S&V African Leather Magazine Vol18 No7 July 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
04 Upfront
- REB Huide & Velle.
- Woods Tanning.
- SA Dorper.
- The Ing Thing.
06 Automotive
- Is South America a new Eldorado for SA’s automotive leather industry?
11 An Eclectic View
- Net Zero Leather: The global business community seems determined to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Correspondent H. Procter reports on the leather industry’s place in this.
13 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- Let’s talk about greenwashing, writes the Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor.
15 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
16 Technology
- Cangilones Drums offer an all-in-one production and environmental solution, writes Enrique Olcina of the Olcina Group.
18 Notice Board
- IULTCS announces appointment of 4 new Commission Chairs.
Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (05), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (07), Mimosa (09), Rolfes Leather Division (04), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (02), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (12), Sustainable Leather Foundation (OFC).
The Next Issue
- The August issue of S&V African Leather will be out on 16 August. The deadline for contributions is 12 August.
- Surge in exports to Brazil and Argentina in 2023 : Is South America a new Eldorado for SA’s automotive leather industry?Note: S&V African Leather asked both Bader SA and Pangea SA, SA’s – and Africa’s – surviving specialist automotive leather tanneries, to comment for this article. At the deadline, neither had responded. ...moreNET ZERO LEATHERThe global business community seems determined to reach net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. The definition of what is net zero and how it can be achieved using off-setting was covered in the magazine before.This article will focus on leather and how it can be a leading material in ensuring that products made from it can be part of ...moreLet’s talk about greenwashing…Two days ago, on a Saturday, an email arrived in my SLF inbox from a company in India, complete with brochure attachment for their “innovative Vegan Leather”! ...moreCangilones Drums: All-in-one production and environmental solutionThis drum technology can offer the highest leather quality with savings of 70% in energy, 60% in water, 48% in space, 30% in water treatment cost, 50% in maintenance cost and an important saving in the cost of investment in new facilities ...moreIULTCS announces the appointment of four new Commission ChairsEach Chairperson was selected due to their dedication, leadership, and vision for the IULTCS organization, these attributes stood out during the election process, and the officers are confident that each one will excel in their new role.As Commission Chairs, they will play a crucial part in shaping the future initiatives, fostering collab ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills'"Bangladesh unravellingThe leather industry in Bangladesh is slowly, slowly disintegrating. Their tanneries in the Hemayelpur area, which is part of the Savar Industrial Complex, are suffering from a non-functional common effluent treatment plant, hence European importers and brands are avoiding buying from them. The only chance to e ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- Obituary: C. Lionel Astill – Apeco (Pty) Ltd / Italian Leathers (Pty) Ltd (19/11/1940-07/11/2025) The marketing genius and the English language dictatorChristopher Lionel Astill, or as we knew him at the Apeco office, CLA, was a smart businessman who knew how to ‘use’ people for their knowledge. I don’t mean that in a horrible way. It’s just that he, by his own admission, was not very savvy when it came to product.Especially technical issues. He would rather tap i ...moreMalawi: Imports, forex stifle local leather sectorThe Malawi Leather Industry Association says it is struggling to meet the annual demand for shoes, producing only 200 000 pairs against demand of 15.5 million, largely due to competition from imports and forex shortages hindering raw material imports.Data from Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (Smedi), which is championin ...more‘We can grow this industry’ – new SAFLIA director brings a strong legal and business backgroundDurban, KZN, SA – Zamani Oliphant has been appointed as the incoming executive director of the Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA). She will start on 01 February 2026, and will work alongside outgoing executive director Jirka Vymĕtal for a handover period.An attorney, she joins from LexisNexis, w ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Only Natural Design Competition winners visit the showcase at Material Matters LondonLondon, UK (15 September 2025) – The Only Natural International Student Design Competition 2025 has announced its 7 category winners.The competition looks at the environmental crisis created by synthetic, non-biodegradable materials, championing organic alternatives including wool, hemp, wood and leather. In response to fast fashion ...morePangea: ‘Maintaining status quo in quiet market’Nigel, Gauteng, SA – The global market for automotive leather remains subdued, Pangea SA finance & administration director Adrian Visser said this month, and in South Africa’s case, that is further affected by concerns about US tariffs “which affect us indirectly through our customers”.“It’s a flat ...moreGELATINE INDUSTRYLeather users have long joked about how good it would be to have square hides…thanks to the demand for gelatine, maybe that’s not so far away ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Hong Kong residential towers fire: Spotlight will fall on bamboo scaffoldingThe fire in Hong Kong which affected 8 32-storey residential towers in November will lead to scrutiny of the bamboo scaffolding which encased the buildings.There will be pressure to ban it, or at least modify it perhaps to the point where it loses the properties that have made it an attractive option for so long.Bamboo scaffolding is wide ...moreCleaning water with light — a new generation of compact and efficient water treatment systemsFunctionalised foam ceramics for treating polluted waterIndustrial process and wastewater pose a major challenge when it comes to environmental protection. Fraunhofer researchers in Dresden have now succeeded in developing compact and energy-efficient systems that use photocatalytic oxidation to efficiently break down impurities. At the ...moreNot an afterthought – integrating healthcare technology at the very beginningToday’s modern healthcare facilities have, respectfully, moved beyond bricks, mortar and medical equipment to now include infrastructure that embeds intelligence and resilience, providing the foundation for safer, smarter and patient-centric healthcare environment.In fact, the medical industry is making truly remarkable gains when i ...more
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