S&V African Leather Magazine Vol17 No7 July 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE:
02 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
04 Upfront
- Automotive: Stitched leather seat exports were up in most markets last year, according to the 2023 edition of NAAMSA executive manager Dr Norman Lamprecht’s Automotive Export Manual.
- Game skins: UK trophy ban still being debated, and other updates by Pieter Swart of SA Taxidermy and Tannery Association (SATTA).
- SLTC: Everything is on hold, says treasurer Warren Phipps.
10 An Eclectic View
- Second generation Cr-free. Second generation chrome-free has arrived, and already we know what a key component of the third generation will be, writes H. Procter.
12 Decoding Tanning Science
- Dialdehyde starch, a sustainable, environment-friendly tanning chemical. A summary by Dr Clive Jackson-Moss of the ISTT of a JSLTC paper.
14 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
15 Sustainability
- Tanzanian visit to be followed by visits to other African countries: Report from Sustainable Leather Foundation MD Deborah Taylor.
17 Notice Board
- Obituary: Peter Howard, formerly with King Tanning, Pelts Products and other businesses and ventures.
18 Trade Statistics
- SA hides, skins and leather trade statistics for May 2023, issued by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (03), Evolution Engineering (01), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (05), Mimosa (07), Rolfes Leather Division (OFC), Rolfes Leather Division recruitment ad (02), S&V Calendar (11), S&V Directory (18), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (10), Stahl (09), Sustainable Leather Foundation (06).
The Next Issue
- The August issue of S&V African Leather will be out on 04 August. The deadline for contributions is 31 July.
- Second generation Cr-freeSecond generation chrome-free has just arrived, and already we know what a key component of the third generation will be. ...moreTanzanian visit to be followed by visits to other African countriesThis month saw SLF launch a new campaign “Are You Ready” to help the leather industry prepare for the incoming regulations and directives that will have a significant impact on our sector.It is crucial that all stakeholders understand what the new legislation means, how it will affect their business and how they can prepare no ...moreSustainable Leather Foundation: Work Begins in the SADC…In June, as part of the recently awarded contract to support sustainability improvement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) under the SIPS Project, SLF travelled to Tanzania to participate in two workshops on the 6th June and the 8th June. The first workshop, held in the capital, Dodoma, was attended by 45 representative ...moreA very talented man who tried his hand at many things, some successfully, some not, but he did live a full lifeObituary: Peter Howard – King Tanning, Pelts Products, and others (01/06/1947-26/07/2022) ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': Pitti Uomo in FlorenceOn 13-16 June the fashion industry celebrated Pitti Uomo in Florence. The event was very well attended and the newspapers, as well as the city hall of Florence, heralded the attendance of so-called VIPs as a huge success. Indeed, people like Leonardo Di Caprio, Dua Lipa, George Clooney were among the visitors. They, like their peers, very ...moreStitched leather seat exports were up in most markets last yearPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Automotive Business Council (NAAMSA) executive manager Dr Norman Lamprecht’s annual Automotive Export Manual – the 2023 edition is the 17th – is a comprehensive picture, not just of the SA motor industry’s exports, but of its structure, health, plans and predictions.The leather compone ...moreUK trophy ban still being debated1. Feedback on the Controversial UK TROPHY BAN.Despite much publicity, and input from various African Governments, NGOs and scientists, the House of Commons approved the Trophy Ban bill, but it still needed the approval from the House of Lords. Two amendments were added before passing the Commons: (1) limits the ban to CITES listed ...moreSLTC: On HoldThe Southern African Section of the Society of Leather Technicians & Chemists is currently not operating, treasurer Warren Phipps has confirmed. “We approached the mother body of SLTC to help pay someone locally to help bring in the membership fees for them (SLTC - British section), which they declined, and the SA section could ...moreDialdehyde starch, a sustainable, environment-friendly tanning chemicalThis is part of a series contributed by the International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) in Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA, summarising complicated research papers into short articles more readily comprehensible to a wider audience. ...moreSA hides, skins, and leather trade statistics for May 2023Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (30 June 2023) – Source: SARS.Including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN)Cumulative tradeTrade balance R'm (59 757 351)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.97Monthly tradeTrade balance R'm 13 274 098Ratio (exports/imports) 1.03ExportsMonth % of total 0.22Cumulative 2022 (R'm) 1 609 417 807 Cumulative 2023 (R ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- R-CTFL meeting: Manufacturers told ‘to come back with something to show’Last week’s R-CTFL Masterplan meeting between retail, manufacturing, labour and government, with a concentration on footwear and leather goods, showed that the gulf between retail and the rest hasn’t narrowed.A follow-up meeting is planned for 08 May.The Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC), the SA Footwear & ...moreCavalli introduces comfort rangeGeorge, W. Cape, SA – Recognising the growing demand for footwear that balances comfort and style, Cavalli introduces Cavalli Comfort, a ladies’ footwear range thoughtfully developed for women who prioritise both foot health and refined elegance.Created by Leo D’ Mar cc, a family-run business established in 1997 and the ...moreNational Leather and General Goods Strategy WorkshopOn 23 June, following months of fieldwork, B&M Analysts (BMA) hosted an online workshop to discuss the recovery of the handbags, belts, travel goods and allied manufacturing industries in SA.The industries, although very diverse, fall under the General Goods & Handbags Sector of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Indus ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Improving the strength and softness of crust leather through pressure treatmentIntroductionRetanning and fatliquoring have a major impact on the characteristics of leather, whereas dyeing and the finishing concentrate on the appearance of the leather. Various retanning agents and fatliquoring agents have been developed to improve the softness and mechanical strength of leather, parameters that are important to the b ...moreDavid Buirski retires (but we’re sure to hear more from him)David Buirski, the former South African who edited World Leather from 1993 to 2005, and who continued his involvement with the publication and its offshoots until recently, has finally retired because “having turned 90 last December, I guess it was the sensible thing to do. Thirty-three years could be considered a long time.&rd ...moreRwanda’s planned leather park movedRwanda’s planned tannery park has been moved from Bugesera District to Gicumbi District, according to several reports. It’s expected to be completed by 2029. The project was first announced in 2024. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- The legal ramifications: PPE and the law: Ignore at your peril?There’s no shortage of legislation covering employee safety in South Africa, but as in so much else, the enforcement is poor.In terms of our laws, the death of an employee (or anyone else) in a work situation, caused by negligence, is treated as culpable homicide. An injury caused by negligence is also a criminal act – that, b ...moreOccupational noise-induced hearing loss ‘is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world’Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is the most prevalent occupational disease in the world*. 16% of all disabling hearing loss in adults is due to noise exposure.It’s also expensive. According to one study, it costs US$242 million in annual compensation in the USA. In the UK, the typical cost per claim in the is £ ...moreSelecting the correct protective clothing for a hazardous chemical environmentIn South Africa’s diverse industrial landscape, from mining operations in Rustenburg to petrochemical plants in Secunda and manufacturing hubs in Durban, workers are regularly exposed to hazardous chemical environments that demand more than just basic safety measures.The selection of appropriate protective clothing is not only ...more
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