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-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
- Shlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brand
Durban, KZN, SA – I’m a native of Umlazi’s K section, but I’ve called Seaview home since 1994.My life has been a tapestry of experiences, woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was retrenched while working for the bank with a wealth expe ...moreA perspective: Perhaps it was an eye-opener for industry players to hear each otherLooking back over the workshop, BMA consultant Justin Snelling wrote: “In terms of our reflections of the workshop, we covered a lot of territory. Perhaps though what was most encouraging was the breadth of participation from different segments of the sector and their willingness, or even excitement, to contribute. We don’t ta ...moreHow FootJoy’s superbly crafted shoes influenced my life
An Informative & Nostalgic Letter written in April 2025 to two executives at Acushnet (USA) – A leading golf corporation which includes FootJoy Shoes.RE: FootJoy & II recall the very first pair of FootJoy golf shoes my late father bought for me in July 1976. This wasn’t my first interaction with the brand that I had al ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Sam Setter's 'Pills': Over and AgainThe EU announced that hides and skins could be removed from the EUDR directive's deforestation commodities. Could! Last month, like many others, I thought that the decision had been taken, but that doesn’t seem to be correct. The final decision will be taken after public feedback. Yeah, you read this right: after public feedback. As ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': TraceabilityThe EU Commission is very much engaged in bringing traceability of our raw materials to the forefront of tannery management. But let’s reflect on this for a moment. In the industrial world traceability is a fact, and particularly where food is involved, traceability is a standard requirement for trading. This is firstly to ensure fo ...moreAfrican leather businesses holding LWG and SLF ratingsAs African leather manufacturers strive to grow their exports, the number which have qualified for ratings by the Leather Working Group (LWG) and the Sustainable Leather Foundation (SLF) is growing.By country, LWG lists the following:Algeria: Sarl Tannerie Ain FakrounBurkina Faso: Mona Industry SARL.Egypt: El Montaza Tannery, Piel Color C ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Understanding local and international PPE standards: Clarity in a complex landscape
Appearances and claims to the contrary, South Africa’s PPE industry “is largely unregulated, and a high percentage of PPE on the market is not compliant with official standards”, uvex Safety SA MD Christo Nel said, “and that’s a problem at many levels, and for the entire value chain”.He said the fundame ...moreProtecting the workforce: The critical role of PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is utilised in a work-environment as part of a larger prevention plan, because on its own protection is limited and may even provide a false sense of protection.An occupational disease prevention plan must be an actionable approach that identifies workplace health hazards, evaluates exposure, and i ...moreThe concepts behind safety: Why bother with PPE on the ‘Road to Zero Harm’?
For over a decade, the ILO and other such bodies have been pushing this whole notion of "Zero Harm", "Road to Zero" and other such catchy titles, all pushing the idea most probably backed by one-sided research that "Zero Harm" is the only way and can be achieved if you work hard enough.My problem with this id ...more
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