is the fourth largest country in terms of LANXESS's leather chemicals sales in the Asia Pacific region and is ranked tenth in the world. LANXESS have been a leading supplier of chrome tanning salts and retanning agents to Pakistan's leather industry for many years. The finishing segment, along with the latest product applications and information on fashion trends, is the main target for growth in the years to come, and the laboratory will help to strengthen LANXESS's position in Pakistan and provide customers with an even better and quicker service. Naseem, who is also managing director of the MIMA Group, said that the tanners will benefit highly from the leather laboratory which will help the tanneries by providing the latest technology for making finished and fashion leather. Tanveer Ahmed, chairman, National Institute of Leather Technology and a director of Shafi Reso-Chem, said Pakistan's chemical industry is no longer a packing industry but has started production of basic chemicals. Two German technicians, Mike Techow, general manager (sales of chrome chemicals) and Jochen Rudolph flew from Germany to Karachi to conduct a one week workshop to train the technicians in Pakistan. Country representative for LANXESS, Arshad Kazmi informed the tanners that this facility will enhance services for the leather sector in Pakistan. He said that they would be providing solutions and introducing fashion trends through the expertise of LANXESS and their partners Rohm & Haas and Atlas. They cover a complete range of products from wet end to finishing. During discussions Hackenbroich disclosed that they planned another laboratory in Lahore to cater to the tanners in north.