S&V African Leather Magazine Vol17 No7 July 2023
This Magazine is sponsored by SAFLIA
Click the advert links for more info. • Download PDF
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-free
Second 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 countries
This 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 life
Obituary: 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 ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Obituary: Vic Jablowski, BUSM, Protech V (03/09/1953-11/12/2025): One of those who survived BU’s closure
Durban, KZN, SA – My dad – was AMAZING.Born in 1953, he married Evelyn in 1979. My sister, Luanne Hough, was born in 1980, and I followed in 1983.A family man who made sure he supported his family in the most wonderful ways; he was also a loyal company man who worked most of his life for British United Shoe Machinery.But when ...more‘Growth in online gambling may be big factor in siphoning off disposable income’East London, E. Cape, SA – Trading conditions are constrained and steady. We need to focus on good quality products at reasonable prices / value. We are optimistic about the direction of the overall economy in RSA.As a wise man once said regarding growing a business: “Sometimes you have to move slowly to be able to move fast.& ...moreObituary: Joe McGinley, Conshu (14/04/1936-20/05/2026) He ran an empire, but kept a human touch
Somerset West, W. Cape, SA – Joseph Pascal McGinley, the former Conshu director who died in May, a month after his 90th birthday, was a larger-than-life character who was renowned during his career in SA for his kindness, and who lived life to the full.Born in Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland, to Joseph and Madeline McGinley, both doct ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Rwanda’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. ...moreMONEY FROM WASTE
Europe has borne the difficulties and the costs of converting to a bioeconomy – the lessons are there, free, for African businesses to learn and profit from. ...moreSARLEN aims for business and regulatory advocacy for the leather value chain across SADC
The formation of the Southern African Regional Leather Network (SARLEN) is a process to formalise a voice for commercial, entrepreneurial and developmental associations in the leather value chain (LVC) for the region.The leather value chain has been recognised in SADC as a key entrepreneurial opportunity that can adjust to the scale of th ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Premier Workwear: Engineered protection for Africa’s industrial workforce
In high-risk industrial environments, protective clothing is far more than a uniform requirement — it is a critical component of workplace safety, operational reliability and regulatory compliance. For procurement professionals, safety managers and operational leaders, selecting the right supplier means finding a partner capable of ...moreProactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protection
Our aim is to deliver value to the user experience by ensuring optimal protection, compliance, and operational confidence in every task performed.Hand protection has evolved significantly in response to the critical need to reduce workplace injuries and strengthen safety performance across diverse industries.Modern advancements in materia ...moreThe 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 ...more
© S&V Publications
