The guests of Lineapelle need more. The next edition will be moved up.

The latest edition of Lineapelle is just finished (3 – 5 April 2013) in the exhibition complex of Bologna. The fair is dedicated to the exposition of leather products and accessories related to the clothing and the furniture.

The outcome? More than positive one. The Italian and international buyers have successfully accepted the proposals of the participating exhibitors, especially for the sector of leather goods. So, the organizing committee has decided to move up the next spring edition, from March 11^th to March 13^th 2014. The fall edition, organized from October 8^th to 10^th 2013, is confirmed.

As it is written in “Mdp La Conceria” blog, the vice-president of Unic, Giovanni Russo, affirms that in the grounds of this decision there is the conscience that the clients of Lineapelle wants to use this fair as a preferred occasion to plan their partnership and their work for next months.

From Jenuary 2014 Rino Mastrotto will become the next global president of the tannery sector, appointed by the Ict – International council of tanners. The news was published on Jenuary 22^th 2013 on “Il Giornale di Vicenza” website. It announces that the business man, from Arzignano, will be the next successor of Richard Chih Hsang Pai, the current president.

Rino Mastrotto is the Italian (Unic) and European (Cotance) president of the entrepreneurs of tannery sector and he is the leader of “Rino Mastrotto Group”. This appointment becomes the opportunity to formally recognize the prestige of the Vicenza’s tannery industry in the world. Indeed, Veneto manufactures 52% of national leathers and 32% of international ones.

Today, the tanning market is crossing an extremely breakable phase, but at the same time this sector is totally changing. The Italian – and Vicenza’s – companies have to invest on various aspects to maintain a position of primary influence in the world. They have to invest on the environment to work in a increasingly eco-friendly perspective. They also have to invest on the quality to offer a more and more high quality product, realized with that handmade competence and with that traditionally Italian savoir-faire.

A window of four days in Riyadh becomes the best occasion to intensify the relationships with the leathers experts.

Everything is ready for the 5^th edition of Saudi Leather Expo, the international exhibition related to companies and products of the leather sector, that will be held at Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center in Saudi Arabia, from January 28^th to January 31^th 2013. The event is organized by Vision Fair, with the aim of appealing many prestigious sector specialists coming from all the world.

Clothing, footwear, accessories and technological products for the companies: whole realized with leather. This is all that the expositors want to propose for the visitors of Saudi Leather Expo, in particular for the leather industry professionals, the designers, the machine manufacturers, the decision makers, the consultants, the creatives and the engineers. That’s it, with the awareness of taking part in the unique great Arabian fair of the sector. It permits all the participants to meet the leather experts coming from Saudi Arabia.

The aim? On one hand, the aim is to understand the global trends for the next season and the ongoing technological innovation. On the other hand, the aim is to stipulate new deals, to develop new productive and business synergies and to intensify the presence and the relationships with the Arabian world.

IDF, Istanbul Leather Fair will take place between 17 – 19 January 2013 in TUYAP fair and congress centre. IDF is organised by the collobration of TUYAP and ARTI F Organisation under TURDEV (Turkish Leather Foundation) and supported by Turkish Leather Garment Manufacturers Association, Turkish Leather Manufacturers Association. Leather Manufacturers Associations from Eagean region, Bursa and Corlu, Istanbul’s leather and leather products exporters Association as well as KOSGEB (Republic of Turkey Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization)

FFANY inaugurates the new American fashion fair to show all the trends of the next season.

From November 28^th to30^th 2013 the Hilton Hotel will give hospitality to New York Shoe Expo, the American footwear show, to exhibit the newest collections. The fair is organized by FFANY – Fashion Footwear Association of New York. Four times a year (in February, June, August and November/December) it displays to the public the latest news of the footwear market proposed by the greatest international brands.

Waiting for the next edition of February 5-7 2013, this show will propose footwear for women and men, whose a particular area of the Hilton Hotel is dedicated, the so-called Men’s Collection. In addition, the fair will give hospitality to thousands of buyers coming from boutiques and department stores, beyond the press and the sector’s experts.

For 32 years, Fashion Footwear Association of New York is a not-for-profit trade association that has gathered the footwear manufacturers coming from all the world, which are members of the fashion community of New York. As a privileged intermediary between retailers and buyers,yearly FFANY organizes many meetings between the two trade actors with the aim of exchanging footwear products and developing innovative alliances and new business networks.

After the success of the edition of Bologna, an Asian version of Lineapelle is coming to develop a dialogue between the Oriental and Occidental market of the leather.

The China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex of Guangdong will give hospitality to the next edition of Lineapelle Asia, fixed from November 8^th to 10^th 2012 with the aim of/to establish a meeting between the Italian and the Chinese market of leathergoods. The fair was born in 2003 thanks to the development of the Guangdong and the Guangzhou Municipal Government and has rapidly become an unmissable event for the Chinese entrepreneurs.

With the support of many fashion Chinese associations, the exposition centre will welcome European and international expositors. During the fair, the visitors will see the most innovative solutions of the fashion sector: from accessories to fabrics, from clothing to car interiors, from textiles to bags. The distinctive features of the fair are the research, the quality and the creativity. These ones will be observed during the Stylistic Courses and visiting the Trend Area and the stands, thanks to the stylistic research of Lineapelle Fashion Committee.

If the Chinese edition opens the doors to the negotiation between Italy and China, the traditional fair of Bologna, during its two annual versions, holds the supremacy on the stylistic innovation in the fashion sector. In particular, these appointments represent a fundamental meeting point for 50.000 companies, of which turnover is $113 billion and gathers the 40% of the global business of the footwear.

A conference in Taipei to discuss about all of the new necessary proposals to improve the manufacturing of leather products, respecting the environment.

From November 12^th to 14^th 2012 the 9^th edition of AICLST 2012 (Asian International Conference on Leather Science and Technology) will take place in Taipei, at the Howard International House Taipei. The event is organized by TILA (Taiwanese International Leather Association) and is supported by: IULTCS (International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies), NPUST (National Pingtung University of Science and Technology), CLIA (China Leather Industry Association) and FRT (Footwear & Recreation Technology Research Institute).

The conference has the aim of proposing new scientific ideas and innovative technologic projects for the tanning industry because the Asian continent is the leader of the leather manufacturing. After the eight AICLST editions in the past twenty years, also this time AICLST 2012 becomes the best occasion to analyze the current industrial context and promote new suitable solutions for the Asian market.

If the leather production is changed during many years, today the next step to do is  to realize the products using less energy and water and minimizing the solid waste that are inevitably produced during the weaving factory. Indeed, one of the proposals is to convert the industrial waste into recycled products that will be used in the manufacturing and, consequently, to make new profits. So, no waste and respect for the environment can be the key words proposed by the Asian continent to develop and improve the leather industry.

Also this year ANPIC leads off to “La Feria de Amèrica” to present the autumn/winter collections of 2013/2014.

ANPIC – La Feria de Amèrica is ready to start, a traditional fashion fair that will take place from November 7th to 9th 2012 at the Poliforum of León (Guanajuato), in Mexico, with the organization of ANPIC (Asociación Nacional de Proveedores para la Industria del Calzado). Since 1980, the show has had the aim of introducing the fashion collections of the sector to promote the meeting between the demand and the offer in the footwear and leathergoods market.

The 2011 edition has recorded the attendance of 870 expositors, of which 80% are Mexican ones and 20% coming from Asia, Europe and America. In particular, the 23% of the present expositors could develop 50 new sales projects and nearly the 19% has increased its sales perspective of 100 units. Concerning the visitors, ANPIC – La Feria de Amèrica 2011 has given hospitality to 13.506 buyers and sector experts, of which 5% coming from the international market.

On his own, the organizer committee is a collective organism made up by sector experts that was founded in 1979 in León (Guanajuato) with the aim of offering a good positioning into the national market for the partners. Moreover, the fair takes place in the heart of the Mexican footwear and leathergoods, thanks to the strategic location of León. Indeed, the town is in the centre of the country and has found his economic development in the manufacturing of leather and footwear.

For 48 years Istanbul has become the neuralgic centre of the international footwear thanks to AYMOD.

For four days, from November 7th to 10th 2012, the CNR EXPO of Istanbul (Turkey) will open the doors to the 48^th edition of AYMOD, the International Footwear Fashion Fair dedicated to the 2013 season. This event is organized by Pozitif Trade Fairs Inc., with the support of: TASEV (Turkish Footwear Industry Sector Research, Development and Education Foundation), TASD (Footwear Industrialists Association of Turkey), TUAF (Federation of the Turkish Footwear Manufacturers), IAESO (Istanbul Chamber of Footwear Tradesmen and Manufacturers) and KOSGEB (Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Trade and Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization).

50.000 professionals coming from 60 different countries will meet 350 expositors with 20 different nationalities in a surface of 50.000 m^2.. On one hand, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, importers and department stores of the international footwear sector are waited as visitors. On the other hand, AYMOD will give hospitality to footwear and leathergoods manufacturers, designers, foundations, associations, wholesalers, agencies and trade magazines.

The fair will take place into a large structure that totally takes up a surface of 160,000 m² and can host up to 850 expositors. Indeed, the Pozitif Trade Fairs Inc. is the major international exhibition center of Eurasia and is a unique huge trade show structure with an international impact of the country.

Three days in Moscow to present the autumnal collections of thousands expositors coming from all the world.

From October 16^th to 19^th 2012 OBUV’ MIR KOZHI starts again: is a Russian fair wanted and organized by Expocentre that is dedicated to the international exposition of footwear and leather goods. It takes place at Expocentre ZAO of Moscow. The show, that has reached to 36^th edition, takes place twice a year (in March and in October) to present the seasonal collections and to facilitate the meeting between sector’s producers and buyers.

If this edition proposes the autumnal collections, the spring one is dedicated to the summer collections. Indeed, the March 2012 edition has taken place in a global surface of 15.533 mq. On one hand, it has hosted 274 expositors, of which 51 coming from Russia and 223 coming from other countries, like Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and USA. On the other hand, the fair has accommodated 11.084 visitors, both Russian and international ones.

Not only shoes for women, men and child, but also sports, home and casual ones make this event an important appointment to discover the fashion trends of the footwear sector in the next season. But not only. The show will propose also clothing, gloves, bags, belts, car interiors, leather components and many more products. So, OBUV’ MIR KOZHI represents a fundamental benchmark for all the sector experts.

From October 12^th to 14^th 2012 Munich hosted the 39^th edition of Made In Italy, the show organized by ANCI (Associazione Nazionale Calzaturifici Italiani). It will take place in the M.O.C.’s pavilions and it will be dedicated to the exposition of high range Italian footwear, that is very regarded from the German market.

For three days, visitors ware able to watch the 2013 spring/summer collections proposed by expositors. The show was turned to sector’s experts, and especially to operators coming from Middle – South Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As in the past editions, they had demonstrated a very high interest to made in Italy footwear products. Indeed, the fair took place in a 2.000 mq surface and it accomodated 2.110 expositors and 2.600 visitors, with an amount of 600 exposed collections.

On one hand, Moda Made In Italy is an event that demonstrates how much the Italian footwear sector wants to invest into foreign markets, both Oriental and Occidental ones, both overseas and European ones. On the other hand, the appreciation from foreign markets for these products still confirms the excellence of Italian products and their values, especially in the leather and footwear sector.

The economical data from the UNIC 2012 reportRooted in the land, world leader in terms of quality, technology, environment and styling, driven by the luxury market with a powerful international export vocation.

This is an x-ray of the tanning world in the ninth UNIC (National Tanning Industry Union) social-environmental report.In reference to 2011 data, the Italian tanning industry comprises 1,300 enterprises and 18,000 employees, with a production volume of 133 million square meters of leather produced, and 40,000 tons of sole leather, with a total value of around 5 billion Euros. While the overall volume has fallen for the eighth year running due to the fall in the lower product brackets, the value has returned to the 2005 levels: this recovery is thanks exclusively to export sales, as the home market has remained sluggish, even though no ground has been lost. The difference between the value of production and volume is due to the continued price increases in raw materials and subsequent sale price reviews.

In 2011, Italian exports of tanned skins stood at 3.7 billion Euros, an increase of 10% over the previous year. Italy accounts for 27% of the world market, which means that 1 out of every 3 skins traded on the international markets comes from Italy, currently exporting to 116 countries. The main outlet is the EU, which takes more than a half, followed by the Far East, the Russian-Balkan area and America. If we take the single countries, then China is in the lead taking 20% of the overall exported amount.

90% of tanning production is concentrated in the districts of Arzignano and Valle del Chiampo, with 482 enterprises and 8,350 employees, a production value of 2,468 billion Euros, thus confirming its leading position in the national scenario, with an incidence of 51% on the total. Between 2011 and 2010, the overall sales from the Veneto increased by 7%, which were also boosted by increased exports.

The market is led by leather goods (+7%) and car upholstery (+12%), especially in the luxury bracket. The area that is suffering most is again furniture; the footwear sector also fell (-3%) due to negative fashion trends.

From October 9^th to 11^th 2012, Bologna Fair will receive two different companies that, anyway, have a unique aim: to promote the most technologic solutions for the leather’s manufacturing, in all of weaving factory.

From 9^th to 11^th October Simac and Tanning Tech will be together to realize Simac Tanning-Tech 2012 (International Exhibition of Machines and Technologies for Footwear, Leathergoods and Tanning Industry), the show that will take place in Bologna Fair. The event’s oneness lies in the exposition of all kind of necessary technology for the leather’s manufacturing.

If Simac is the most qualified fair that exposes the technologic innovations designed to footwear and leather good’s production, Tanning Tech is an international appointment for technology and for chemical products intended to leather’s manufacturing. Therefore, they are a high important event in the fair’s sector designed to the leather’s international world.

About 200 participants will attend the show. In particular, they will come from: Argentina, Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Czech Republic, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey.

Aims the two companies want to achieve during this edition are clear: on one hand, Simac will use this stage to propose new technologies that anticipate the latest needs of the footwear’s sector; on the other hand, Tanning Tech wants to exploit this date to support a more eco-friendly productive system, respect fossil resources’ exploitation. So, two different companies meet to propose new solutions, with the aim to increase the competitiveness’s level of companies.

Between October 9^th and 11^th 2012,

It’s going to start Lineapelle¸ the international traditional exhibition of Italian leather’s world, that takes place twice a year since 1981.This time it is held at the Bologna exhibition centre from 9^th to 11^th October 2012. During three days, visitors attend to the most qualified show fair of the sector, that includes the exposition of accessories, components, synthetic materials used not only in the footwear’s sector, but also in leather goods, clothing and furniture ones.

1.200 companies coming from around 50 countries will meet to show clients and sector’s specialists their proposals for 2013/2014 autumn/winter collections. And now it’s time to analyze some latest edition’s numbers. In April, 1.046 exhibitors (of which 306 are foreign ones) occupied a 39.311m²  area to expose their spring/summer collections.

During this event, in the middle of the Bologna exhibition centre a Trend Area will be organized, an exposition dedicated to the most innovative and technologic materials provided by expositors. Totally, it’s valued that more than 2.000 samples of leathers, accessories and components, fabrics and synthetic textiles will be showed: this will permit visitors to find the product that satisfies their needs.

Lineapelle is the exhibition that has proposed events in this sector in Italy and in the world for thirty years. It is a circuit that binds more than 30.000 companies with a turnover of US$ 100 billion per year. Also in this edition, the fair demonstrates to hold its historic supremacy of qualitative and stylistic innovation and it proclaims itself as a key event in the international whole of the leather world’s fairs.

Three days to discuss about  tanning and its weaving factory in Uruguay’s capital and to say No to a industry that damages the environment.

A meeting to gather all operators of leather’s manufacturing of Latin America. This is the aim that AUQTIC (Asociación Uruguaya de Químicos y Técnicos de la Industria del Cuero) wants to obtain organizing the 18^th edition of FLAQTIC 2012 URUGUAY (Congreso de la Federación Latinoamericana de Químicos y Técnicos de la Industria del Cuero). The meeting takes place between October 9^th and 11^th 2012 at Hotel Radisson, in Montevideo.

With the aim of promoting a more eco-friendly industry, discussed topics will assemble both technical/scientific matters both live experiences of sector’s experts. During the meeting, there will be some speeches of researches coming from universities and technologic innovation centres.

Experts know that, as tanning industry’s finished product is the result of an industrial residue converted into a noble one used in other sectors, as the leather’s manufacturing doesn’t have to cause any damages for people, things and for the surrounding environment. All of participants will be invited to reflect over these topics and many sector’s operators are awaited, from chemical to footwear’s sector, from clothing’s one to leather industry. On their own, AUQTIC and Montevideo, neuralgic centre of Uruguay, are planning a project that gathers many social and eco-friendly activities, because they’re sensible to topics that will be proposed during the meeting.

A great success for AYSAF 2013, the International Footwear Industry Supplier Fair, with 350 exhibitors and 20.000 visitors during the latest edition of September.

AYSAF 2013 (International Footwear Industry Supplier Fair) was the largest fair of the footwear sub-industry sector in Turkey and it was organized by Pozitif Fuarcılık A.S., between 20 and 23 September 2012 in the CNR EXPO Istanbul. The fair was supported by TASEV (Foundation of Turkish Footwear Sectors’ Research, Development and Education), AYSAD (Association of Turkish Footwear Components Manufacturers) and KOSGEB (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Trade and Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization).

The organizers installed a huge platform of 15.000 sqms where 350 companies/agencies and 20.000 visitors met to establish new agreements and partnerships. On the one hand, the exhibitors of AYSAF came from footwear sector, like: footwear components manufacturers, chemical manufacturers and suppliers, finished/semi-finished and raw leather manufacturers, artificial leather manufacturers, shoes and leather processing machines manufacturers, agencies, foundations, associations and trade publications. On the other hand, visitors were professional people, like: shoes manufacturers, leather goods manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and importers.

Twice a year, AYSAF, with a market volume of 4 billion USD, represents the biggest event of this sector in Turkey. The venue of this fair, Istanbul, is the most important financial and manufacturer centre of the country. It is the unique metropolis in the middle of two continents and represents a meeting place between Europe (Thrace) and Asia (Anatolia). So, probably, Istanbul is the best place where AYSAF can be located, in the middle of the world.

Tokyo and Osaka open Hotel Hilton’s doors to Promopel, the fair promoted by Aimpes that celebrates leather goods in all of its dimensions.

This is the time for the 74^th edition of Promopel, the show fair dedicated to the presentation of bags and leather goods promoted by Aimpes (Associazione Italiana Manifatturieri Pelli e Succedanei), the authority in the Italian leather universe that wants to study and sponsor events and initiatives and to promote knowledge of Made in Italy products around the world. So, Promopel returns to Japan after the spring edition. In particular, the fair will be at Hotel Hilton’s base in Tokyo from 1^st to 3^rd October 2012 and it will move to Osaka’s International Hilton Hotel between October 4^th and 5^th.

While people are waiting for a Japanese’s answer related to offers of the new spring/summer collection of 2013, it’s possible to imagine that results will be very positive, like March edition’s ones. Indeed, the latest edition’s numbers show that Japanese buyers receive Promopel and its products with a very high interest. In particular, in March, the fair gave hospitality to about 6.000 sector’s specialists like importers, wholesalers, boutiques and department stores. In that occasion, Promopel wanted to promote autumn/winter collections of 2012/2013 of many companies: Antony Group Srl, Borelli Pierina Srl, EMA. G.G., Fermoda Srl, Imperiale Pell. Snc, Kontessa-Marigroup, L’Europea Pelletteria Srl, Lexiapel Srl, M. B. Moda Borse, Paolo Masi Snc, Parmeggiani Snc e Pollastri Gino Firenze.

Also in this edition, participant companies will positively face the meeting with the Japanese market, that is always careful to Italian proposals. Indeed, during 2011, Japanese foreign sales increased of 14,5% with a total selling amount of about 300 million euros. In substance, during a half-year period, Promopel represents the best occasion to have a global view of Italian leather’s goods and of its fashion proposal for the following season.

Clini in Milan: “the Italian tanning industry is a model for the rest”

“The Italian tanning industry is a model for the rest”, declared the Ministry for the Environment, Corrado Clini, during the opening week of female fashion in Milan, to sign an agreement with Gucci addressed to giving more importance to the environment and calculate the ecological costs of some of the more representative products of this famous Florence fashion designer.
The Minister continued “Tanneries have made considerable investments into environmental respect and they have made a noteworthy difference. This is a sector with potentially devastating effects from their emissions, but instead, by changing their technology in compliance with latest environmental laws, they have achieved an added value”.
The Monti Government environmental minister recognised that, besides the commitment of Gucci to adopt a Code of Sustainability, the previous actions taken by the other companies, including those in Arzignano, who supply the fashion house with the raw materials for the production of their products, have also had a great impact.
In fact, the eco-agreement to reduce CO2 emissions was adopted by the tanneries even before Gucci, as the UNIC environmental report certified last year, and they spent on average 1 million Euros in technological investments to reduce water and energy consumption and to reduce waste.
Environmental responsibility and sustainability practice in the tanning sector represent, according to the Minister “One of the positive cases which, unfortunately, is spoken little of, because in Italy we are just used to criticising enterprise”.

The leading Indian trade fair opens to the doors to leather footwear and accessories

From 5 to 7 July, the second edition of Expo Riva Schuh India will be held in New Delhi (in the Pragati Maidan – Hall 11 exhibition centre), the most important leather footwear and accessory trade fair in India.

The trade fair is organized in cooperation with ITPO (Indian Trade Promotion Organization), and is the best opportunity to discover the products from the Asian markets, particularly China, India and Thailand, and to meet potential new commercial partners.

For three days India will not only give exhibitors a prestigious showcase for their products, but above all will give them an innovative multilayer formula to contact the Indian leather market, with services and instruments provided for companies that want to build business in the Asian and Indian markets.

Thanks to the Top Fashion area, the 10 best companies in the fashion field will find a showcase to exhibit and sell (at interesting prices), their fashion products to the Indian market, which, according to a recent survey, is developing its buying power due to the increasing number of middle classes.

Not just fashion, but the entire leather production chain is on show beginning on 5

The doors are about to open on the 2012 edition of the India International Leather Fair¸ to be held in New Delhi from 5 to 7 July 2012. For three days, the second largest city in India will be host to exhibitors from around the world to celebrate the world of leather, from the initial processing phases through to the finished product.

Shoes and footwear components, and also machinery, materials and technologies, are the products that more than 150 companies (around 50 from abroad) will be exhibiting during the fair, and will be testimony to the new fashion trends for the coming season: from style to colours, to fabrics to the coolest latest designs.

After the success of the last edition, again this year the trade fair has been organised by ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation), with the support of CLE (Council for Leather Exports), CLRI (Central Leather Research Institute), FDDI (Footwear Design and Development Institute) and IFCOMA (Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association). The organisers are expecting a vast and varied public: not just importers and exporters, but also manufacturers, agents, fashion designers, opinion makers and all those who want to learn more about the tanning industry and its products.

Design, fashion and much more will be on show from 26

Countdown to FRANCAL 2012, the leading international Brazilian Footwear and Accessory Trade Fair, which has now reached its 44^th edition. From 26^th to 29^th June the 82,000 m ² of the Events Centre, Anhembi Parque, in the city of San Paolo will be host to trade experts coming from around 70 different countries, who want to discover the next official Brazilian spring/summer collections.

1,000 exhibitors, 3,000 brands, 58,432 visitors and 28,234 buyers are the numbers from the 2011 edition, which place this event in pole position in its field in the American continent.

Men’s, women’s and children’s footwear, leather accessories, sports items and costume jewellery will be on show, made exclusively by Brazilian companies, to show the international public the typical South-American design, with the institutional backing of ABICALÇADOS (Associação Brasileira das Indústrias de Calçados) and ABLAC (Associação Brasileira de Lojistas de Artefatos e Calçados).

High expectations for the number of national and international buyers, but great numbers are also expected from the industry, representatives, suppliers, and fashion experts and enthusiasts, because they all know that FRANCAL is not just a trade fair, it is the most important international event to set-up important business leads at the best time of the year – just before the spring/summer collection goes on sale.

All the spotlights will be on the Expo Riva Schuh from 16th to 19th June, the most eagerly awaited footwear exhibition of the year. Everything is ready in Riva del Garda for the kickoff for the Expo Riva Schuh, the international footwear exhibition that has now reached its 78th edition.

Four days in which 32,000 square meters will be occupied in 14 pavilions, with 1,200 exhibiting companies and 11,000 trade experts who will bring to life the most important European exhibition for middle range footwear. Expo Riva Schuh is the first international date of the year and the last event for orders, and it is the perfect opportunity to see the new fashion trends for the next season, and to understand what changes are taking place in the global market. Besides Italian and European exhibitors, there will be companies from India, China and Brazil, the three leading countries for footwear production in the world.

At the 77th edition last year there were 1,230 exhibitors with 886 of them international companies, and with 12,513 visitors it definitely heralds a lively, innovative and multiethnic exhibition this year, where footwear reigns supreme.

The Trissino company has opened a new factory in Rio Grande Do Sul: “Brazil is our largest market”.

Clients in China, Turkey, Africa and halfway around the world, 15 million Euros turnover and 7-8 wet leather machines produced every month. In August 2011 Bauce celebrated its 1500th tannery machine sold, in April 2012 it inaugurated Bauce do Brasile: 2300 square meters in the centre of Ivoti, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil. This is Bauce Tri.Ma from Trissino in the province of Vicenza, specialised in wet-blue presses andand set-out machines, which continues to increase its number of factories and with this latest opening, testifies its vocation to be constantly at its customer’s side even abroad.

“Today Brazil is the largest leather producer, the largest market – Luca Bauce commented, who, with his sisters Michela and Sabrina, runs the family firm that was founded 40 years ago by their father Attilio, who still works in the internal R&D department in the Vicenza factory – therefore these new premises were necessary, where we service and control all the used machines and give technological service to our clients”.

Bauce in Brazil has effectively been working since April 2005: however before they were in rented premises, but they have now inaugurated their own where 15 technicians are currently employed who began work after being trained in Italy. The logic behind this business choice is to provide technological assistance to the Brazilian tanning companies, who can count on specialised staff from Bauce do Brasile for the commissioning, maintenance, replacement and assistance for all their tanning equipment.

Bauce Tri.ma in Trissino has had ISO certification since 2011, and has obtained authentication for its quality management system according to UNI EN ISO 9001:2008 standards.

With this disembarkation in Brazil, the company project continues to achieve the targets defined in the quality policy to improve the company organisation efficiency and to achieve 100% customer satisfaction.

Luca Bauce – Owner – Bauce Tri.Ma Srl, Tannery Machines

Bauce Tri.Ma presents Blue Extreme, new continuous sammying for drying leather.

“Open the leather on the right side”, is the new slogan and result of Bauce Tri.Ma In via del Lavoro, in Trissino, in the province of Vicenza, a company that was founded in 1969 by Attilio and is now managed by Luca, Sabrina and Michela, his children. The company produces wet blue tannery machines and now presents the new Blue Extreme, a continuous sammying for drying leathers which is the result of two years work by their internal design office.
“We have implemented two new concepts – Luca Bauce explains – leathers have always been opened from the butt to the shoulder, this tannery machine means the direction can be changed: the leathers are introduced from the side”.
Passing the leather from side to side, where changing direction is the equivalent of a small devolution, in practical terms means a 5% increase of opening on each leather, with resulting improved drying quality. “This sammying machine – Bauce continued, who works in the commercial office and is busy at the moment with the customer presentations – has 6 wringing and drying points, which means the leathers are dried better and faster”. Before 20 meters of leather were dried in one minute, now 25 are dried, which means almost one extra leather per minute, 60 an hour and so on, which all means increased productivity and revenue. “This is a highly innovative technology – he continued, this new sammying machines is the result of constant discussion with our clients in Arzignano and Santa Croce, and of the tests and projects or our mechanical engineers”.
Pursuing the logic of continuous innovation, the company is winning in terms of production numbers, and decided to open its own internal research and development department, where 4 people currently work full time, together with a laboratory where all the new tannery machines are tested, and the leather processing technologies are refined, both for wet-blue and after dyeing phases, to enable them to develop new solutions and improve performance.
This means that the improved drying standard, ease of use, maintenance speed, reliable construction, motor strength and the design of the tannery machines are all conceived and produced to respond to the different types of products and characteristics required by the modern tanning industry.
The company has more than 40 years experience and 47 employees working in the two factories in Via del Lavoro and Via Arzignano in Trissino, and is highly specialised in wet-blue presses and sammying and set-out tannery machines: with the baptism of the latest arrival, the company confirms its certified position for technological development and increasingly higher performance.

Success for Italian haute couture footwear in Germany

Whether they are boots from the belle époque or sandals with primitive prints, urban futuristic heels or nude long slippers, once again the halls of the Moc Trade Fair in Munich hosted the excellence of Italian footwear production. Now at its 38^th edition, at the Moc Footwear Trade Fair in Germany haute couture Italian shoes were the real protagonists from 1^st to 3^rd April.

This International trade fair is organised by ANCI – the Italian National Footwear Association, and at the spring edition the 208 exhibiting firms presented their autumn/winter 2012-2013 collections to the 2500 trade experts, confirming the numbers of the previous edition. The leading European brands were on show at Moc from Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Spain and Portugal and some of the most prestigious Italian names: Baldinini, Franceschetti, Rossetti and Galizio Torresi.

“In this last edition, the companies were able to strengthen their customer relations and establish new forms of cooperation with other trade operators” – Cleto Sagripanti, President of ANCI, stated. “The German market is a very interesting catchment basin for Italian quality products. The MOC results were satisfying both in terms of visitors and orders, confirming the leadership in Germany in the high and medium-high bracket of the trade fair system managed by ANCI”.

Four Trends&Moods enrich Gruppo Mastrotto’s offering for the 2013 S/S Collection:

GRAPHIC CONTRASTS: graphic impressions with geometrical fragmentation that allow interplay between transparency of line, contrasting weaving backgrounds and strong colours.

The inspiration caused by UNCONSCIOUS DISCOVERIES is typical of those little pleasures that are found amidst the normal certainty of everyday life. The image recalls the wakening of Nature, enveloping us in the freshness of spring flowers, together with the spontaneity of the first rays of sun that warm and temper the soul and spirit.

ROUGH SOPHISTICATION: recalls the sophisticated aspect of the leather, where the star is the material, with the rugged look of an explorer. The colours are, in fact, taken from the earth and are expressed on full grain leather – smooth or enriched with light reptile effects – or they expand through shades thanks to aged split cowhide.

COLOUR BLOCKS: celebrates an explosion of colours and contagious energy . New forms of interior emotion shape smooth materials and velour hides; elements that recall the world of sport and fitness due to their ease of use.

The exhibition will be 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th April 2012 at ‘Lineapelle’, Bologna Fiere,  Hall 18 Stand B29-C28.

The trends of fashion recommend the classic lines: sober materials, colors and reassuring. Password lightness and softness. In a 2012 marked by caution at the fair in Bologna will be for producers to exchange views on performance and technological innovation.

Full program of events: the parade of the municipal theater creations by Ermanno Scervino – scheduled for April 3rd at 20:30 – in the gallery Cavour, a show  will illustrate the importance of accessories and components. “Fatti per essere uno” that means “Made to be one” the title’s exposure of buckles, heels and soles.

How did 2011 end?

Well, in that the results were positive, there was a slight downturn in sales with respect to 2010, but we managed to maintain our margins by developing specialised high quality products. In 2012 we will play it by ear: the alert level is high for us and all the other trade operators.

What is your research addressed to?

The strongpoints are technologies for fireproof and water-repellent leathers with a performance that is well above average. The first technology not only makes the leather fireproof but also the smoke it develops is not very dense. It has been demonstrated that in fires, serious injuries are mainly caused by the poor visibility in the dense smoke, making it impossible to reach the emergency exits, causing suffocation and intoxication. Leathers treated with our products, for use on airplane, train and cinema seats for example, are not only flame resistant, meaning the fire can be put out quicker than with other materials, but the smoke they develop is not very dense or toxic. This is the outcome of very lengthy research which started in 2006 and was completed in 2009. We took part in a tender that was reserved to the districts, together with other local companies, announced by the Faculty for Materials Engineering in Padua University and Nanofab in Mestre for developing nanotechnology. By transferring this technology to leather, we have achieved excellent innovation standards. Basically we create a product that redefines leather, making it tougher against abrasion and rubbing, but still breathable, natural and pleasant to touch.

How does chemical research support the requests for ecofriendly and green production from companies?

Stefani Chimis is developing a green product independently. We are studying innovative biopolymers, exploiting raw materials that are not derived from oil but renewable sources. Generally they are obtained from food waste, or products that have no market in the food industry. These materials are collected, treated and reprocessed then transformed into suitable material for retanning and greasing. There are noteworthy environmental advantages: first and foremost, we no longer depend on oil and all the materials come from renewable sources. Secondly, the supply chain is shorter with zero footprint. Thirdly, the products are natural and therefore more biodegradable and easy to dispose of. In fact, all supplies could be obtained locally and therefore all oil sourced materials could be completely eliminated.

However, this is Made in Chimis research and we hope to start a trend, but there are no requests so far from our clients. It is probable there will be a gradual turn towards processes and products that are less polluting and have lower environmental impact, but we are not certain.

However this is our choice and we consider it an investment in the future.

To what extent is the future of leather tied to research?

It is totally tied to research, technology and craftsmanship. Synthetic products are mass produced, but leather is unpredictable. Not only the leathers differ in the same batch, but the same leather even has different areas. Leather is a living material that has to be touched and smelt each single time. The recipe and ingredients alone are not sufficient to make a good product. For example, different items could be produced because Chinese processing water was used and not Arzignano water. Therefore research must go hand in hand with craftsmanship ability, product research, passion and skill. Good leather will never be a mass produced product.

Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T) runs March 28 – 30, 2012, in Hong Kong.  Members of the global leather industry are expected to attend the sector’s largest and most important event.

The substantial increase in pre-event registrations compared to last year suggests a rise in buyer turnout in the exhibition that is held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai, the heart of Hong Kong’s commercial and entertainment area.

Some 1,200 plus top-quality exhibitors, from 51 countries and regions, make this the most international of all leather fairs. Since inception in 1984, MM&T has become the premier leather-sourcing platform, covering the entire spectrum of the industry, from raw and finished skins, dyes and chemicals, to equipment and processes. 

To better serve the ever changing demands of the global fashion industry, MM&T has expanded its scope to include man-made and natural materials as well as components and accessories for use with bags, footwear, small leathergoods, leather garments, and fashion accessories.

Focus on Turkey

Turkey will be the Focus Country for the March 2012 MM&T event.  The country is well respected within the leather industry for the quality of their raw materials, production standards, and design capability.  Forty-three (43) of Turkey’s best known companies, in the fields of leather tanning and production will be represented, alongside those prominent in end-user and fashion production.

Sourcing Luxury

In the last few years many industries have watched as buyers, both trade and retail level consumers, spend with greater caution and consideration than before.  The consumer is investing in good quality designs and buying more timeless products to ensure value for money.  They want simplicity and pure, natural materials.  They are interested in handcrafting and tradition; showing a preference for products that are worked with a high standard of craft skills.
With these trends in mind, MM&T will be launching Sourcing Luxury, a programme that responds actively to the upscale and unique luxury materials requirements of consumers.  Sourcing Luxury will permit buyers access to the high-end materials they seek but rarely find.

PSF is an unique event in that it brings together, in a spirit of ‘win-win’ and co-operation in dealing with problems affecting all within the industry, participants who – in the normal course of events – meet each other only as adversaries and competitors.

For more information on APLF 2012, visit www.aplf.com and www.primesourceforum.com.

Source mmt.aplf.com

Despite 2012 getting off to a rocky start based on caution and unexpected tension levels regarding raw materials, demand and supply at LINEAPELLE, involving 110 countries around the world, is still looking confident, backed by an unsurpassed ability for technological and stylistic innovation, as well as high erformance levels when it comes to quality.
Exports are having an increasingly greater effect, and the most active markets are Asia and North America.

Summer 2013, as anticipated by Anteprima (Milan) and Trend Selection (New York), is still focused on the classic look. Materials are pretty yet plain, with pale, reassuring colours, and a few touches of iridescence,lightness and softness. The Trend Area will include thousands of samples in the trendiest of lines: Luce, Réve, Mud, Han-Nari, Festival de los colores, Nostalgie.
Also worth mentioning here is that fact that the extensive range of side events.

Finally, there will be a large number of bloggers at LINEAPELLE, both inside and out the exhibition centre, who will be reporting on this crowded and intense international gathering.

GER Elettronica is pleased to invite You at

STAND B4D-7

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BOOTH NO 1A-02-G – HALL 1A

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The dates may change, we recommend to check with the fairs organizers.

Eyes that look at us and invite us not to close ours.
The protagonists in the ger 2012 calendar are all animals in dying species, who every day see their living space being gradually eroded by man, threatening their survival on our planet.
We have chosen the eyes of nature so that we can look at it differently, to remind our clients and suppliers and, above all, ourselves, that we must look to the future with open eyes and an attentive mind, to ensure it is sustainable for everyone and everything, and that development is pursued responsibly considering the natural resources and all the inhabitants of our planet.

Tanning is art, not just production, a few will fall by the way due to the crisis but product quality and research are the keystones to get through it. Produce in China? No way. The future, like the past, is in the Arzignano district: we need a “Tanning Museum” so that we don’t forget who we were. These are the words of Rino Mastrotto, Chairman of Rino Mastrotto Group: 5 companies in the Arzignano valley, factories in Brazil, Vietnam and Australia, which follow the entire tanning cycle to produce products for the furniture, footwear and automotive industries.

Tanning is an art – you say – but not many would agree:
The stereotype of a tannery as somewhere dirty, of the tanner’s work as something unhealthy should have died ten years ago. Visit the tanneries: they are multinationals, tidy and clean. Tanning is a sector formed of specialised professionals, cutting-edge technology, qualified skilled people, top quality products. The leather that is produced is exciting, unlike plastic and synthetic materials the leather is chosen for a divan or shoes because it creates an emotion. So surely it must be a work of art.

To preserve this art: let’s put it on show:
That’s right. For ten years we have been talking about the Tanning Museum project. Now, with the Tanners’ Association we are thinking about converting Villa Biasin as its location. Let’s face it, I don’t know if there will still be tanneries in ten years time, but at least there will be a museum! In my mind, it should be a sort of “stamp” we put on the valley. We should include the old tanning machines, which you can still see around but which are gradually disappearing. The development in the work is amazing, in terms of production process and also environmental respect and working conditions. The future is built on the past. We have grown up, but I believe that we should remember where we came from. The tanneries used to be on the Asiago Plateau, then here in Arzignano and in the valley one of the most important districts developed in Europe. I would take the children to the museum, because it should be a moment of reflection for them.

The past is here, what about the future?
The crisis is not over. The tidal wave is still coming and will carry a few away. There are still problems and it is pointless to deny it: the competition from China and India for example, the fact that there is 70% less production for furniture, partly set off by car upholstery and footwear, but partly lost. We have two directions to follow: very high quality, research to bring the products into line with fashion in a rapidly changing world. Secondly, we must stop being jealous because it prevents us from growing.

Third direction: outsource?
I have no intention whatsoever to go to China for my production. We have a sales division in Hong Kong, a representation office and a warehouse. But our production is here. Apart from the red tape which is still an obstacle, over recent years investments have been made in innovation, great steps have been taken in terms of environmental respect. We have an excellent purification plant, we have the divisions of the world leader chemical companies in the valley, we have the school to prepare the specialised personnel, we have been operating a very strict environmentally friendly production process for some time now. This is where the investments must be made.

You are President of UNIC, what form do you want to give to the Italian tanners’ association?
I don’t want it to just be a category association, but increasingly a cultural association. There are certain projects I am very keen on: one in cooperation with the “Accademia della Crusca” for revising the tanning vocabulary, to prevent headwords like “eco-leather” being referred to our production and culture. It is a linguistic operation, but clarity that begins with the language in a world that lives on counterfeits is a very important step. We are focusing on tanning “Archaeology”: we have financed the restoration of a tanning complex that was discovered at Pompeii: the Roman tannery of Porta Stabia, one of the most ancient in the world. This year, we plan to complete the restoration: according to experts in the area there are other tanning structures, a sort of district ante litteram. In Naples, in the Archaeological Museum, we would like to set up a sort of “Historic Road of Leather” an exhibition dedicated to the art of tanning, from prehistoric to modern times in cooperation with museums in London, New York and Paris. We will finance the digs in Altilia, in Molise, where an ancient Roman tannery has been found, and other works are planned in Bosa in Sardinia, where the tanneries that were built in the first half of nineteenth century have been classed as a national monument since 1989 but are in a state of serious decline at the moment. Finally, the plans to reconstruct the tanning museum in Santa Croce sull’Arno, near Pisa.

ACCESSORY MARKET

7 – 9 ATLANTA

  U.S.A. TOKYO LEATHER FAIR 8 – 9 TOKYO GIAPPONE

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The dates may change, we recommend to check with the fairs organizers.

“The tanning situation in Spain? A black and white photo”. Not much quality, turnover at minimum: the Iberian peninsula does not look good for the tanning sector. That’s the feeling that we got listening to Mr. Carlos Perez, the tannery machines agent in Spain and Germany and trusty reseller, further than Ger, also of Gemata, Erretre and Carlessi. “In Madrid area up to few years ago there were 130 tanneries – he says – nowadays there are 20 of them, which half of them are at risk. Once the Spanish market was interesting, today it offers very low chances. It is possible that in 3 years we can not sell even a single bolt”. There was the prosperous tanning area in Catalogna, there was the Igualada centre, next to Barcellona, there was the Valencia area, famous for the cow hides, there were a huge numbers of small handcraft tanneries: “ It seems that is presently passed an Hurricane”. “At Linea Pelle, the exhibition of the world of tanning, among reptile and buffalo leathers, polyurethane crust and punched lambs, among stuffed, varnished, dappled, lock-stitched, metallic painted leathers, in the riot of colour, forms and new things proposed, mainly by the Italian companies , the Iberian market seems to be suffer from a sort of “syndrome of classic”. The problems of the sector are connected to a certain apathy of the market, not capable of offering new and original products, because it is tied up with old lines and outclassed, in terms of quantity, by the Chinese and Asian production, generally speaking, capable of offering on numbers an unmanageable competition and, as regards the quality, surpassed by the Italian fantasy, by the capacity of the Belpaese’s tanners to make up new colours and original styles which are hardly imitable. “In Spain – concludes Perez – they find it difficult to associate the leather at fashion”.

In Francia: in technology it is needed to get straight to the point

Tannery machines? They need to be easier? There was an attempt to get them copied but it did not succeed. At Linea Pelle, the Bolognese exhibition of leather-goods, on the sector assigned to the tannery machines technology, that is Tanning Tech, you can meet agents, buyers, customers and stylists. Gerant Jacques Schiavon, has been selling tanning machines, in France, since 1985. “ Just in Graulhet city, up to few years ago, there were 187 tanneries – he explains – , presently, in the whole France, the tanning companies which work small leathers are just 12”. A massacre. “The situation is very difficult: we have not been selling new machines for 7, 8 years, in case the old machines are “reconditioned”, i.e. overhauled with new parts. When I go in the tannery to change a machine, which has been used for more that 15 years, it looks like I would take somebody’s blood”. The crisis has been reducing the consumptions and has been letting down the buyer’s tendency toward the leather article: “The situation is so uncertain that it seems that we are on the seesaw. Today it looks like that we can get back, tomorrow not and so on. In France the so-called second generation, sons of entrepreneurs who established the companies, have not been capable of bearing the turnover and the business. So the sector is basically to zero.

I sell machines in China, Japan, Portugal. Africa is growing up in terms of numbers but there is a long way to go before creating a product of good quality”. The direction? “Chinese attempted to copy the Italian machines and the result was that they broken and damaged a lot of leathers. And they came back to us. Yesterday from China I got an order of 200 cylinders for polishing. The technology is still an European and Italian prerogative but it is necessary to get the machines easier: less optional, more essentiality, considering the period of crisis it is requested to go straight to the point, at simple”.

In korea: row materials at unaffordable costs and an huge technology competition.

To sell tannery machinery in South Korea is a very hard work. These words are from Mr. Kim Kibum, the agent in Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Asian Continent of Ger, Erretre and further companies. “At the end of last year – he says – I sold one machine to control the spraying unit. This is the first time after several years for such an instrument. In Korea there is an huge competition and a big technology propaganda: companies issue proclamations stating that they realize machines like the Italian ones for the tanning process but is more advertising than reality. In reality they advertise the machinery at a very, very lower price but they can not compete with the Italian ones in terms of performance”. The Korean tanning sector is composed by 100-110 tanning industries which produce shoes, bags and automotive leathers, mostly. “There are several tanning districts: one in the north, for example in the city of Ujengbu, one in the Ansan City area, one in Pulsan City. We are talking about small or very small tanneries. The 10% of product is sold in the home market but the mainly part goes abroad. Nowadays the production of the automotive leather sector is working at full capacity while for shoes and bags the demand is lower. The problem, like elsewhere happened, is the cost of ray materials, which weights on the product up to a 70%. Secondly we have to faced up with the cost of labour and chemical products. We suffer the big competition of China”.

A second trend of more daring tones, from the rose-coloured grey of the haematite to the darkest nuances of blue haematite till the ink black, is it addressed to who wants to dare more dry nuances and disturb with noir accent the classic. The fashion trend conference of the Bolognese show launch two big chromatic families for the next winter and reconcile the proposals of stylists and tanners. The most worldwide event of the leather sector arranged to meet in Bologna 1117 exhibitors, of which 763 are Italian firms and 354 are foreign ones, coming from 41 different countries. The 18 thousand visitors are looking for ideas to develop bags, shoes, accessories and furnishing leather goods in line with materials and in accordance with the trend style for the next fashion season. At Simac and Tanning Tech show, where the tannery and shoes machines producers meet, the registered exhibitors are 220. In this case the sector, which produces a yearly turnover of 500 millions, obtained for the 65% from the Export, clashes with a more reflective economic phase where the investments are falling-off, except for the environment sector and the reutilization of the manual skill on the shoe sector.

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Assomac source

The risky initiative has already attracted the interest of businessmen from Italy, France and Germany, who will be visiting the facility to see how the mechanical engineer was able to make an industry that is notorious for environmental pollution a whole lot greener.

“There is nothing like it, not just in Greece, but also in the rest of the world, which is why experts and businesspeople from abroad want to come and see it,” Ditsios told Kathimerini.

With Greece investments frozen as the Siberian tundra, it’s surprising that Ditsios decided to take such a risk.

“Investments should be made when materials are cheap and favorable market conditions, and right now, despite the economic crisis, the conditions are right for those who want to make an investment,” he said. “I put everything I had, my entire fortune, and I believed and I continue to believe that I was doing the right thing. At the end of the day, in my own small way, if I can help my country in the economic recovery, then that’s a good enough reason.”

The innovation at Ditsios’s tannery lies in the fact that it makes full use of natural resources and it recycles all of the waste produced in the messy business of processing leather.

“We mostly use rainwater and water comes down from the mountains to wash and finish the leather,” Ditsios explained. “All of our electricity is produced using solar panels and we use natural gas instead of gasoline to run the machines, as well as environmentally friendly dyes. All of the waste is treated and cleaned of toxins, and the residual muds are used as fertilizer. The treated wastewater ends up in the city’s water-processing unit for final purification.”

The current number of employees is 48 people but it is expected to rise to 150 within the next 12 months.

Ditsios is confident that he will achieve all of his goals.

“So far we have processed pelts for Kastoria’s fur industry, but we are also bringing in leather from Russia, which used to be shipped off to the United States for processing,” he said. “The brass ring would be to grab a significant share of the unprocessed fur auction market in Europe, which is currently dominated by China. I am confident that we will make it.”

The Kastoria-born entrepreneur embodies a different face of Greece, one which is creative and adventurous, or, as Ditsios said, “a Greece that is not willing to come to terms with the idea of bankruptcy.”

from September 6th to 8th 2011
HALL E6 – STAND B21a/IT

PRODUCTS

Universal electronic measuring machines
Systems of production intermediate control
Automatic measuring and bundling lines
Automatic labelling devices with barcode
Universal economizers for spraying cabins
Advanced software applications

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GER Elettronica srl
Phone +39 0444 709555
www.gerelettronica.com

This should be no surprise due to the growing activity in China’s leather sector. According to recent figures published by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), the country exported 4.21 billion pairs of shoes in the first five months of this year with a value of US$14.26 billion. This is an increase of 5.3% and 21.5% respectively. The average export price per pair also increased by 15.4% to US$3.39 compared to the same period last year.

At the same time footwear imports increased to 16.69 million pairs worth US$440 million, which represents an increase of 52.3%.

The leather sector continues on the up and up. CLIA reported that leather production from local tanneries during the first five months of the year increased by 26.9% compared to the same period last year. Exports also increased by 28.8%.

The activity evident in China’s leather sector should be reflected in the dynamics of ACLE which runs from September 6th – 8th in Shanghai.

We disclaim responsibility for any errors or omissions.
The dates may change, we recommend to check with the fairs organizers.

TANNING TECH “changes its skins”
On 2012 the “running machines” will be back in the spotlight and, this allows to the 2011 edition, a structural change, not only for the exhibitors and the visitors. On stands of all the best companies of machinery and chemical products for tanneries, the international operators can find real answers to the technological requirements and application related to the hides working process and the environmental protection problematic. During the fair will be available a special International Forum concerning the energy saving, the optimization and the restrain of consumptions.

During the crisis, which has also affected the world of leather, in 2010 the tannery machinery sector saw a strong recovery, more than +40% compared to 2009.

Especially exports have grown, getting again the levels of 2008 (+49.17%), with a positive trend on all international markets.
Good performance from the beginning of the year, with backlog till the end of June, but with signs of a probable slowdown. The latest data of exports, reported in March 2011, show a +34.2% for the tannery machines, +5.6% for footwear machines, +51.2% for leather goods machines and +22.8% for spare parts.

Among the main producers, Italy is the fist exporting Country with 50%, followed by China with a market share of 18%, Taiwan with 13%, South Korea 8%, Germany 5%, Spain 3%, Brazil 2% and Turkey 1%.
In the tannery machines Italy, has a market share of 70%.

Data source: Assomac

According to the Shangdong Leather Association, which gathers the tanneries from the oriental coast province of China together, the price of leathers will be increasing further on, driven by the continuous growth in the cost of raw materials.

Tanneries have reduced their purchasing and the trend is expected to worsen.

On the Southern province of Guangdong, in the opinion of the Guangzhou Leather Association, the 90% of tanneries have reduced their production levels and many companies which counted up to 1000 employees have more than halved the workforce, reducing it to only 300 units.

Over 200 suppliers (hide, chemical and machine), government officilas and other dignitaries were in attendence for the event as well as a festive dinner held on monday evening, June 27.
On Tuesday, June 28, the activities were held at SRL Fuxin, located approximalety 30 Km from the city. Presentations and updates were given by:
Richard Yan: Managing Director, richina, Inc.
Bob Moore: President and CEO, Shangai Richina Lether Company, LTD.
Dennis Hiller: President and CEO, GST Autoleather and Seton Leather

In his remarks, Bob Moore, President and CEO of SRL, recognized Robert Liu, Daniel Cui and the SRL Fuxin team for their hard work and accomplishment in the completion of the facility.
Following the business updates, the official ribbon cutting ceremony took place. Madame Zhang- Chairman of China Leather Industries, Richard Yan, several government officials including the Vice Governor of Liaoning Provence and the Fuxin Mayor gave speeches during the ceremony.
Richard Yan, Managing Director of Richina, Inc. parent company of Shanghai Richina Leather Company has stated, “With the capability to produce wet blue and wet white, SRL has the opportunity to capitalize on the growing China based economy, including its automotive and footwear industries. Vertical integration from wet blue to finished leather is part of SRL’s formula for success.”
With vertical integration from hide to finished leather, SRL will be able to streamline the supply chain, provide more quality assurance and gain economie benefits. The new plant also allows for product options like wet blue and wet white with the advantage of onsite lime fleshing and lime splitting. This safe and environmentally efficient plant will create new opportunities for success for SRL, GST and their loyal bluing customers.

The griffe are driving the recovery, destination China. The home market is slack. Uncertainty for the exotic.

Travelling among the Italian leather districts, from Scandicci to the Abbruzzo region, moving to Vicenza area and to the several companies which work on “territorial independence” conditions, we can see that there is a change in the air. There is who still speaks with the due caution, but most of all are definitely speaking of economic growth and goods prospects.

SCANDICCI – “ Presently, the Italian leather sector, but mainly the Tuscan one, is wonderful. The growth expectations are, to say the least, excellent”. These words are from Mr. Gianfranco Lotti, entrepreneur and president of the Florence office of “Confindustria”. In Scandicci the recovery is real and credible. The production on 2010 had been growing of a 8,5% (equal to a sales of 1,7 billion euros), the export have shot up of a 18%.

ABBRUZZO – Here in Abbruzzo the situation is particular also cause of the productive structuring of the district. The leather goods companies are 450 about, but the ones which have a structure like a big company do not exceed the 50 units. All the others are small activities, most of all craft laboratories, which live a two-headed reality: orders increase, but constant financial tiring. We talk about it with Mr. Francesco Palandrani, from Get Export Association: “In the first half of 2011 there had been a marked improvement in terms of labour and orders, mostly thanks to Russia, that confirms to be, for our area, one of the most interesting export market, together with Japan and some few opportunities on the Eeastern Europe. On the contrary, the sales performaces in Italy had been very bad, since the problem “price” remains an impassable obstacle, which forced the stores to look for import alternatives of lower segment and list-price more accessible”.

OUT OF THE DISTRICT – In the Vicenza province Francesco Biasia the restyling is in progress. It is acquired by Braccialini through an internal operation of Mosaicon, the holding that also holds Coccinelle and Mandarina Duck. Biasia, facilitated from the good economic trend, is “returning” in its identity of an affordable luxury leading brand, with a position that in the past had determinated its success and subjected to the financial storms of the Burani Group it was weakened.

Changing typology but remaining in the Emilia region, we reenter in a positive condition, even if less accentuated than Tuscany. Mrs Vilma Parmeggiani of the homonym brand specialized in crocodile, explains that “the market has suddenly slowed. Two months ago we could certainly say that the finances and the production were higher than 2010. Today I’m not so sure”.
Slowness, well?
“Yes, even if with a middle period positive visual. We say that, producing an high range article like the crocodile, we maybe have to be more patient than other “colegues”. At Mipel exhibition we have excellent results, not with the Italians customers that are in the total distress, but with the foreign customers. Indian and Chinese, mostly, from which however we are still waiting for confirmations.”
What does it determine this delay?
“The fact that they know a little bit our article and they have to learn to evaluate it but they represent the future space of growth so we must be good being patient.”
How can you explain the Italian stalemate?
“the multibrand shops are strangled by the brands which feel of the articles, whereby they are going to sell in discount, without margins”.
Forecasts?
“Positive”.

We disclaim responsibility for any errors or omissions.
The dates may change, we recommend to check with the fairs organizers

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The job is one hundred per cent, the companies stand in a queue to take on qualified people. Theoretics competence and technical background. The Galilei high school, situated in Arzignano area, is a laboratory which invests on the tanning future, the basin of choice for the most important brands. This school makes as its style the entrepreneurship.

In June the students finish the school and have already a job. In September all of them are already employed; someone even knows where he will be going to work before graduating. Mrs. Guendalina Trovo, has been teaching for 10 years applied chemistry, analytical chemistry and tannery technologies at Galileo Galiei high school, where, at the course named materials and chemistry, are instructed the future tanning technicians.

Which kind of qualifications does the tannery school offer?
It’s like in the kitchen; there is who makes the recipe and who knows how to invent, to interpret, to modify the receipe. We graduate technicians or  not merely performers of a recipe but people who are able to develop it , interpreting what they have available, intervening in the process to fix it, correcting the processing where there are problems. During the three years we  teach to the students all the phases of the leather processing, from the raw product till its commercialization, from the wet to the tanning and to the finishing process, at the same time we offer solid foundation on the training in chemistry and physics.

Which is the relationship between the school and the local companies?
The companies, even the small and medium ones, are turning to the school because they need skilled people. There was a time when the companies hire, for example, ten workers. Today they prefer hire eight workers and two technicians, because the technician that has a general preparation, is more easily replaceable. At the beginning when the school was born the traditional course had a practical approach: many hours for the technical-applicative subjects, vice versa it was not guaranteed a sufficient general training, because for example the students studied English language only till the third year and maths till the fourth year. Globally their skills didn’t answer to the needs of the district which require people that speak good English and that know informatics. In the nineties a technical commission of teachers decided to review the syllabus and it was born a new course of study where at the technician who in laboratory follows the technical-applicative aspect of the discipline was accompanied by a teacher who follows the theoretical preparation. The idea is good but even if, in my opinion, the course is unbalanced towards the theory: there has been a decrease of the technical practices time. This does not mean that the school continues to provide the most popular professional competence so that there are requests for personnel which we are not able to satisfy.

Where does the students find an job?
Mostly are employed as technician in the tanneries specially in the chemical companies, which today are those that most of all involved in research and development. It should not be understood in a reductive way the term “tanning technician”. Here in this school big brands as “Bottega Veneta”, “Luis Vuitton” caches employers: the big brands need of people who know if the leather is beauty, further than been beauty is adaptable for a certain product too. The Arzignano district has developed historically a propensity at the furnishing sector but today, cause of the crisis, it is oriented to the footwear and clothing sector, which are more dynamics and where it is requested to be versatile.

The challenges for the future of the school?
The school has a shortage of funds, for sure. In my opinion the direction to follow is to move in a more entrepreneurial logic. We organize training also after graduating, with apprenticeship courses for that they are carried out at school and vice-versa we promote training in the company before the end of the school through internships and scholarships, seminars and collaborations. The companies answer, do not hold back, even when there are money to be invested. I think the school should its “own internal tannery”: no more than a laboratory, but production company. It would be requested to collect some orders, follow the working cycle not delayed it by week to week depending on the school hours but on an ongoing basis. We know how things have to be done: the school, for example, makes measurements on leathers, as a third entity, in order to issue certifications which have a legal value. We make also analysis to test the fireproof gloves for firemen, the boots for forest guards, the gun holster for policemen. If we ask to entrepreneurs to support the school, the school also must become entrepreneurial.

In an hour and a half of very exciting concert Danilo Rea combines pop, jazz and songwriting, he combines melody and technique , he mixes classic lines and improvisation. Its not De André Replay and either distortion, but original reworkings, inspired by his personality and his exceptional skill, that captivated audiences. In a suggestive context, which adds to the emotion of music, there has been a cultural event of the highest level; at the end, long and thunderous applause.

We disclaim responsibility for any errors or omissions.
The dates may change, we recommend to check with the fairs organizers

SOME DATAS

• + 1,000 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions
• + 2,000 booths
• + 50,000 exhibition spaces
• + 45,000 visitors

EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHT

• “IFLE–GUANGZHOU 2011” will be the new event at the “Finished Product” section in an individual hall showcasing the world’s brand; middle & high fashion, footwear and leathergoods products.
• “IFDC” – International Footwear Design Competition has the goal to increase footwear design and fashion to an higher prominence level, to develop & foster the youngest talents, to help the diversified growth of the footwear industry. The final Winner Award will take place on June 01, 2011.
• “TREND WALK” – Chic style fashion trend of footwear and leather products will be center staged at the “TREND WALK” area. It is a non-profit event.
• “TECHNICAL SEMINAR” – The event is a comprehensive program of educational and practical session that allows to gain knowledge on the changing trends and market development regarding shoes and leather industry.

ADDRESS

China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex (Area B)
380 Yuejiang Middle Road, Guangzhou, China
www.shoesleather-guangzhou.com

Provincial Champion Basketball Men Under 15

Ger Elettronica congratulates the U.S. Garcia Moreno 1947 Sport Society from Arzignano graduated Provincial Champion 2011 Under 15 Basketball. 25 wins from 26 matches, 24 straight wins, averaging 81 points per game are important numbers that make hope well for the rest of the regional phase.

Well done guys!

Some photos of the team

At least nine tanneries are located in the city and a spokesman for the Spanish tanners’ association says that none were damaged by the earthquake, although some minor structural damage had occurred.

A great opportunity in this moment of clear recovery of the Russian market, where the Italian exports recorded a strong turnaround +13.9% in the first 11 months of 2010 (ISTAT), compared with the severe downturns of 2009.

In an exhibition area of ​​1500 square meters, the offer of Shoes from Italy closes the Autumn-Winter 2011-2012 season, featuring footwear and leather products of medium and high range exclusively made ​​in Italy, which continue to exert a great interest among Russian consumers.

With this new wet blue plan, SRL will become vertically integrated from wet blue to finished leathers. As the president and Ceo of SRL, Mr. Bob Moore has communicated,  this is the occasion for SRL to improve efficiencies, to streamline their supply chain and strengthen their quality on the production.

However, the efficiency of SRL was already confirmed in the tanning world so that every year, from 2009, they organize a special event to honour their success. Their triumph was also awarded last month, when SRL was nominated as one of China’s top 10 tanneries by a leading leather publication.

As confirmed by Mr. Moore, their good results are closely related to their hides, chemical products, equipments and to the logistics supplier’s support.

So, this year, they combined the event with a special thanks to all the SRL’s collaborators/suppliers.

FENAC, which promotes this event of unquestionable success along with the leading Companies of leather and footwear and with the Prefecture of Novo Hamburgo, is attentive to all the changes in the industry and the world market. The trends and the speed with which fashion changes, and the need to accompany changes in the world of business, must be observed very closely.

Therefore, in response to a large number of requests from visitors and many exhibitors, Fenac has implemented a detailed analysis of the world calendar of fairs and of the appropriate times. For this reason, it was decided to anticipate by three weeks the setting up of FIMEC 2012, to be held 20 to 23 March 2012.

This alignment of dates follows the market trend and thus accompanies the movement due to other events, including Francal and Couromoda. It is undeniable that today the Companies are anticipating their collections every time more and for this they need to find more quickly their partnerships for investments in raw materials and machinery.

Thus, FIMEC fair will strengthen even more its potential of generating business.

The goal is to expand the importance of FIMEC and, above all, continue to respond to the wishes of the exhibitors and visitors.

He added that this is the right time to consolidate the footwear industry.

FIMEC is the thermometer of the situation: the event is having a great success and this let us hope well for the future of the sector.

Over 2.700 exhibitors on an area of 210.000 square meters, the halls have been stormed (many Chinese people).

An event not only for manufacturers of furniture, but also for stylists, designers, architects, tanners, for an update on the latest trends within a context highly rich in innovative ideas.

The event, which annually attracts the international interest, once again is one of the most successful realities of the landscape of design and quality furnishing.

Now in its 35th edition, it is Internationally recognized as the most important fair of the Americas, among those dedicated to technologies for shoe factories and tanneries.

Dr. Patrizia Galli
Manager of Assomac Beijing China

Started in 1981, LINEAPELLE is the most important international exhibition dedicated to leather, accessories, components, synthetics and models for footwear, leather goods, garments and furniture.
The leading world manufacturers only can apply as exhibitors at the show, an exclusive chance to meet the greatest buyers and designers of the sector.
The exhibition covers as many as 12 Halls of the fair district, with about 1,300 exhibitors meeting over 20 thousand visitors from more than 100 different countries.

The article is taken from lineapelle’s website (www.lineapelle-fair.it)

GER Elettronica is pleased to invite you at APLF (Asian Pacific Leather Fair)

from 30 March to 01 April 2011 STAND 1G12/IT PAV 1.

TANNERY MACHINES

Universal electronic measuring machines
Systems of production intermediate control
Automatic measuring and bundling lines
Automatic labelling devices with barcode
Universal economizers for spraying cabins
Advanced software applications

For informations:
GER Elettronica s.r.l. Ph. +39 0444 709555
www.gerelettronica.com

APLF – MM & T is one of the most important global events for the leather industry. The event began in 1984 and since then more specialized professionals don’t never miss this event for the exchange of innovative, high quality and fashion products.
The sectors covered includes: semi-finished and finished leather, exotic skins and top quality materials, natural and synthetic, process chemicals and dyes, tannery machines and footwear machines, accessories and components, equipment, laboratory tests and other services.
Italy will play its part with a large representation of participating companies.

As in previous years the event is held in conjunction with the Fashion Access, the International Exhibition of fashion handbags and high quality shoes, small leather goods, accessories, clothing and the Prime Source Forum event for those who wish to meet the industry to understand the changes taking place in the world, share ideas, challenges and opportunities.

Y K Luthra, editor & publisher, Leather Age – Calcutta, India

For ages India is having largest availability of bovine hides & goat skins. Due to various reasons, quality of these hides is by far poor having empty bellies & shanks. The primary reason of poor quality emanates from live animal which is never reared in larriage and therefore the hides obtained mostly from fallen animal. However some quantity of the hides obtained from slaughtered animals particularly when the animal completes the lactation period and in the case of male folks, they are slaughtered when they become redundant and does not serve any purpose. Due to the vast quantity of poor raw stock, upgradation of final leather quality is absolutely necessary so that they can be utilized gainfully in which Italy can play major role.
Although there is innumerable use of latest & sophisticated Italian tanning machineries in the leather production in India by which machining operation of hides & skins are done at ease as compared to the past, in terms of development of machinery industry in India by the Italian machinery manufacturers is non-existent. As regards SHE (SAFETY, Health & Environment) is concerned these machines from Italy subscribe to all these aspects.

However, in terms of effective pollution control in the various clusters of tanneries in India whereby pollution treatment plants have been put up for collective treatment of tannery waste water, there is no investment in terms of Italian technology in any of these places. Although chrome recovery plants has been sourced from Italy either through grants or through UNEP funds in some of the ETP across the country, actual effectiveness is really to be measured. In India we require cleaner & sustainable production technologies, water management and removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) & Persistent Toxic Substances in tannery effluents. Although there is some work has been carried out in these sectors in India, these technologies have not been adopted across the tanneries.

Incidentally Italy being the fashion center of world and leads in making finest leather in the globe, there is no investment by the Italian Government in the tanning industry in India although Italy is one the major trade partner. There must some sort co-operation between India & Italy so that at least research & development center for tanning industry should be installed by the Italian Government and the latest trend in fashion on hides & skins can be sourced by them at much lower cost. This should include development of various types of leather from our available raw stock which can be utilized in latest fashion trends, development of various beam house, wet end & finishing chemicals, development of tanning & finishing machineries, transfer of technology on ETP & Pollution control including Chrome Recovery System. There should be Italian Government system in which latest trend of fashion & latest technologies should be sent from Milan or elsewhere so that Indian tanners can gainfully use them.